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Pillar Of The Community
United States
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From an APS email blast today... Quote:
After nearly a year since moving the APS StampStore to HipStamp, the APS launched an initiative to upgrade and improve StampStore features, introduce an instructional video series, and modernize the program for APS members to buy and sell.
"We've heard from sellers, and we've identified some search issues for covers, postal stationery, and postcards," said Carol Hoffman, Director of APS Sales, "We're listening and working to make StampStore the best it can be."
To learn more about the improvements to StampStore and the upcoming video series, click the button below! Button reveals: Quote:
APS Launches Improvements to StampStore
10/27/2023
Announces Upgrade to Search Functions
After nearly a year since moving the APS StampStore to HipStamp, the APS launched an initiative to upgrade and improve StampStore features, introduce an instructional video series, and modernize the program for APS members to buy and sell.
"We've heard from sellers, and we've identified some search issues for covers, postal stationery, and postcards," said Carol Hoffman, Director of APS Sales, "We're listening and working to make StampStore the best it can be."
Search Functions
The initial search capability in our store was limited to Country and Scott numbers, which works well for stamp searches, but did not include critical details provided by the descriptions. Through collaboration with HipStamp, we've improved the search capabilities for those items.
Upgrades
HipStamp increased the search field for our covers/postcards from 80 to 128 characters.
The APS modified the search field to Country, Scott numbers, and Description. Note: It's important to list the key searchable words first in your description.
We revised submission sheets to create specific sheets for stamps and postal entries.
The new submission sheets are fillable forms for easier entry. Sheets in black and white backgrounds are available on the APS website for home printing, or can be downloaded below. Black background sheets will soon be available for sale through our website under the Shop Section (Hobby Supplies) at 20 for $3.00 ($1.25 shipping and handling).
Stamp Submission Sheet (Black Background)
Stamp Submission Sheet (White Background)
Cover Submission Sheet (Black Background)
Cover Submission Sheet (White Background)
Educational Series
The APS is also launching an educational effort to help buyers and sellers use StampStore on HipStamp, including short How-To videos. We will share more information once the series is available.
Resources
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Moderator
United States
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Quote:
...HipStamp increased the search field for our covers/postcards from 80 to 128 characters... I doubt this is going to help those who sell postal history, covers and postcards. I especially doubt it will appease Ken Lawerance who has raised this issue in another forum that has been going on for months. In my opinion, the first bigger question in my mind is, 'was this short-coming originally factored into the APS decision to go with Hip' and according to the other forum thread, the APS point person for Hip said it was news to her. If this is so, my next question is, 'why wasn't this issue disclosed early in the public discussions and pitching of the relationship between APS and HS?' Seems like if this had been disclosed done it would have saved a lot of bad optics, drama, and time invested in this issue. Don |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1055 Posts |
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At least covers are searchable by description. Whether 80 characters or 128 characters, it is still an improvement over regular stamps, where APS allows 0 characters of the description to be searchable.
Country and Catalog Number is all that is searchable for stamps in the APS listings. I cannot search for anything else (specific town cancels, colored cancels, precancels, perfins, plate singles, or any other specialty) within the APS listings, nor can any potential buyers of my items in the APS Store find any listings of specialized topics when searching on HipStamp.
When searching across all of Hip Stamp, those topics do appear in the search results from other sellers, but none from the APS Store. Bad for buyers, bad for sellers.
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Valued Member
United States
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I have bought hundreds of stamps from AP before the change to Hip Stamp format/software, and I have never been so disappointed in any APS policy change/decision until this happened. This was the biggest mistake APS has ever made. I could elaborate further and I most probably should but I will only mention the photographic problems as my most disturbing problem. How can you really rate the quality of a stamp with this system? How much have they (Hip Stamp) decimated the quality of the buying experience from the old APS sales system. Lastly--Do you think that sales have been reduced dramatically? If not, please respond and explain to me how this horrid syatem can be used. Thanks! |
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Pillar Of The Community
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4415 Posts |
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Don I believe your question was one of Ken's complaints. I believe he expects APS to consult experienced philatelists when making many decisions. The APS/APRL board has two members that have auction experience (Noble Spirit, HR Harmers). Consulting Ken is a two edged sword. However, I suspect even with the changes his cover sales will not significantly improve. My question is are there people that would do what APS does for the 20% fee on ebay rather than hipstamp (much bigger pond). As for APS. I believe they are still ahead financially (the overriding reason for the move) with hipstamp so they are not looking. |
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Al |
| Edited by angore - 11/01/2023 06:38 am |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
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HMLA32972, Quote:
I have bought hundreds of stamps from AP before the change to Hip Stamp format/software, and I have never been so disappointed . . . the photographic problems as my most disturbing problem. How can you really rate the quality of a stamp with this system?
Didn't the old original APS StampStore have the exact same issues with the photographs (low resolution, no images of the backs of stamps, can't see pictures of complete sets, etc.)? It's not like they re-scanned 250,000 items when moving from the old store to HipStamp. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2830 Posts |
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Hipstamp has other oddities involving its search functions and various account maintenance functions. Over many years I have periodically mentioned these items to the leadership team but no changes have occurred that I've noticed. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
848 Posts |
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Neither the APS stamp store nor Hipstamp were built with postal history or specialized material in mind. They are both keyed to selling basic stamp material (country and catalog number), which I would venture to guess is what most sellers on both platforms are selling, and what most buyers are buying. I'm a postal history guy, not a stamp guy (mostly). I do some ebay commission work. I have been at 25% and even that only makes sense for higher value material. My guess is that other commission sellers are at that percentage or higher for most material, but it may depend on the service level and material value. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1162 Posts |
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I cannot IMAGINE doing a search using anywhere near 80 characters. Oh, and 128 is even more ludicrous, IMO. That is not to say that some people don't do such searches, or that I would NEVER see a need for that 'bandwidth', but I ESPECIALLY cannot imagine touting such a 'feature' as making progress in such a quagmire. It's like Yugo (a NOTORIOUSLY undependable car in the 1980's-ish) bragging that they are aware of some of the dependability issues and touting their newly designed window tinting, or seat padding, or some such thing. |
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| Edited by mootermutt987 - 11/01/2023 8:59 pm |
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Bedrock Of The Community
12553 Posts |
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Mooter - Speaking of Yugo's, back in the day I worked at a Chevy dealership that also sold Yugo's and the quality control was hilarious. We actually delivered one that had a five speed manual with the entire shift pattern reversed.  Had more than one customer have the sewing machine motor brick itself on test drives. Dead.  And I remember one where the wipers would come on when you turned the headlight switch but the headlight switch had no function.  |
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Valued Member
United States
8 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
8 Posts |
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No the old APS had at lest the front of the stamp photographed so you could see centering, etc. You can no longer search for a certain country and SC $ and get several different offers from different members. If I am wrong, send me a tutorial on how to use this bizarre and confusing system. Thanks |
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Valued Member
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Quote from APS email
"The initial search capability in our store was limited to Country and Scott numbers, which works well for stamp searches, but did not include critical details provided by the descriptions"
I am not sure why they think these 2 very limited search fields work any better for stamps than for covers.
As I had mentioned in another thread, and Zebraman mentions above, using any keyword other than Cat# or Country brings up "Zero" results when searching their store.
I imagine many specialized collectors including myself have not been able find or buy anything from the APS Store since the switch to Hipstamp.
If they could expand the search field (even if only the first 48 characters) into the description for covers, why wouldn't they have done this for all the listing?
Is Hipstamp charging extra for this added capability?
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| Edited by mike2006 - 11/02/2023 1:44 pm |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4415 Posts |
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What gets me about hipstamp is that they are supposedly foremost on stamps (at least in name) so over time they would have a superior platform for selling philatelic material if anything to offset ebay's advantages. As part of this APS could be a valuable voice of sellers. |
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Al |
| Edited by angore - 11/02/2023 3:13 pm |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
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I agree. I would like to see hipstamp do well, if only to provide a viable alternative to ebay. |
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Pillar Of The Community
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4283 Posts |
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Quote:What gets me about hipstamp is that they are supposedly foremost on stamps (at least in name) so over time they would have a superior platform for selling philatelic material if anything to offset ebay's advantages. As part of this APS could be a valuable voice of sellers. Quote:I agree. I would like to see hipstamp do well, if only to provide a viable alternative to ebay. Perhaps it will take some time for Hip's sales to be noticed and it is unlikely they will be a real alternative to ebay. From the Hip page with seller fees discussed ( https://www.hipstamp.com/fees ) Quote:
Join the fast-growing marketplace designed exclusively for stamp collectors who spend millions each year purchasing from knowledgeable sellers like you. A quick search shows ebay sold $34.498 million in just 90 days (back in 2017, see link below). That is over $137 Million in annual stamp sales. Likely ebay collects more in sales tax on purchase than Hip does in gross stamp sales for a year. https://goscf.com/t/52695Edited to add "annual" above. |
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| Edited by Parcelpostguy - 11/02/2023 6:44 pm |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,125 |
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Posted 10/31/2023 5:03 pm
