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Post by marvin75 on Mar 29, 2023 4:08:54 GMT
Thank you for the warm welcome from you all..
Like I had mentioned, I have started back up stamp collecting after a long absence. And I have a question. From what I remember back when I was collecting. I could be wrong, memory is not like it used to be... The price I was paying for US stamps was at Scott value. That was the 90's. Is that still true to this day or will I be paying more? From what I see online is that it is well over the Scott value. Or should I be visiting stamp shows or dealers to get the better value? Curious...
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hrdoktorx
Member 
Posts: 6,616
What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Mar 29, 2023 5:39:01 GMT
Usually, you will be able to buy stamps at a fraction of their catalog value. Depending on quantity and quality, this may vary from 10% to 50%. The catalog value is just a common number people agree to as a basis for negotiation....
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,269
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
Member is Online
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Post by vikingeck on Mar 29, 2023 11:58:33 GMT
A stamp has to be exceptionally fine, or very scarce for it to be purchased at or above catalogue value these days. I don't know where you are seeing stuff well over Scott, unless it is the fad for PSE "numerical grading", A fashion started in US a decade ago which most of the rest of us regard with some scepticism.
Catalogue values are a bench mark against which sellers price their items. The most recent edition of Gibbons for example has slashed its previous pricing of Modern GB by a third or more " to closer reflect the current market."
Generally most dealers will have stock priced at 50-60% of catalogue, and for common material with a catalogue value of $1 or less, the price might be as low as 10% catalogue .
If I am selling on ebay or in club circuit packets I usually price stuff at 20-25% if I have any chance to sell. Buying, I seldom have had to pay more than 1/3 Gibbons or Scott.
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kasvik
Member
Posts: 546
What I collect: Cancels mostly, especially Sweden Gävle and Lidingö, Switzerland Geneva, Germany Pforzheim
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Post by kasvik on Mar 29, 2023 15:18:01 GMT
welcome marvin75 . Right, like everybody says, catalogue value is its own world. Long ago--maybe during the Great Stamp Bubble of the Carter-Reagan years--the catalogues ratcheted prices into geosynchronous orbit. And they got stuck there. Lowering listed values would have sent the entire business into a deflationary spiral. Normal stamps, including good quality to very fine, you should find for a fraction of their catalogue value. If a dealer wants full catalogue value, they best have an extraordinary justification. The main function I can get from catalogue values is a rough scale of relative value; this costs a lot more than that.
But exceptional material demands--and gets--exceptional prices. Then the price is whatever you--and the irritant you're bidding against--is willing to pay. In practice, exceptional means the stuff I want, it never means the stuff I have.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,643
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Mar 29, 2023 15:35:10 GMT
Look at the various online platforms to see what the going "asking" price is. As others have said CV is a relative indicator to gauge against other/similar stamps. And CV for mint is based on a pristine stamp that is nicely centered, excellent color, and undisturbed gum, a generally which are hard to acquire. All else should be able to be found at a fraction of CV. I generally pay 15 - 20%, 30% if it's something i really want... and foir the harder to find 50% is generally my limit. Stamp shows are a mixed bag, some dealers are looking to move inventory, others are after top price. I never buy from the first dealer I find what I am seeking, but will peruse the floor to see if others offer it and at what asking price.
Caveat emptor!!
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brookbam
Member
APS 236261
Posts: 226
What I collect: US...everything until I decide what I don't want to collect! And now thanks to a TSF give-away I'm adding Space topicals!
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Post by brookbam on Mar 30, 2023 3:13:55 GMT
Thank you for the warm welcome from you all.. Like I had mentioned, I have started back up stamp collecting after a long absence. And I have a question. From what I remember back when I was collecting. I could be wrong, memory is not like it used to be... The price I was paying for US stamps was at Scott value. That was the 90's. Is that still true to this day or will I be paying more? From what I see online is that it is well over the Scott value. Or should I be visiting stamp shows or dealers to get the better value? Curious... When I was a kid in jr high school collecting back in the 70s, I was paying full Scott catalog too....on a $2.00 an hour part time dishwashing job!
As vikingeck said, watch out for the PSE certificate grading on common stamps with a starting bid way over Scott catalog value. When I first came on here in Feb and saw that, I had a LOT of questions if that was the norm. It isn't. I think it is just some collectors trying to take advantage of the system and trying to make a quick buck. No offense of course to anyone with those certificates. But I will hesitate to bid on a stamp with *only* a PSE certificate if it is a stamp where I want some assurance it is real.
Here are some places to check out to get you started. It might save you the search hassle.
My suggestion would be to check out Stamporama. There are a couple of sellers over there that are also here (full disclosure: I'll be one...soon...). There are some pretty good buys there. But like anywhere, you need to be patient and wait until what you want gets posted at a price you are willing to pay. There are auctions and approval books, but the "approval books" are not like back in the day. You look at them on screen and select the stamps you want to buy and then hit buy and pretty much wait for the invoice from the seller. It's worked out for me as a buyer.
Colnet is another site to check out. We have people involved with that program here.
And while I'm at it, if you are interested in DIY album pages, the developer for AlbumEasy is also here.
Me personally...I've tried to stay away from ebay for stamps (the only exception I would make is a member here that is selling over there). I run a surplus business over there and while I'll buy stuff other than stamps..but the stamps part...I don't know....I've found better alternatives.
I have a membership at Stamp Auction Network and I've bought a LOT of stuff over there. I mainly buy US from US auction dealers.
And...let's not forget The Stamp Forum! Depending on your collecting interests there are usually a good give away going at any one time. I just won a whole collection of a space topical stamp collection that is going to start me off in a new realm of collecting! It's usually world wide being given away but once in awhile a US variety pack will show up.
Admins...I hope I did not overstep any boundaries...if so...reach out to me and I'll delete whatever I need to.
I need to get back to sorting 31,000 first day covers. Later brookbam
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,358 
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Mar 30, 2023 9:15:30 GMT
If you visit Mystic Stamp and Brookman stamp dealer websites you will see stamps for sale over catalog value. The more established the dealer the more likely they will price near catalog but you can find many sellers that will sell well below catalog value. Scott pricing for modern material seems more formula based than any "dealer" based pricing. For example, Scott will start the CV for any new US stamps at 2x face even though it may be on sale by the USPS.
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Mar 30, 2023 9:33:02 GMT
brookbam is right about Stamporama. You can’t beat the prices - most are about 10-20% of catalog. That’s partly due to the fact that the sellers don’t have to pay 15% or similar outrageous fees like they charge on EBay - there is just the $10 annual membership fee. If you want to buy single stamps - this is a great place to start. If your collections are fairly advanced and still prefer buying single stamps, try Colnect. You’ll have the up front effort to enter your wishlists, but then you can automatically see every stamp that matches. If you want to buy collections and big lots then auctions are the way to go. And don’t rule out trades if you have a good stock of duplicates. Most importantly, enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
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Post by marvin75 on Mar 31, 2023 5:08:01 GMT
Thank you all so much!! And so much great information too!! I'm so excited to be collecting again. Bring back some good memories. Now I feel confident to go out and start collecting again - Online and in person (Always had a lot of fun at stamp shows) I do feel much welcome from you all and I look forward to more enlightening conversations. Thanks again... !!!
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 6,616
What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Apr 1, 2023 7:12:04 GMT
If you are lucky enough to still have a brick-and-mortar stamp dealer in your area, you should definitely check it out. Come armed with a wish list of what you are looking for and a budget limit. You will very often be able to get a lot of hole fillers with a good deal.
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