Philatelic News fix

Earlier editions were pdf files on CD/DVD with varying degrees of security, most of which only succeeded in driving off customers, all of which could be easily circumvented by software pirates. I would say 99.9%+ of the older Scott software that was/is offered for sale are illegal -- that's how bad the piracy was. I blame both the pirates and Amos. Amos shot themselves in the foot because they had made the software version only $5 cheaper than the print version -- making it very profitable for software pirates.

Back then, about the only way to get the genuine software was either directly from Scott, or through an authorized Scott dealer. I can say that the only genuine software I was able to purchase was by the aforementioned 2 methods. After filtering out the obvious pirated software, ALL the ones I purchased at auction that I thought might have a good shot at being legitimate turned out to be pirated (some pretty well done). How can you tell? If you've ever owned a genuine original, you can tell right away. Even if you haven't, there is always one obvious difference: pirated software is "burned", genuine commercial software is "manufactured" (or "stamped").

This problem is why Scott was out of the software market for several years. This time, they made the wise choice of reducing the price by $50 instead of a paltry $5. However, if I can't use it offline, it's a waste of my money.

Older pirated software still sells briskly, even though it's over 7 years old. That should tell you that the problem was with Scott's pricing strategy. Now, if they could just get over this insistence on online access only -- but I doubt it -- it's a big risk

If they would sell the entire software set, for say, $100 every year. I would buy it every year. I know a number of collectors who would also change from buying used catalog sets every few years to a yearly purchase for $100 each year. Before they stopped, I was buying the entire Scott WW print catalog set for $100 each year when they would do their annual clearance of "seconds" to make way for the new catalog year. Shipping cost $10 for the entire 6 volume set!!! Do that for the software, I (and several others) would gladly pay that each year, but NOT as a subscription -- I like to keep the old prices archived for study/research.

But with the current production model they have, I recognize that Scott cannot possibly do this. I think eventually they will need to go to the Michel model of specialized country/area catalogs that are NOT issued every year (i.e., catalogs are revised on a rotation or as needed).

August 16, 2015

Not sure when he announced it, but William (Bill) Weiss, US stamp expertizer, has retired and now indicates this on his website.


COMMENTARY
Bill is one of the truly "good guys". One of the few that I would outright recommend as a dealer with no qualms and no "*". He doesn't know me personally (we've only corresponded once). I've actually NEVER purchased anything from him and NEVER used his expertizing services. So for me to be willing to refer someone to him even without ever having conducted business with him, speaks volumes.

I'm glad to see that he will still be active in philately (can't retire from that). He's always been very good at pointing out obvious problems on the boards he frequents. The lesser professional expertizer would just ask you to pay the fee and send it in. But his departure from the paid expertizing business will leave a major void -- not in terms of competition, but in terms of trust and reliability.

He still maintains his website, and it is full of great info.

Here is a brief mini-biography he wrote of his stamp adventures: Bill Weiss column

The world's oldest Post Office re-opened in July. It is in the town of Sanquhar in SW Scotland and dates back to 1712. There are hopes to establish a postal museum there. Read more at www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/sanquhar-world-s-oldest-post-office-reopens-1-3830463

I'll do anything to avoid actual work.

It is with great sadness that I make this post.

Bill Weiss has passed away. He made many great contributions to philately, both in terms of knowledge and through his expertizing business. He was greatly missed after his retirement, and even more so now.

khj, hopefully they have scaled down the size (at a maximum trade size perhaps?) and made them regional like SG and Michel....and, of course, a smaller volume available at a smaller price. I would like to be able to buy just the regions that most interest me and feel like I am able to afford them.

khj , saw this today in my FB feed...

Scott Catalog Reorganization