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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

 

Author
Postings
michael78651
Members Picture


03 Feb 2021
06:42:14pm
I'm surprised I have any hair on my head. The frustration with stamp dealers can really drive one mad.

I recently sent requests for approvals from four dealers, based on ads in Linns. Two dealers I have not yet heard from. Here is what I got from the other two, who will remain anonymous to protect the morons:

To each of the dealers, I sent the same letter, requesting approvals. I provided my APS number, and told them that I collected worldwide MNH complete sets and singles. Due to my collection size, I can only handle a selection from one country at a time. I give the dealer full license to send whichever country they want. This gives them a chance to get rid of material that's been sitting around, and I most likely will have spaces to fill with since they are from non-popular areas.

Dealer #1:

Sent me a letter stating that before he will send me stamps, I must read his high-dollar printed pamphlet on his rules for his selling and my buying his stamps. He also stated that I must complete his enclosed questionnaire that will tell him what I want to collect.

I looked at the questionnaire, and it asked for all the same information that I told him in my request letter. He could have filled it in himself. His pamphlet of rules was like a law book. I threw everything he sent in the recycle bin.

Dealer #2:

Sent me a small selection of stamps valued at $5. I get it. Approval dealers, of which I was one a long time ago, are wary of new customers. Theft is rampant among collectors who ask for approvals. He hand wrote an invoice of all the stamps in the selection. He also enclosed a printed out, different invoice. That made no sense. In the back of the printed out invoice, he wrote a letter. He stated that he was not ignoring the fact that I requested only MNH sets and singles, and from only one country at a time. He continued that he felt that it would not be fair to his other customers if I received only MNH stamps. Also, he stated that he refuses to send only single country collections, because that isn't fair to his customers either, because they won't be able to see those stamps if i buy them. (ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU WANTING TO DISPLAY OR SELL YOUR STAMPS?). Therefore, he only sends up to three items from a country per selection, and not all would be MNH.

I told him that he had alot to learn about retail. The stamps that he sent me were absolutely garbage, and mostly used. I told him to not waste my time with sending me what I did not want, and that I would happily spend my money elsewhere. I packaged everything up and sent it back.


Many years ago, I had an approval dealer sending me approvals that were a mix of used and unused. I have requested the same as I did of the dealers above. He told me that he was going to send me what he wanted to. Another dealer who did not get any money from me.

What is so difficult to understand that if a customer wants certain items that you send that customer the items that the customer wants? If I go into a grocery store, and I tell them that I want a gallon of milk, it doesn't do me any good for the store manager to go get me a toilet bowl plunger, and tell me to buy it or leave. Like with the approval dealers, I leave, and take my money elsewhere.
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Philatarium
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APS #187980

03 Feb 2021
07:07:48pm
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Wow ... Surprise

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Harvey

I think, therefore I am - I think!

03 Feb 2021
07:37:30pm
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Thankfully I have been dealing with the same family of dealers for 50 years - after that amount of time they trust me. I really can see both sides, but your experience is extreme!!!

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1112
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Love & Peace

03 Feb 2021
09:35:51pm
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Dealers should accept your request without questions because It's customer service & customer respect.
For us, we purchased stamps from stamp organizations & postal offices only because their Officials are excellent. We have spend thousands of euros & they fulfilled every order without an error.

French Polynesian Stamp Club

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angore
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Collector, Moderator

04 Feb 2021
05:40:54am
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Dealers are likely just trying to unload what the have and do not have much of what you want.

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

04 Feb 2021
09:40:03am

Auctions
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Michael,

successful marketing is all about giving the customer what s/he wants. When said customer says what it is, marketing is done and fulfillment starts. If the dealer isn't prepared to fulfill, marketing is a waste of time.

Those that claimed it would be unfair to others if...... all i can say is it would be helpful if in their ads they explained they intend to make the lives of customers they don't have as wonderful as those who are prepared to actually spend money. Frankly, I don't see why they don't just send everyone some free stuff every month. It shouldn't necessarily be what they want (God forbid!) but something to remind them they are loved, in an odd, ineffective way.

and the non-responders.... they anecdotes are littered with them. One wonders....

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michael78651
Members Picture


04 Feb 2021
09:11:18pm
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Got a response from a third dealer. He is an APS member. The delay in responding to me may be due to his checking my APS member status. I have no problem with that as anyone can validate any APS member. It is a good business practice on his part to do so, if he did indeed do that.

The selection was professionally packed, labeled and invoiced. All stamps are MNH, and with the exception of one stamp are in very nice condition. Discounts 15% up to 90% off catalog, plus an additional 10% discount if the entire selection is purchased. Stamps are priced based on condition, which is often not done as many dealers will charge the same for a damaged stamp as for a superb one. Those dealers I stay away from.

He enclosed a free "welcome" stamp. It is an oddity that is not listed by Scott. I will probably post a picture of it as I am interested to know if it is a single, or part of a set.

The country he sent is one that, if asked, I would say not to send it to me as I am 95% complete. However, because the condition of a few of the five sets and singles sent are in top condition, I will check against what I have and possibly upgrade.

With this dealer, I am satisfied as of the first selection sent. I will suggest a country to send me in the next selection.

One dealer is still not heard from.

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angore
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Collector, Moderator

05 Feb 2021
05:50:06am
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

There is hope!

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Brechinite
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Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons

05 Feb 2021
10:34:20am

Auctions - Approvals
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Aaaah Retail!

Whether it is in the stamp world or the real world a retailer cannot satisfy all the people all of the time.

A retailer sets out his stall with his goods for sale. Customers will either buy or not. That is it in its simplest form.

However it gets complicated because Customers are Human and they demand more as they want the "experience", the "extras", their "way" and they want it now!

Retailers are Human as well with their own wee foibles, ideas on how they want to run their business, try to be helpful to customers but recognise that sometimes they cannot fulfil the customers' needs. God help them when they tell the customer "Sorry we can't do that for you"

We all know that from our own experiences, there are stores we will go into and others we will never enter! Not in a month of Sundays!

Remember a retailer does not have to sell to you the same as you do not have to buy from a retailer.

If a retailer does not supply your needs then you mark it down to experience and find a retailer that suits your requirements.

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michael78651
Members Picture


05 Feb 2021
09:35:41pm
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Yep, that is true. The one dealer I mentioned, however, never said he couldn't provide what I want. He said he wouldn't. That's a big difference.

#1 rule of retail: never let money walk out the door.

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

05 Feb 2021
10:01:39pm

Approvals
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

That same thought carries through all hobbies and commerce in general...

So many hobby shops have gone out of business in modern times. Some of the ones I've known, that have ended stating that they were run out of business by the Internet or Hobby Lobby underselling them. But knowing the exact situations, I can say the businesses ended due to the sour disposition of the owners and the way they treated people. Of course they didn't see that!

I had my windshield smashed by flying ice on the turnpike the other day. Today I tried to arrange my repair. I was able to get an instant online quote from one national company. I decided to try two local shops for comparison. I wound up talking to answering machines at both businesses, early today (Friday)... would you know neither got back to me? It must be nice to have all the business you need!

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StampCollector
Members Picture


06 Feb 2021
12:26:54am
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Yes, but "your business is important to us" those machines claim!
Hogwash at its best, if you ask me.

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Brechinite
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Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons

06 Feb 2021
04:50:42am

Auctions - Approvals
re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

"#1 rule of retail: never let money walk out the door."



#2 Rule of Retail: There is business worth doing and there is business NOT worth doing.

#3 Rule of Retail: The Customer is always right.........within earshot!Big Grin

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Login to Like
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"StayAlert.......Control The Virus.......Save Lives."
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
michael78651

03 Feb 2021
06:42:14pm

I'm surprised I have any hair on my head. The frustration with stamp dealers can really drive one mad.

I recently sent requests for approvals from four dealers, based on ads in Linns. Two dealers I have not yet heard from. Here is what I got from the other two, who will remain anonymous to protect the morons:

To each of the dealers, I sent the same letter, requesting approvals. I provided my APS number, and told them that I collected worldwide MNH complete sets and singles. Due to my collection size, I can only handle a selection from one country at a time. I give the dealer full license to send whichever country they want. This gives them a chance to get rid of material that's been sitting around, and I most likely will have spaces to fill with since they are from non-popular areas.

Dealer #1:

Sent me a letter stating that before he will send me stamps, I must read his high-dollar printed pamphlet on his rules for his selling and my buying his stamps. He also stated that I must complete his enclosed questionnaire that will tell him what I want to collect.

I looked at the questionnaire, and it asked for all the same information that I told him in my request letter. He could have filled it in himself. His pamphlet of rules was like a law book. I threw everything he sent in the recycle bin.

Dealer #2:

Sent me a small selection of stamps valued at $5. I get it. Approval dealers, of which I was one a long time ago, are wary of new customers. Theft is rampant among collectors who ask for approvals. He hand wrote an invoice of all the stamps in the selection. He also enclosed a printed out, different invoice. That made no sense. In the back of the printed out invoice, he wrote a letter. He stated that he was not ignoring the fact that I requested only MNH sets and singles, and from only one country at a time. He continued that he felt that it would not be fair to his other customers if I received only MNH stamps. Also, he stated that he refuses to send only single country collections, because that isn't fair to his customers either, because they won't be able to see those stamps if i buy them. (ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU WANTING TO DISPLAY OR SELL YOUR STAMPS?). Therefore, he only sends up to three items from a country per selection, and not all would be MNH.

I told him that he had alot to learn about retail. The stamps that he sent me were absolutely garbage, and mostly used. I told him to not waste my time with sending me what I did not want, and that I would happily spend my money elsewhere. I packaged everything up and sent it back.


Many years ago, I had an approval dealer sending me approvals that were a mix of used and unused. I have requested the same as I did of the dealers above. He told me that he was going to send me what he wanted to. Another dealer who did not get any money from me.

What is so difficult to understand that if a customer wants certain items that you send that customer the items that the customer wants? If I go into a grocery store, and I tell them that I want a gallon of milk, it doesn't do me any good for the store manager to go get me a toilet bowl plunger, and tell me to buy it or leave. Like with the approval dealers, I leave, and take my money elsewhere.

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Philatarium

APS #187980
03 Feb 2021
07:07:48pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Wow ... Surprise

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Harvey

I think, therefore I am - I think!

03 Feb 2021
07:37:30pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Thankfully I have been dealing with the same family of dealers for 50 years - after that amount of time they trust me. I really can see both sides, but your experience is extreme!!!

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
1112

Love & Peace
03 Feb 2021
09:35:51pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Dealers should accept your request without questions because It's customer service & customer respect.
For us, we purchased stamps from stamp organizations & postal offices only because their Officials are excellent. We have spend thousands of euros & they fulfilled every order without an error.

French Polynesian Stamp Club

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Love & Peace. Bonjour Mesdames et messieurs. Que l'amour et la paix soient avec toi. Merci."
Members Picture
angore

Collector, Moderator
04 Feb 2021
05:40:54am

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Dealers are likely just trying to unload what the have and do not have much of what you want.

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
04 Feb 2021
09:40:03am

Auctions

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Michael,

successful marketing is all about giving the customer what s/he wants. When said customer says what it is, marketing is done and fulfillment starts. If the dealer isn't prepared to fulfill, marketing is a waste of time.

Those that claimed it would be unfair to others if...... all i can say is it would be helpful if in their ads they explained they intend to make the lives of customers they don't have as wonderful as those who are prepared to actually spend money. Frankly, I don't see why they don't just send everyone some free stuff every month. It shouldn't necessarily be what they want (God forbid!) but something to remind them they are loved, in an odd, ineffective way.

and the non-responders.... they anecdotes are littered with them. One wonders....

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Members Picture
michael78651

04 Feb 2021
09:11:18pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Got a response from a third dealer. He is an APS member. The delay in responding to me may be due to his checking my APS member status. I have no problem with that as anyone can validate any APS member. It is a good business practice on his part to do so, if he did indeed do that.

The selection was professionally packed, labeled and invoiced. All stamps are MNH, and with the exception of one stamp are in very nice condition. Discounts 15% up to 90% off catalog, plus an additional 10% discount if the entire selection is purchased. Stamps are priced based on condition, which is often not done as many dealers will charge the same for a damaged stamp as for a superb one. Those dealers I stay away from.

He enclosed a free "welcome" stamp. It is an oddity that is not listed by Scott. I will probably post a picture of it as I am interested to know if it is a single, or part of a set.

The country he sent is one that, if asked, I would say not to send it to me as I am 95% complete. However, because the condition of a few of the five sets and singles sent are in top condition, I will check against what I have and possibly upgrade.

With this dealer, I am satisfied as of the first selection sent. I will suggest a country to send me in the next selection.

One dealer is still not heard from.

Like 
7 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
angore

Collector, Moderator
05 Feb 2021
05:50:06am

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

There is hope!

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
Brechinite

Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons
05 Feb 2021
10:34:20am

Auctions - Approvals

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Aaaah Retail!

Whether it is in the stamp world or the real world a retailer cannot satisfy all the people all of the time.

A retailer sets out his stall with his goods for sale. Customers will either buy or not. That is it in its simplest form.

However it gets complicated because Customers are Human and they demand more as they want the "experience", the "extras", their "way" and they want it now!

Retailers are Human as well with their own wee foibles, ideas on how they want to run their business, try to be helpful to customers but recognise that sometimes they cannot fulfil the customers' needs. God help them when they tell the customer "Sorry we can't do that for you"

We all know that from our own experiences, there are stores we will go into and others we will never enter! Not in a month of Sundays!

Remember a retailer does not have to sell to you the same as you do not have to buy from a retailer.

If a retailer does not supply your needs then you mark it down to experience and find a retailer that suits your requirements.

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"StayAlert.......Control The Virus.......Save Lives."
Members Picture
michael78651

05 Feb 2021
09:35:41pm

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Yep, that is true. The one dealer I mentioned, however, never said he couldn't provide what I want. He said he wouldn't. That's a big difference.

#1 rule of retail: never let money walk out the door.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
05 Feb 2021
10:01:39pm

Approvals

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

That same thought carries through all hobbies and commerce in general...

So many hobby shops have gone out of business in modern times. Some of the ones I've known, that have ended stating that they were run out of business by the Internet or Hobby Lobby underselling them. But knowing the exact situations, I can say the businesses ended due to the sour disposition of the owners and the way they treated people. Of course they didn't see that!

I had my windshield smashed by flying ice on the turnpike the other day. Today I tried to arrange my repair. I was able to get an instant online quote from one national company. I decided to try two local shops for comparison. I wound up talking to answering machines at both businesses, early today (Friday)... would you know neither got back to me? It must be nice to have all the business you need!

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
StampCollector

06 Feb 2021
12:26:54am

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

Yes, but "your business is important to us" those machines claim!
Hogwash at its best, if you ask me.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.webstore.com/~st ...
Members Picture
Brechinite

Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons
06 Feb 2021
04:50:42am

Auctions - Approvals

re: Why Bother With Dealers? Are They Out Of Touch With Reality of Retail?

"#1 rule of retail: never let money walk out the door."



#2 Rule of Retail: There is business worth doing and there is business NOT worth doing.

#3 Rule of Retail: The Customer is always right.........within earshot!Big Grin

Like
Login to Like
this post

"StayAlert.......Control The Virus.......Save Lives."
        

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