Mailings From Mystic Stamp

I get these on a regular basis and decided to share.

The Scott value is $17.50 for a mint sheet.

Maybe they're quoting Brookman?



Also, I don't see a claim that the catalog value is $30 - maybe their retail price is $30.

I see this a lot on auction sites. They'll refer to an unreasonable (or very high) original retail price and then offer the item on low-start auctions. I'll admit I initially bit on some of the schemes. The stamps were NEVER for retail sale, and the original retail price can be set to anything, but this creates the impression that you're getting a bargain.

In Mystic's price catalog, they do list it for $30 so that is their normal price.

Im sure it is, then they will send send you approvals with horrible centering for high prices.

I'm fine with Mystic and have made the occasional purchase from them, but I swear it seems every interaction I have results in them sending me approvals, without me requesting.

I always say, Valuebis established by what someone will pay for item.

It just seems their prices are high because they spend so much on marketing.

These two items arrived yesterday. Yet another catalog and an tabloid sized mailer.

They will stop sending approvals if you ask them. I still receive the catalogs, though.

Jack Kelley

The catalogues make great fire starters for the fireplace during the in winter months. Stock up now, especially if you live on the east coast of the USA, or anywhere in Scotland.

I got this today...Scott value $9.00 (2018)

What a bunch of old curmudgeons! Despite the critical comments about Mystic, I'm all for them. I don't buy much from them, but have purchased a few things when on sale or when I can't find the item anywhere else. They're very easy to deal with and answer all my questions.

Comments here seem to be based on just not liking them very much. Why? Because they send approvals? Oh, dear! What a terrible thing. That's how stamp dealers have always operated. Send them back if you don't want them, then let them know you'd rather not receive any more. Problem solved.

Have you made any purchases from them? I've made a few, and they're always shipped promptly. I've never had a bad experience. It's easy to be condescending, but not always so easy to know what you're being condescending about. Mystic reminds me a little of the old H.E. Harris Company that brought so many thousands of people into stamp collecting in the 1950s and 60s. Harris also charged high prices (due to all the hand labor involved with cheaper stamps, I assume) and they were also pretty insistent about sending out lots of approvals. Never bothered me. I felt like they were my partner in stamp collecting, and I bought from them regularly, sending in my dimes and quarters taped to pieces of cardboard. It's what started me in stamp collecting. In fact they were the only dealer I ever bought from until I was pretty much grown up.

I'm glad Mystic is around and making people enthusiastic about buying stamps. Their catalogue is excellent and the fact that it's free is pretty amazing. That's another similarity with H.E. Harris which also sent out free catalogues, the only ones I could "afford" for many years. Sure, their stamps are not cheap but so what? Don't buy from them if you don't want to. But you can still see how good they are for bringing people into the hobby and how they do offer some items you might not be able to find easily anywhere else.

I have purchased from them and agree they have good customer service. I have the Mystic album set, the best value around, but do not buy stamps for them due to their prices.

I just keep getting mailings and their high prices are likely due to their high marketing expenses. I have been asked to be removed from their mailing list and know I am not the only one who receives these mailers. I received 5 catalog this year - a good US catalog but you only need one.

Mystic is a throwback in the age of ebay. I really thought that they would be gone by now. I do not begrudge them their high prices given their overhead. The mailers would seem to be wasteful but it must work for them or they would not be doing it. I do wonder if they sell their mailing lists. If they were gone it would be a bit sad, kind of like the end of Washington Press.

I deal with Mystic on occasion. They have some high prices, but they need to, to keep going since ebay is such a huge competitor. I hope we can all agree that if/when Mystic closes their doors for good it will be the end of an era and a sad day for stamp collectors.

It's as if some people work for Mystic Stamps. That is the precise sort of company which ruined the hobby.