2 Post Or 3 Ringer Binder

Unless one has old pages and wishes to be consistent, or for nostalgia, why would one choose a 2 post binder over a 3 ring? The 3 ring seems to be a better binder all around. Am I missing something please?

Yes, you're missing a four-ring and a twenty-two ring.

In general, the more you increase the ring numbers, the more you decrease the capacity. And the more you opt for binders with odd numbers if rings, the more you limit interooerability. I doubt that anyone outside the US uses three-ring binders (well, can't speak for Canadians).

Do 3 ring binders really not exist in Britain, Europe? In US they are ubiquitous, every school child uses them (for paper, folders, files), to corporate printed materials (training, documentation, sales etc), to photo albums, to collecting of all sorts (trading cards, etc)

The biggest advantage of 2 post is capacity--take the mammoth albums like Minkus Supreme Global, or Scott International--which fit many hundreds of pages in one very thick volume. Probably would need at least three 3 ring binders, and double the shelf space. They also take more desk space when working with them--probably about 30% more width. Also durability. There are 2 post albums almost 100 years old which still perform great, but with 3 ring binders, the rings get mangled quickly.

The only three-ring binders I've come across have been American. The norm here is two or four. The big advantage of twenty-two ring is portability and smoother page-turning. And you don't break your wrist picking them up, of course.

I use, and hunt for, second hand 4 RING, they support my pages better.

I have a "Op Shop" (Opportunity Shop) in the next village
and, no exaggeration, in the stationery section , there would be 100+ 2 ring Binders, and 500+ "Lever Arch Files"

They cannot give them away.
Lever arch files....the biggest fail in stationery, the weight of pages deforms
the cheap Chinese pins, where they meet, and become instantly useless.

Some time ago, I had an idea to import the 4 ring steel mechanism,
and Rivet them into the 2 ring binders.
Ha! the mechanisms were twice the price of 4 ring binders

I seem to recall someone here having a tip for getting two-rings back into gear. I've got rid of quite a few via my front-garden wall "please take me" box.

Tip: Be wary of the new fangled 4 ring / 6 ring (which won't fit a Hagners)
with "finger release tab"
I bought one, and found the ring pressure to be weak, and sometimes
flipping a page the page escapes from the ring.
More cheap Chinese products.

OK.I forgot about the rest of the world. Consider Scott 2-post and 3-ring. Does the 2-post hold more sheets, or is there no advantage to the 2-post? It is a pain to put sheets in and does not lie as flat.

As tsmatx said, post binders have the greatest capacity and are more robust, but with drawbacks.

It's probably down to personal preference. It looks like you have already decided, though? I much prefer Scott 2-post binders.

• As rod noted, 3 ring mechs are all pretty cheap quality, always have been. The rings can get out of alignment especially with the size used in Scott 3" binders. 2-post album pages obviously won't catch on where the rings meet. The ring mechanism will break if say, you're always moving around or adding a lot of pages, but they're not made to last forever. Your mileage may vary. You can drill out the rivets holding the whole mech down and replace it. The 2-post system will also eventually wear out but it takes a long time to do so.
• Since the rings are round and with the capacity of the 3" Scott album, your stamps will be scuffing against the backs of pages all the time, very much less of a problem with the 2-post system. So you will probably want to buy interleaving for 3-ring binders. A D-ring 3-ring binder would be better in this regard vs. round rings and probably wouldn't require interleaving. Neither ring nor post albums should be packed solid or even filled close to full with pages.
• Standing up ring binders on the shelf puts stress on the page holes especially the top ones. Over time, some pages are going to come loose at the top. You can always add hole reinforcements. No such problem with 2-post albums.

I got the Scott Revenue album and it came with the 3-ring, it seems better than my old 2-post albums I already had. I thank you all for the responses and only time will tell (for me) at least. I will not be adding pages to the album so its ease of use does not come into play. THANKS

I prefer Scott Specialty 3 ring binders with Scott clear page protectors. Keeps the pages encapsulated in the protectors and certs can easily be stored on the back of the pages.