Access Your Buying / Selling Records
Last year, we were hoping to roll out a website feature that would allow members to access their activities for buying and selling. While that part of the website is not yet operational, we still can relay information to you about your Sales Division activities. Since our custom Sales program was written in 2002, we have been supplying sellers with information about how their sales books are selling. At the seller’s request, we send a report listing the book numbers, the categories, the original values, and the amount sold at the time the report is pulled from the system. The report can be sent as a hard copy or as part of an e-mail reply. We suggest requesting the report no more than once every three or four months. Weekly or monthly reports would not necessarily show much change. These reports are sent on demand only.
Until the website feature is operational, we are offering buyers the same service by mail or by e-mail report. You may contact me at 814-933-3803 ext.227, by fax 814-933-6128, or e-mail Tom to request information about where your circuits are at that moment, how much you have purchased so far, what categories are presently on your want list, or the amount you have in open credit vouchers or in unpaid account balances. Ask other questions while you are at it. We are here to help supply information about your activities that will make your experiences in the Sales Division pleasant. In most cases, we can send the requested information within two working days.
Using Flat-Rate Containers
Since we began pushing the use of the small flat-rate boxes for mailing circuits, we have seen a rise in the use of the flat-rate envelopes for sending new books to us and a few members have used them to mail circuits. While the envelopes are free from the USPS and they cost five cents less for postage than the small flat-rate boxes, the contents should be packed correctly to eliminate the possibility of damage in the postal system.
How two stacks of sales books are positioned in the envelope is very important: Do not have the open sides of the books facing each other. Instead, turn the two stacks so that the stapled folds of the books face each other. We have seen damaged stamps in envelopes where the open sides of books have been jammed inside other books, resulting in creased stamps.
Also, please remember that the flat-rate envelopes are not as rigid as the boxes, so they can arrive here torn and crumpled. The best way to avoid damage is to use the flat-rate boxes.
Whichever method you use, for added protection, you may insert sales books into self-seal food bags before placing them in the mailing container. We recently received new sales books from a seller. The books were in a self-seal bag and mailed in a small flat-rate box. The box was very damp when delivered by the USPS, but the contents were dry. We are not using the self-seal food bags when mailing circuits, but you might want to consider using them when sending new sales books in the USPS flat-rate packaging.
Chapter Circuit Schedules
Later this month, we will be sending a packet of information to APS Chapters who are receiving scheduled circuits. The information will include a form for the 2011 meeting schedules, mailing instructions, and the Chapter circuit insurance forms for 2011. The deadline for letting us know what your 2011 needs will be is December 1, 2010. This gives us time to schedule the circuit mailings for your January chapter meeting, many of which must have the circuits prepared and mailed in mid to late December in order to arrive on time. Please poll your Chapter members for their interests and update your want list. “Same as last year” should not be entered on the back of the schedule form.
If your APS Chapter is not currently receiving circuits, contact us for information about this great meeting activity. E-mail us or call 814-933-3803 ext 228 or choose option #2 from the phone menu.
Try a Circuit
If you have never tried our approvals or have not had any sent to you since 2005, look for the card located in the Letters to the Editor section of the July 2010 issue of this publication, find your selections on the list on the back mailing wrapper, complete the card, and drop it in the mail (we pay the postage). Or you may visit www.stamps.org/Circuit-Request to send your request electronically. Within two weeks of receiving your request for circuits, we will send you a four-sales-book “mini-circuit” as an introduction to our service. We will include the latest set of instructions for the regular multiple-name circuits you will receive later, along with some basic information for your consideration when processing the trial circuit. Our records will show us that you qualify for the mini-circuit program. Now is the time to get your name on the circuit lists for having fun with these “mini-stamp-stores” this fall and winter.
Direct Circuit Offer
For September, we are offering a one-time direct circuit of Canada (mint, used, early, recent and some covers), waiving the $5 fee for members in the U.S. and discounting by $5 the $20 fee for members outside the U.S. in countries to which we can send approvals. Just send us a note saying that you saw this offer, provide us with your membership number, mailing address, and your preference in this category. The other featured category is Global General. Only books containing material that can only be classified as Global will be included when this is requested.
The direct circuit will be sent to you using Priority Mail or flat-rate Priority Mail. You will need to obtain one of these boxes at your post office (for free) for returning the circuit to us, because they may not be used a second time. Delivery Confirmation may be used for sending the circuit to APS only from the fifty states and Puerto Rico.
‘5 for 10’ Categories (Needs) SPECIAL
You can earn coupons for free blank books and mounts for every ten completed books containing material from a set list of categories. For details, visit www.stamps.org/Stamps-Needs. Details also are sent with blank sales book orders. Or you may visit www.stamps.org and click Sales Division and “Buying and Selling” or “Useful Links.” [Note: Single-country books usually have better sales.
Below are category areas for which we will issue coupon credit on a “5 for 5” basis — our August-September special. For every five books submitted in these categories for August and September, you will receive a coupon for five free blank books. The regular rules for the “5 for 10” program still apply.
U.S. Coils
U.S. Officials
U.S. Plate Number Singles
U.S. Precancels
Australian States
Baltic States
Chile
Danzig
Ethiopia
India & States
Italian Colonies
Liberia
Netherlands Colonies
Paraguay
Ryukyus Islands
Spain
Spanish Colonies
Trieste
Uruguay
ALL Central American Countries
ALL Latin West Indies Countries
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