I'm surprised I have any hair on my head. The frustration with stamp dealers can really drive one mad.

I recently sent requests for approvals from four dealers, based on ads in Linns. Two dealers I have not yet heard from. Here is what I got from the other two, who will remain anonymous to protect the morons:

To each of the dealers, I sent the same letter, requesting approvals. I provided my APS number, and told them that I collected worldwide MNH complete sets and singles. Due to my collection size, I can only handle a selection from one country at a time. I give the dealer full license to send whichever country they want. This gives them a chance to get rid of material that's been sitting around, and I most likely will have spaces to fill with since they are from non-popular areas.

Dealer #1:

Sent me a letter stating that before he will send me stamps, I must read his high-dollar printed pamphlet on his rules for his selling and my buying his stamps. He also stated that I must complete his enclosed questionnaire that will tell him what I want to collect.

I looked at the questionnaire, and it asked for all the same information that I told him in my request letter. He could have filled it in himself. His pamphlet of rules was like a law book. I threw everything he sent in the recycle bin.

Dealer #2:

Sent me a small selection of stamps valued at $5. I get it. Approval dealers, of which I was one a long time ago, are wary of new customers. Theft is rampant among collectors who ask for approvals. He hand wrote an invoice of all the stamps in the selection. He also enclosed a printed out, different invoice. That made no sense. In the back of the printed out invoice, he wrote a letter. He stated that he was not ignoring the fact that I requested only MNH sets and singles, and from only one country at a time. He continued that he felt that it would not be fair to his other customers if I received only MNH stamps. Also, he stated that he refuses to send only single country collections, because that isn't fair to his customers either, because they won't be able to see those stamps if i buy them. (ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU WANTING TO DISPLAY OR SELL YOUR STAMPS?). Therefore, he only sends up to three items from a country per selection, and not all would be MNH.

I told him that he had alot to learn about retail. The stamps that he sent me were absolutely garbage, and mostly used. I told him to not waste my time with sending me what I did not want, and that I would happily spend my money elsewhere. I packaged everything up and sent it back.


Many years ago, I had an approval dealer sending me approvals that were a mix of used and unused. I have requested the same as I did of the dealers above. He told me that he was going to send me what he wanted to. Another dealer who did not get any money from me.

What is so difficult to understand that if a customer wants certain items that you send that customer the items that the customer wants? If I go into a grocery store, and I tell them that I want a gallon of milk, it doesn't do me any good for the store manager to go get me a toilet bowl plunger, and tell me to buy it or leave. Like with the approval dealers, I leave, and take my money elsewhere.

 
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Harvey

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Thankfully I have been dealing with the same family of dealers for 50 years - after that amount of time they trust me. I really can see both sides, but your experience is extreme!!!

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angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
04 Feb 2021
05:40:54am

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Dealers are likely just trying to unload what the have and do not have much of what you want.

 
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re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Got a response from a third dealer. He is an APS member. The delay in responding to me may be due to his checking my APS member status. I have no problem with that as anyone can validate any APS member. It is a good business practice on his part to do so, if he did indeed do that.

The selection was professionally packed, labeled and invoiced. All stamps are MNH, and with the exception of one stamp are in very nice condition. Discounts 15% up to 90% off catalog, plus an additional 10% discount if the entire selection is purchased. Stamps are priced based on condition, which is often not done as many dealers will charge the same for a damaged stamp as for a superb one. Those dealers I stay away from.

He enclosed a free "welcome" stamp. It is an oddity that is not listed by Scott. I will probably post a picture of it as I am interested to know if it is a single, or part of a set.

The country he sent is one that, if asked, I would say not to send it to me as I am 95% complete. However, because the condition of a few of the five sets and singles sent are in top condition, I will check against what I have and possibly upgrade.

With this dealer, I am satisfied as of the first selection sent. I will suggest a country to send me in the next selection.

One dealer is still not heard from.

 
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re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Aaaah Retail!

Whether it is in the stamp world or the real world a retailer cannot satisfy all the people all of the time.

A retailer sets out his stall with his goods for sale. Customers will either buy or not. That is it in its simplest form.

However it gets complicated because Customers are Human and they demand more as they want the "experience", the "extras", their "way" and they want it now!

Retailers are Human as well with their own wee foibles, ideas on how they want to run their business, try to be helpful to customers but recognise that sometimes they cannot fulfil the customers' needs. God help them when they tell the customer "Sorry we can't do that for you"

We all know that from our own experiences, there are stores we will go into and others we will never enter! Not in a month of Sundays!

Remember a retailer does not have to sell to you the same as you do not have to buy from a retailer.

If a retailer does not supply your needs then you mark it down to experience and find a retailer that suits your requirements.

 
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BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
05 Feb 2021
10:01:39pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

That same thought carries through all hobbies and commerce in general...

So many hobby shops have gone out of business in modern times. Some of the ones I've known, that have ended stating that they were run out of business by the Internet or Hobby Lobby underselling them. But knowing the exact situations, I can say the businesses ended due to the sour disposition of the owners and the way they treated people. Of course they didn't see that!

I had my windshield smashed by flying ice on the turnpike the other day. Today I tried to arrange my repair. I was able to get an instant online quote from one national company. I decided to try two local shops for comparison. I wound up talking to answering machines at both businesses, early today (Friday)... would you know neither got back to me? It must be nice to have all the business you need!

 
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re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

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