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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Amateur dealing

 

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Connieb
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25 Oct 2010
11:37:17am

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I visit a stamp store near us frequently enough that the owner wanted to encourage me to become a dealer online. He said I could make some money to fund my passion and he could sell me more (at good prices) since he buys so much.

So I bought a box on speculation of USPS first day ceremony programs. Maybe it was a dumb move, because the sample listings I put on SOR aren't selling. I'm willing to learn from my mistakes.

Any cautions or advice on exploring this concept of escalating online philatelic selling to a different level?
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Bobstamp
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25 Oct 2010
12:58:42pm
re: Amateur dealing

Several years ago, for several months, I labelled myself as an approval dealer (mint & used Canada) and "hired" my long-suffering wife as my assistant. (She's the family financier, I am just plain bad at handling money.)

We had fun, or at least I had fun, communicating with collectors, sending out approvals, and getting a bit of extra money. Gary Lyon -- Gary J. Lyon (Philatelist) Ltd. -- was very helpful and kept me supplied with stamps at wholesale prices. At first it seemed like a dream job, and I even had the fantasy of quitting my day job.

It soon came tumbling down. The "fun" I was having morphed into actual work, and became very time consuming. Profits were modest, and costs mounted with the purchase of "necessary" items -- an office desk, an electric typewriter (!), letterhead stationery, business cards, advertising, etc. The end came because of problems with buyers:

• I'll be nice and call one guy a stamp collector. He lived in Montreal (at least that was his address). Out of the blue he sent me a cheque for several hundred dollars and a want list of better MNH Canada. I was able to supply all of the stamps he wanted, so I mailed them off. His cheque didn't bounce, and within less than two weeks I had another want list from him, this time without a cheque. I sent those stamps to him and...nothing came back. Ever. I tried calling the phone number he had supplied. It had been disconnected. A letter was returned -- no forwarding address. Too late I subscribed to a newsletter which listed bonafide philatelic deadbeats, which of course was another cost; you won't be surprised that I found this customer's name listed.

About the same time, an order on its way to Italy was emptied of its contents and sent on to the collector. I had had a good relationship with the collector, over several months, and I did not doubt his statement that the envelope was empty when he received it.

And then I had a stock card returned to me because the collector was "insulted" that I would send him damaged stamps. And the stamps were indeed damaged, as he would know, since he replaced my gorgeous SON stamps with crummy duplicates from his own collection.

Lastly, a woman returned the one $10 stamp she had requested on approval, along with a nasty letter saying that if she had $10, she certainly wouldn't spent it on a stamp! (I priced my stamps at 60 per cent of catalogue.)

My experience, as you can probably tell, is that it's a mistake to turn a hobby into a job. I did the same thing a few years later with photography. I went professional, doing individual and family portraits, weddings, commercial work, and even teaching photography. Now, having retired, I rarely take photos of anything, and don't even own a good camera.

Obviously, some people are able to combine the hobby of stamp collecting with the business of stamp dealing. I have a friend who funds his extensive collections by buying inexpensive lots, sorting and cataloguing the stamps, and offering them on consignment to an auction house. But I know he would never start dealing directly with potential buyer/collectors, because that requires a whole new level of committment of time and resources.

It will be interesting to learn the thoughts of our part-time Stamporama dealers.

Bob

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

25 Oct 2010
01:26:34pm

Auctions
re: Amateur dealing

Connie, I would take Bob's comments as a cautionary tale because all of them are part of the business side, but one might, if given enough time and experience, find ways to avoid them.

Some countries, and Bob named one of them, are notorious for the failure to deliver things.

Still, I have found that a keen-eyed individual could make money at this, IF she is willing to watch the market, see what it wants, and find things to supply it at prices lower than the market is willing to pay. But she must start with what's wanted not what's available.

I watch our auction and see what's selling; if you're going to sell here, and why not, it's free, see what people are buying. (Hint: Picture post cards from the turn of the last century are selling well, usually at the opening bid, but occasionally they are hotly contested; if i were going to invest in stock to sell at our auction, i'd try to buy PPCs at 50c and sell them at a buck, knowing that not all the PPCs I buy will sell). Scan eBay for such stock (they can be had for nickels and dimes, if bought in bulk). Then, all you have to do is scan, describe, and list. There's lots of additional features you could add to your listings: descriptions of the post marks, identification of dead POs, certain printers, historical context. Of course, I'm only talking about one aspect (obviously one with which I'm at least conversant), but you can apply this to any aspect.

I know nothing about FD programs (I have a few); I'd never embark on an area where I am at a knowleged disadvantage; i'd want to at least have a sense of the market before I invest.

anyway, some random thoughts. Don't be discouraged; but do be informed.

David

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Bobstamp
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25 Oct 2010
02:27:19pm
re: Amateur dealing

I will be the first to agree with David. There are probably as many ways of selling stamps as there are collecting them. And I readily admit that I made some bad mistakes.

One was having stationery and envelopes printed with the name of my business: "Stamps for Collectors". My only defence is that I was naive and believed that the mails were secure.

I trusted people, back then. Now, not so much. Now I would require payment before mailing anything.

Stamp dealing is really no different than stamp trading. If a dealer takes the same precautions as she or he would when looking for trading partners, there should be no surprises.

One big plus to stamp dealing is that it is a great way to learn more about the stamps that interest you, as long as you sell stamps that interest you! It's much like exhibiting -- if you do it, you will learn a lot. And you will also make some good friends along the way.

One caution which is worth considering: Sell only what you don't collect. If you both sell and collect X country, topical, or theme, inevitably you will come across items which you want to keep for yourself (and out of the hands of your customers, which they won't appreciate), or you will sell them and then regret the sale. There is one dealer in my club who often shows me Vietnam material which I would die for. When I ask what wants for it, he'll say, "Oh, it's not for sale. I just thought you'd be interested." All I can say is "Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhh!" :-)

Bob

(Message edited by Bobstamp on October 25, 2010)

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Connieb
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25 Oct 2010
03:10:50pm

Approvals
re: Amateur dealing

This is good information. Thanks.

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Sponthetrona2
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Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often

25 Oct 2010
04:28:06pm
re: Amateur dealing

I spend hundreds of hours scanning, cataloging, and preparing stamps and listing way below catalogue value FOR A FRIEND ... now it can be fun sometimes, but at some point it became a lot of work for the $100 or so received from the auction. Business ... I don't think so ... Perry

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Joelgrebin

25 Oct 2010
05:12:06pm
re: Amateur dealing

Connie B,
Both Bob and David's advice is right on the money. Once your hobby, be it stamp collecting, photography, cake decorating or whatever, moves from the realm of a hobby to business it becomes a whole different enterprise. A financial adviser of yesteryear, Sylvia Porter, summed up the experience, once a hobby turns to a business, the 100% of the enjoyment becomes 15% of the energy of the business, the other 85% of the energy was all business oriented. The effort is to make a profit, not the pleasure of stamp collecting.
There is a way to thread this needle and that may be by joining a stamp sales circuit such as the one sponsored by the APS or one like it. It may not put cash in the hand but it will supply you with an outlet and the chance to purchase stamps from the circuit. Also you could actively participate in any one of a number internet auction sites. There are many reputable one available.

Joel

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Bobstamp
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25 Oct 2010
07:33:14pm
re: Amateur dealing

There is no doubt in my mind that stamp dealing in the traditional model of dealer-to-collector has to be a labour of love. As Perry points out, it's can be an extremely labour-intensive business that soon loses its appeal. In my case, I soon found it to be far too time consuming for the profit I was getting, and I pretty much sold only stamps with catalogue values of $5 and up.

Bob

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

25 Oct 2010
08:43:15pm

Auctions
re: Amateur dealing

i'll shift the focus just a tad. We've been talking about this as a business. but i believe that one can buy larger lots, take what's useful to you, and sell the rest. But, in doing so, you're investing some capital and lots of time, as 2 smaller lots require more time to list than 1; and, if listing in auctions that charge, each listing carries its own price tag. Still, someone with a keen eye towards what sells can do this and effectively finance her hobby and make a buck or two.

the other thing, IF you're more inclined to the business end of it, is the investment of capital. to get people to COME TO YOU rather than going to them, you must have sufficient quality stock to make them come to your table, your auction address, whatever.

in all cases, you need to have a sense of what your potential customers want and find ways to get that to them. that's my objection to the FD programs: not that they're bad, but before buying, you should know that there are people in SOR (or wherever you're going to sell) who want them.

David

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Rgnpcs
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26 Oct 2010
01:21:26am
re: Amateur dealing

Bob,
The life of a part tie dealer, filing want lists is far from glamorous, very time consuming, and if our labor is counted, a losing proposition, but it is the only way to sell stamps from collections, especially if you are no longer doing shows. I, like you, sell at 60% of Scott, $1.00 catalog is 60c cash, and I have been doing it for over fifty years. When my eyesight was good, I could get several orders out per day, but now, the last two years, it is very difficult to see the numbers in the Scott catalog, even with a glass, so I have to limit my orders, as I finish one order, I will notify a customer that I can take his list, etc. Just finished working on a very difficult list of British pre 1940, and had to go from country to country, and check the watermarks as well, Very hard to see some of them. Even when picking out the stamps from my price lists, it is not easy.
Selling postcards is a snap.
In regard to loses, I have very few, as almost all my shipments go out by insured mail.
By the way, I had a $248.00 loss on an eBay shipment to Peoples Rep of China. I had it insured by Auctiva, and although it took a little over two months, I did get paid by their insurance company U=Pic, so the system does work. I insure all shipments of 25.00 or more.
I do ship on open account to those customers that I have been dealing with for a long time, or from people on SOR.
Stay well.
Richaard

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Rgnpcs
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26 Oct 2010
01:50:17am
re: Amateur dealing

By the way,
I had two "big shot" dealers, or should I say "big shot" crooks that came to my home to look at my stock.
One, a specialist in China stamps, offered me $4000 for my China materiel. I am not referring to Michael Rogers, whom I consider one of the honest dealers. I have sold over $18.000 already, and still have a lot left. Another offered $10,000 for my entire inventory, and this is a well known dealer, for if I mentioned his name, everyone would know him. I have sold almost triple that amount and still have about 98% of my stock left.
If he reads this post, he will know who he is, and I will pass the word along not to deal with him. When he passes on, I hope he lands in the hot place, surrounded by burning stamps.
I remember the days, when dealers paid true value for collections, and most were honest. I would have been ashamed to offer the figures that these bums are offering today. They must be buying from people that are in desperate shape, and need cash quickly, for no one is their right mind would accept their paltry offers. This hobby used to be so much fun, but the vultures are now out there.
Just be extremely careful.
Stay well.
Richaard

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Connieb
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26 Oct 2010
06:05:56am

Approvals
re: Amateur dealing

I appreciate the honesty shared here and good advice. Thanks!

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Lpayette
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26 Oct 2010
11:45:30am
re: Amateur dealing

As I am retired and got time on my hands I have a lot of fun listing lots on SOR, Sometimes I make a little bit and sometimes I don,t,I have been cutting back on some of my collections and selling it here on SOR, but I still have fun buying box lots as I love sorting thru them and always find something I need, what I do not need end up here.Same with kiloware, good way to get recent material,but you always end up with lots of duplication thats good for SOR as sets, singles or country lots, Most of the time you can make a few bucks on kiloware after soaking, sorting and cataloging, but lots of work, but that keeps me busy :-)
Off on my cruise day after tomorrow, and will be looking for stamps at all the ports of call

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Knarlystuff

26 Oct 2010
02:03:05pm
re: Amateur dealing

I can identify with the retired guy!! Stamps have been a blessing in my retirement, gives me something to do. Like he said sometimes you make a little sometimes you don't, the key is it keeps you busy. When you live in a little berg like I do, population 200 in the summer, three cars on the road is a traffic jam, the computer is all you have to get more information on collecting and SOR fills the need for the most part. Buying lots and breaking them up has been fun and rewarding at times. Ridding yourself of the surplus stuff that comes with every purchase
through trading can be rewarding and it's a win, win situation usually when you use SOR. Wish I could go on a cruise, but I have to get the snow blower out instead!!

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Sponthetrona2
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Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often

26 Oct 2010
03:01:09pm
re: Amateur dealing

Knarlystuff,
I'm retired and I'm heading on a cruise to Hawii in two weeks HOWEVER I seem to always be busy. Although stamps are a fun HOBBY I have so many other interests, such as police reserves, model train collecting and building, off roading with the grandkids ... and that's just the tip of the iceberg, or is that iceberg in the town where you live?
No joking ... live life ... I bet you have some of the best hiking and outdoor activities of most of us members. I have to drive 60 miles to find a natural tree not planted by the city ...
Perry

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Knarlystuff

26 Oct 2010
07:15:29pm
re: Amateur dealing

Perry,
Hawaii huh, that's home for me, my birth place! I was a hapa haole Navy brat!! The only thing I collect are stamps from Hawaii. I know what you mean about the tree thing; I moved up here from Las Vegas, got plenty of trees now! I love to hike, but only around certain lakes. Some of the lakes up here are so crystal clear you can actually see the fish schooling, makes it easy for me to catch them, love those Rainbows. There are seven major lakes within 25 miles of home. I think we kinda got away from the stamp discussion
so I'll sign off for now, enjoy Hawaii, if you get to Oahu and have the opportunity, check out the Polynesian Cultural Center, well worth the time!!

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Andrejs
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26 Oct 2010
09:34:24pm
re: Amateur dealing

I'm doing now what you are thinking of doing, Connie.

It's tough to find your niche and get comfortable with what you've got to offer. I would say that your knowledge of a particular country, collecting field or topic (be it Germany or British Commonwealth or trains) is your best asset; and it makes it easier to sell what you would like to sell.

Me, I started down this road for two reasons: (1) delusions of granduer - I thought that I could do this selling thing without a problem; and (2) I thought I could generate income for myself to pay for my collection, which is very extensive and those missing stamps are getting more and more costly.

I was eventually right about number 1 - I WAS delusional if I thought I could make a tidy profit off of this sidebar to my hobby; and mildly successful in number 2. What I did find, however, is that, for me, this is fun! I love the thought of pouring over a new collection, cherry-picking what I want and breaking up the rest for auction. If I make a profit (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't), it's usually very modest, since I list on SOR at about 30% of catalogue. If I factored in my time for sorting, recataloguing (yes, some collectors DO make mistakes), scanning, listing, emailing, mailing, etc., I would classify myself as a complete and utter fool for doing this. The problem with this "business" is that I enjoy it way too much to call it a business.

I have met some truly wonderful people by doing this (Dennis, Rich, Sue, Tim to name only a very few) and that's what makes it rewarding. That's what this hobby is all about; and I just found another facet of it. Instead of filling my expensive want lists, I'm still vicariously filling want lists of others and getting part of that same thrill of finding (someone else) that missing stamp. If I sell something on SOR from a country that I have more of, I'll ask the buyer if he/she is interested in maybe passing me a want list. Some do, most don't; but that's fine with me. The lists I get, I'm happy to fill. I don't rush it; but I do send only quality stuff out on an approval system (if you don't like it, return it). Life interferes: I'm still working; and over the past year, I've been travelling like crazy and have had zero chance to do what I like doing; so this week is the first chance I've had to list stamps since early June. The lesson here - if I was treating this as a business, I would be going nuts and probably thinking about getting out of selling stamps once and for all.

In the end, Connie, I found my niche. My lesson is: As long as you don't take it seriously, it is loads of fun!

Andrejs

Postscript: This experience has served me well, as I am now in the process of breaking up part of my late father's collection and selling it for my mom. I've got reasonable expectations about what I will get (not a lot) because of what I've done on SOR. Dad passed away a little over two years ago and gave me my love of stamp collecting. Dad never met a stamp he didn't like and had over 80 binders of stamps, all sorted and catalogued. Some of it is staying for the kids and myself, but mom is downsizing...

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Connieb

25 Oct 2010
11:37:17am

Approvals

I visit a stamp store near us frequently enough that the owner wanted to encourage me to become a dealer online. He said I could make some money to fund my passion and he could sell me more (at good prices) since he buys so much.

So I bought a box on speculation of USPS first day ceremony programs. Maybe it was a dumb move, because the sample listings I put on SOR aren't selling. I'm willing to learn from my mistakes.

Any cautions or advice on exploring this concept of escalating online philatelic selling to a different level?

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Bobstamp

25 Oct 2010
12:58:42pm

re: Amateur dealing

Several years ago, for several months, I labelled myself as an approval dealer (mint & used Canada) and "hired" my long-suffering wife as my assistant. (She's the family financier, I am just plain bad at handling money.)

We had fun, or at least I had fun, communicating with collectors, sending out approvals, and getting a bit of extra money. Gary Lyon -- Gary J. Lyon (Philatelist) Ltd. -- was very helpful and kept me supplied with stamps at wholesale prices. At first it seemed like a dream job, and I even had the fantasy of quitting my day job.

It soon came tumbling down. The "fun" I was having morphed into actual work, and became very time consuming. Profits were modest, and costs mounted with the purchase of "necessary" items -- an office desk, an electric typewriter (!), letterhead stationery, business cards, advertising, etc. The end came because of problems with buyers:

• I'll be nice and call one guy a stamp collector. He lived in Montreal (at least that was his address). Out of the blue he sent me a cheque for several hundred dollars and a want list of better MNH Canada. I was able to supply all of the stamps he wanted, so I mailed them off. His cheque didn't bounce, and within less than two weeks I had another want list from him, this time without a cheque. I sent those stamps to him and...nothing came back. Ever. I tried calling the phone number he had supplied. It had been disconnected. A letter was returned -- no forwarding address. Too late I subscribed to a newsletter which listed bonafide philatelic deadbeats, which of course was another cost; you won't be surprised that I found this customer's name listed.

About the same time, an order on its way to Italy was emptied of its contents and sent on to the collector. I had had a good relationship with the collector, over several months, and I did not doubt his statement that the envelope was empty when he received it.

And then I had a stock card returned to me because the collector was "insulted" that I would send him damaged stamps. And the stamps were indeed damaged, as he would know, since he replaced my gorgeous SON stamps with crummy duplicates from his own collection.

Lastly, a woman returned the one $10 stamp she had requested on approval, along with a nasty letter saying that if she had $10, she certainly wouldn't spent it on a stamp! (I priced my stamps at 60 per cent of catalogue.)

My experience, as you can probably tell, is that it's a mistake to turn a hobby into a job. I did the same thing a few years later with photography. I went professional, doing individual and family portraits, weddings, commercial work, and even teaching photography. Now, having retired, I rarely take photos of anything, and don't even own a good camera.

Obviously, some people are able to combine the hobby of stamp collecting with the business of stamp dealing. I have a friend who funds his extensive collections by buying inexpensive lots, sorting and cataloguing the stamps, and offering them on consignment to an auction house. But I know he would never start dealing directly with potential buyer/collectors, because that requires a whole new level of committment of time and resources.

It will be interesting to learn the thoughts of our part-time Stamporama dealers.

Bob

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amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
25 Oct 2010
01:26:34pm

Auctions

re: Amateur dealing

Connie, I would take Bob's comments as a cautionary tale because all of them are part of the business side, but one might, if given enough time and experience, find ways to avoid them.

Some countries, and Bob named one of them, are notorious for the failure to deliver things.

Still, I have found that a keen-eyed individual could make money at this, IF she is willing to watch the market, see what it wants, and find things to supply it at prices lower than the market is willing to pay. But she must start with what's wanted not what's available.

I watch our auction and see what's selling; if you're going to sell here, and why not, it's free, see what people are buying. (Hint: Picture post cards from the turn of the last century are selling well, usually at the opening bid, but occasionally they are hotly contested; if i were going to invest in stock to sell at our auction, i'd try to buy PPCs at 50c and sell them at a buck, knowing that not all the PPCs I buy will sell). Scan eBay for such stock (they can be had for nickels and dimes, if bought in bulk). Then, all you have to do is scan, describe, and list. There's lots of additional features you could add to your listings: descriptions of the post marks, identification of dead POs, certain printers, historical context. Of course, I'm only talking about one aspect (obviously one with which I'm at least conversant), but you can apply this to any aspect.

I know nothing about FD programs (I have a few); I'd never embark on an area where I am at a knowleged disadvantage; i'd want to at least have a sense of the market before I invest.

anyway, some random thoughts. Don't be discouraged; but do be informed.

David

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Bobstamp

25 Oct 2010
02:27:19pm

re: Amateur dealing

I will be the first to agree with David. There are probably as many ways of selling stamps as there are collecting them. And I readily admit that I made some bad mistakes.

One was having stationery and envelopes printed with the name of my business: "Stamps for Collectors". My only defence is that I was naive and believed that the mails were secure.

I trusted people, back then. Now, not so much. Now I would require payment before mailing anything.

Stamp dealing is really no different than stamp trading. If a dealer takes the same precautions as she or he would when looking for trading partners, there should be no surprises.

One big plus to stamp dealing is that it is a great way to learn more about the stamps that interest you, as long as you sell stamps that interest you! It's much like exhibiting -- if you do it, you will learn a lot. And you will also make some good friends along the way.

One caution which is worth considering: Sell only what you don't collect. If you both sell and collect X country, topical, or theme, inevitably you will come across items which you want to keep for yourself (and out of the hands of your customers, which they won't appreciate), or you will sell them and then regret the sale. There is one dealer in my club who often shows me Vietnam material which I would die for. When I ask what wants for it, he'll say, "Oh, it's not for sale. I just thought you'd be interested." All I can say is "Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhh!" :-)

Bob

(Message edited by Bobstamp on October 25, 2010)

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Connieb

25 Oct 2010
03:10:50pm

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re: Amateur dealing

This is good information. Thanks.

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Sponthetrona2

Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often
25 Oct 2010
04:28:06pm

re: Amateur dealing

I spend hundreds of hours scanning, cataloging, and preparing stamps and listing way below catalogue value FOR A FRIEND ... now it can be fun sometimes, but at some point it became a lot of work for the $100 or so received from the auction. Business ... I don't think so ... Perry

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Joelgrebin

25 Oct 2010
05:12:06pm

re: Amateur dealing

Connie B,
Both Bob and David's advice is right on the money. Once your hobby, be it stamp collecting, photography, cake decorating or whatever, moves from the realm of a hobby to business it becomes a whole different enterprise. A financial adviser of yesteryear, Sylvia Porter, summed up the experience, once a hobby turns to a business, the 100% of the enjoyment becomes 15% of the energy of the business, the other 85% of the energy was all business oriented. The effort is to make a profit, not the pleasure of stamp collecting.
There is a way to thread this needle and that may be by joining a stamp sales circuit such as the one sponsored by the APS or one like it. It may not put cash in the hand but it will supply you with an outlet and the chance to purchase stamps from the circuit. Also you could actively participate in any one of a number internet auction sites. There are many reputable one available.

Joel

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Bobstamp

25 Oct 2010
07:33:14pm

re: Amateur dealing

There is no doubt in my mind that stamp dealing in the traditional model of dealer-to-collector has to be a labour of love. As Perry points out, it's can be an extremely labour-intensive business that soon loses its appeal. In my case, I soon found it to be far too time consuming for the profit I was getting, and I pretty much sold only stamps with catalogue values of $5 and up.

Bob

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amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
25 Oct 2010
08:43:15pm

Auctions

re: Amateur dealing

i'll shift the focus just a tad. We've been talking about this as a business. but i believe that one can buy larger lots, take what's useful to you, and sell the rest. But, in doing so, you're investing some capital and lots of time, as 2 smaller lots require more time to list than 1; and, if listing in auctions that charge, each listing carries its own price tag. Still, someone with a keen eye towards what sells can do this and effectively finance her hobby and make a buck or two.

the other thing, IF you're more inclined to the business end of it, is the investment of capital. to get people to COME TO YOU rather than going to them, you must have sufficient quality stock to make them come to your table, your auction address, whatever.

in all cases, you need to have a sense of what your potential customers want and find ways to get that to them. that's my objection to the FD programs: not that they're bad, but before buying, you should know that there are people in SOR (or wherever you're going to sell) who want them.

David

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Rgnpcs

26 Oct 2010
01:21:26am

re: Amateur dealing

Bob,
The life of a part tie dealer, filing want lists is far from glamorous, very time consuming, and if our labor is counted, a losing proposition, but it is the only way to sell stamps from collections, especially if you are no longer doing shows. I, like you, sell at 60% of Scott, $1.00 catalog is 60c cash, and I have been doing it for over fifty years. When my eyesight was good, I could get several orders out per day, but now, the last two years, it is very difficult to see the numbers in the Scott catalog, even with a glass, so I have to limit my orders, as I finish one order, I will notify a customer that I can take his list, etc. Just finished working on a very difficult list of British pre 1940, and had to go from country to country, and check the watermarks as well, Very hard to see some of them. Even when picking out the stamps from my price lists, it is not easy.
Selling postcards is a snap.
In regard to loses, I have very few, as almost all my shipments go out by insured mail.
By the way, I had a $248.00 loss on an eBay shipment to Peoples Rep of China. I had it insured by Auctiva, and although it took a little over two months, I did get paid by their insurance company U=Pic, so the system does work. I insure all shipments of 25.00 or more.
I do ship on open account to those customers that I have been dealing with for a long time, or from people on SOR.
Stay well.
Richaard

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Rgnpcs

26 Oct 2010
01:50:17am

re: Amateur dealing

By the way,
I had two "big shot" dealers, or should I say "big shot" crooks that came to my home to look at my stock.
One, a specialist in China stamps, offered me $4000 for my China materiel. I am not referring to Michael Rogers, whom I consider one of the honest dealers. I have sold over $18.000 already, and still have a lot left. Another offered $10,000 for my entire inventory, and this is a well known dealer, for if I mentioned his name, everyone would know him. I have sold almost triple that amount and still have about 98% of my stock left.
If he reads this post, he will know who he is, and I will pass the word along not to deal with him. When he passes on, I hope he lands in the hot place, surrounded by burning stamps.
I remember the days, when dealers paid true value for collections, and most were honest. I would have been ashamed to offer the figures that these bums are offering today. They must be buying from people that are in desperate shape, and need cash quickly, for no one is their right mind would accept their paltry offers. This hobby used to be so much fun, but the vultures are now out there.
Just be extremely careful.
Stay well.
Richaard

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Connieb

26 Oct 2010
06:05:56am

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re: Amateur dealing

I appreciate the honesty shared here and good advice. Thanks!

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Lpayette

26 Oct 2010
11:45:30am

re: Amateur dealing

As I am retired and got time on my hands I have a lot of fun listing lots on SOR, Sometimes I make a little bit and sometimes I don,t,I have been cutting back on some of my collections and selling it here on SOR, but I still have fun buying box lots as I love sorting thru them and always find something I need, what I do not need end up here.Same with kiloware, good way to get recent material,but you always end up with lots of duplication thats good for SOR as sets, singles or country lots, Most of the time you can make a few bucks on kiloware after soaking, sorting and cataloging, but lots of work, but that keeps me busy :-)
Off on my cruise day after tomorrow, and will be looking for stamps at all the ports of call

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Knarlystuff

26 Oct 2010
02:03:05pm

re: Amateur dealing

I can identify with the retired guy!! Stamps have been a blessing in my retirement, gives me something to do. Like he said sometimes you make a little sometimes you don't, the key is it keeps you busy. When you live in a little berg like I do, population 200 in the summer, three cars on the road is a traffic jam, the computer is all you have to get more information on collecting and SOR fills the need for the most part. Buying lots and breaking them up has been fun and rewarding at times. Ridding yourself of the surplus stuff that comes with every purchase
through trading can be rewarding and it's a win, win situation usually when you use SOR. Wish I could go on a cruise, but I have to get the snow blower out instead!!

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Sponthetrona2

Keep Postal systems alive, buy stamps and mail often
26 Oct 2010
03:01:09pm

re: Amateur dealing

Knarlystuff,
I'm retired and I'm heading on a cruise to Hawii in two weeks HOWEVER I seem to always be busy. Although stamps are a fun HOBBY I have so many other interests, such as police reserves, model train collecting and building, off roading with the grandkids ... and that's just the tip of the iceberg, or is that iceberg in the town where you live?
No joking ... live life ... I bet you have some of the best hiking and outdoor activities of most of us members. I have to drive 60 miles to find a natural tree not planted by the city ...
Perry

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Knarlystuff

26 Oct 2010
07:15:29pm

re: Amateur dealing

Perry,
Hawaii huh, that's home for me, my birth place! I was a hapa haole Navy brat!! The only thing I collect are stamps from Hawaii. I know what you mean about the tree thing; I moved up here from Las Vegas, got plenty of trees now! I love to hike, but only around certain lakes. Some of the lakes up here are so crystal clear you can actually see the fish schooling, makes it easy for me to catch them, love those Rainbows. There are seven major lakes within 25 miles of home. I think we kinda got away from the stamp discussion
so I'll sign off for now, enjoy Hawaii, if you get to Oahu and have the opportunity, check out the Polynesian Cultural Center, well worth the time!!

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Andrejs

26 Oct 2010
09:34:24pm

re: Amateur dealing

I'm doing now what you are thinking of doing, Connie.

It's tough to find your niche and get comfortable with what you've got to offer. I would say that your knowledge of a particular country, collecting field or topic (be it Germany or British Commonwealth or trains) is your best asset; and it makes it easier to sell what you would like to sell.

Me, I started down this road for two reasons: (1) delusions of granduer - I thought that I could do this selling thing without a problem; and (2) I thought I could generate income for myself to pay for my collection, which is very extensive and those missing stamps are getting more and more costly.

I was eventually right about number 1 - I WAS delusional if I thought I could make a tidy profit off of this sidebar to my hobby; and mildly successful in number 2. What I did find, however, is that, for me, this is fun! I love the thought of pouring over a new collection, cherry-picking what I want and breaking up the rest for auction. If I make a profit (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't), it's usually very modest, since I list on SOR at about 30% of catalogue. If I factored in my time for sorting, recataloguing (yes, some collectors DO make mistakes), scanning, listing, emailing, mailing, etc., I would classify myself as a complete and utter fool for doing this. The problem with this "business" is that I enjoy it way too much to call it a business.

I have met some truly wonderful people by doing this (Dennis, Rich, Sue, Tim to name only a very few) and that's what makes it rewarding. That's what this hobby is all about; and I just found another facet of it. Instead of filling my expensive want lists, I'm still vicariously filling want lists of others and getting part of that same thrill of finding (someone else) that missing stamp. If I sell something on SOR from a country that I have more of, I'll ask the buyer if he/she is interested in maybe passing me a want list. Some do, most don't; but that's fine with me. The lists I get, I'm happy to fill. I don't rush it; but I do send only quality stuff out on an approval system (if you don't like it, return it). Life interferes: I'm still working; and over the past year, I've been travelling like crazy and have had zero chance to do what I like doing; so this week is the first chance I've had to list stamps since early June. The lesson here - if I was treating this as a business, I would be going nuts and probably thinking about getting out of selling stamps once and for all.

In the end, Connie, I found my niche. My lesson is: As long as you don't take it seriously, it is loads of fun!

Andrejs

Postscript: This experience has served me well, as I am now in the process of breaking up part of my late father's collection and selling it for my mom. I've got reasonable expectations about what I will get (not a lot) because of what I've done on SOR. Dad passed away a little over two years ago and gave me my love of stamp collecting. Dad never met a stamp he didn't like and had over 80 binders of stamps, all sorted and catalogued. Some of it is staying for the kids and myself, but mom is downsizing...

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