April 30th Newsletter
Interesting Info: I have 3512 different Penny Black part numbers (stamps) in my database. I have 1830 different Penny Black stamps in my stock. I have 3379 total stamps in my stock. Why do I tell you this ?
I tell you this just to try to give you some kind of 'image' of the scope of my 'operation'. These numbers are HUGE and I am about to do something really crazy. I have told you in the past that I have limited space and that is why my new venture is CRAZY!
Penny Black started making stamps in 1991 - are you sitting down? No, then sit down!
Penny Black is sending me a copy of EVERY catalog they have ever put out and they have agreed to sell me (and ONLY me!) ANY stamp I want from ANY of these catalogs. This however poses some rather daunting challenges for me and maybe you. I say you because you just might have to 'scheme' a way to increase your stamping budget. You can click here for some ideas.
My challenge is how do I present to you pictures of over 5000 stamps?? I have decided to put all of the RETIRED stamps in their own section of my website. It will look like I have 2 websites because I have to handle the RETIRED stamps differently.
From a business standpoint it is STUPID to stock as many images as I already do let alone add more - guess I am STUPID !! 'Cause that is what I am going to do.
Let me take a few seconds and tell you how the stamping business works..... Almost ALL stamp companies require their dealers to buy at least two of each image they want. That keeps everyone from becoming a dealer/demo like SU & CTMH and buying at a discount. If a stamp costs the dealer $ 5.00 they typically double that and make it their selling price ($ 10.00) - What this does is takes all of the financial risk away from the dealer. When you buy his stamp you are "paying for" the other stamp he had to buy. When he sells the second stamps he then realizes all of his profit ($ 10.00). Because I discount my stamps I am automatically taking the risk of having stamps that don't sell and therefore my money is still tied up in inventory. On the retired stamps I have to buy in plate quantities - size "K" stamps I have to buy 4 at a time - size "D" stamps I have to buy 8 at a time. This is why I have to price and handle the retired stamps differently.
Here is my main problem and it is essential that I have a plan to overcome it (I don't). Now that ALL of the RETIRED stamps and ALL of the "new old" stamps WILL NOT have the decal/label it is going to be a mind numbing task to make the buyer (you) aware that a stamp you are about to order MAY NOT have the decal. I won't know until I get them in..... AND, most of you don't take the time to read all of the details or information.
Right now I have 145 different images in my stock that I have never sold - $ 1200.00 worth - this is nothing compared to the situation I may find myself in by offering the retired stamps. This is one of the risks I face by trying to be the BEST place to get Penny Black stamps.
I am excited about bringing all of these OLD & RETIRED stamps back into circulation and I think most of you will be too. There is yet one more hurdle I have to overcome: Because I have to buy in "plate" quantities and drastically increase the value of the inventory I carry I must set up different pricing and ordering options.
I can't stress strongly enough how I am going to need your help and cooperation to make this new venture successful. If it gets out of hand and causes a tremendous workload or becomes financially disastrous I'll have to discontinue the program.
I pride myself on giving outstanding service and this venture may tarnish my reputation. Also, because mine is a hobby first and a business second I always have to keep things running smoothly enough that I don't mind doing it. If it gets to be a RPITA I will get grumpy and quit. Can't have that now can we ??
So, I really am interested in your thoughts
I can tell you this much now....... If you are entitled to any discounts or prizes those discounts or prizes will NOT be valid toward the purchase of these retired stamps. This is going to be tricky and I am not doing it to increase profits - I'm doing it trying to keep from losing my shapely posterior.
Here is the link to the new RETIRED section --- be sure to READ the instructions.
Click here RETIRED STAMPS
In an effort to keep things running smoothly for me I have been gently asking all of you who pay using PayPal to consider using your credit card directly with me. Some of you have / most have not. I can process a credit card transaction in a third of the time it takes for PayPal. In addition, credit card transactions enable me to bill & ship immediately. With PayPal I have to wait - sometimes weeks - too many times 4-10 days for payment to be made. This means I have to 'hold' orders and once again, I have limited space and the extra work/aggravation is time consuming. So I am asking a little more firmly that you consider using your credit card directly with me. I have a secure connection for sending the information AND as I have told you before - I DO NOT STORE YOUR CC INFO on my computer so it can't get stolen/hacked. Naturally this does not pertain to those who pay by check or Money Order.
While we are on the subject of credit cards/PayPal -- It is always my desire to hold you expenses to a minimum and lately I have been absorbing the 'small order' fee. Credit Card & PayPal transactions cost me any where from 3 to 6 % and that adds up to a LOT of moolah. I am getting more and more smaller orders - probably due to the economy - and I don't mind but in some cases I am not making anything. Ain't gonna do that too long either. Rather than raising prices to everyone I am now going to apply the small order fee (75 cents USA / $ 1.00 International) to all orders under $ 20.00 -- I hope you understand.
To end, I want you to know that I wouldn't have near as many problems if I could get Patty to stop making cards - stay off of Split Coast and yakking on the phone and get her to help me. I also want to tell you about a group who hold a Penny Black Saturday Challenge every week...... These people are in England but you can enter too. Here's the link CHALLENGE. I am sponsoring the prize on the last Saturday of each month.
I had a customer ask me for a 'banner' to put on her blog so people wanting Penny Black stamps can find me. I made one up and on the 3rd try got it to work. If you want my banner on your blog just let me know...
Here's the html code for those who know how to use it....
<a href="http://www.pbstamps.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="PB Stamps" src="http://www.pbstamps.com/Gallery1/PBSLogo5.GIF"></a>