US Precancel Collecting Advice -- Where To Get Them?

I was hoping that the collective could give me so advice as to the best way to purchase US precancel (used singles). I collect Bureaus and T&T. Specifically I am interested in obtaining common material (catalog price 15c to 20c), as I have many such spaces to fill in my collection.

I have purchased a precancel mixture. Not very satisfied with it. Turned out to be *lots* (~90%) duplicates or damaged. Is that just the way of mixtures, or did I catch a bad beat.

I have looked at precancel sets on ebay (e.g., 200 all different Florida). Is that a better way to go than mixtures.

Are approvals a good way to go? If so, any approval dealer suggestions?

Also, for common material is catalog pricing notionally equivalent to the retail price for purchasing a single stamp? What is a the notional $/stamp for large (>100) sets of "all different" precancels?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

dkabq8, some of the above questions are answered on this website, and you are urged to join these folks: http://precancels.com .

Peter

The best method is attend a precancel stamp show - see http://precancels.com for details. That site also has a list of recommended dealers. Big lots bought from precancel dealers are usually better than buying from random sellers because the people at the PSS have a vested interest in developing collectors and not disappointing. Dick Laetsch and Phil Cayford are good dealers - there are others too. Sets on ebay that say all different types will not have duplication and should be in mostly good shape. If you buy - by the ounce or by the pound - you will probably be less happy.

I am already a PSS member, but thanks for the tip.

I have seen the dealer list on the website and the dealer adverts in the PSS Forum, as well as looked at the information under "Getting Started" and "Precancel Info". And while there is a lot of useful information on what one can collect, there is nothing in regard the pros and cons of the different ways to obtain precancels (e.g., mixtures, all-different sets, approvals, etc.).