Want Lists Online? Etc...

(WARNING: depressed venting... read with tongue firmly in cheek, or at least a sense of humor... or just gloss over this post...)



The other day I looked around online for places to post stamp want lists, and found nothing.

I don't mean simply a place to post one (which I also didn't find in a search result, which of course doesn't mean they don't exist). I mean an actual web service that can connect items on your list to dealer stocks, or something like that. Or a place dealers can sift through want lists if they want.

I am having trouble putting this into words...

Simply, it seems to me with all the "wonderful" tech these days, it shouldn't be so hard for me to find nice copies of certain stamps online. Simple stamps. Can't find multiples of simple foreign stamps, either.

Perhaps my difficulty is based on bad search results, based on bad advertising of people's websites, etc etc etc.

Perhaps I simply have too narrow tastes? I can never find info I want regarding my other hobbies, either.

The only way to find what you want online is if someone with like interests posted it, after all. (why can't I find info/photos of the brick factory that once stood where our local high school is now???) Online archives have been very useful, but it takes hours to find and search those. AND they don't sell stamps! ;-)

(DEPRESSED VENTING OVER)

Nells

Well, not as a solution, but as a Prozac-free aid, I don't mind looking at your list, if you want to send me a PM. Assuming it's not the expensive exotica of Victorian philately, of course.

Geoff

Geoff - I will remember your offer! :-)

Just found this: http://stamps.org/Want-List

Nice site but takes the fun out of the search and the excitement of finally finding what your looking for .

Ideally APS or some other influential organization would develop and publish and 'open' specification or document which could become the standard that most venders would use. This would then allow hobbyists to enter their want list once into a spreadsheet or online form which could then be used by any seller.

But it would require the organization to have vision beyond just themselves and view this investment as something that benefits all of philately.
Don