A dealer who was looking to retire wanted to sell me his leftover stock of plate blocks. Most of them are from the 1950s through the 1980s era. All common stuff of which I have thousands of those plate blocks already.

The deal he wanted to make with me was to sell them at 10% below retail price. No thanks!

I don’t know of any stamp business that operates on a 10% margin before expenses. And since I already have thousands of these kinds of plate blocks, it will be years before I turn them over in my inventory. Would you want to invest your money in something that gives in a 10% return maybe 5-10 years from now? I didn’t think so either.

I turned down his generous offer. There are far better deals than 10% below retail that are worth following.