Opinion by Lloyd A. de Vries
The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily those of any other organization, philatelic or otherwise.
In a message on the American Philatelic Society website, executive director Scott English outlines a proposal to “merge” the APS and the American Stamp Dealers 
Association. I put “merge” in quote marks because it seems more like a takeover, with the ASDA becoming a section of the APS, even more so than an Affiliate. (An independent stamp collecting organization that is recognized, but not managed, by the APS.)
English identifies a number of problems with stamp dealing today, but I don’t see in his proposal how combining the two groups would rectify those problems. For instance, he states that fewer than a quarter of ASDA members are stamp show dealers. (Exclusively selling at shows? Or ever selling at shows?) How would merging the two organizations change that? Does it need to be changed? Or does ASDA need to restructure to address that situation?
Talking about selling on platforms like HipStamp and eBay, “…those bound by a code of ethics are treated the same as bad actors by clumsy policies undermining the 100+ years of knowledge and good practices established by these two organizations.” Given the APS’ new partnership with HipStamp and its on-again/off-again one with eBay, I assume he is referring to eBay’s policies. (He didn’t mention any of the other selling platforms.)
Again, how would a merger fix that? Would a combined APS-ASDA convince eBay to give up its own “clumsy policies?” I don’t think so.
He says this merger would “assert our collective membership value in the digital marketplace.” How? An advertising/promotion campaign saying “look for APS membership” would do much the same. Is eBay or any other selling platform likely to require APS, ASDA or any other membership of its dealers? I don’t think so. As long as they pay and don’t violate those “clumsy policies,” all sorts of people will be allowed to use those services.
A well-known dealer who had been expelled from one or both of these organizations continue to be a very active seller on eBay up until his death a few years ago.
I’m not an ASDA member and not privy to its inner workings, but the problem prompting this proposal may be internal: a lack of money, declining membersihp, poor management and so on.
For many decades, ending around the end of the 20th century, ASDA membership was a requirement for a booth at the top stamp collecting shows in New York City. Collectors from all over the Northeast, and some from further, would come to these shows. Any dealer of any size and importance, mail-order or storefront or both, needed to have a booth at those shows.
That is no longer the case. In fact, the ASDA doesn’t even have a New York City show any longer. The fault is not solely that of internet selling. However, that eliminated a major reason for belonging to ASDA.
English proposes adding “dealer representation on the APS Board of Directors.” When I was first elected to the APS Board (1997), I asked why there was a non-voting dealer represent to the Board but not an actual seat on the Board for dealers. I was told in no uncertain terms that the APS represents collectors, not dealers. Has that changed? And what about representation for other philatelic groups, some of which have more members than the ASDA?
Dealers who are members of the APS have for years been able to get “dealer certification” from the APS, giving them access to booths at the APS-produced shows (such as the Great American Stamp Show), display advertising in the journal American Philatelist, and sometimes newsletters and other benefits. Do they still need the ASDA?
If the ASDA is in danger of going out of business, the solution might not be a takeover, but fixing the ASDA’s problems. Or even letting it die. When the Society of Philatelic Americans, a rival to the APS, encountered significant, perhaps insurmountable, problems, it went out of existence.
A lot of questions to be answered.
As you say, Lloyd, “How?”
Without further elucidation I see these supposed benefits of the takeover as so much hyperbole. They could just as well say this will alleviate pressures on world energy supplies, answer questions about how our solar system was formed, and lead to a cure for cancer.
The proposal by Scott English is a power grab. He refers to the APS as representing collectors. Collectors who join the APS do not seek representation. If they want representation then they will hire an attorney.
The two entities have separate and distinct missions so a union of the two would require a new mission statement for both entities. Good luck with that one.
The crucial problem for collectors is often said to be the problem with buying stamps that have been misidentified and which may be in sub-optimal condition. Expertizing services and catalogs play a big part in this system.
Some have said the biggest risk collectors face is the theft of their property. The APS used to have a Theft Committee. I don’t know if it is still in existence. It was run by Nick Lombardi; he was employed by the IRS. The APS also offers its members a stamp insurance program; last I heard it was Hugh Wood.
However, all this does is whitewash the problem downstream. The stamps are still stolen and they end up in the hands of someone – usually a stamp dealer – who then presents them for sale. The dealer pockets the money and washes his hands of the hot property.
Instead of asking whether a stamp is XF, 90, sound or perfectly centered, the buyer needs to press dealers and fellow collectors as to title and provenance of whatever is presented to him for purchase. It is not the issue of quality or condition that should be front and center but this: IS IT HOT?
Having been the target of a stamp heist and seeing BOTH the APS and ASDA turn a cold shoulder to the loss and, with prejudice, favor their members – such as a dealer who did peddle the stolen property with utter arrogance – I am confident that the problems that beset collectors are here to stay and that the APS and the ASDA enjoy the status quo and will continue to feed off of collectors at will. The police also do not care to deal with stamp heists.
Have you ever wondered why the prices at stamp shows are so low? Have you ever wondered why so many stamp dealers don’t provide receipts with item descriptions at stamp shows? Have you ever wondered why so many stamp dealers don’t collect sales tax at stamp shows? Have you ever wondered how much of the stuff for sale at stamp shows, on eBay, on-line, etc. is HOT? Have you ever wondered how much of the stuff donated to the APS – for which the APS provides the donor a tax deduction – each year is HOT?
The APS, ASDA and other stamp associations, clubs and societies have not significantly addressed the problems created by the stamp crooks and which are extended and exacerbated by stamp dealers and show promoters – such as the APS. As such, individual collectors must take the matter into their own hands. This includes the rejection of the status quo – the APS, the ASDA and the other corrupt businesses that claim to police the hobby but really just enjoy their respective monopolies, advantages and illegal trade practices that harm collectors.
Indeed, walking away from the hobby is not an unreasonable course of action.
The APS does still have a Stamp Theft Committee ( https://classic.stamps.org/Stamp-Thefts ) and Nick is still its chair. I do not believe he ever worked for the IRS, but rather the Drug Enforcement Administration and Postal Inspection Service.
I also don’t think it’s fair to tar “many” stamp dealers with the “crook” brush. Yes, there are some crooks in the hobby, but not really that many. The low prices are more a function of heirs who don’t know what they are selling and just want the money quickly and the fact that anybody can be a stamp dealer. Many are in business only for a short-time and don’t use sound business practices. They buy something for $1 and sell it for $2 and think they’ve made $1 profit, not taking into account the expense of travel (or shipping), advertising, show booths, insurance (if they even have it) and so on. (I’ve had countless dealers tell me they’ve “made table,” meaning taken in as much as the table rent.) Uh, no. If you only “made table,” you gave away the stamps and covers for free.