Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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I'm afraid your experience at Stanley Gibbons in The Strand is not news for those of us in the UK.
The last time I actually went inside was in 1995. It was already stagnating as a retail outlet for stamp collectors. Most of the staff were quite disinterested in customers and had little idea of how to build customer relations.
At that time, the window displays were adorned with celebrity signed memorabilia such as: t-shirts, vinyl album covers, guitars, posters, pop star stage outfits etc. This was SG's latest big idea of building investment portfolios.
Even then, the ground floor, up to the counter, was awash with racks of albums and catalogues. Stamp displays and stock were meagre.
In my opinion, Stanley Gibbons are in trouble. They have lost their identity and are a rudderless ship. There is a crisis of management in the computer system development division, which is being made public on online blogs by discontented employees.
There is also the question of why they bought Bidstart, which has not seemingly benefited from any injection of funds, nor their so called 'expertise'.
Your experience in London would not have been so disappointing a few years ago, as there were quite a number of other stamp retail outlets in the Strand and surrounding area.
Unfortunately all but one have disappeared. The age of 'bricks and mortar' stamp shops has almost gone.
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09:41:34am
".... there were quite a number of other stamp retail outlets in the Strand and surrounding area. ....
The Strand shop was mildly disappointing in 1996, only countered by the thrill of visiting what some might have felt was the Holy Grail of British Philately. I recall the apparent disinterest in paying attention to me as a customer.
Fortunately there were other stamp shops, but as a wandering visitor it took some strolling around to find them. I do not recall the names other than "J. Sanders, Philatelist" in Southampton a week or two later where I spent a very pleasant afternoon and spent what I felt was a small fortune.
I suggest that the demise of brick and mortar shops should not be entirely blamed on the convenience of the internet. Some dealers or their assistants simply acted poorly. Often they expected me to know exactly what I wanted upon entering, usually before my eyes adjusted to the inside lighting. As a long time collector of postally used world wide I may not have a particular item in mind, but if I feel comfortable will always find things that I simply cannot live without. That takes some time. I recall many times leaving a shop with some gems under my arms that I had never contemplated purchasing until I discovered them in the stock.
Of course, I realized that a dealer's time is money and suspect that many wanderers are simply "Tire kickers" possibly seeking nothing more than access to a clean toilet, (a "Loo" in Britain) , but when I have been treated decently I usually have made a substantially rewarding purchase, especially in the sixties when I was single and well paid as I traveled to different countrie.
The Stanley Gibbons store did not meet my expectation and after some minor purchase I moved on to look for some other shop in the area.
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In each city I visited in Europe this summer, I kept an eye out for stamp stores. I found only one, in Stockholm.
Unfortunately, when I went inside, I found only this.
It was mainly a comic book store. I asked the young kid behind the counter if he knew of any Canadian stamps (My collecting interest). It was a bust. Oh, well.
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There used to be a nice little shop in Falmouth, Mass (on Cape Cod). On our annual trip there I always spent more time (and $$) than I should have, but it was great. After an absence of several years (job & time) on my next visit the owners were curt, not courteous, and let me know that the stamps visible were not available except to internet buyers. They had nothing to show me, and, quite frankly, seemed annoyed that I had stopped in. I don't know if the shop still exists, and honestly could care less.
Roger
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For anyone coming to the UK this year (London in particular), perhaps you might like to time your visit to coincide with the Strand Stamp Fair.
This will make up for the lack of stamp shops in the capital.
I used to attend this fair when it was held in the Strand Palace Hotel; hence the name.
There are some very good dealers there every month. It's location is perfect for seeing some of the sights of London if you have time. It's close to Covent Garden, which is worth a visit.
The following is a page off the internet, which doesn't show too well, so I have repeated the details below it.
The Strand Stamp Fair has a relaxed atmosphere. The dealers arrive between 8.00am and 10.00am, depending on trains or traffic, and though the fair is open until 4.00pm, some may leave earlier if they have a long journey home.
With 20 - 30 dealers every month, you are bound to find some material of interest, whether you collect stamps, postal history or are looking for a complete collection.
If you have something to sell, then please bring it with you, as the dealers will be happy to have a look.
And of course, the Strand Stamp Fair is a great place to meet up with friends and colleagues.
The Hotel has all the usual services – café, bar and restaurant – and there are many places to eat and drink in the surrounding area.
Where: The Galleon suite at the Royal National Hotel - Bedford Way - London, WC1H 0DG.
e-mail: info@imperialhotels.co.uk
Opening hours: 9am - 4pm
Who is there: Major stamp dealers from UK and sometimes overseas.
Nearest underground: Russell Square. (Turn left from station to traffic lights. Turn right into Woburn Place and the entrance to the Hotel courtyard is 150 yards on the left.)
Admission: Free
2014 DATES
14th February
21st March
25th April
16th May
13th June
11th July
1st August
5th September
10th October
14th November
12th December
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The best places for stamp collectors in most European cities are the weekly stamp fairs that occur on one or more day a week, every week of the year.
Usually in the same plaza, street or park.
Madrid, Paris, come to my mind, but there are many more. They have some dealers and mostly collectors. Wish we had them in the US. Our periodic shows work for sellers, but do not facilitate the exchange of stamps among collectors.
If you stay any length of time, and get to know the fellow collectors, they will bring the material you seek to look at the following time, or may even invite you personally.
SG in London was disappointing. And did you look at their prices?
Most stamp stores are in trouble. Just like book stores, they have become to a large part obsolete. While there is real pleasure from handling stamps, albums etc.. (books) in a store, for an efficiency and flexibility stand point, nothing beats the internet stores, auctions and now Approval Books 
!
I, for one, like to work on my stamps late at night, so it is the perfect fit for me....(plus I don't have to worry about parking).
rrr...
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03:09:47pm
" .... It was mainly a comic book store. I asked the young kid behind the counter if he knew of any Canadian stamps ...."
It just so happens that the overwhelming majority of people walking around, working small retail establishments or shopping in malls appear to be young kids to me. Over the years the category "Fresh faced young kids " seems to be expanding exponentially.
So yes, I have had that experience in a few stores that once were general hobby stores, before that" Stamp and Coin" shops, and in the more distant past when the world appeared so young and fruitful, friendly well stocked stamp stores.
But that is the price of outliving so many other contestants and I expect it will get even worse as the pages slip off the wall calendar.
Did I ever post anything about being a young bucko behind the wheel of a neat black Ford Custom Sedan ?
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Thanks for the info, if you hadn't posted this thread, I would have gone to SG myself when I will be in London later this month!
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03:24:46pm
".... if you hadn't posted this thread, I would have gone to SG myself ...."
I would still stop in if I were in the neighborhood, just to punch that part of my Bucket List ticket, but would not expect much. Besides there are, or were, several other decent stamp shops in the surrounding area. It's is like seeing Nelson's statue. Once you stop and stare you can write home a post card to tell the world you'd been there.
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I would stop by as well. Whenever I visit London I usually stop by the Stanley Gibbons-shop to have a look at some catalogs and picking up a few issues of their magazine. Then I go across the street and look for stamps in the stamp shop there.
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While in London last month, I took time to visit Stanley Gibbons 'Flagship Store' on the Strand in London. I was surprised at how small the public space was inside the store. The retail space was mostly supplies; album pages, catalogs, binders and slipcovers, etc. There was a limited selection of stamps to look at without asking for a binder from behind the counter. As my 8-year old was with me, I didn't spend much time there. The pictures of me at the store were part of my pictures that have gone missing.
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re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
I'm afraid your experience at Stanley Gibbons in The Strand is not news for those of us in the UK.
The last time I actually went inside was in 1995. It was already stagnating as a retail outlet for stamp collectors. Most of the staff were quite disinterested in customers and had little idea of how to build customer relations.
At that time, the window displays were adorned with celebrity signed memorabilia such as: t-shirts, vinyl album covers, guitars, posters, pop star stage outfits etc. This was SG's latest big idea of building investment portfolios.
Even then, the ground floor, up to the counter, was awash with racks of albums and catalogues. Stamp displays and stock were meagre.
In my opinion, Stanley Gibbons are in trouble. They have lost their identity and are a rudderless ship. There is a crisis of management in the computer system development division, which is being made public on online blogs by discontented employees.
There is also the question of why they bought Bidstart, which has not seemingly benefited from any injection of funds, nor their so called 'expertise'.
Your experience in London would not have been so disappointing a few years ago, as there were quite a number of other stamp retail outlets in the Strand and surrounding area.
Unfortunately all but one have disappeared. The age of 'bricks and mortar' stamp shops has almost gone.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
28 Jul 2014
09:41:34am
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
".... there were quite a number of other stamp retail outlets in the Strand and surrounding area. ....
The Strand shop was mildly disappointing in 1996, only countered by the thrill of visiting what some might have felt was the Holy Grail of British Philately. I recall the apparent disinterest in paying attention to me as a customer.
Fortunately there were other stamp shops, but as a wandering visitor it took some strolling around to find them. I do not recall the names other than "J. Sanders, Philatelist" in Southampton a week or two later where I spent a very pleasant afternoon and spent what I felt was a small fortune.
I suggest that the demise of brick and mortar shops should not be entirely blamed on the convenience of the internet. Some dealers or their assistants simply acted poorly. Often they expected me to know exactly what I wanted upon entering, usually before my eyes adjusted to the inside lighting. As a long time collector of postally used world wide I may not have a particular item in mind, but if I feel comfortable will always find things that I simply cannot live without. That takes some time. I recall many times leaving a shop with some gems under my arms that I had never contemplated purchasing until I discovered them in the stock.
Of course, I realized that a dealer's time is money and suspect that many wanderers are simply "Tire kickers" possibly seeking nothing more than access to a clean toilet, (a "Loo" in Britain) , but when I have been treated decently I usually have made a substantially rewarding purchase, especially in the sixties when I was single and well paid as I traveled to different countrie.
The Stanley Gibbons store did not meet my expectation and after some minor purchase I moved on to look for some other shop in the area.
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re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
In each city I visited in Europe this summer, I kept an eye out for stamp stores. I found only one, in Stockholm.
Unfortunately, when I went inside, I found only this.
It was mainly a comic book store. I asked the young kid behind the counter if he knew of any Canadian stamps (My collecting interest). It was a bust. Oh, well.
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re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
There used to be a nice little shop in Falmouth, Mass (on Cape Cod). On our annual trip there I always spent more time (and $$) than I should have, but it was great. After an absence of several years (job & time) on my next visit the owners were curt, not courteous, and let me know that the stamps visible were not available except to internet buyers. They had nothing to show me, and, quite frankly, seemed annoyed that I had stopped in. I don't know if the shop still exists, and honestly could care less.
Roger
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re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
For anyone coming to the UK this year (London in particular), perhaps you might like to time your visit to coincide with the Strand Stamp Fair.
This will make up for the lack of stamp shops in the capital.
I used to attend this fair when it was held in the Strand Palace Hotel; hence the name.
There are some very good dealers there every month. It's location is perfect for seeing some of the sights of London if you have time. It's close to Covent Garden, which is worth a visit.
The following is a page off the internet, which doesn't show too well, so I have repeated the details below it.
The Strand Stamp Fair has a relaxed atmosphere. The dealers arrive between 8.00am and 10.00am, depending on trains or traffic, and though the fair is open until 4.00pm, some may leave earlier if they have a long journey home.
With 20 - 30 dealers every month, you are bound to find some material of interest, whether you collect stamps, postal history or are looking for a complete collection.
If you have something to sell, then please bring it with you, as the dealers will be happy to have a look.
And of course, the Strand Stamp Fair is a great place to meet up with friends and colleagues.
The Hotel has all the usual services – café, bar and restaurant – and there are many places to eat and drink in the surrounding area.
Where: The Galleon suite at the Royal National Hotel - Bedford Way - London, WC1H 0DG.
e-mail: info@imperialhotels.co.uk
Opening hours: 9am - 4pm
Who is there: Major stamp dealers from UK and sometimes overseas.
Nearest underground: Russell Square. (Turn left from station to traffic lights. Turn right into Woburn Place and the entrance to the Hotel courtyard is 150 yards on the left.)
Admission: Free
2014 DATES
14th February
21st March
25th April
16th May
13th June
11th July
1st August
5th September
10th October
14th November
12th December
1 Member
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
29 Jul 2014
02:32:24pm
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
The best places for stamp collectors in most European cities are the weekly stamp fairs that occur on one or more day a week, every week of the year.
Usually in the same plaza, street or park.
Madrid, Paris, come to my mind, but there are many more. They have some dealers and mostly collectors. Wish we had them in the US. Our periodic shows work for sellers, but do not facilitate the exchange of stamps among collectors.
If you stay any length of time, and get to know the fellow collectors, they will bring the material you seek to look at the following time, or may even invite you personally.
SG in London was disappointing. And did you look at their prices?
Most stamp stores are in trouble. Just like book stores, they have become to a large part obsolete. While there is real pleasure from handling stamps, albums etc.. (books) in a store, for an efficiency and flexibility stand point, nothing beats the internet stores, auctions and now Approval Books !
I, for one, like to work on my stamps late at night, so it is the perfect fit for me....(plus I don't have to worry about parking).
rrr...
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
29 Jul 2014
03:09:47pm
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
" .... It was mainly a comic book store. I asked the young kid behind the counter if he knew of any Canadian stamps ...."
It just so happens that the overwhelming majority of people walking around, working small retail establishments or shopping in malls appear to be young kids to me. Over the years the category "Fresh faced young kids " seems to be expanding exponentially.
So yes, I have had that experience in a few stores that once were general hobby stores, before that" Stamp and Coin" shops, and in the more distant past when the world appeared so young and fruitful, friendly well stocked stamp stores.
But that is the price of outliving so many other contestants and I expect it will get even worse as the pages slip off the wall calendar.
Did I ever post anything about being a young bucko behind the wheel of a neat black Ford Custom Sedan ?
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this post
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
Thanks for the info, if you hadn't posted this thread, I would have gone to SG myself when I will be in London later this month!
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
04 Aug 2014
03:24:46pm
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
".... if you hadn't posted this thread, I would have gone to SG myself ...."
I would still stop in if I were in the neighborhood, just to punch that part of my Bucket List ticket, but would not expect much. Besides there are, or were, several other decent stamp shops in the surrounding area. It's is like seeing Nelson's statue. Once you stop and stare you can write home a post card to tell the world you'd been there.
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04:52:16pm
re: Visiting Stanley Gibbons in London
I would stop by as well. Whenever I visit London I usually stop by the Stanley Gibbons-shop to have a look at some catalogs and picking up a few issues of their magazine. Then I go across the street and look for stamps in the stamp shop there.
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