Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I’m looking to log my collection onto a database . I use the Stanley gibbons catalogue and SG albums and wanted a simple programme of some sort to log what I have in my collection .
I don’t want to be buying what I already have . Does anyone know of a system like this from a cd rom or download . I’m not good with excel . I have been using a notebook for now but it’s very time consuming having to list all the cat numbers . I collect All GB and all commonwealth .
Thanks in advance !
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If you just want a list of what you have or need, Colnect is free and super easy to use. Excellent site for connecting with other collectors for trades, too, you can export your data, too. No typing or scanning, just clicks.
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I use Stamp Manage from Liberty Street Software but they are based upon Scott. I have to maintain a spreadsheet for my Machins and Wildings since I use SG for those. What I start with is usually a dealer price sheet or web page and then paste it into excel. It can be imperfect but gives a head start.
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The cheapest is the spreadsheet. Don't feel overwhelmed by all those empty cells. Just layout what you want to keep track of & label the columns as such. It can be very simple or extremely complex from what I have seen. Mine is somewhere between.
If you have an iPad, you can try Stamp Mate app. Personally, I did not like it, but who knows, maybe it'll click with you.
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Hi Slingback77,
Here is my opinion.
The most important consideration is not how much a solution initially costs, but rather what you end up investing in over a period of time.
In particular consider the cost of investing a few hundred hours of your time. This will pale in comparison to the cost of any application. Al mentioned Stamp Manage which has a relatively low initial cost but more importantly this app allows you to access your data even if the application breaks, the company goes out of business, or you change computers/operating systems. For folks who do not want to develop their own spreadsheets or desktop databases, I concur with Al that that Stamp Manage is a good solution. If you consider another stamp management desktop application be sure that you it gives you access to your own data outside the application they are selling you.
There are ‘free’ online solutions like Colnect but be aware that they sell your personal data including all your stamp collection data. But more importantly and even if you accept them selling your personal data, keep in mind that at any time they can change their terms and conditions and hold all your data hostage.
There is plenty of history for this happening, a good example is PhotoBucket. After everyone had several years uploading their files to PhotoBucket's ‘free’ image sharing service, they changed their terms and conditions to a costly subscription model. Users had little or no warning and tens of thousands of folks walked away from their own files rather than pay then their costly fees. It is a common online business model to generate website traffic and increase the number of user by offering services for ‘free’ and then switch over to a pay service after a few years.
Excel or other personal spreadsheets offer a good solution since you retain control over your own data and the time you have invested in it.
But no matter which direction you go, give thought to the amount of time it will take you enter all your stamps and be sure to think through the level of control you have over your own data. The worse thing you can do is lose all your data and all the hours you spent entering it. Companies go out of business, get sold, or otherwise change their terms and conditions; do not get caught or painted into a corner with a proprietary solution.
Don
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I will add that StampManage has an alternate catalog field so you can use any numbering system you want. So you just have to enter catalog numbers. The details are already there.
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Computer based solutions are fine if you are going to require to carry your collection around with you to fairs, expo's etc.
If you are not going "mobile", like me, I just mark off the stamps on my catalogues.
I have most of the Stanley Gibbons area catalogues. OK they are not new but they cover my areas of interest.
If I am going to a fair or auction I stick a couple in the car or into my backpack.
Easy quick and "simples".
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I've recently started with Stamp Manage and I like it quite well so far. I think cost is well worth it and annual updates are very inexpensive.
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I use a database manager simple to use and quite comprehensive called FileMaker. You can develop any layout you want and ask any question you like. You define you own fields and queries. It is handy for buying, selling, sorting, etc Michel
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Thank you all ! Thanks Don for your message will take what you said into account ! Makes sense !
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08:09:40am
Hello all ,
I’m looking to log my collection onto a database . I use the Stanley gibbons catalogue and SG albums and wanted a simple programme of some sort to log what I have in my collection .
I don’t want to be buying what I already have . Does anyone know of a system like this from a cd rom or download . I’m not good with excel . I have been using a notebook for now but it’s very time consuming having to list all the cat numbers . I collect All GB and all commonwealth .
Thanks in advance !
Login to Like
this post
re: I’m stuck need help!
If you just want a list of what you have or need, Colnect is free and super easy to use. Excellent site for connecting with other collectors for trades, too, you can export your data, too. No typing or scanning, just clicks.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: I’m stuck need help!
I use Stamp Manage from Liberty Street Software but they are based upon Scott. I have to maintain a spreadsheet for my Machins and Wildings since I use SG for those. What I start with is usually a dealer price sheet or web page and then paste it into excel. It can be imperfect but gives a head start.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
10:22:21am
re: I’m stuck need help!
The cheapest is the spreadsheet. Don't feel overwhelmed by all those empty cells. Just layout what you want to keep track of & label the columns as such. It can be very simple or extremely complex from what I have seen. Mine is somewhere between.
If you have an iPad, you can try Stamp Mate app. Personally, I did not like it, but who knows, maybe it'll click with you.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: I’m stuck need help!
Hi Slingback77,
Here is my opinion.
The most important consideration is not how much a solution initially costs, but rather what you end up investing in over a period of time.
In particular consider the cost of investing a few hundred hours of your time. This will pale in comparison to the cost of any application. Al mentioned Stamp Manage which has a relatively low initial cost but more importantly this app allows you to access your data even if the application breaks, the company goes out of business, or you change computers/operating systems. For folks who do not want to develop their own spreadsheets or desktop databases, I concur with Al that that Stamp Manage is a good solution. If you consider another stamp management desktop application be sure that you it gives you access to your own data outside the application they are selling you.
There are ‘free’ online solutions like Colnect but be aware that they sell your personal data including all your stamp collection data. But more importantly and even if you accept them selling your personal data, keep in mind that at any time they can change their terms and conditions and hold all your data hostage.
There is plenty of history for this happening, a good example is PhotoBucket. After everyone had several years uploading their files to PhotoBucket's ‘free’ image sharing service, they changed their terms and conditions to a costly subscription model. Users had little or no warning and tens of thousands of folks walked away from their own files rather than pay then their costly fees. It is a common online business model to generate website traffic and increase the number of user by offering services for ‘free’ and then switch over to a pay service after a few years.
Excel or other personal spreadsheets offer a good solution since you retain control over your own data and the time you have invested in it.
But no matter which direction you go, give thought to the amount of time it will take you enter all your stamps and be sure to think through the level of control you have over your own data. The worse thing you can do is lose all your data and all the hours you spent entering it. Companies go out of business, get sold, or otherwise change their terms and conditions; do not get caught or painted into a corner with a proprietary solution.
Don
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like this post.
Login to Like.
re: I’m stuck need help!
I will add that StampManage has an alternate catalog field so you can use any numbering system you want. So you just have to enter catalog numbers. The details are already there.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Auctions - Approvals
re: I’m stuck need help!
Computer based solutions are fine if you are going to require to carry your collection around with you to fairs, expo's etc.
If you are not going "mobile", like me, I just mark off the stamps on my catalogues.
I have most of the Stanley Gibbons area catalogues. OK they are not new but they cover my areas of interest.
If I am going to a fair or auction I stick a couple in the car or into my backpack.
Easy quick and "simples".
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: I’m stuck need help!
I've recently started with Stamp Manage and I like it quite well so far. I think cost is well worth it and annual updates are very inexpensive.
Login to Like
this post
12:08:42am
Approvals
re: I’m stuck need help!
I use a database manager simple to use and quite comprehensive called FileMaker. You can develop any layout you want and ask any question you like. You define you own fields and queries. It is handy for buying, selling, sorting, etc Michel
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02:15:41pm
re: I’m stuck need help!
Thank you all ! Thanks Don for your message will take what you said into account ! Makes sense !
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