yrmao
**Member** 
Inactive
Posts: 13 
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Post by yrmao on Sept 25, 2015 17:50:49 GMT
Hi all,
I have spent many years accumulating many stamps from a variety of sources: auctions, craigslist, rummage sales, dealers, approval services, etc. My only problem is, although, I love collecting and buying stamps, I haven't spent as much time as I would like to in organizing my collection. I am now engaged in a series of projects to "separate the wheat from the chaff" and in the process am selling off some of my unwanted duplicates. This is a tedious and slow process involving lots of sorting, researching stamps in catalogs, scanning stamps, listing stamps on various auction sites, etc. The return so far has been miniscule compared to the amount of time I've invested.
The fun part about it, however, and a part that was unexpected for me, is that I am learning lots more about the hobby and enjoying it a lot more as I learn more. My ultimate question is: is their really a decent Return on Investment in selling stamps? I have studied the auction and presentation styles of some of the more successful sellers on eBay and StampoRama. I even have a small book, "Successful Stamp Dealing" by Peter Mosiondz Jr., of which I have read half. One of his basic tenets is to specialize, however I have noticed there are some dealers that are all over the world with their offerings and have a very high success rate in selling their material.
I think I got bit by the selling bug. I started out just wanting to off-load my dupes and get a little cash back to make other stamp purchases with. Now I want to know how to really make this work. It seems like a labor of love at best and, as I still work full-time and am about 10-12 years away from retirement, I am scratching my head wondering how to have the most fun and profit possible with my limited time and resources.
I would appreciate any helpful thoughts or comments from other collectors/dealers who may have had a similar experience or can suggest ways to step up my game in this wild and wooly world of philately!
Thanks, Jeremy |
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Post by stoltzpup on Sept 25, 2015 18:43:05 GMT
Hello Jeremy,
Welcome to the Forum. You might find it interesting to follow my current sale of a Scott International Volume 1. I've put announcements in the thread "Scott International Vol I sale." Links on where it's being listed are provided there.
Over the years I've built my collection by buying albums, taking what stamps I want, then selling the rest. I've done quite well at that. This current project is by far the largest I've attempted and it, too, seems to be doing very well. When it's finished, probably sometime in November, I plan to write a post for the Forum about how it went, hiccups and all. So far, the results offer a convincing argument for selling pages of individual countries rather than entire albums.
Others have been successful in selling small sets and individual stamps, but I lack the patience for that being, as I am, basically a collector and not a dealer.
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Sept 25, 2015 21:29:20 GMT
Jeremy,
My experience has been similar to yours (i.e., little to no return when factoring in the time and effort involved) so I can't offer any suggestions as to how to improve the outcome; however, I'll be following this thread to see if I can glean any useful tips!
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yrmao
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 13
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Post by yrmao on Jul 9, 2017 2:39:13 GMT
I happened across this thread tonight as I have returned to TSF after a bit of a hiatus. I have also taken a hiatus from selling stamps, however, lately I thought it might be fun to work very part-time for another stamp dealer - who either has an office, a brick-and-mortar shop (I know there are very few of these now in existence) or some other configuration.
I wouldn't be looking for financial remuneration and would love to do it just for the learning experience.
Does anyone know of a dealer who could use some part-time assistance?
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 9, 2017 2:54:21 GMT
Jeremy, it might be helpful if you indicate the geographic area where you are located.
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yrmao
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 13
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Post by yrmao on Jul 9, 2017 18:57:50 GMT
Yes, but of course! I am located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So ... Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Chicagoland are all within my reach.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 9, 2017 19:55:55 GMT
Jeremy ( yrmao ), CHICAGOPEX '17 will be held in Itasca, IL November 17-19 and it might present an opportunity for a face-to-face with a number of dealers from your area. The bourse chairman is Charles Berg (stampkingchicago AT hotmail DOT com). If you reach out to him, he might be able to help you in your quest. |
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yrmao
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 13
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Post by yrmao on Jul 10, 2017 18:20:39 GMT
Steve,
Thanks for the heads up! I am planning to attend CHICAGOPEX and will reach out to Charles.
Jeremy
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