What's Your Take On The Brookman Price List?

When I recently started collecting again after a 30 year hiatus I wanted to build a list to keep track of the collection. I decided on a spreadsheet and went looking for something online that I could use to seed the data. I found Brookman's Price List in PDF format and was able to copy/paste and manipulate the text to build my sheet. I grabbed the price values along with the descriptive text since it was there and would give me some idea of relative values.

Now I find that Brookman publishes a catalog and I'm interested in paying back by buying a copy but wonder how good the publication is. I collect single examples of Canadian stamps issue prior to 1970.

Any opinions on the catalog?

Thanks,
Terry

Brookman's is a good catalog. The Minnesota and North Dakota stamp dealers used to give Brookman catalogs away if you were are active customer. I haven't a Brookman's one in quite a few years, but it use to be my alternative to paying for a Scotts catalog.

For Canadian stamps I preferred Lymans, but I don't think they are published anymore. If you are collecting pre 1971 Canadian, there are old Lyman's color catalogs on ebay for a very reasonable price.

I use Scotts specialized Canadian catalogs to keep track of current Canadian issues.

Brookman's is a "retail" price list. The prices do not reflect market price (nor does Scott obviously), but I find Brookman's prices to be higher than Scott generally. Brookman's is not a very good catalog for study though, whereas Scott is.

I believe you are correct about Lymans. That was the catalog I used 30 years ago.




If they are selling at the stated prices they are the best salesmen in history. Their prices most resemble catalog values.

Terry

Brookman stamps, and the Brookman catalogue was sold to Michael Jaffe Stamps in Vancouver, Washington some time ago. The catalogue is strictly retail for stamps sold by Michael Jaffe - and yes, his prices are high. Unfortunately, you won't be so fortunate to be able to purchase all the stamps listed - he doesn't have them all.

In short, don't pay for a Brookman catalogue - it's not worth the price of shipping it.

For Canada, go straight to the best. Buy a Unitrade catalogue. They use Scott catalogue numbers but list waaay more varieties than Scott. A 2015 catalogue will cost you ~$50 shipped. You can frequently find previous years for far less $$ on ebay. I would recommend buying no older than 2007

Brian

I'm a step ahead on Unitrade; bought the 2012 issue. I also just bought the 2016 Scott Canada eCatalogue that I can use for verifying CV when buying on ebay.

After I have time to look through the Scott book I'll post my thoughts.

Terry

I love Unitrade for Canada and provinces.

Brookman, Simply put: "Over priced."

Timm: I assume you mean Brookmans not Unitrade.

Terry

I buy the Brookman catalog, because ALL the stamp dealers in my area use Brookman pricing. If I want a stamp, I check the calalog and see what it's listed at, and then compare eBay/Bidstart. If the price is within a dollar, I'll walk down the local stamp store and buy it, if nothing else, to make sure he hangs around.

But sometimes Brookman is way over priced. My wife and I were going grocery shopping and I was going to hack the Mystic Heirloom page from Scott 2267-75 after we put groceries away.



Since the stamp dealer was in the same plaza, I asked her to run in there and buy the stamps while I started the grocery shopping. Since we had the kids, and he also sells Magic/Yu-Gi-Oh/Pokemon/Vanguard cards it was a win for them.

I got the grocery shopping done and hopped in the car and drove in front of the store and honked. Everyone comes out and hops in the car. My wife hands me the stamp and receipt. She paid $20 for the stamps! On ebay they go for $5-6!

I got page done that afternoon and put it on my blog, but there were plenty of other things I could have spent that $15 dollars on!

As long as you (and other collectors) willingly pay those prices, nothing will change - it's in their best interest to reference the most expensive guide available. If a dealer suffers a loss of business because of it, he will have an incentive to change.

Brian

An apples-to-oranges comparison ... you got the stamps immediately; no shipping or handling charge; you could pay cash; you took no risk as to condition or description.




Brick-and-mortar dealers typically have rent, utilities, insurance, taxes, employees and many other costs and expenses not found with the typical ebay dealer. It depends on the dealer of course--some ebay dealers do have many of these costs and just use ebay as another channel along with mail or even storefront sales. For a brick-and-mortar dealer, Brookman may well reflect fair compensation given all their costs. If you want a lower price coupled with all the risks associated with ebay, go ahead.

I expect to pay more at retail. But I won't pay 4 times as much. Most of the stamp dealers in the area have stamps as their secondary business. They make most of their money from coins and/or sports cards/trading card games.

So, the dealer really has no interest in price haggling. I've tried.

Most of the people I have bought from on ebay have a brick and mortar location, just not in my town.