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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Downsizing

 

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rrraphy
Members Picture


Retired Consultant APS#186030

15 Feb 2019
02:37:11pm

Approvals
I have come to the realization that my past efforts to downsize my collection have failed miserably.
I tried Approval Books, but while it did take care of a small portion of my duplicates, 100s of books and several years later I must admit that it has been less than effective in putting a dent in what I intend to get rid of. The main accomplishment is that it helped me organize my duplicates, which now take a lot MORE space than before, as they are better organized!!! Surprise
I have been successful in transferring some collections to nephews and relatives who expressed an interest (US, Germany, Switzerland..and plan to donate France to the family as well), but I have retained many of the duplicates as they were not organized...wonder if that was a mistake?
I have sold a few complete collections before at Auctions, but unless you offer substantial depth and lots of high value stamps, it does not seem efficient, or to pay enough for the material, especially if they are grouped together and sold as lots.
Single countries seem to sell much better, but I would prefer to share with collectors rather than dealers or "unknown"?
So I am looking for advice from others who have faced the same situation.
How did you downsize. What has worked for you. How much were you able to cash out versus just give away? Right now I have planned to get rid of all East Europe collections and duplicates, Non colonial Africa, all of Asia (less my specialty: Middle East and a country or 2), all of Britain and Colonies (less Europe's Malta, Cyprus,Gibraltar), all UN, plus a number of topical collections.

I still have substantial duplicate holdings for the rest of the world in addition to the collections I continue to work on. But I could really use the extra space and must find a more effective way of reducing the "peripheral" collections and a lot of the duplicates in ALL areas.

If you have faced the same dilemma and have been successful, or have advice to share on what works and does not work, I would appreciate any and all advice.
rrr...

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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Feb 2019
03:41:23pm

Auctions - Approvals
re: Downsizing

This is hypothetical but remember the "mystery lots" that used to come in a cloth bag?

Anyway - what I have done to date is to separate out the duplicates and things I just don't care about anymore into 1 ounce baggies - that gets rid of the clutter and keeps me from wanting to go back through them "in case I missed something". Off paper stamps run 400 to 600 per ounce depending on size. Most of my stuff is pre 1950's so there are a lot of seldom seen things visible.

Don't know yet how I am fgoing to sell them - 1 ounce, 4 ounces, 8 pounces or by the pound (6400 to 9600 stamps). Will have to look at Ebay and see what others do. But the key here is they are ready to sell and never have to be looked at again which in and of itself is an accomplishment.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with a few thousand covers....

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1938324
Members Picture


15 Feb 2019
04:13:56pm

Auctions - Approvals
re: Downsizing

I hesitate to say I've "been successful" in Downsizing, but I get rid of a lot of stamps almost every day. The followings seems to work for me, until I alter my own plan/strategy.

Ebay: I try to List 50 somewhat more expensive Items every month. When I hit 50, Ebay wants to charge me 35 cents per Item Listed. I balk at this, and Ebay sometimes Lists the Item for Free.

StampoRama: I try to maintain 200 Items in the Auction. This just seems to be a comfortable # for no particular reason. I have attempted to obtain the # of Items SOR management might think is acceptable, without success. Oftentimes SOR Auction Buyers ask me if I have any more stamps from a certain country or topic. I try to jump on this.

I go the Approval route, and what doesn't sell I donate to a couple of stamp organizations.

HipStamp: I was doing the $15 per month Auction route, but HipStamp was charging me 3 cents every 10 days for every Item I was relisting. I was losing $$$. I switched everything over to the $5 per Store route. You can List up to 10,000 Items, versus 1,00 Items for the Auction route. Figure I'll be gone before I hit the 10,000 #.

Local Stamp Club: I've been surprisingly successful with the Port St. Lucie Stamp Club by selecting 25 Items every month that I think the attendees might be interested in. 23 Lots Sold out of 25 Lots submitted that past Tues.

While I was working in Fremont, CA, (and commuting every week) I belonged to the California Collectors Club. An interesting observation was that what was in demand on the west coast wasn't necessarily in demand on the east coast, and vis versa.

Armed Forces Stamp Club (AFSC): Some little success with their Auctions.

International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors (ISWSC): Some little success with their Auctions.

I hope this helps. The question I anticipate. How much time do I devote to these activities? The answer, for better or worse, is 3-5 hrs. per day. The only reason my wife tolerates this is because I turn all income over to her.

Regards,

Bob Armstrong












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DaveSheridan
Members Picture


15 Feb 2019
06:42:22pm
re: Downsizing

I'm always looking to buy wholesale/bulk lots for breakdown and sale. Please bear me in mind if you want to downsize en masse Happy

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philb
Members Picture


15 Feb 2019
08:23:34pm

Auctions
re: Downsizing

Thats what i like about Stamporama you ask a question and you get an answer !

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"And every hair is measured like every grain of sand"
dell4c

15 Feb 2019
10:19:36pm

Approvals
re: Downsizing

I've managed to get rid of a lot of dups and downsize some collections through the stamporama approvals. Then I take what doesn't sell and put them in a local clubs sales books. When they get returned from the club after two years they go in a box and that goes to a club auction starting at a buck. I figure if no one wanted them in that time they are only worth what the auction will bring and if someone gets a deal then good for them at least they are gone.

Of course filling in lots of holes thanks to other sellers on stamporama tends to defeat a lot of the downsizing effort but its still fun trying to keep ahead.

Good Luck

Bob



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michael78651

16 Feb 2019
12:07:23am
re: Downsizing

I downsized many years ago by getting rid of the many minor catalog-numbered stamps and souvenir sheets. It cleared alot of pages from my albums, and also brought in some nice money as I sold them off. Then...I started using Steiner pages, and he has many pages for minor varieties (that was a bad thing).

I then read an article of how in England during World War II that the Nazis bombed the printing plants where the perforation machines were for stamp production. The British moved stamp production to one printing facility after another as the bombing continued. The different plants had different perforating sizes, so that was the reason for the so many different perforation types for many British colony stamps. Seeing that as a significant reason, I printed out the pages, and resumed re-adding those minor varieties to my collection. Next thing I knew, I was adding many souvenir sheets and even color varieties again. I think I probably have it all back again to where it was prior to my downsizing.

Downsizing a stamp collection is like going on a diet. You lose the weight, but then before you know it, you gained it all back again!

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Brechinite

16 Feb 2019
05:37:30am
re: Downsizing

A couple of stamp shops in Edinburgh hold regular Stamp Auctions with up to 500 lots a time. The lots range from mixed boxes, collections, single albums, stockbooks, sets and single stamps. Estimates can vary from a couple of thousand pounds to £15.00.

Both collectors and dealers attend these auctions.

Do you have something similar in San Francisco?

Personally I put all my unsold items into a box and put it into our local general auction house in Dundee. The boxes go into a general auction along with the ceramics, furniture, tools, books fridges etc. I always try and put in at least 3 boxes at a time. These boxes contain old stamporama approval sheets, old junior albums, old album pages, loose stamps both on and off paper, first day covers and the odd stockbook. On average I get about $50 per box.

Of course all auctions charge the seller fees and they differ from auction house to auction house. The other factor is how long it takes the auction house to pay you!!
Some pay within a month others can take up to three months!!

Always do your research into these auction houses before handing over any items.



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"Gonnae no dae that!..........Just gonnae no!"
dollhaus

16 Feb 2019
04:48:25pm
re: Downsizing

I downsized with almost no effort - but I wouldn't recommend my way, even though I probably made a profit from it.

We moved from Indiana to Missouri. We came up one box short - the one with all the duplicates, FDCs and other covers, plate blocks, and enough random stamp supplies and tools to finish filling the box. The albums themselves came with me in the car.

Lucky for me, this was a corporate transfer, and as part of the mover's bid to get all the company's business, they had thrown in full value coverage for loss and damage. The fuss with the moving company was not too bad. I did have an inventory of most of the better duplicates, the FDCs, and the blocks. I listed those at catalog value and copied pages as backup. They fussed about no records for the other covers and the uninventoried duplicates, but one day a check showed up for the full amount.

That's the first time I really appreciated the high prices listed in Scott.


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Zipper
Members Picture


Dogs are my favorite people. I hang with this one as often as I can.

17 Feb 2019
09:40:30am
re: Downsizing

I give mine away.

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
rrraphy

Retired Consultant APS#186030
15 Feb 2019
02:37:11pm

Approvals

I have come to the realization that my past efforts to downsize my collection have failed miserably.
I tried Approval Books, but while it did take care of a small portion of my duplicates, 100s of books and several years later I must admit that it has been less than effective in putting a dent in what I intend to get rid of. The main accomplishment is that it helped me organize my duplicates, which now take a lot MORE space than before, as they are better organized!!! Surprise
I have been successful in transferring some collections to nephews and relatives who expressed an interest (US, Germany, Switzerland..and plan to donate France to the family as well), but I have retained many of the duplicates as they were not organized...wonder if that was a mistake?
I have sold a few complete collections before at Auctions, but unless you offer substantial depth and lots of high value stamps, it does not seem efficient, or to pay enough for the material, especially if they are grouped together and sold as lots.
Single countries seem to sell much better, but I would prefer to share with collectors rather than dealers or "unknown"?
So I am looking for advice from others who have faced the same situation.
How did you downsize. What has worked for you. How much were you able to cash out versus just give away? Right now I have planned to get rid of all East Europe collections and duplicates, Non colonial Africa, all of Asia (less my specialty: Middle East and a country or 2), all of Britain and Colonies (less Europe's Malta, Cyprus,Gibraltar), all UN, plus a number of topical collections.

I still have substantial duplicate holdings for the rest of the world in addition to the collections I continue to work on. But I could really use the extra space and must find a more effective way of reducing the "peripheral" collections and a lot of the duplicates in ALL areas.

If you have faced the same dilemma and have been successful, or have advice to share on what works and does not work, I would appreciate any and all advice.
rrr...

Like
Login to Like
this post

"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Feb 2019
03:41:23pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Downsizing

This is hypothetical but remember the "mystery lots" that used to come in a cloth bag?

Anyway - what I have done to date is to separate out the duplicates and things I just don't care about anymore into 1 ounce baggies - that gets rid of the clutter and keeps me from wanting to go back through them "in case I missed something". Off paper stamps run 400 to 600 per ounce depending on size. Most of my stuff is pre 1950's so there are a lot of seldom seen things visible.

Don't know yet how I am fgoing to sell them - 1 ounce, 4 ounces, 8 pounces or by the pound (6400 to 9600 stamps). Will have to look at Ebay and see what others do. But the key here is they are ready to sell and never have to be looked at again which in and of itself is an accomplishment.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with a few thousand covers....

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
1938324

15 Feb 2019
04:13:56pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Downsizing

I hesitate to say I've "been successful" in Downsizing, but I get rid of a lot of stamps almost every day. The followings seems to work for me, until I alter my own plan/strategy.

Ebay: I try to List 50 somewhat more expensive Items every month. When I hit 50, Ebay wants to charge me 35 cents per Item Listed. I balk at this, and Ebay sometimes Lists the Item for Free.

StampoRama: I try to maintain 200 Items in the Auction. This just seems to be a comfortable # for no particular reason. I have attempted to obtain the # of Items SOR management might think is acceptable, without success. Oftentimes SOR Auction Buyers ask me if I have any more stamps from a certain country or topic. I try to jump on this.

I go the Approval route, and what doesn't sell I donate to a couple of stamp organizations.

HipStamp: I was doing the $15 per month Auction route, but HipStamp was charging me 3 cents every 10 days for every Item I was relisting. I was losing $$$. I switched everything over to the $5 per Store route. You can List up to 10,000 Items, versus 1,00 Items for the Auction route. Figure I'll be gone before I hit the 10,000 #.

Local Stamp Club: I've been surprisingly successful with the Port St. Lucie Stamp Club by selecting 25 Items every month that I think the attendees might be interested in. 23 Lots Sold out of 25 Lots submitted that past Tues.

While I was working in Fremont, CA, (and commuting every week) I belonged to the California Collectors Club. An interesting observation was that what was in demand on the west coast wasn't necessarily in demand on the east coast, and vis versa.

Armed Forces Stamp Club (AFSC): Some little success with their Auctions.

International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors (ISWSC): Some little success with their Auctions.

I hope this helps. The question I anticipate. How much time do I devote to these activities? The answer, for better or worse, is 3-5 hrs. per day. The only reason my wife tolerates this is because I turn all income over to her.

Regards,

Bob Armstrong












Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
DaveSheridan

15 Feb 2019
06:42:22pm

re: Downsizing

I'm always looking to buy wholesale/bulk lots for breakdown and sale. Please bear me in mind if you want to downsize en masse Happy

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.b1d.com/store/gl ...
Members Picture
philb

15 Feb 2019
08:23:34pm

Auctions

re: Downsizing

Thats what i like about Stamporama you ask a question and you get an answer !

Like
Login to Like
this post

"And every hair is measured like every grain of sand"
dell4c

15 Feb 2019
10:19:36pm

Approvals

re: Downsizing

I've managed to get rid of a lot of dups and downsize some collections through the stamporama approvals. Then I take what doesn't sell and put them in a local clubs sales books. When they get returned from the club after two years they go in a box and that goes to a club auction starting at a buck. I figure if no one wanted them in that time they are only worth what the auction will bring and if someone gets a deal then good for them at least they are gone.

Of course filling in lots of holes thanks to other sellers on stamporama tends to defeat a lot of the downsizing effort but its still fun trying to keep ahead.

Good Luck

Bob



Like
Login to Like
this post
michael78651

16 Feb 2019
12:07:23am

re: Downsizing

I downsized many years ago by getting rid of the many minor catalog-numbered stamps and souvenir sheets. It cleared alot of pages from my albums, and also brought in some nice money as I sold them off. Then...I started using Steiner pages, and he has many pages for minor varieties (that was a bad thing).

I then read an article of how in England during World War II that the Nazis bombed the printing plants where the perforation machines were for stamp production. The British moved stamp production to one printing facility after another as the bombing continued. The different plants had different perforating sizes, so that was the reason for the so many different perforation types for many British colony stamps. Seeing that as a significant reason, I printed out the pages, and resumed re-adding those minor varieties to my collection. Next thing I knew, I was adding many souvenir sheets and even color varieties again. I think I probably have it all back again to where it was prior to my downsizing.

Downsizing a stamp collection is like going on a diet. You lose the weight, but then before you know it, you gained it all back again!

Like 
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Brechinite

16 Feb 2019
05:37:30am

re: Downsizing

A couple of stamp shops in Edinburgh hold regular Stamp Auctions with up to 500 lots a time. The lots range from mixed boxes, collections, single albums, stockbooks, sets and single stamps. Estimates can vary from a couple of thousand pounds to £15.00.

Both collectors and dealers attend these auctions.

Do you have something similar in San Francisco?

Personally I put all my unsold items into a box and put it into our local general auction house in Dundee. The boxes go into a general auction along with the ceramics, furniture, tools, books fridges etc. I always try and put in at least 3 boxes at a time. These boxes contain old stamporama approval sheets, old junior albums, old album pages, loose stamps both on and off paper, first day covers and the odd stockbook. On average I get about $50 per box.

Of course all auctions charge the seller fees and they differ from auction house to auction house. The other factor is how long it takes the auction house to pay you!!
Some pay within a month others can take up to three months!!

Always do your research into these auction houses before handing over any items.



Like
Login to Like
this post

"Gonnae no dae that!..........Just gonnae no!"
dollhaus

16 Feb 2019
04:48:25pm

re: Downsizing

I downsized with almost no effort - but I wouldn't recommend my way, even though I probably made a profit from it.

We moved from Indiana to Missouri. We came up one box short - the one with all the duplicates, FDCs and other covers, plate blocks, and enough random stamp supplies and tools to finish filling the box. The albums themselves came with me in the car.

Lucky for me, this was a corporate transfer, and as part of the mover's bid to get all the company's business, they had thrown in full value coverage for loss and damage. The fuss with the moving company was not too bad. I did have an inventory of most of the better duplicates, the FDCs, and the blocks. I listed those at catalog value and copied pages as backup. They fussed about no records for the other covers and the uninventoried duplicates, but one day a check showed up for the full amount.

That's the first time I really appreciated the high prices listed in Scott.


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Dogs are my favorite people. I hang with this one as often as I can.
17 Feb 2019
09:40:30am

re: Downsizing

I give mine away.

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