How to choose the reputable postage stamp dealers?

If you have decided to become a successful stamp investor you wouldn’t be able to do this without a reputable stamp dealer. This person will help you to sell the stamp collection or individual items for a fair price. In choosing the right stamp dealer it is important to remember that there are many kinds of them. Each one has an expertise on several types of philately.

Stamp dealers are not businessmen. As a rule, they are devoted philatelists and stamp collectors who take this hobby as a profession. They have deep philately knowledge and can answer the questions concerning your collection or separate philatelic items. Moreover, dealers are always up-to-date with the stamp values.

Why should you find the right stamp dealer?

Stamp dealers play a major role in every philatelic investment. This can be a person, stamp collector as well as a special philately company, the business of which is selling and buying stamps and other philatelic items.

The important function of a stamp dealer is to check whether a stamp fake or not, which value it has, how old it is etc. Every philatelic investor should have a professional relationship with a dealer who will be helpful in finding and determining those rare postage stamps that would make good additions to an investment portfolio. Moreover, the vendor’s task  is to close an honest deal and to be interested in your success while buying or selling stamps.

A competent postage dealer also knows how to make each sale convenient to his or her customers. That is why most of them pre-sort their stock of postage stamps according to topics or by country, and sells them by packets of 50 stamps or more. A dependable stamp dealer has an established network of philatelists.

Where to look for good stamp dealers?

Nowadays there are many ways for the philatelists to find a good merchant. In spite of the fact that you are still at the risk of meeting a dishonest vendor, the most common way to find philatelic traders is by using internet.

The other popular and reliable method to find a reliable philatelic dealer is to ask around from your friends in the stamp community. Don’t forget to ask older and more experienced collectors who could have connections to professional dealers to whom you can trust. If you subscribe to some philatelic magazines or stamp catalogues, you can look for a list of stamp vendors’ names at the back or on your telephone directory.

The stamps can be purchased in the online stamp collecting stores or from dealers running philatelic auctions sites. It is very convenient and will save your precious time while choosing the item you are interested in. Postage stamp dealers mostly do business transactions by appointment.

How do stamp dealers work?

Philatelic dealers sell postage stamps, covers, and other items philatelic items with a markup rate which they call a premium. For the purpose of successful business they issue their own catalogues featuring the stamps they possess and are ready to put their on sale. Stamp collectors can buy these items directly, or bid on them during stamp auction online or on the fares.

Don’t forget that with the help of a philatelic dealer you can buy as well as sell the stamps. In terms of selling a stamp collection, postage stamp dealers base their price on the most valuable stamp on the set rather than individually pricing the specimens. Also they prefer to make big and profitable deals by selling large collections rather than individual items. If you want a stamp dealer to help you in selling a particular stamp, it is better to prove him that it is worth something.

A dependable stamp dealer has an extensive knowledge on philately All in all, you had better consider the following tips:

• Check a philatelic dealer’s background. Aside from referrals, you should check how many transactions a stamp dealer has completed successfully. You could do this little research easily if you have decided to buy or sell stamps online. Before doing an online transaction you can review a dealer’s selling history
• Choose a reputable stamp dealer who specializes in your philatelic interest. Find a vendor who is interested in those philatelic areas from which you want to buy or sell stamps. If you are into scarce items, you can get the best bargains from a rare stamp dealer. Likewise, topical stamp dealers hold an extensive stock of thematic issues.