Future Pricing Of Canadian Used Stamps?

What is going to be the cost of future used stamps? How many people just buy stamps to cancel them?

Premium thru 1997 was 100% or selling price above mint.

What will be the premium for SS and covers etc in 2014-2015.

200%? Or 150% like 2013 ATM used stamps?

Also are there stamp tourism groups?

1991 Alaska sheets would have easily payed for the cruise if you bought and mailed whatever parcel.

Why not just send to your family and friends? Or am I just learning about this now?

Also I was thinking about sending a bunch of items on the last day of the stamp change for each year. LDC (Last day cover). One of the one's I was thinking about was the ATM vending stamp machine's in Toronto. My relatives are in NZ I can't believe that I can mail to them for free if I get the stamps back.

Stamps are so neat and they save so much money.

Joe

People ned to mail things.

Collectors need to collect.

Probably the price will increase a bit s usual with the proposed new rates of course making the recent modern stamps worth more.

Fascinating to watch the changes and try to anticipate actually.

I honestly don't think used will budge any more than it has in the last 30 years. As mentioned in that other thread regarding used stamp prices, if anything they've dropped since the 1980s due to the advent of the internet... You can buy a used VF lightly cancelled 158 for a couple of dollars now and usually find it on ebay at any given time. Pre-internet that would take days or weeks to find at local clubs and cost $30 or more.

The prices of used stamps all comes down to supply and demand.

The Bluenose (Sc.158) is an iconic Canadian stamp and there are thousands out there. The internet provided better access for collectors to find one, and the demand was the same but the supply increased dramatically, so the price dropped.

In the future, used Canadian stamps will increase in price for those that have a limited supply.

For example, in the last couple of years the quarterly pack have included stamps that are unique (perf. changes, etc..). Very few people have opened their quarterly packs and used these stamps (in period). Although there may be a limited number of collectors of used Canadian stamps, who collect every stamp, there are a sufficient number to bid-up the price for one of these unique used stamps.

Therefore '210Frankie' is correct that you can use a stamp for mailing, retrieve it and it is still worth more than you paid for it initially. But you have to select the stamp(s) that will become unique to accomplish this!

- stamporator -

I would love to see real live examples of that happening if or when it does. And I don't mean stamps bought 100 years ago ;) It really doesn't seem likely, the run numbers are massive and enough is out there that the demand will still be inundated by the supply in the long run (in my opinion of course). But I certainly see and understand your viewpoint of the potential.

I guess we'll see either way soon enough :)

Hi Faken,

You can see an indication of it in the latest Unitrade Catalogue. If you compare the catalogue prices for the Permanent Canadian Pride issue (Scott 2611a-e and 2612-6. I know that catalogue prices are stated higher than the current market prices, but the ones from the souvenir sheet are stated 5x the price of the serpentine die cut ones.

If you purchase and use the ones from the souvenir sheet, and are fortunate to receive them back, then they have a higher market value for future resell of used stamps. If you get them with good SON cancels for the period, then they will also result in a premium price.

The majority of souvenir sheets and quarterly packs are being purchased by collectors and not used for mail at this time. The result being less supply in the future and although demand may not be as high as other issues, the relationship being supply/demand is better.

As collectors, we should encourage the hobby by only purchasing souvenir sheet issues and using them on standard mail. It does not cost anymore and it provides more chances of filling in the gaps in a collection that sometimes deters new/young collectors.

- stamporator -

Thanks Stamporator, during the xmas holidays I'll have to check this out and see for myself. As I just posted in the other thread, all I am getting from all this is a reminder of why I only collect up to 2000. :)

Faken, I found your comment about the "Bluenose" rather apropos. Some years back, I thought I would sell my only higher value stamp on ebay (just to see what would happen). It was a Fine centered "Bluenose".

I received $18 for it, which I thought was really cool. It actually was the small event that got me back into stamp collecting.

As a result of that initial foray into ebay stamp sales, I have been watching somewhat curiously if the value the Bluenose would change at all. It seems to me that a F/VF Bluenose has fairly consistently sold for $15 - $20. I have never seen a price much below $15 (except for poorer examples). I have seen VF examples command premiums (especially with a nice CDS SON cancel). These can sell in the $25 - $45 range.
If I ever saw one for a few $, I would buy it without hesitation.

It's a great question. When is the last time anyone used or received a commemorative stamp on a piece of mail (other than from a dealer or fellow philatelist?). The future of the stamp itself is up in the air. Consider that the current method of pre-printing millions of stamps, holding on to the inventory and hoping it sells, is incredibly wasteful. With Canada Post losing money hand over fist I would not be surprised to see them look towards more on-demand postage generation like metering, and scrap traditional postage altogether. I think we're a way off from that, but I believe it is a distinct possibility.

I think there are a few possible outcomes regarding the price of used modern. The challenge of finding postally used could become a very attractive feature and draw in new collectors. What is the challenge of collecting modern mint? Simply having enough money. Other than that it's easy. Finding modern stamps with town cancels - that's another matter, and could create a very prestigious and respected area of collecting. Think about it, in 10 years if you see a collection of modern postage mint vs used with town cancels, I am going to yawn at the mint, and kneel and pay homage to the guy with the latter.

Hi 3Dadeo! If you troll ebay at weird hours, you can definitely do better for a used VF 158. The one I am about to give my daughter for xmas is VF centering, no faults with a decently light cancel, for $5, ended at 4AM EST. To be honest, I see them even during normal hours go for $10 - $12. The key is to look for listings manually and you'll find wrong CV numbers, typos etc. Just did a quick search of my watchlist and found this as an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canada-Sc-1...em2c77e451d2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canada-158-...em3a87182ee3

But I also just looked at all completed listings and you are right that they seem to average $15 - $25... I just like the bargain hunting I suppose lol!

Dan

I'm all into bargain hunting.
The first one is VF but with a rather ugly cancel. It also shows as $6.95 shipping - ugh.

The second was a good deal at $10+ shipping. Don't see many like that, but I guess if you are patient.

LOL must be a gold plated envelope ;)

Faken that second one was a very good deal, that is an attractive copy. I am surprised that closed with such a low bid; there is nothing in the listing that would have rendered it invisible to anyone looking for a bluenose as far as I can tell.

I have a VFNH on ebay its on for .99 cents and not getting a bid. I don't understand ebay. But other items that go for little money at the major auctions like 5% of SCV are getting 60%. Are people just scared to buy from there?
Tried to add image but its too big. I am working with the image on here post it up shortly.
Joe

http://www.ebay.com/itm/11124354394....m1555.l2649

My ebay listing . Is it because this was a old account. 0% feedback. I should buy your item.

210Frankie, that's a beauty of a Bluenose.
I suspect that there will be a flurry of bids at the last minute, so don't be concerned. Your title has all the relevant info.

Of course with ebay, not sure what kind of visibility it is getting in search. I suspect once the # of watchers starts to grow (add me), the visibility will improve; also as time runs down.

There is a hinged Bluenose (not as well centered) going for about $30 (19 watchers) - 2 hours left. This will go up as well near the end.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canada-1928...380794939465

How many watchers do you have?

Two more things:
I just read through the listing and noticed two things: you mention Buy it Now at $175, but it is not set up with BIN.
Also, you mention saving 30c with personal cheque. You are no longer allowed to mention that in a listing. If ebay catches wind, you will get the listing pulled and a mark on your seller record.
I recommend fixing those Asap.