Annual Collection (2021): Official First Day Covers - Does This Actually Exist?

I usually place one order every year in January for the four quarterly packs and the official first day cover from Canada Post. This year, due to the awful ordering page and the fact that I live in China so I never actually see packages arriving in Canada (where I send them), I neglected to place my order in January.
Last week I went to order, only to find the usual mess of an ordering process. Although the site says everything is in stock, one of the quarterly packs was not available, and neither was the Official First Day Covers annual set in the wooden box. No big deal, I will just check the aftermarkets. I quickly found the missing quarterly pack but no luck at all with the First day covers. What was strange is that there is nothing on ebay, current or past sales. Does this set exist or is there such a complete lack of interest in new first day covers that nobody bothers with them?

The 2021 1st quarterly stamp packs sold out because of the Chinese year of set of - booklet and souvenir sheet, as well as the press sheet. Each one features different stamps, as well as the press sheet reissuing the past lunar cycle with new values. Unitrade put high values on the issues and stock sold out quickly. The 2nd quarter of 2020 with the artists booklet and SS sheet sold out fast because of popularity of issue.

As for FDC's demand has dropped quite a bit, quantity of print run is evidence of this. But the good news is they are still available. Just hit the magnifying glass image in top right corner of page and search for FDC collection or what ever you want. Its sometimes and usually faster than the messed up pages they now have. As for the 2021 year set of covers it is item #342250 @ $59.95 cdn.

Edit: added- stamp paks in first sentance

The problem is that the site is showing the set as available but when I try to purchase, it comes up as unavailable. Same situation with the quarterly packs but they were easy to find on the secondary market.







I plan on phoning but I imagine they are out of stock. What I found curious was that there were no current or past sales on ebay for this set, even though I can easily buy individual 2021 first day covers on the site. Checking with some stamp dealers, they don't have it in stock either. If there is a high demand for this set, why are the flippers not selling it on ebay? I can find 2020 sets on ebay.

I did not do a test order entry, which I should have, and when I did it showed unavailable or out of stock. So yes, I guess they are sold out of sets.

Hi TomSwift
Check out ebay.com #295020201999 for Quarterly #1

Thanks. I actually found one and bought it, albeit at an inflated price.

That's kind of my point though. Why is the quarterly pack available from dealers and flippers but the annual first day cover set not available at all, if both sold out quickly?

TomSwift,

Why not create a standing order with Canada Post for your needs?
That way, you won't miss out on any regular things you need and don't have to remember to order.

But, special things that can't be put on a standing order, though, you will have to order individually. I'm not sure what that would include - ask about exceptions when creating the standing order.

Hope that helps,
Peter

Peters correct. It is the best and easiest way. Quarterly, semi-annual or annual. As long as you jump on special issues or ones not included in the sets you get easy coverage of all issues. And as long as purchase total is $25cdn or more , no shipping cost. Hard to beat!

I did subscriptions for years but due to Canada Post's archaic web page, I always had problems with either my foreign address and/or my credit card so recently I have simply placed an order online once a year via telephone or online (when the web page worked). I thought my order had gone through in January but due to not being able to travel to Canada (I am in China), I am not able to check what I have. I noticed last week that the order had not gone through (the usual credit card issues) but this time I tried again, only to discover the unavailability of the annual first day cover set.

My main question still remains though. Has anyone actually seen a 2021 official first day cover set from Canada Post? No dealer stocks them (that I can find) and there are none past and present on ebay, even though there are many individual first day covers from 2021 available online.