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Post by colhot on Mar 18, 2024 9:07:51 GMT
Hi
Might seem a silly question but has the Internet (ebay, online auctions etc) taken the fun out of stamp collecting?
I mean when I last did it there was no ebay etc and you HAD to go to stamp shows or via shop catalogues sent to you periodically.
This to me was the fun part of collecting. It seems I don't need to leave the house and you could probably have a collection completed in months and not years.
Thanks
Colin
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angore
Member 
Posts: 5,367 
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Mar 18, 2024 10:05:46 GMT
Not for me. Before the Internet, I purchased mostly through Linn's dealers. There were not many shows where I lived and prices were usually lower via mail order anyway such as for supplies. The internet is like being part of a 24x7 stamp club,
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,616
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
Member is Online
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Post by hdm1950 on Mar 18, 2024 10:44:31 GMT
For me Colin colhot online has added to my pleasure. I rarely went into shops, shows or live auctions so the internet expanded my life as a collector. It also exposed me to sites like this forum that has been for the most part been a lot of fun. I do agree that sadly the internet has resulted in the closure of a lot of bricks and mortar stores but that is the case with a lot of retail. I would advice caution and patience with buying on line. Not all sites and platforms are created equal. The best way to determine what is a fair price for any stamp in general is to search sold items first. That is where one sees what the stamp is actually selling for. Sellers can ask anything hoping for that one buyer in a hurry. |
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Mar 18, 2024 14:14:58 GMT
By my estimation it's at least 150 miles to the nearest shop...if you can find one. Same for stamp shows (150-200 miles in either direction). Because of the internet I've made hundreds of stamp exchanges and many purchases, not to mention daily interactions on forums.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,269
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Mar 18, 2024 14:44:43 GMT
As a long time collector I recall my occasional trips to London in the 1980s when I could visit up to 7 or 8 small stamp shops within walking distance of Leicester Square Covent Garden and the Strand retailing large stocks of material. All intimate one room outlets with knowledgeable proprietors Fun to browse in each for a half hour or so .
All gone now. Even the mini trade fairs have become less frequent and the big Stampex is reduced to one a year instead of 2 . I regularly make the 450 mile round trip to York in January and July as one of the still vibrant trade fairs, but I have to make the effort and factor in hotel and travel costs, so I absolutely rely on my internet for purchases and especially for selling surplus material on a daily basis.
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Post by nick2302 on Mar 18, 2024 23:50:49 GMT
It is disappointing to be unable to find a store front Stamp shop. They have gone the way of dinosaurs. Used to be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The internet has it down sides there is no question about that. A dealer would have to a very dynamic store front to support himself. So now we are left with the decision do we sneak off someplace with our trusty laptop and hunt and peck to see what we can find.
Nick
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Post by michael on Mar 19, 2024 8:41:57 GMT
To answer the original question, no, it hasn't taken the fun out of stamp collecting, for me it's the exact opposite. It has vastly increased the range of stamps that are available to the collector especially for those that specialise in a particular field. It has also made available the stock of specialist dealers through their websites. In additions, I'm luck to have a local stamp shop (30 miles away), there are local and national stamp fairs to visit and on-line auctions like Cavendish, Grosvenor, Spink etc,.
My collection would be nothing like it is today without purchases from the internet.
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Londonbus1
Moderator 
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,884
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Mar 19, 2024 14:23:47 GMT
It is disappointing to be unable to find a store front Stamp shop. No such problem here in Israel where there are still a good number of shops. I spent a few interesting hours in one last Wednesday and will do so again next Sunday. But it is disappointing that they are gone in most parts. Like vikingeck, I used to love trawling the shops in London but at least there are still a few fairs and of course, Charing Cross Market !! I do agree with michael though. Online collecting is great fun and there is always a good possibility you will find what you seek. More so than a shop or fair. Happy Collecting. And if you are ever in Tel Aviv, I'd be happy to show you around the stamp shops !! Londonbus1 |
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