APS Stamp Store For Non-Members

"I joined the APS this year because a few items that I wanted from the store was only available to members. Is the store different than their stamp circuits or are all the circuits now in the store as stock?"

The circuit system is completely distinct from the webstore. There'd be no practical way to inform the circuit book recipients that Items X and Z have been sold in the webstore (nor, for that matter, to update web offerings when Joe Philately takes a set out of a circuit book to buy for himself.

Unless the circuits went electronic . . . . . . but something tells me that's not just around the corner.

Or is it?

I'm a member. I have made a couple of small purchases from the APS Store. I approve of this move. I will renew my membership.

Depends completely on pricing. I'm a comparison shopper. I have a feeling their prices might be higher than most but you never know! I will have a look.


-IBFS

For stamps in the 2-digit range, those in Stampstore are generally significantly cheaper than those on Bidstart or ebay, at least for the countries I generally search for.

Jogil,

The stamp store stock is completely different from what is available in the circuits.

Matt

The policy does remove one of the perks of membership, and it was a big one judging by the comments of some who have indicated access to stamp sales was the only reason for membership. A next step would be to let non-members offer stamps for sale.

I have a feeling the policy change may be detrimental for membership over the long term.

Don

Hieronymous -- I don't think I had my knickers in a knot; I think I was just asking for opinions.

Also, you can QUOTE people by enclosing their words in tags like this [ quote ] and [ /quote ]

KirkS: Hieronymous never would have been able to mis-conclude that your knickers were in a twist if you had not been sitting there, posting, wearing just your knickers. {No smilies were expended in the making of this satire.}

Actually my statement was not directed at KirkS at all. I merely wrote that APS members in general ought not be upset by the change. Just my opinion. Some APS members may be upset and they may be right and I may be wrong.

But instead of "upset" I used a colloquialism and apparently managed thereby to knot some knickers, unless KirkS was pulling my leg (figuratively speaking) when claiming (figuratively?) to be offended.

Humor on chat boards is risky. Let's all try to be more humorless, if we can. (Figuratively speaking, of course.)

I used to be a member but let my membership lapse when I sold my first collection back in the early 2000s. Have not rejoined but have considered it. Personally I think this is a smart move by APS, but only so long as they restrict sellers to only APS members. That would help to create a sense that the sellers were -kosher- and not like so many of the ebay cheats who knowingly post fake material for sale. In the end, given the increasing discontent many collectors have with ebay (can't leave bad feedback on sellers, the mass of con-artitsts hawking trash) the APS could create for itself a retail golden goose here. Anyone can buy, but you have to be a member to sell and that means abiding by APS code of conduct.

"can't leave bad feedback on sellers"

buyers can leave "bad" feedback on sellers, seller are not allowed to leave bad feedback on buyers

I looked at being able to buy from the store as a membership bonus, but it is far from the only reason I joined the APS. In my opinion belonging to the APS supports the hobby, and I am all in favor of that. I will continue to renew my membership, and I hope everyone else does too.

I didn't know that ebay currently charges 10% of the item's selling price as a final fee. Some vendors are considered fortunate if they are even able to make a 10% profit for themselves after selling an item. Add to that paypal fees as well and there's not much left for some to make on their items.

I was going to buy a stamp from the APS store online but after the shipping was calculated at over $14.00 U.S. to mail to Canada for a stamp below $20.00 U.S. I decided not to buy it. Is this their typical shipping charge for Canada?

I renewed my APS membership again this year, but I have to think hard about doing so each year. I know there's the whole thing about supporting the hobby and getting the magazine, but I wished they offered more of their services (library, classes, stamp ID, etc.) as part of membership without charging additional fees for everything.

I think offering the Stamp Store to non-members will ultimately hurt membership. Just think if they offered the AP magazine to non-members for an additional costs or offered it free online after 1 year, etc. Would there be any reason to pay $45 to be a member?