My stamp exchange is back…
I know a lot of people have waited for this announcement, so here it is! My stamp exchange is back!!! Before you jump out to sent me any stamps for exchange, I’d like to highlight few minor changes in exchange rules for this season.
Enhanced quality guidelines
The old exchange rules stated that I will sent back any damaged stamps I receive. The same policy applies still, but as the number of “junky stamps” I receive has increased steadily with the popularity of the exchange, I’m putting forth some actions that will hopefully decrease the number of faulty stamps I have to waddle through.
So let me introduce a quick visual guide for what NOT TO send for exchange. This is a very simple information sheetlet, displaying all the most commonly found damaged stamp types.
I don’t mind if the exchange sending contains few faulty stamps, but in worst cases there have been hundreds of them in single sending. It’s not just waste of my time (=sorting out the bad stuff) and money (=postage costs), but also a health risk (=fungus/mold) to me and my family. So please, try to weed out the damaged goods before sending stamps for exchange.
Changes in summary
For this season I’m trying a new practice where I will scan only a sample page of any stamps going in/out unless otherwise wished. The earlier practice where I scanned everything (just as a precaution; in case of lost/stolen sending etc) is simply becoming too tedious.
Changes in postage
Lately Finnish Post has introduced a series of price increases for international letters, and due to them I’m switching into use of International Economy letters for these exchanges. I know it sounds worse than it is…
An example… With current postage rates, a Priority letter of 40g to US costs me roughly 2€, and it should arrive US with in 7-10 working days. An economy letter of same size and weight costs me only half of this, and it should arrive US within 12-15 working days.
So essentially this change adds roughly one more week before the exchange sending arrives destination. But it saves me 50% in postage costs.
Closing words
That’s all… Let’s make this one fun autumn season filled with exchanges.
Join the discussion on this topic below. There are 19 responses already!
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Blimey!!!…You’ve tightened the rules!…But it must be like that, if you spend more money than it produces, should be the ruin!!! Not only yours but the rest of us…Will be losers without you, so… On your feet, for the new exchange season. I’m sending nearly 500gr envelope (accumulation of months of your lazy summer) jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….I hope every and each stamp remain with you…Allow me to impose one single rule here, hmmm…NO RETURNS AT ALL! so ‘ in that way I’m helping you to save money…How you like that?…Nous aurons un orage…Salute!
The first change is simply about getting the quality of exchanges back on the level they should be.
The second change is about reducing some unnecessary worksteps.
And third change is simply about the keeping the cost of collecting on reasonable level.
If all goes as I hope everybody wins in this situation.
Double-blimey. That is a splendid idea
Seriously… It would get me into much more trouble than I’d like to even think… So let’s just keep the current exchange rule set “as is”. After all, it’s almost perfect. Isn’t it?
Keijo,
Glad to see the exchange is back. Got finished moving, and have a backlog here to send you. I received my package today from the USPS and have a couple of sheets of the new Green Stamps and some of the Hello stamps. I hope that I have enough to send that you can get the entire set of Green stamps. Hope you had a good summer.
Sounds great, Keijo. I got a HUGE lot from Poland this summer so by December I ought to be sending you some items from there plus other older Europe country items I have been setting aside over the last several months you might like. Let’s go!
PS – Freddy, you are a riot!
@To everyone… Just take into account, that this is not a race who sends most stamps in one go.
If everybody interested sends me huge exchange lots (with thousands of stamps) simultaneously, I and my mailbox will be buried with stamps in no time. As I have other life too (seriously), there is a risk that the exchange pipeline might get pretty long as I don’t have the time to sort it all as fast as stuff comes in (yikes).
So start it easy folks…. Sent in one (decent sized) exchange sending first. Then wait till I receive Your sending, and mail it out. And once you receive it back, feel free to send another one… That way the fun will last longer and several other (new exchangers) can join in the fun too. OK?
Keijo,
What’s the best way to protect the stamps to send to you? I was initially thinking of putting the stamps in some stock sheets, covering them with old postcards and then mailing it. But I think that might make it unnecessarily heavy. Should I just put them in a glassine envelope, protect them with old post-cards and then mail them? Your suggestions will be appreciated.
Ravi
Keijo,
Hopefully I can be one of those new exchangers. I’ll keep the envelope modest.
@Ravi… It depends on how large a cover you are sending.
If it’s a regular small sized cover (with max. of about 200 stamps), that should provide enough protection. The most common damage with small covers is that they get heavily bend – either from the corners or in the middle. So some sort of stiffener that matches the size of cover is highly recommended. Old postcards make very good use for this; personally I’m using 160g sheet of paper (about same thickness as postcard, and it can be easily cut to desired size).
As for thicker and larger sendings, the most common damage are large tears and heavy bruises. This is simply because postal automation doesn’t handle too kindly covers that are too thick or bulgy; they simply get stuck in the tooth of sorting machines. Personally I’d recommend dividing the lot to multiple smaller ones; or sending it as a (small-sized) parcel. If sending a large lot, then placing the contents inside a sealed sheet protector is a must, as it prevents any contents from falling outside if the cover gets torn.
@Erik … Superb. Nice to have some new exchangers join in too
Thanks Keijo…will keep that in mind…Also are there any pictures of your american stamps. I want to see if I can avoid sending the ones you already have?
@Ravi … Nope. And it’s very unlikely that I would take pictures of them anytime soon as it’s a huge area to collect. Right now my US collection covers 3 thick stock books (over 160 pages), and I’m still missing a bit over 50% of stamps (which will likely require 3 more stock books).
Rick!…thanks for the honour…yes I am and very happy to be!!! wait for more soon!…elle me plait!!!
Hi
Sent you some stamps today.Most of the Mix is of USA, India, Holland. In addition there are some canadiane etc,
Hope you like it.
Ravi
@Ravi… Thanks for the info. Sounds excellent to me
hello:
I would love to send you some of my good duplicates for your collection as well as some I dont collect, but what is your mailing address.
jim
@Jim Hall … My mailing address (and other mailing instructions) can be found on the PDF-file that should be printed / attached with any stamps sent for exchange. You can view this file by going into my exchange page, and reading the instructions.
Hi Keijo,
One thing I should mention in advance is that there were not many stamps available at the PO that I went to. So the stamps on the covers are not very attractive. Next time I’ll ensure that I go to a bigger PO and get better looking commemoratives for the envelopes.
Ravi
@Ravi V…. It happens, don’t worry about it…. I’m very happy with definitive stamps too.
Hi Keijo! Tomorrow 400 stamps are on their way to Finland…hope you will like it (most BRD, Berlin, DDR…plus some more strange items).
@Holger… Sounds great