SMALL STAMP DEALERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1937, Page 10

SMALL STAMP DEALERS

FOLLOW EASY WAYS

NE.W YORK, March 24.

The small postage stamp dealer' is New York’s counterpart to the country store operator who hangs out a sign reading, "Closed for the day—gone fishing." Nassau Street buildings are filled with stamp shops, many of them operated by a single individual who comes to work at 11 a.tn., opens his mail, fills out the orders received, knocks off an hour or two for lunch, then spends the afternoon sitting in his office gossiping with callers, only a small percentage of whom do any cash buying.

The outsider often wonders how anyone can make a living in such a delightful manner. Little business activity is apparent, in this easygoing existence, though there is much largo talk of transactions in the hundreds and thousands of dollars. This is mostly just talk.

The secret lies- In the morning mail. A few orders a. day for small amounts are sullicient to keep (be business going. Any cash-buying callers are welcome additions.

Rent for the small oilices is low, and tlm j.'t-i-cciilage o.l" profit on th* stamps is high if the Healer has a sharp eye lor sources from which to obtain his stuck cheaply. Outlays for advertising are essential to keep the mail orders flowing in. Not all of the small dealers are successful. There is no telling when an ollice will be closed if the.- proprietor finds a salaried job and decides to sacrifice independence for better pay. The younger dealers ocicasionally quit the business and go back to college. A counter customer who unwarily flashes a five-dollar bill often has a hard lime gel ting out of the shop before he spends it all. Any number of “bargains" suddenly appear for his inspection. The dealer with an office down the hall likely as not will be visiting his competitor, and collar the customer as he departs. 'l'he Farley special issues of B)-'.I5 cuntinue weak. Brices for the issue, in complete sheets are down to 1-10 dollars. Last fall the sets changed hands for as high as 525 dollars.

Some sump editors are protesting to members of Gougress that the pending Bill to permit illustration of I'nited Stales stamps would grant this privilege only to publishers.