I am seeking input on topical / thematic items in approval books.
Consider the following methods of grouping:
For example, with wild animals sort out the tigers, lions, giraffe etc. and put them on a sub topical page each at say 15c;
or, perhaps, put them on a page as they come when I am doing it so they are mixed up a bit but still on the main book theme - this would mean I can put them up for say 10c each.
The prices are just an example of pricing I made up to ask this question.
do buyers here mind looking at pages of stamps on a theme and prefer to pay less or do they prefer to quickly find items and pay more ............
Examples would be
Transport - buses, cars, planes etc on the same page at 10c or a different page for each one at 15c
Animals - cats , dogs, reptiles etc on the same page at 10c or a different page for each one at 15c
for me, who is not cavalierly parted with his farthings, I don't mind searching IF you tell me what's in there. If it just says "animals" and I only want horses, bats, and GSDs, I probably won't bother unless it's so cheap it's a sin not to.
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re: now heres a thought !! ??
pghstamps
I do not understand the point of charging more for items grouped than items mixed together. It requires the same labor to mount and present either scenario, so what is the rationale for charging more for the grouped stamps?
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 10 Sep 2015 12:17:58pm
re: now heres a thought !! ??
According to our approval rules;
"The books are to be organized by collectible categories, for the benefit of the buyers. Titles of the books should be specific and should fully describe the contents of the books."
This means presenting books according to collectible areas already is the rule. I take this to mean that a book "Topicals" with all kinds of stamps mixed together would be frowned upon. However, even a broad category, such as animals, could be acceptable. If you must charge more for books that are better organized, i.e, separate butterflies from mammals, I believe the market will reward it. In essence it is the same question if one should provide catalog numbers and present stamps in order of catalog. Some sellers do, and if they do, I believe a premium has been earned. If you put in more work in the preparation/presentation, you will have better sales. Whether earning this premium is worthwhile to the seller is his or her decision. However, a minimum organization is mandatory. I have no doubt that it is the insistence on a minimum quality of the offerings that is responsible for the continuing success of the approval section.
On the converse, if you put together a book that the buyers don't like, you'll know about that soon enough.
I agree with Arno. When I first put approval books together, the stamps were mostly in Scott order, but were not identified by number. Condition was always mentioned, however. I had some sales, but when I added new books where the stamps were identified by catalog number, and I charged a little bit more for those stamps, that's when sales got much better.