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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Thanks Michael,
I'll look into that one.
K.
Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the Gibbons catalog is in English too!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues
Thanks Michael,
I'll look into that one.
K.
re: Subscribing to Online Catalogues
Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the Gibbons catalog is in English too!
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.