Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I'm not saying all approval stamp stores are bad, there must be good honest approval stamp stores someplace. My experience in the stamp store that had an approval service, it was run with the idea to make money, it made money, but it was kinda dishonest, like bait and switch operation. This stamp business had good people working there, really nice people. Their favorite approval customer were the long term customer who stayed for years and years.
So what do SOR members think, what are your experiences?
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"it was run with the idea to make money"
Pretty much true of any store, unless the owners are operating the store as a hobby.
"but it was kinda dishonest"
Were they selling counterfeit stamps? How does one do a bait and switch with an approval service? I would think the most common complaint about a stamp purchase would be "not as described" -- not really possible with approvals.
I only used an approval service as a child. H.E. Harris and Kenmore. As I gained more experience, I learned that approvals tended to be priced higher than other sources.
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Approvals are one way to experience the hobby, but not my way, so I am indifferent on the subject.
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I guess what David is referring to is the practice of sending approvals to a mail list, generally not requested by the recipient, say through a mail list purchased from Linns, and then sending collection notices of a sort when the recipient kept the stamps. Eventually there was a crackdown by some govt body, or maybe it was a lawsuit and the perpetrators ceased this unethical activity.
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Anyone who receives an unsolicited mailing is legally entitled to keep the merchandise without payment.
39 U.S. Code § 3009 - Mailing of unordered merchandise
(a)Except for (1) free samples clearly and conspicuously marked as such, and (2) merchandise mailed by a charitable organization soliciting contributions, the mailing of unordered merchandise or of communications prohibited by subsection (c) of this section constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair trade practice in violation of section 45(a)(1) of title 15.
(b)Any merchandise mailed in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or within the exceptions contained therein, may be treated as a gift by the recipient, who shall have the right to retain, use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any obligation whatsoever to the sender. All such merchandise shall have attached to it a clear and conspicuous statement informing the recipient that he may treat the merchandise as a gift to him and has the right to retain, use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any obligation whatsoever to the sender.
(c)No mailer of any merchandise mailed in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or within the exceptions contained therein, shall mail to any recipient of such merchandise a bill for such merchandise or any dunning communications.
(d)For the purposes of this section, “unordered merchandise” means merchandise mailed without the prior expressed request or consent of the recipient.
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One know stamp approval seller would sell some "rare stamps" at supposedly a bargain price and then note that approvals would be sent as well.
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For me I don't see any reason to be a member of the stamp approval services.
I'm sure there is honest approval services out there somewhere, but how would a new collector find out?
1898
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12:02:26am
".... I'm sure there is honest approval services out there somewhere, but how would a new collector find out? ..."
This question may seem difficult at first but becomes obvious to anyone, newbie or 60 year wizened veteran collector,
The first part of the puzzlement; who, where, what, and how, can be solved with pathetic ease, just as almost any other cause for bafflement is handled these days. Either open the browser's search feature and enter ''postage stamps on approval,'' or ''call a friend.''
The solution to the second segment of befuddlement, involving honesty, is more complex, but conveniently very familiar. It is the same technique most of us use every day to select an auto repair shop, a green grocer or a local cremation provider, try them once and if not satisfied take your business elsewhere.
I trust that removes the mystification of the proffered conundrum.
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It all boils down to:
Buyer be aware.
Use simply common sense.
Look before you leap.
My personal favorite "Never, but never give up"
1898
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04:58:47pm
I worked for 2 stamp stores, one did not do approval, the second one did have an approval service.
I'm not saying all approval stamp stores are bad, there must be good honest approval stamp stores someplace. My experience in the stamp store that had an approval service, it was run with the idea to make money, it made money, but it was kinda dishonest, like bait and switch operation. This stamp business had good people working there, really nice people. Their favorite approval customer were the long term customer who stayed for years and years.
So what do SOR members think, what are your experiences?
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this post
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
"it was run with the idea to make money"
Pretty much true of any store, unless the owners are operating the store as a hobby.
"but it was kinda dishonest"
Were they selling counterfeit stamps? How does one do a bait and switch with an approval service? I would think the most common complaint about a stamp purchase would be "not as described" -- not really possible with approvals.
I only used an approval service as a child. H.E. Harris and Kenmore. As I gained more experience, I learned that approvals tended to be priced higher than other sources.
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re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
Approvals are one way to experience the hobby, but not my way, so I am indifferent on the subject.
Login to Like
this post
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
I guess what David is referring to is the practice of sending approvals to a mail list, generally not requested by the recipient, say through a mail list purchased from Linns, and then sending collection notices of a sort when the recipient kept the stamps. Eventually there was a crackdown by some govt body, or maybe it was a lawsuit and the perpetrators ceased this unethical activity.
Login to Like
this post
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
Anyone who receives an unsolicited mailing is legally entitled to keep the merchandise without payment.
39 U.S. Code § 3009 - Mailing of unordered merchandise
(a)Except for (1) free samples clearly and conspicuously marked as such, and (2) merchandise mailed by a charitable organization soliciting contributions, the mailing of unordered merchandise or of communications prohibited by subsection (c) of this section constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair trade practice in violation of section 45(a)(1) of title 15.
(b)Any merchandise mailed in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or within the exceptions contained therein, may be treated as a gift by the recipient, who shall have the right to retain, use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any obligation whatsoever to the sender. All such merchandise shall have attached to it a clear and conspicuous statement informing the recipient that he may treat the merchandise as a gift to him and has the right to retain, use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any obligation whatsoever to the sender.
(c)No mailer of any merchandise mailed in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or within the exceptions contained therein, shall mail to any recipient of such merchandise a bill for such merchandise or any dunning communications.
(d)For the purposes of this section, “unordered merchandise” means merchandise mailed without the prior expressed request or consent of the recipient.
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this post
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
One know stamp approval seller would sell some "rare stamps" at supposedly a bargain price and then note that approvals would be sent as well.
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this post
01:54:34pm
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
For me I don't see any reason to be a member of the stamp approval services.
I'm sure there is honest approval services out there somewhere, but how would a new collector find out?
1898
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
04 Aug 2023
12:02:26am
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
".... I'm sure there is honest approval services out there somewhere, but how would a new collector find out? ..."
This question may seem difficult at first but becomes obvious to anyone, newbie or 60 year wizened veteran collector,
The first part of the puzzlement; who, where, what, and how, can be solved with pathetic ease, just as almost any other cause for bafflement is handled these days. Either open the browser's search feature and enter ''postage stamps on approval,'' or ''call a friend.''
The solution to the second segment of befuddlement, involving honesty, is more complex, but conveniently very familiar. It is the same technique most of us use every day to select an auto repair shop, a green grocer or a local cremation provider, try them once and if not satisfied take your business elsewhere.
I trust that removes the mystification of the proffered conundrum.
4 Members
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Login to Like.
09:27:40am
re: Informal Poll: Approval Business Good or Bad?
It all boils down to:
Buyer be aware.
Use simply common sense.
Look before you leap.
My personal favorite "Never, but never give up"
1898
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