I have been using the Scott Catalog app for iPad from last year and it's a lot better than the new version. But, I really think it will be good if you use them from your computer. I like the iPad version because I don't use my computer when I'm working with my stamps.
Stan
Thank you. That's a big help. I will probably be using them from a computer sometimes, but mostly from a laptop and or a tablet of some sort. Don't have a tablet yet, so not sure what it will be when I do get one.
Have a good day.
Suzanne
Let me save you some money. Just send me $300 and you save the rest..
ps. sorry, couldn't resist.
"Let me save you some money. Just send me $300 and you save the rest"
I think that the Scott "e-catalogues" are mostly a waste of money. I have just one, and I don't think I'll buy another unless they improve them dramatically.
The interface is clunky and the search engine a complete waste of time; unless I've missed something after hours of trial, you can only search for a volume, not an individual country or an individual stamp or set of stamps.
The e-catalogues cost less than the dead-tree volumes, but you get a great deal less. And I hate, loathe, and despise! the pop-up adds at the bottom of every page, advertising Amos products. They disappear on their own, only to be instantly (and distractingly) replaced by another, then another, and another. The only way you can turn them off is to go off-line, and that's a royal pain.
If you collect just one or two countries, it might be useful to have the e-catalogue on a "device" to take to stamp shows, but otherwise I'd forget it. The average Kindle book, Google e-book, or i-book is light years ahead of Scott in functionality and ease of use.
Bob
I have been using the DVD catalogs since 2009 and love them, but don't think the "new-fangled thing-a-ma-jigs" are anywhere near what the DVD catalogs are, especially after reading Bob's comments. The best thing to do is just watch for last years catalogs on the internet or at the stamp club and pick them up a whole lot cheaper than those 2015's. After all, how much do prices change for most of the stamps we deal with? Now if the stamp club is going to pick up the tab, go for whichever they are willing to pay for.
Mike
Bob:
Thank you for the "heads up" on Scott e-catalogues.
If you find them inconvenient, that means I will find
them impossible.
John Derry
I find them good myself. I really like the iPad version that was released last year, but I am an application developer who understands such things.
I've used them for the 2014 US Specialized Stamp Catalog values and identification. It has an ok search function, and I don't have to flip a lot of pages to find what I'm looking for.
I think you really need to give them a chance.
Stan
Are these available for Android tables, or only Apple i-things?
Brian, how do you get a DVD to play on your tablet? I have a Galaxy Note 10.1 and I can copy files from my desktop to it via a USB port; is this what you do?
Peter
Thanks everyone. It sounds like I might have to buy at least one and give it a try. I'll probably get the US specialized because that's the one I would use the least, so if it doesn't work out well, then it's not much of a loss.
Won't know until I try it for myself.
Have a good day.
Suzanne
Hi doodles69ca
As Scott catalogues are expensive I purchased the 2009 edition on a cdrom online of a full set, cost a fraction of the actual catalogue and can make searching a lot easier.
Elk117
2009 was the last year Scott offered the catalogs on CD. I was able to download the entire database and can access all volumes without the actual CDs. I still use mine for reference although I have updated my catalogs with printed media for valuations. Sure is convenient. But it proved unprofitable and went the way of the dinosaurs.
Scott discontinued the CDs because of piracy. it's much easier to duplicate CDs than to photocopy pages.
I, too, have a set on CD and enjoy them. They are somewhat cumbersome, from a technical point of view, but no more so than the catalogues. We just expect better navigation from electronic media
David
I've had the 2009 DVD set since 2009 and love it, especially since I usually keep it showing at the bottom of the screen and just have to click on the tab. So much easier to handle than those heavy paper editions, plus there are so many additional benefits by using them, like the search feature, enlarging a page or section, etc. The one benefit I enjoy most is that it is not necessary for me to get off of my duff to use the computer catalog, whereas I keep my paper catalogs about 6 feet behind me. I think of it as conserving energy, mine!
Mike
Sounds like the jury is still out? Curious if this has progressed any in the past six months. Just saw this ad which sparked my interest:
http://store.linns.com/2015-scott-classic-specialized-catalogue-of-united-states
If the eCatalogs are user friendly and I can load them on my MS Surface tablet, this one and probably the US specialized would be great purchases. When I go to stamp stores or shows, my tablet is all I take to keep me straight as to what I have and what I need.
-Steve
My understanding is that the new eCatalogues require internet access to use. You cannot simply download the entire catalog and view it all offline. What you are doing is purchasing the right to access it from your device.
Regarding the 2009 digital Scott WW catalog set -- they were produced on multiple discs, required registration, and the print function was disabled when using Adobe Reader. If any one of those 3 criteria are not met, sorry but you bought a pirated copy.
It was and still is nearly impossible to purchase genuine 2005-2009 Scott digital catalogs unless you purchased directly from Amos or a authorized dealer that ordered it directly from Amos. You'd think that Amos would have learned that if they had made the price somewhat reasonable (reasonable as in pass on the tremendous savings from not having to print/store/package the catalogs) instead of just knocking off $5-$10, they would have made a LOT more money. Instead, all the software pirates are swiping their revenue stream.
Compare the price of the 2015 Classic print/digital catalogs. Instead of knocking $25 off for the digital catalog, they're going to try to convince you that the convenience of the digital catalog is worth them keeping that $25 -- except, of course, that you still have to have internet access to use the digital catalog.
Thanks Kim. Of course you are correct. Had I been patient enough to read the fine print it says that Internet access is required. Oh well.
Agree with your other points too. Unless the e-version has tons of extra capability, it's cost should be well below the print version.
If you think of the possibilities for a digital catalog... How about image recognition? You scan your stamp and the AI helps you identify it. How about images that can be re-sized clearly, especially when zooming in on "secret marks" needed to identify some stamps? Color identification with variations of stamps fading and screen differences accounted for? Inventory management, to include images of the actual stamps in your collection? The list goes on and on.
I suspect that if the hobby were as strong as it was back in the middle of the last century (at least in terms of numbers), we would see a plethora of apps. But the Catch-22 is that it was the computer age that weakened the hobby, but without the computer we couldn't have those apps.
So I'll just stick to my paper catalogs, Excel spreadsheet, and digital pictures to manage things for now.
-Steve
Scott's mindset is and will be that the print version of the catalog is the prime version, and that all other versions must mimic that in appearance and price.
Scot is indeed missing the boat here. Electronic media doesn't cost much. They should charge much less than the prices that they have charged for the electronic versions of their catalogs. A problem is that they can't come up with a good electronic version to peddle.
Here is what I will do when I buy Scott:
1 - continue production of the print versions of the catalogs, but make them loose leaf. Annual update pages to replace pages that have changed and new pages for new issues.
2 - Create an online catalog system.
3 - Collectors would be offered the ability to obtain a subscription (enrollment fee of maybe $100) to access online the entire catalog database. There would be a monthly subscription fee (maybe $15 per month).
4 - Collectors for the fees that they pay will be able to develop an online inventory list using the online catalogs. The inventory list would be saved under their secure account, and can be updated with additions and deletions as often as the collector wants to.
5 - Just like the inventory list, collectors would be able to create want lists. Want lists would be limited in size.
6 - Both the inventory and want lists would be downloadable and printable by the subscriber/collector. The entire online catalog would not be printable or downloadable. Safeguards would be put in place to prevent users from trying to cheat the system by creating inventory lists and/or want lists that contain large percentages of the listings and printing/downloading basically the entire catalog, or complete countries (with some exceptions).
7 - Those wanting to download the entire catalog could do so upon payment of a fee about equal to perhaps half the price of the catalog. Downloading of entire countries could be done on a fee based on how many pages there are for the desired country/area, etc.
8 - The online catalogs would be updated quarterly (staggered per volume). The updates would also be reflected immediately on all inventory and want lists.
9 - Collectors with existing inventory and/or want lists will be given the ability to bulk upload those lists (properly formatted) to create their online lists.
So, after enrollment, one can keep track of their collection for less than $200 per year. Additional functionality would be included, such as sorting the lists, and other things that I can't think of right now.
Will Scott do this now? Probably not. Why? Because it doesn't mimic the print version of the catalogs, and they'll say that such an application will take too long to develop and cost too much. They would want to charge $500 enrollment fee, and at least $50 per month subscription fee. Why the high fees? To match the pricing of the print versions.
Agreed. Can't wait until you buy Scott from Amos.
They are too worried about protecting their print catalog sales.
Even if they had kept using the neanderthal pdfs, I would have gladly paid $100 every 1-2 years for the WW set to update it, as long as I can still print the pages. They lost me when they disabled the direct print capabilities. The current system of requiring online access is a no-sale for me.
Meanwhile, the software pirates continue to reap in revenue selling the pirated 2009 (!!!) edition.
It seems to me that after Scott releases a new edition of their catalog, that they could care less about previous editions once the older ones sell out.
Absolutely. And that's because Scott is stuck in their "we've got to issue a new complete set of catalogs EVERY year" mentality. That may have been a savvy business model pre-1990's, but the size and expense of the WW set now is such that Scott is shutting out the beginning and intermediate collectors. It seems they can only think in terms of 1 year. The brisk sales of pirated 2009 software since 2008 until even now shows that there is a market for outdated catalogs. Amos is too concerned that it will compete with sales of their new catalog edition.
Not sure how it is in other parts, but around here, most of the new car dealers also have a used car sales division. They aren't concerned about losing sales to the "other" division.
Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I first posted about the e-catalogues. Don't waste your money. They are't worth it.
I bought the first three volumes, and they cost me $271.00 Canadian. Which wasn't too bad.
When you log into the catalogues, it says you can download the olive e textbook reader and look at the catalogues offline. Nope, it doesn't work. I talked to one of the women at Amos, and she said that they are "still working on it". If that had been working it wouldn't have been bad at all. You can enlarge the pictures. You can type in a number for a stamp and it will come up to that stamp. You can type in the title of the stamp and it will show you that stamp. One country at a time that is.
Another thing I found out, is that it doesn't matter if you have only had the e-catalogues for a few weeks, months or a year or more, if they decide to change the programming for the catalogues, too bad. You lose them, with no refund, no replacement, no anything.
They are gone. They also are deleted after 3 years, so no matter what you have to buy them again.
I was promised a full refund within 30 days. I am waiting for my refund. The other option was sending them another $75.00 or so, plus about $65.00 for shipping and they would send the catalogues. I told them I want my refund.
I paid $375.00 to a local dealer, and I bought them from him. Now I am happy.
Michael that's a great business plan! I would like to add one thing... jpg recognition, like Google does now. You should be able to scan a stamp, click on it and have their software take you to the catalog entry. That would solve a lot of stamp mysteries!
But here's the glitch... it has to work financially for both the buyers and Scott. I keep hearing that collector numbers are down, as they are in most hobbies today. That is a smaller pool of potential buyers to amortize an investment across.
I have been purchasing individual countries. I find them ok. I think the price is too high though. I wish they would go to the Beckett Model (Sports Cards) where you buy a subscription for a period of time an you can choose all catalogues, individual catalogues or individual countries. I don't see how that can be so difficult to do. Now that they don't have to print, their costs should come way down. I believe they would get many more collectors buying them.
One of the major problems using them on my smartphone is that you can't pinch the screen to increase or decrease the size. You have to push a + or - button.
Oops... I see me and Michael #'s are on the same page.
I just wish they'd get all their catalog entries into a database and then sell subscriptions like Bill Steiner does. I would be very happy to pay $50 each year to access the catalog online. Once they had everything in a database it would be very easy for them to update the values, because for most stamps, they do so as a general percentage increase, at least is seems so to me. They could still print the books from the database, as there would probably still be a market for them, it would be incredibly easy and cost effective for them once they have all stamps in a central database.
Just my thoughts looking from an IT point of view.
Regards ...Tim
Does anybody have any idea where I can get a legit copy of the 2009 Scott catalog on CD / DVD? I think I read in here that 2009 was the last year they produced on CD / DVD.
I need some good reference material but cannot stretch (financially or room wise) to a complete set of Scott catalogs at the moment. Thanks,
Paul.
Paul, check with your local library. If you're lucky, they'll have Scott volumes in circulation (or at least in their reference section). If you're really lucky, they will also sell off old volumes as they update the catalogues. I bought my 2004's for $3.50 a volume, which I still use as reference.
Like Andrejs, I opted to buy used catalogs, although I decided to pay more for a 2013 set. All are library discards and all are in reasonable shape. I got the six A-Z volumes and the US specialized for about $150 total by shopping around (on eBay) and not being impatient. That last part is very hard for me to do.
-Steve
Thanks for the advice Andrejs and Steve. Our library has their annual sale in the fall each year so I will definitely check that out once they announce the dates.
I have been looking at older editions of the Scotts catalogs as well and have been tempted by some of them. How far back do you think I am ok going (edition wise) before you would consider the volumes to be "too old"? Thanks,
Paul.
I bought all of my catalogs from library sales or used from Amazon. That includes Scott, Michel, and Stanley Gibbons. They are all five to ten years old, but I use them more for identification rather than value. For the few (very few) valuable stamps I have it is easy to go the library to get a current price.
I like the idea of loose leaf, though. Slightly larger type would be nice too for these old eyeballs but I don't see that happening!
Geoff
That would all depend on what you collect and what you want the catalogues for - are they for reference or to determine the value of stamps you want to put up for auction/approvals/work out trades for, etc.?
Since I collect older stuff, I'm usually good with catalogues that are three to five years out of date for the sheer reference value. My last Unitrade Cdn catalogue is four years old now. I'll hit the local library if I need an update on values from their current reference section or even get lucky and be able to bring a necessary volume home on loan; and I can just do my updates with a list of stamps and Cat #s, rather than lugging the collection around with me. Basically, my 2004 set is my primary reference point, which makes secondary research so much easier.
(And here I have to give kudos to the London (Ontario) Public Library for their commitment to keeping at least four or five complete sets of catalogues circulating for every year, plus at least two reference sets - awesome!!!!!!!!!!!)
If you're more current in your collecting habits, note that the Scott catalogues usually are about a year out of date for issues anyway, so it's just a matter of keeping a small stockbook set aside to catalogue whenever you get the info on the newer issues. I suppose there's also the Scott's monthly supplement (do they still print that?), but that's hardcore keeping on top of things. Do what I did - just accumulate so many older stamps, that you will never run out of a use for you second hand copies!
Most of my stamps at this stage are older, so I do not really need brand new bang-up-to-date copies of the catalogs. It is mainly for reference too, as I don't think I have anything of huge value and I am not much of a buyer / seller either.
I have been looking on Amazon and E-bay, and also the one or two second hand bookshops in town. (Anchorage is not that big, not much choice for second hand book shops.) I will keep my eyes peeled. I am not in a major hurry as I am still sorting out a lot of my stamps at this stage. Once I get them sorted out though, that's when I'll need to hone up my identification skills for the leftover stamps I was unable to easily sort.
Thanks,
Paul.
"They are all five to ten years old, but I use them more for identification rather than value. For the few (very few) valuable stamps I have it is easy to go the library to get a current price."
Just a thought, there are other websites where sellers quote current catalog values, you can
search by Scott # and many of the listings will show the current SCV in their listing, Bidstart comes to mind, although they may not be around to much longer
Never trust that a seller is quoting current values. They could be working from an old catalogue or their own!
I just pick up a copy of Brookman's 1998 US,Canada,UN catalogue. I found it for sale in our local library,here in Australia.
I don't collect US I just bought it for curiosity value.It does list all US FDC's sheet and plate block prices,which by now are way out of date?
Brian
I guess someone captured the Scott pages from their online site.
Believe it or not, this is usually done using old catalogues and a high-speed scanner.
I agree it can be done that way too but the reason I mentioned online is based based upon images shown IF they represent final product.
I have scanned pages myself and have always seen printing from the reverse side of the page since the catalogs are printed on thin paper. I see this much less when scanning my SG catalog pages.
I am just wondering, has anyone bought the Scott online E catalouges? If so are they as easy to use as the sample pages show? I found the sample pages at AmosAdvantage
I am considering buying them instead of the hard copies. It's a big expense if they aren't any good. I'd be paying about $600.00 Canadian Funds for the online catalogues, which includes the Scott US Specialized. Or I can pay just under $900.00 for the hard copies, which I could sell off again in a couple of years and get a little bit of money back for them.
Please don't suggest the library. I am also a part time dealer at my local club, and I use the catalogues almost daily for numbering and pricing. Going to the library isn't always that easy for me. Besides I would have to run around to 4 or 5 branches to find every copy.
Thanks for your opinions.
Suzanne
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I have been using the Scott Catalog app for iPad from last year and it's a lot better than the new version. But, I really think it will be good if you use them from your computer. I like the iPad version because I don't use my computer when I'm working with my stamps.
Stan
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Thank you. That's a big help. I will probably be using them from a computer sometimes, but mostly from a laptop and or a tablet of some sort. Don't have a tablet yet, so not sure what it will be when I do get one.
Have a good day.
Suzanne
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Let me save you some money. Just send me $300 and you save the rest..
ps. sorry, couldn't resist.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
"Let me save you some money. Just send me $300 and you save the rest"
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I think that the Scott "e-catalogues" are mostly a waste of money. I have just one, and I don't think I'll buy another unless they improve them dramatically.
The interface is clunky and the search engine a complete waste of time; unless I've missed something after hours of trial, you can only search for a volume, not an individual country or an individual stamp or set of stamps.
The e-catalogues cost less than the dead-tree volumes, but you get a great deal less. And I hate, loathe, and despise! the pop-up adds at the bottom of every page, advertising Amos products. They disappear on their own, only to be instantly (and distractingly) replaced by another, then another, and another. The only way you can turn them off is to go off-line, and that's a royal pain.
If you collect just one or two countries, it might be useful to have the e-catalogue on a "device" to take to stamp shows, but otherwise I'd forget it. The average Kindle book, Google e-book, or i-book is light years ahead of Scott in functionality and ease of use.
Bob
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I have been using the DVD catalogs since 2009 and love them, but don't think the "new-fangled thing-a-ma-jigs" are anywhere near what the DVD catalogs are, especially after reading Bob's comments. The best thing to do is just watch for last years catalogs on the internet or at the stamp club and pick them up a whole lot cheaper than those 2015's. After all, how much do prices change for most of the stamps we deal with? Now if the stamp club is going to pick up the tab, go for whichever they are willing to pay for.
Mike
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Bob:
Thank you for the "heads up" on Scott e-catalogues.
If you find them inconvenient, that means I will find
them impossible.
John Derry
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I find them good myself. I really like the iPad version that was released last year, but I am an application developer who understands such things.
I've used them for the 2014 US Specialized Stamp Catalog values and identification. It has an ok search function, and I don't have to flip a lot of pages to find what I'm looking for.
I think you really need to give them a chance.
Stan
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Are these available for Android tables, or only Apple i-things?
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Brian, how do you get a DVD to play on your tablet? I have a Galaxy Note 10.1 and I can copy files from my desktop to it via a USB port; is this what you do?
Peter
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Thanks everyone. It sounds like I might have to buy at least one and give it a try. I'll probably get the US specialized because that's the one I would use the least, so if it doesn't work out well, then it's not much of a loss.
Won't know until I try it for myself.
Have a good day.
Suzanne
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Hi doodles69ca
As Scott catalogues are expensive I purchased the 2009 edition on a cdrom online of a full set, cost a fraction of the actual catalogue and can make searching a lot easier.
Elk117
re: Scott Ecatalogues
2009 was the last year Scott offered the catalogs on CD. I was able to download the entire database and can access all volumes without the actual CDs. I still use mine for reference although I have updated my catalogs with printed media for valuations. Sure is convenient. But it proved unprofitable and went the way of the dinosaurs.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Scott discontinued the CDs because of piracy. it's much easier to duplicate CDs than to photocopy pages.
I, too, have a set on CD and enjoy them. They are somewhat cumbersome, from a technical point of view, but no more so than the catalogues. We just expect better navigation from electronic media
David
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I've had the 2009 DVD set since 2009 and love it, especially since I usually keep it showing at the bottom of the screen and just have to click on the tab. So much easier to handle than those heavy paper editions, plus there are so many additional benefits by using them, like the search feature, enlarging a page or section, etc. The one benefit I enjoy most is that it is not necessary for me to get off of my duff to use the computer catalog, whereas I keep my paper catalogs about 6 feet behind me. I think of it as conserving energy, mine!
Mike
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Sounds like the jury is still out? Curious if this has progressed any in the past six months. Just saw this ad which sparked my interest:
http://store.linns.com/2015-scott-classic-specialized-catalogue-of-united-states
If the eCatalogs are user friendly and I can load them on my MS Surface tablet, this one and probably the US specialized would be great purchases. When I go to stamp stores or shows, my tablet is all I take to keep me straight as to what I have and what I need.
-Steve
re: Scott Ecatalogues
My understanding is that the new eCatalogues require internet access to use. You cannot simply download the entire catalog and view it all offline. What you are doing is purchasing the right to access it from your device.
Regarding the 2009 digital Scott WW catalog set -- they were produced on multiple discs, required registration, and the print function was disabled when using Adobe Reader. If any one of those 3 criteria are not met, sorry but you bought a pirated copy.
It was and still is nearly impossible to purchase genuine 2005-2009 Scott digital catalogs unless you purchased directly from Amos or a authorized dealer that ordered it directly from Amos. You'd think that Amos would have learned that if they had made the price somewhat reasonable (reasonable as in pass on the tremendous savings from not having to print/store/package the catalogs) instead of just knocking off $5-$10, they would have made a LOT more money. Instead, all the software pirates are swiping their revenue stream.
Compare the price of the 2015 Classic print/digital catalogs. Instead of knocking $25 off for the digital catalog, they're going to try to convince you that the convenience of the digital catalog is worth them keeping that $25 -- except, of course, that you still have to have internet access to use the digital catalog.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Thanks Kim. Of course you are correct. Had I been patient enough to read the fine print it says that Internet access is required. Oh well.
Agree with your other points too. Unless the e-version has tons of extra capability, it's cost should be well below the print version.
If you think of the possibilities for a digital catalog... How about image recognition? You scan your stamp and the AI helps you identify it. How about images that can be re-sized clearly, especially when zooming in on "secret marks" needed to identify some stamps? Color identification with variations of stamps fading and screen differences accounted for? Inventory management, to include images of the actual stamps in your collection? The list goes on and on.
I suspect that if the hobby were as strong as it was back in the middle of the last century (at least in terms of numbers), we would see a plethora of apps. But the Catch-22 is that it was the computer age that weakened the hobby, but without the computer we couldn't have those apps.
So I'll just stick to my paper catalogs, Excel spreadsheet, and digital pictures to manage things for now.
-Steve
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Scott's mindset is and will be that the print version of the catalog is the prime version, and that all other versions must mimic that in appearance and price.
Scot is indeed missing the boat here. Electronic media doesn't cost much. They should charge much less than the prices that they have charged for the electronic versions of their catalogs. A problem is that they can't come up with a good electronic version to peddle.
Here is what I will do when I buy Scott:
1 - continue production of the print versions of the catalogs, but make them loose leaf. Annual update pages to replace pages that have changed and new pages for new issues.
2 - Create an online catalog system.
3 - Collectors would be offered the ability to obtain a subscription (enrollment fee of maybe $100) to access online the entire catalog database. There would be a monthly subscription fee (maybe $15 per month).
4 - Collectors for the fees that they pay will be able to develop an online inventory list using the online catalogs. The inventory list would be saved under their secure account, and can be updated with additions and deletions as often as the collector wants to.
5 - Just like the inventory list, collectors would be able to create want lists. Want lists would be limited in size.
6 - Both the inventory and want lists would be downloadable and printable by the subscriber/collector. The entire online catalog would not be printable or downloadable. Safeguards would be put in place to prevent users from trying to cheat the system by creating inventory lists and/or want lists that contain large percentages of the listings and printing/downloading basically the entire catalog, or complete countries (with some exceptions).
7 - Those wanting to download the entire catalog could do so upon payment of a fee about equal to perhaps half the price of the catalog. Downloading of entire countries could be done on a fee based on how many pages there are for the desired country/area, etc.
8 - The online catalogs would be updated quarterly (staggered per volume). The updates would also be reflected immediately on all inventory and want lists.
9 - Collectors with existing inventory and/or want lists will be given the ability to bulk upload those lists (properly formatted) to create their online lists.
So, after enrollment, one can keep track of their collection for less than $200 per year. Additional functionality would be included, such as sorting the lists, and other things that I can't think of right now.
Will Scott do this now? Probably not. Why? Because it doesn't mimic the print version of the catalogs, and they'll say that such an application will take too long to develop and cost too much. They would want to charge $500 enrollment fee, and at least $50 per month subscription fee. Why the high fees? To match the pricing of the print versions.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Agreed. Can't wait until you buy Scott from Amos.
They are too worried about protecting their print catalog sales.
Even if they had kept using the neanderthal pdfs, I would have gladly paid $100 every 1-2 years for the WW set to update it, as long as I can still print the pages. They lost me when they disabled the direct print capabilities. The current system of requiring online access is a no-sale for me.
Meanwhile, the software pirates continue to reap in revenue selling the pirated 2009 (!!!) edition.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
It seems to me that after Scott releases a new edition of their catalog, that they could care less about previous editions once the older ones sell out.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Absolutely. And that's because Scott is stuck in their "we've got to issue a new complete set of catalogs EVERY year" mentality. That may have been a savvy business model pre-1990's, but the size and expense of the WW set now is such that Scott is shutting out the beginning and intermediate collectors. It seems they can only think in terms of 1 year. The brisk sales of pirated 2009 software since 2008 until even now shows that there is a market for outdated catalogs. Amos is too concerned that it will compete with sales of their new catalog edition.
Not sure how it is in other parts, but around here, most of the new car dealers also have a used car sales division. They aren't concerned about losing sales to the "other" division.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I first posted about the e-catalogues. Don't waste your money. They are't worth it.
I bought the first three volumes, and they cost me $271.00 Canadian. Which wasn't too bad.
When you log into the catalogues, it says you can download the olive e textbook reader and look at the catalogues offline. Nope, it doesn't work. I talked to one of the women at Amos, and she said that they are "still working on it". If that had been working it wouldn't have been bad at all. You can enlarge the pictures. You can type in a number for a stamp and it will come up to that stamp. You can type in the title of the stamp and it will show you that stamp. One country at a time that is.
Another thing I found out, is that it doesn't matter if you have only had the e-catalogues for a few weeks, months or a year or more, if they decide to change the programming for the catalogues, too bad. You lose them, with no refund, no replacement, no anything.
They are gone. They also are deleted after 3 years, so no matter what you have to buy them again.
I was promised a full refund within 30 days. I am waiting for my refund. The other option was sending them another $75.00 or so, plus about $65.00 for shipping and they would send the catalogues. I told them I want my refund.
I paid $375.00 to a local dealer, and I bought them from him. Now I am happy.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Michael that's a great business plan! I would like to add one thing... jpg recognition, like Google does now. You should be able to scan a stamp, click on it and have their software take you to the catalog entry. That would solve a lot of stamp mysteries!
But here's the glitch... it has to work financially for both the buyers and Scott. I keep hearing that collector numbers are down, as they are in most hobbies today. That is a smaller pool of potential buyers to amortize an investment across.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I have been purchasing individual countries. I find them ok. I think the price is too high though. I wish they would go to the Beckett Model (Sports Cards) where you buy a subscription for a period of time an you can choose all catalogues, individual catalogues or individual countries. I don't see how that can be so difficult to do. Now that they don't have to print, their costs should come way down. I believe they would get many more collectors buying them.
One of the major problems using them on my smartphone is that you can't pinch the screen to increase or decrease the size. You have to push a + or - button.
Oops... I see me and Michael #'s are on the same page.
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I just wish they'd get all their catalog entries into a database and then sell subscriptions like Bill Steiner does. I would be very happy to pay $50 each year to access the catalog online. Once they had everything in a database it would be very easy for them to update the values, because for most stamps, they do so as a general percentage increase, at least is seems so to me. They could still print the books from the database, as there would probably still be a market for them, it would be incredibly easy and cost effective for them once they have all stamps in a central database.
Just my thoughts looking from an IT point of view.
Regards ...Tim
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Does anybody have any idea where I can get a legit copy of the 2009 Scott catalog on CD / DVD? I think I read in here that 2009 was the last year they produced on CD / DVD.
I need some good reference material but cannot stretch (financially or room wise) to a complete set of Scott catalogs at the moment. Thanks,
Paul.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Paul, check with your local library. If you're lucky, they'll have Scott volumes in circulation (or at least in their reference section). If you're really lucky, they will also sell off old volumes as they update the catalogues. I bought my 2004's for $3.50 a volume, which I still use as reference.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Like Andrejs, I opted to buy used catalogs, although I decided to pay more for a 2013 set. All are library discards and all are in reasonable shape. I got the six A-Z volumes and the US specialized for about $150 total by shopping around (on eBay) and not being impatient. That last part is very hard for me to do.
-Steve
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Thanks for the advice Andrejs and Steve. Our library has their annual sale in the fall each year so I will definitely check that out once they announce the dates.
I have been looking at older editions of the Scotts catalogs as well and have been tempted by some of them. How far back do you think I am ok going (edition wise) before you would consider the volumes to be "too old"? Thanks,
Paul.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I bought all of my catalogs from library sales or used from Amazon. That includes Scott, Michel, and Stanley Gibbons. They are all five to ten years old, but I use them more for identification rather than value. For the few (very few) valuable stamps I have it is easy to go the library to get a current price.
I like the idea of loose leaf, though. Slightly larger type would be nice too for these old eyeballs but I don't see that happening!
Geoff
re: Scott Ecatalogues
That would all depend on what you collect and what you want the catalogues for - are they for reference or to determine the value of stamps you want to put up for auction/approvals/work out trades for, etc.?
Since I collect older stuff, I'm usually good with catalogues that are three to five years out of date for the sheer reference value. My last Unitrade Cdn catalogue is four years old now. I'll hit the local library if I need an update on values from their current reference section or even get lucky and be able to bring a necessary volume home on loan; and I can just do my updates with a list of stamps and Cat #s, rather than lugging the collection around with me. Basically, my 2004 set is my primary reference point, which makes secondary research so much easier.
(And here I have to give kudos to the London (Ontario) Public Library for their commitment to keeping at least four or five complete sets of catalogues circulating for every year, plus at least two reference sets - awesome!!!!!!!!!!!)
If you're more current in your collecting habits, note that the Scott catalogues usually are about a year out of date for issues anyway, so it's just a matter of keeping a small stockbook set aside to catalogue whenever you get the info on the newer issues. I suppose there's also the Scott's monthly supplement (do they still print that?), but that's hardcore keeping on top of things. Do what I did - just accumulate so many older stamps, that you will never run out of a use for you second hand copies!
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Most of my stamps at this stage are older, so I do not really need brand new bang-up-to-date copies of the catalogs. It is mainly for reference too, as I don't think I have anything of huge value and I am not much of a buyer / seller either.
I have been looking on Amazon and E-bay, and also the one or two second hand bookshops in town. (Anchorage is not that big, not much choice for second hand book shops.) I will keep my eyes peeled. I am not in a major hurry as I am still sorting out a lot of my stamps at this stage. Once I get them sorted out though, that's when I'll need to hone up my identification skills for the leftover stamps I was unable to easily sort.
Thanks,
Paul.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
"They are all five to ten years old, but I use them more for identification rather than value. For the few (very few) valuable stamps I have it is easy to go the library to get a current price."
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Just a thought, there are other websites where sellers quote current catalog values, you can
search by Scott # and many of the listings will show the current SCV in their listing, Bidstart comes to mind, although they may not be around to much longer
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Never trust that a seller is quoting current values. They could be working from an old catalogue or their own!
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I just pick up a copy of Brookman's 1998 US,Canada,UN catalogue. I found it for sale in our local library,here in Australia.
I don't collect US I just bought it for curiosity value.It does list all US FDC's sheet and plate block prices,which by now are way out of date?
Brian
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I guess someone captured the Scott pages from their online site.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
Believe it or not, this is usually done using old catalogues and a high-speed scanner.
re: Scott Ecatalogues
I agree it can be done that way too but the reason I mentioned online is based based upon images shown IF they represent final product.
I have scanned pages myself and have always seen printing from the reverse side of the page since the catalogs are printed on thin paper. I see this much less when scanning my SG catalog pages.