The Changing Trend In Stamp Collecting

I never understood why stamp stores, to remain competetive, just didn't also use the popular online auctions to augment their sales?
The same thing happened to record stores. Now there are only a few. Most of those that still exist do so because they also sell on the internet and use auction sites like ebay. It's a same more stamp stores didnt do that too.

Personally I think there is nothing like a physical store where you can go in and actually look and browse at real items. If there was a good stamp store near me in Southern California I would definately frequent that establishment. But I would also still use the online auctions and sellers too.

David

I always wondered that myself. A brick and mortar dealer local to me practically had a stroke when I asked him if he sold on ebay. I only asked because if he did, I would keep an eye out for his items. Another local store sells supplies online (that would be Potomac Supplies) but not stamps that I can tell. I don't understand it, except that maybe these dealers just can't make a profit from online stamps sales, as they seem to focus more on coins/currency. The online business is quite crowded and anyone can sell there.

I've seen the same thing with other related retail businesses in which brick and mortar stores are mainly mom&pop shops (e.g., board games, comics, hobbies). Maybe it takes too much investment in a website to pull off on your own, but if some of these places, like my local game store, had a web presence, I would purchase from them rather than some unknown entity across the country.

I suspect one of the problems is that if you are in a store and you want to buy, the dealer controls the price. Often purchasers can be intimiatd and not bargain. If you see something on the internet, you can quickly do a price comparison to test the price of what you see and ask for a discount or price match without the confrontation of doing it face-to-face.

I would hate to be a retailer, a really tough way to earn a living.

Being open to bargaining might help. I just bought an oriental rug, and of course you are expected to bargain when buying from the "wholesaler". But the owner willingly participates and somehow I expect that in those stores.

Although I know I can bargain for rugs or cars and I know they are trying to gouge me if they can, I sometimes feel the stamp stores are unwilling to budge at all and would rather lose the sale. At least they don't give the air of being willing to bargain. That probably worked in the pre-Ebay days, but they need to adapt and change.

More open, less intimidating, and more accommodating retailers offering additional services or a unique experience I think would be able to better compete with ebay. I mean, if all anyone cares about is price, i.e., its a primarily financial transaction rather than a partly social one, which is the feeling I get most of the time, then ebay and other online options are going to get most of the business (not to mention clubs, APS circuits, etc.).

I can't tell you how many times I have asked for stuff at a dealer and they produce a page or an envelope of stuff (for me, usually postage dues) that has clearly not seen the light of day for ages.

When I ask "how much for all?", they say, "I don't want to sell it all, what if someone else comes in wanting these?"

I have to agree with the OP comments on China material. I got out of that collecting area a few years back, none of the so called major dealers in that area want anything to do with you if you aren't spending a wad of money with them. One Linn's advertiser never answered repeated requests for his advertised list, it's ridiculous. Typical I guess of so called 'hot' areas.

Outstanding conversation on the 'state of the hobby'. From my view (a collector since 1962) the hobby is what the individual wants to make it. A trip into history past, a collection of small art, a stress reliever, a time consumer, even a vehicle for investment profit. What detracts from the hobby are the contentions that the hobby has rules. It shouldn't it should just be enjoyed.

WELCOME to the community ELIGIES ,see your a first time poster. Hope to see more of your postings. Thanks for the nice comment about the subject matter.

Art pretty much sums it up for me. I also started collecting stamps and I do still buy stamps. Over the nearly 50 years of collecting stamps there were always covers that I thought were "cool" and I did not soak off the stamps. Somewhere along the way those few became an accumulation and the accumulation became collections. For the last 15 or 20 years I have actually been seeking covers much more than stamps. I enjoy the research and discovery that comes with postal history. I have many friends that are not collectors and they have no interest in stamps whatsoever, but if they have any interest in history I have a cover or entire collection of covers that fascinates them. I think postal history is bringing new collectors to the hobby and they may do the opposite of me, as they learn more about the stamps through the covers they may save a few stamps that may eventually become stamp collections.

Over the couple of years I have been building a Fakes and Forgery collection on Steiner Pages. Over the years thru purchasing end-of-auction lots I have gotten a lot of Fakes , Reprints and Forgeries. After mounting them , it was time to start looking for more . Over the past few weeks of watching and bidding and not getting much because it seems this area of collecting is really HOT . The prices are going much higher , so is this a new trend ? Seriously larger lots are selling $10.00 to $20.00 a piece for forgeries. Today was a example were I had bids at 150% of the highest posted bids and got nothing on the stamp auction network .

Last Friday I met up with Michael (Londonbus1) at the Strand Stamp Fair at the Royal National Hotel in London. A grand day out and in comparison to buying from the internet it was just so nice to be able to take a seat and look through dealers stock books for the stamps on my list. Found several items including an Egypt MVLH Zeppelin at well below net prices. I really do miss the B&M stamp shops. So much for progress. So it goes.

Terry

The problem is the hobby does have a shelf life. We are now almost fully into a Mobile society and Stamp collecting doesn't fit the Bill since it's a stay in the basement and look through a magnifying glass thing. I'll guarantee X-box games outsell Stamps 1000-1 in ages 8 - 21.

Hi stalzer

Yes I fear you are right. What might work is the stamp issuers coming up with a way to make their stamps attractive for modern youngsters to collect. Instead of producing "Collectors' packs" of mainly poorly designed stamps to tease collectors who must have everything into buying them. Maybe also family adults ought to write letters, with stamps on, and containing a currency note, to their young relatives. And the youngsters be encouraged to reply with a "thank you" letter. If they are lucky the youngsters will discover the delight of receiving a letter and an interest in the stamps on it. And how it got to them. And the good manners of replying to it.

Terry

I'm glad that I discovered this wonderful thread as many questions have been raised. First off you can't compare records to stamps. Vinyl disappeared for the most part by technology, the CD. The CD is now being replaced by downloads. Stamps have been replaced as a hobby by a multitude of different activities such as video games. My daughter, as an example, is 32 and doesn't own a CD. Everything is on the I phone. She pays her bills online so she doesn't need stamps. It is a different world and part of it I don't have to participate.
Tom

Well that was an interesting read. Here is my 2 cents worth.

I use to collect as a child from the age of 10 through 15 or 16. As others have said life got in the way. I do not view those early years as a waste because stamp collecting helped me appreciate history and geography and to this day I still love both subjects.

Fast forward to about 15 years ago when my interest in stamp was rejuvinated. This happened because a 10 year old girl that I was tutoring wanted to collect stamps and I decided to help her in her in her quest. I never looked back.

I do belong to a stamp club but we are very lucky to have a great bunch of collectors, some with very impressive collections. We trade stamps, buy from each other, have auctions etc... We have 2 stamp shows a year complete with exhibits, stamp dealers and even a kids table.

I rarely buy stamps on line anymore because through our club (membership of about 30 collectors) I received and buy all the stamps I need. I have bought stamps at really great prices and have lots of trading partners within the club. The stamp dealers that come to our shows have some great deals as well.

I collect only because I love to collect stamps and like the child of 45 years ago still love History and Geography. So I guess what I'm trying to say is: In my little world stamp collecting is thriving

Dianne