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General Philatelic/Supplies, Literature & Software : Subscribing to Online Catalogues

 

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Poodle_Mum
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01 Feb 2013
08:55:10pm
Both Michel and Stanley Gibbons (probably Scott as well) offer subscriptions to access all the catalogues they produce (or at least the majority of them). My question - do you think it is worth subscribing to an online catalogue? What would be the pros and cons?

Michel offers for about $11 usd per month, access to all their catalogues. And I'm trying to weigh out my options.

What are your thoughts on subscribing online? Is it worth it?

Kelly


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michael78651

02 Feb 2013
12:30:59am
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Personally, I would not subscribe.

However, there are advantages:

If you go to stamp shows to buy or sell, you don't have to carry (haul with an 18-wheeler actually) a set of catalogs.

If any of the subscriptions permit you to create a checklist (I don't know if any do), then that is a big plus.

If you only collect one or a few countries, online subscriptions are MUCH cheaper than buying a new catalog, and you'll have the most up-to-date catalog information rather than buying used catalogs to try to save money.

Scott sells online subscriptions, but it is on a country-by-country basis.

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Jansimon
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collector, seller, MT member

02 Feb 2013
04:34:50am

Approvals
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

As long as you do not need the latest editions with the most recent stamps in it, or really need catalogues for the whole world, $142 would buy you a nice set of second hand catalogues, either Michel or SG. You may need to do some searching, but it might be worthwhile in the end.

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CapeStampMan
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Mike

02 Feb 2013
10:36:35am
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

I'm with Jan-Simon on this subject. Would it actually be worth $130+, per year, to subscribe to this system. This would be renting catalogs, as opposed to buying them. If you need them as reference, then find some good used ones on-line. I actually bought some very recent Michel's from a prior distributor, before they cut his supply off and now they've hired a new seller, with much higher prices, of course. Good catalogs are out there, but it require's timing and luck, just like finding good stamps.

Mike

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alyn
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webmaster for the ISWSC http://iswsc.org.

02 Feb 2013
10:44:55am
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

I tried Gibbons old version of their online catalouge based on their SOTW, it was $40.00 or so annually. The features were OK, but I prefer the paper versions to flip through.

Alyn

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michael78651

02 Feb 2013
10:55:40am
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

For me, it is grossly inconvenient to try to work on my stamps and have to look up the stamps online. Flipping through the pages is much more convenient, and in my mind, quicker.

I agree with what Jan and Mike say. The pluses I stated really only work (in my opinion) if you regularly attend shows. Even if I did spend the money for the online access, I would still have the paper catalogs at home. Even access through a CD-ROM doesn't work for me.

I have electronic subscriptions to magazines that comes free with the print subscriptions (Linn's for one). I rarely go online to read the magazines. I used to subscribe to Newsweek. They ceased print publication at the same time that my subscription ran out. I did not renew.

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DRYER
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The past is a foreign country, they do things different there.

02 Feb 2013
02:06:49pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Me, too, Kelly, I find the physical stamp catalogues more convenient, easier and faster to use.

Also, I have always found these catalogues available for my reference at stamp shows, expositions, boutiques at flea markets and, of course, at professional stamp dealers and stamp shops. Whenever I visit these sites, at most I carry a short want list of stamps that fits in my billfold. Don't recall ever having regretted not lugging stamp catalogues with me.

Mystic Stamp Company has a free US stamp catalogue on line and, oddly, I use their 1996 catalogue (found it in a sidewalk box of "free stuff") because it is faster, easier and, somehow, more gratifying to my ego.

My suggestion: before shelling out $$$, request from the on-line vendor a free trial version (30 days is a common trial period), or request to purchase the catalogue for thirty days only, if a free trial is not available.

Personal preference is the critical issue here.

John Derry




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John Macco
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Astrophilatelist- Space Cover Collector

02 Feb 2013
05:48:46pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

There a bunch of sellers of catalog country pages from Scotts that you can buy on an individual basis alot cheaper than buying a whole set of catalogs.

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Poodle_Mum
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02 Feb 2013
10:18:19pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Thanks everybody for the feedback. I only collect Germany and Russia, with a small number of world stamps so you guys definitely have a point. The only reason I was wondering is because they (SG and Michel) tend to list things that Scott misses or does not include that I thought would help with my Royalty collection - but you guys are right. I have a 2009 print Michel and 2007 SG Germany. I'd be better off just buying the Eastern Europe Michel for my Russia. All my oldies and goodies tend to be in Scott with the exception of some Eastern bloc issues. For $11 a month, definitely not worth it.

Kelly

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michael78651

02 Feb 2013
11:39:55pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

The Gibbons Russia is pretty good. My son uses that as Russia is one of the countries he collects. I have used it too to check out a few things that weren't in Scott.

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Poodle_Mum
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).

02 Feb 2013
11:51:48pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Thanks Michael,

I'll look into that one.

K.

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michael78651

03 Feb 2013
12:03:24am
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the Gibbons catalog is in English too!

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Poodle_Mum
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).

03 Feb 2013
01:34:18pm
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

LOL Michael,

Yup, figured that one out!!! I'm used the German though so it really doesn't matter. I'm really good at learning languages, the only one I could never figure out was Spanish - I would get too confused with so many words looking like French or Italian that my mind just went bzzt!

The irony of being Deaf is that I can't actually "speak" or "hear" the languages but I can read them really well (French, Italian, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Greek, Russian).

K.

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"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
        

 

Author/Postings

A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
01 Feb 2013
08:55:10pm

Both Michel and Stanley Gibbons (probably Scott as well) offer subscriptions to access all the catalogues they produce (or at least the majority of them). My question - do you think it is worth subscribing to an online catalogue? What would be the pros and cons?

Michel offers for about $11 usd per month, access to all their catalogues. And I'm trying to weigh out my options.

What are your thoughts on subscribing online? Is it worth it?

Kelly


Like
Login to Like
this post

"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
michael78651

02 Feb 2013
12:30:59am

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Personally, I would not subscribe.

However, there are advantages:

If you go to stamp shows to buy or sell, you don't have to carry (haul with an 18-wheeler actually) a set of catalogs.

If any of the subscriptions permit you to create a checklist (I don't know if any do), then that is a big plus.

If you only collect one or a few countries, online subscriptions are MUCH cheaper than buying a new catalog, and you'll have the most up-to-date catalog information rather than buying used catalogs to try to save money.

Scott sells online subscriptions, but it is on a country-by-country basis.

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Members Picture
Jansimon

collector, seller, MT member
02 Feb 2013
04:34:50am

Approvals

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

As long as you do not need the latest editions with the most recent stamps in it, or really need catalogues for the whole world, $142 would buy you a nice set of second hand catalogues, either Michel or SG. You may need to do some searching, but it might be worthwhile in the end.

Like
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this post

www.etsy.com/nl/shop ...
Members Picture
CapeStampMan

Mike
02 Feb 2013
10:36:35am

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

I'm with Jan-Simon on this subject. Would it actually be worth $130+, per year, to subscribe to this system. This would be renting catalogs, as opposed to buying them. If you need them as reference, then find some good used ones on-line. I actually bought some very recent Michel's from a prior distributor, before they cut his supply off and now they've hired a new seller, with much higher prices, of course. Good catalogs are out there, but it require's timing and luck, just like finding good stamps.

Mike

Like
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this post

"It's been 7 years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Members Picture
alyn

webmaster for the ISWSC http://iswsc.org.
02 Feb 2013
10:44:55am

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

I tried Gibbons old version of their online catalouge based on their SOTW, it was $40.00 or so annually. The features were OK, but I prefer the paper versions to flip through.

Alyn

Like
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this post

"https://thebeardedphilatelist.ca - https://alynlunt.com"

alynlunt.com/
michael78651

02 Feb 2013
10:55:40am

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

For me, it is grossly inconvenient to try to work on my stamps and have to look up the stamps online. Flipping through the pages is much more convenient, and in my mind, quicker.

I agree with what Jan and Mike say. The pluses I stated really only work (in my opinion) if you regularly attend shows. Even if I did spend the money for the online access, I would still have the paper catalogs at home. Even access through a CD-ROM doesn't work for me.

I have electronic subscriptions to magazines that comes free with the print subscriptions (Linn's for one). I rarely go online to read the magazines. I used to subscribe to Newsweek. They ceased print publication at the same time that my subscription ran out. I did not renew.

Like
Login to Like
this post

The past is a foreign country, they do things different there.
02 Feb 2013
02:06:49pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Me, too, Kelly, I find the physical stamp catalogues more convenient, easier and faster to use.

Also, I have always found these catalogues available for my reference at stamp shows, expositions, boutiques at flea markets and, of course, at professional stamp dealers and stamp shops. Whenever I visit these sites, at most I carry a short want list of stamps that fits in my billfold. Don't recall ever having regretted not lugging stamp catalogues with me.

Mystic Stamp Company has a free US stamp catalogue on line and, oddly, I use their 1996 catalogue (found it in a sidewalk box of "free stuff") because it is faster, easier and, somehow, more gratifying to my ego.

My suggestion: before shelling out $$$, request from the on-line vendor a free trial version (30 days is a common trial period), or request to purchase the catalogue for thirty days only, if a free trial is not available.

Personal preference is the critical issue here.

John Derry




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"Much happiness is overlooked because it doesn't cost anything. "

parklanemews@gmail.c ...
Members Picture
John Macco

Astrophilatelist- Space Cover Collector
02 Feb 2013
05:48:46pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

There a bunch of sellers of catalog country pages from Scotts that you can buy on an individual basis alot cheaper than buying a whole set of catalogs.

Like
Login to Like
this post

A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
02 Feb 2013
10:18:19pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Thanks everybody for the feedback. I only collect Germany and Russia, with a small number of world stamps so you guys definitely have a point. The only reason I was wondering is because they (SG and Michel) tend to list things that Scott misses or does not include that I thought would help with my Royalty collection - but you guys are right. I have a 2009 print Michel and 2007 SG Germany. I'd be better off just buying the Eastern Europe Michel for my Russia. All my oldies and goodies tend to be in Scott with the exception of some Eastern bloc issues. For $11 a month, definitely not worth it.

Kelly

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
michael78651

02 Feb 2013
11:39:55pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

The Gibbons Russia is pretty good. My son uses that as Russia is one of the countries he collects. I have used it too to check out a few things that weren't in Scott.

Like
Login to Like
this post

A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
02 Feb 2013
11:51:48pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Thanks Michael,

I'll look into that one.

K.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
michael78651

03 Feb 2013
12:03:24am

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the Gibbons catalog is in English too!

Like
Login to Like
this post

A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
03 Feb 2013
01:34:18pm

re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues

LOL Michael,

Yup, figured that one out!!! I'm used the German though so it really doesn't matter. I'm really good at learning languages, the only one I could never figure out was Spanish - I would get too confused with so many words looking like French or Italian that my mind just went bzzt!

The irony of being Deaf is that I can't actually "speak" or "hear" the languages but I can read them really well (French, Italian, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Greek, Russian).

K.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
        

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