tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post3358241500266986361..comments2024-03-28T16:38:56.638+00:00Comments on Norvic Philatelics Blog: Season's Greetings - another year over, Ian - Norvichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-11837069832318952952018-01-23T19:25:47.094+00:002018-01-23T19:25:47.094+00:00I’m a bit late commenting on this post so apologie...I’m a bit late commenting on this post so apologies for that. Regarding the M16L counter sheet printing on SBP and in the Scarlet shade, I think this is going to be one of the most difficult recent Machins to find in anything other than singles. I’ve scoured dealers stocks and eBay and control blocks are like hens teeth. I was fortunate enough to grab myself a cylinder block of 6 and a sheet of 25 with the printing date and cylinder soon after they were first discovered, but now they are very difficult to source. My advice to anyone who sees a cylinder block for sale is to buy it ASAP, you may not get another chance!Sir_Loinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461102690172624271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-52424836390216144112018-01-05T10:50:39.285+00:002018-01-05T10:50:39.285+00:00Gosh, where do we start? Whilst you present some ...Gosh, where do we start? Whilst you present some valid and cogent arguments, you have (I think) missed some points, and may even be arguing against yourself!<br /><br /><i>"Royal mail have in my opinion totally misjudged the market for the exhibition Post and Go labels."</i><br /><br />On the contrary, Royal Mail have reacted to falling collector demand, and comment from [UK] dealers and collectors alike that the number of variants is far too great for collectors who like to have an example of everything. <br /><br />Only the Post and Go stamps which are sold in PO branches, at BFPO & MoD office locations, and at RM Enquiry Offices are primarily used for postage (and some of those enquiry office machines are seriously underused). <br /><br />All the others - Stampex, Postal Museum, a dozen other museums - are primarily artificial contrivances for collectors and tourists. Now if tourists still bought postcards and the Post and Go stamps were sold adjacent to the postcard sales area, AND there was a special local postmark (or at least a cachet), sales might be higher. But my belief is that the majority of sales for these are to dealers and collectors, and only get used when the dealer finds that he has overstocked and uses them for postage (as buyers of P&G from me are finding). If you want a Stampex souvenir, send yourself an envelope with a stamp on it and a Stampex postmark: you don't need to spend money on 'event' stamps and souvenirs.<br /><br />Yet these same collectors (and some dealers) complain about Royal Mail's increasing philatelic output exploiting collectors by producing more and more stamp issues with higher face values. Many UK-based GB dealers have stopped stocking new special issues, buying just enough for regular customers. The same applies to Post and Go. We've rarely had museum examples, and after 2018 will have <i>no</i> new Post and Go issues.<br /><br />YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS! Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-41680797720295194282018-01-05T10:05:05.697+00:002018-01-05T10:05:05.697+00:00Interesting discussion with both valid arguments. ...Interesting discussion with both valid arguments. Ignoring the various static sites at museums.<br /><br />Royal mail have in my opinion totally misjudges the market for the exhibition Post and Go labels. They have failed to recognise that collector would want the inscriptions advertised on all the variant stock available. For example the various versions of the Machins and Union Flag used. Ignoring the Stampex’s error, which the various machine which didn’t have the spring blooms had to buy double what was expected. The same applied to Salisbury, York, Perth and the Australia exhibition and the Christmas vagabond event where it was pot luck as to what stock was used.<br /><br />Then you have the back office issues which can only be considered as yet another expense, collectors wanting complete Stampex, Perth and the Melbourne stamps exhibitions had to pay what dealer were asking. The prices askes all seemed to be consistent giving the appearance that a cartel was operating, a controversial view, but as collectors only looking on line and seeing the similarities would be justified in this view. A few non online market place sites, such as Norvic wanted less than the prices on ebay and Delcampe. <br /><br />Then you have the discrepancies between what was advertised and appeared on the machines at the exhibitions and what Tallents House produced, Australia, the Hong Kong with the Gibraltar Post Offices rates, and the use of the Anniversary Machins at Perth. Not forgetting the 1st class Large error. The lack of opportunity for collector to get hold of issues for their European tour in 2015, leaving the usual suspects on ebay to offer them. If you bothered to search European dealer the price was less and sometimes a lot less.<br /><br />Is it any wonder that collectors have left the fold. <br /><br />Royal Mail have an opportunity to redeem themselves this year with two machines offering the Game of throne and one offering the mail by sea labels on both reals with no back office examples produced.<br /><br />Miniature sheets with exhibition logos have been a feature of the philatelic scene for many years, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, An Post, Kiribati, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and Singapore often produce an additional sheet showing the exhibition logo, these being freely available. Unfortunately Royal Mail opted to copy An Post ‘Stampa’ model. Something many collectors if Irish stamps simply ignore.<br /><br />Any non-government run business seek to maximise their revenue streams, Royal Mail seem to the casual observer are obsessed with market share and fail to recognise the revenue potential from collector and probably dealers as well. There could also be an argument that Royal Mail failed in their contract with the Post office , for the latter to sell the full range of philatelic material, rather than what appears to be here is what to be (Royal Mail) here is what have to sell, so sell what you want (Post Office).<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-42812489132629709552018-01-04T17:01:08.000+00:002018-01-04T17:01:08.000+00:00Following up on this, although there are income be...Following up on this, although there are income benefits from the Post and Go machines there are considerable costs of the space they take (paid to the PTS), costs of moving the machines around and installing them, and contractor presence, set-up, phone links to credit card processor, etc etc. As many have reported in past years, collector purchases from the machines at Stampex has declined, as it has everywhere. In a nutshell I don't think the investment returns sufficient to make it worthwhile.Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-88488010876525269522018-01-04T16:57:34.960+00:002018-01-04T16:57:34.960+00:00I can only report what Royal Mail told us at Stamp...I can only report what Royal Mail told us at Stampex: reduced presence at Stampex, no Post and Go machines and no miniature sheet issued then, so no overprint.<br />Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-79694437310254745222018-01-04T16:26:29.282+00:002018-01-04T16:26:29.282+00:00Will Royal Mail really want to miss the opportunit...Will Royal Mail really want to miss the opportunity to coin it in with the Game of Thrones post and Go labels at stampex plus the new Mail by Sea, as for the Stampex miniature sheet, there is always scope for the GoT miniature sheet to carry an additional inscription.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-84438251793687941222017-12-23T20:36:48.589+00:002017-12-23T20:36:48.589+00:00Merry Christmas Ian and thank you very much for yo...Merry Christmas Ian and thank you very much for your informative blog. I hope you have a great 2018 and I look forward to all the stamp news to come.Steve Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420500892349424377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61379575088648114.post-75728815569643907392017-12-20T20:58:17.780+00:002017-12-20T20:58:17.780+00:00Ian. A huge thank you for all your hard work (and ...Ian. A huge thank you for all your hard work (and patience) in keeping us all meticulously informed again throughout the year. I know from my own experience in over 55 years of collecting GB how difficult it is to try and keep ahead of the game to be well placed to collect all I need. Your information has smoothed that process to the point that I cancelled my subscription to the Bulletin a couple of years ago on the basis that 1) the information therein was late, missing, inaccurate or irrelevant and 2) this blog was free and more than a sufficient replacement. Many thanks again and best wishes for the holiday and 2018 at Planet Norfolk.Trelantishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537566448394951396noreply@blogger.com