tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3322543472485475876.post3951960697396807851..comments2024-01-12T00:20:22.174-12:00Comments on Machin Mania: 30th April Smilers for KidsMachin Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518381259926478157noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3322543472485475876.post-53295938458416656632009-04-24T03:09:00.000-12:002009-04-24T03:09:00.000-12:00Thanks Ian,
Your comments are always welcome, and...Thanks Ian,<br /><br />Your comments are always welcome, and I might add you speak a lot of sense when describing your veiws.<br /><br />It all adds to the debate :-)Machin Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09518381259926478157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3322543472485475876.post-77799198909819667792009-04-23T08:58:00.000-12:002009-04-23T08:58:00.000-12:00I deleted my earlier comment because the formattin...I deleted my earlier comment because the formatting went wrong after previewing; and now it has happened to the replacement, after previewing. But I hope the meaning is clear.Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3322543472485475876.post-16842619278352951032009-04-23T08:56:00.000-12:002009-04-23T08:56:00.000-12:00Oh I do agree with the general tone of what you we...Oh I do agree with the general tone of what you were writing, Royal Mail was just the wrong target.<br /><br /><I>"I get so angry at Royal Mail for allowing these issues in the first instance. At the end of the day this is all about R.M profit."</I>In the beginning there was the (Australian) personalised stamp, and others quickly followed including Royal Mail in 2000. These were essentially for individuals to personalise their social correspondence, albeit at a considerable premium over face value. But it was a novelty and very popular too.<br /><br />In 2001 RM targetted the commercial market with the Business Smilers Sheet, and Eagle Coaches of Bristol used the Cartoons and the Hallmarks greetings stamps to promote their company - which was what Royal Mail had intended. But very few other companies have done this.<br /><br />The next products were those involving football clubs, produced by Victory Cards in association with Benhams. Manchester Utd, Norwich City, Arsenal, and others were produced and sold, framed, through club shops at quite a premium. There were profits to be made - by the co-producers, the framers, and the clubs. Prices rose. Some were also used on covers, and some mint sheets were made available to the trade and to collectors.<br /><br />Next came the PTS with the first Stampex Sheet, followed by Rushstamps for their 45th anniversary.<br /><br />Do you see a pattern? It is not just Royal Mail making a profit, and it is not even businesses using these as RM intended. It is the philatelic trade which has pushed these, marketing them as (non-philatelic) collectables to sports fans and later to Dr Who, Elvis etc fans. In 2006 Fiat motors promoted the Grande Punto with sheets sold for considerably less than those produced by the stamp trade.<br /><br />If you look through the Smilers Catalogue you will see the parties involved. From the outset collecters have been able to say <B>NO</B>, and to collect only the generic sheets produced and sold direct by Royal Mail.<br /><br />Despite the fact that over 60 stamps have been available for this service (although far fewer are available now), the same members of the trade have pressed RM to make new stamps available, and RM are considering this suggestion seriously. <A HREF="http://www.bfdc.co.uk/downloads/BCS/BCSnewDesigns.jpg" REL="nofollow">See the designs proposed by Adrian Bradbury here</A>.<br /><br />But as Adrian also notes, having totally new stamps available for the Business Customised service (or even the social personalised service) is only part of the story:<br /><I>"New stamp designs cannot be exclusive to the Business Customised Sheet range and must be made available to the general public."</I><B>The implications are obvious.</B>I'm sorry, I've sort of hijacked your blog with a comment worthy of an entry of its own. But some people may not be aware of the whole background. If you want to buy highly-priced collectables from B, B & B (& others), do so. But don't blame RM, and don't blame others for climbing on the bandwagon. <br /><br /><A HREF="http://www.virtualstampclub.com/smilers.html" REL="nofollow">Here's one I made earlier as a fund-raiser!</A>Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3322543472485475876.post-73010631521802283162009-04-23T08:53:00.000-12:002009-04-23T08:53:00.000-12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ian - Norvichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436130277706268046noreply@blogger.com