Quote:
> I've got to follow up on this (If my news reader lets me. It's been finicky
> lately)
> First, has anybody any solid evidence that a cartel exists that controls prices
> in zeppelins? I've heard the rumor for years. Who can show any evidence at
> all? I am very dubious a cartel could operate in all the world's disparate
> stamp markets or that they would be willing to tie up their capital in
> multiple zeppelin sets at $1,000 or so apiece.
> Second, is such a cartel necessarily evil? Assume for a minute the "cartel"
> exists. How many people who paid $1,000 or so for a set of zeppelins would like
> to see the the cartel disappear?
> If a cartel does exist, we could describe them as "market makers".
> Market makers are necessary to ensure an orderly market. They buy when the
> price drops below a certain level and sell when it goes above. Much better
> than crazy fluctuations. Sellers always have someone to sell to and buyers
> always have a source.
> CFC
Assuming there is a market place in stamps as is suggested,
this has the appearance of commondity trading, is this what is
meant? The above seems to be addressing stamps from more
of an investiment, money makeing point of view than as a hobby,
again is this what is meant?
I know as a collector who is in the hobby for fun,
knowledge, and understanding, I very much want to avoid
material in my collection that has to be looked at from the
investment and commodity trading point of view. Those who
are into stamps primarily for this reason sure have the
right to do so, but likewise, I sure want to be in a different
area of stamps then they are.
Myself, I do believe that there are many stamps which
can be considered to be no more than consummer items, yes the
price for these are also subject to supply and demand once
no longer available from the issuing concerns and there will
be fluctuations of prices for a number of reasons. Certainly
individual sets here are much less subject to being cornered
than higher price items. And yes indeed we know that people
specualte on such items for investment purposes but rarely
do such activities have significant financial impact on the
collector (yes there is a relative issue here I feel, my buying
a set for US$1.00 vs. US1.50 is of no real impact and is
certainly is not done on my part with investment considerations,
maybe more like a ride on an amu***t ride. But if I am
going to get into buying stamps at US$1000.00 vs. US$1000.00,
you better believe I am not going to look at this as an expenditure
for my hobby as the primary consideration. In contrast,
millionairs might consider it no more than like my US$1.00 set.)
As jsut a collector, I don't have time to keep up
with all the factors that have impact on price, so I very
much out of neccesity need to stay away from investment
asspects of stamps as any major thrust of my hobby endevors.
I sure have no intent what-so-ever of trying a stunt like
the Hunt brothers. I know people win big at this sort of
thing also, sometimes. As far as stamps go, I just want
to stay out of the way of such people and stay in the fun/
amu***t/learning portion of the stamp arena
A personal point of view only,
Dale Eggen