new machin error ????

Hi, sorting through some machins for a change.. how about this.. has anyone seen this recorded .. good to see the Queen looking forward don't you think..

Hope you have a wonderful day...

your web site on the IPDA member list

Hello everyone... today I was browsing the IPDA website. I am writing the next newsletter and thought I'd mention one of our members. So I had a look. So many of our members have not yet posted their web site or details.

We all have the opportunity to post a free one page web site and details about our stamp business and activities; a short bio about us as well.

If you are a member reading this I do encourage you to send some material to Roy our website mastermind who will happily make a page for you.

Remember the list of members is in the public domain so you could get some exposure from having your details listed. You could be missing out on some free promo about your sales. This is a benefit we hope is of some value to you, and of course to the many people who visit the IPDA website.

If you are not sure what to write have a look at a few of the listings and just use the format..... easy as... eh!!!!!!!!!!

here is the link http://www.ipdaonline.org/html/members.html

and back to where I started.the next newsletter is in the "development" phase :-) .. hope you enjoy my ideas...

best wishes.. Michael

your news.... ??????????

Humble apology for not writing lately.. work is consuming and I am spending so little time on stamps. I am howver enjoying writing the IPDA Newsletter (on the train to and from work) which I hope will be issued early April.. if you want a plug in it, if you want me to write about your news maybe, just email me at michaelatipda@gmail.com anything recieved over next few days could well find its way into the newsletter..

How easy is that ... :-) hope you are all well.. best wishes... Michael

hello.. checked my email and one was from a blog reader asking what is this.. so thought I'd ask you all... after all, one of you must know.. .. anyone know???????? email me at cddstamps@gmail.com...

hey, I'll even send a prize of some sort if I think you really know..

Maybe I can get this blog reader to donate it..

best wishes, Michael

forgeries on stamps.. and good ones..

but forgeries none the less.. one of my fellow IPDA directors found this web site.. you will be amazed at what is happening out there... I recommend you have a look, if only for education purposes.. and I hope you dont collect US well at least by buying from ebay..........

http://www.slingshotvenus.com/stamps/fakes.html

Enjoy your stamps... Michael

sales success.. or not; and very old stamps

Hello, a week since I last wrote. Where does the time go.. and we are into March already. I hope everyone is well and enjoying some success with their stamps, selling success that is.

I had an email from a member recently that put a different perspective on our selling success. His web site has had little succcess and I was wondering how you are finding sales on the internet from your web sites, or do you rely on auctions for your sales.

I must admit I get very little sales from my web site although I do get a good hit rate, well by my standards a good hit rate or some 50 page views per day, often over a 100 at weekends.

It doesn't seem to matter that my prices are low.... well my packet prices are good I think, I still don't get many orders. Why is that? I ask not for an answer for me but for others to comment on. For example are the big auction houses getting all the available money that is spent, or are the big stamp dealers getting all the sales.. and us small sellers without a brand name, so to speak, just not being considered because we don't have a brand name, even though we are IPDA members and the big players (mostly) I have to say, are not IPDA members. Your thoughts and I'll share them with other members and maybe we can learn from each other and help each other.

I have been looking at eBay and other auction sites.. helps me relax at the end of the day.. and fun to see what is there and how stamps are described. I think one can learn a lot just by browsing. Well how about this. "very old stamps" the wording used to describe some GB GVI and the 4 Edward VIII stamps. This from a dealer with a relatively large "shop" on eBay. Is this misleading or just plain ignorant I wonder. Very old to me is anything before my father was born, which was a way before 1936 I have to say.. big smile here :-) I don't know about you but very old means nothing as it has no context and since we - and I assume the seller knows - the actual issue date of the staamps why didn't he write 1936 - 1940 selection, which is what was being offered. Your thoughts???

Have a great weekend and if you have a time look at one of our members sites
http://www.greatstamps.co.uk looks good to me...

Best wishes... Michael