When I started into the approval business, I made a decision to not worry about listing the Scott catalog numbers with what I was selling. I have since reversed that decision. I now note the catalog numbers.

I had an early customer who would not buy any approvals, claiming that he needs the Scott catalog numbers on there. Otherwise, it was impossible for him to tell if he needed those stamps. At the time, I dropped him as an approval customer and sent him a letter stating that I was aware of his needs, but didn’t think I could satisfy what he was looking for.

With the reversal of my decision, I sent him a selection once again. With the catalog numbers now listed, perhaps I could win him back as a customer. I was willing to try. Boy was I wrong!

The entire approval selection came back with a note on the invoice. Now he needs the year of issue too. Are you kidding me?

Most collectors collect by the Scott catalog number. That is sufficient for most collectors to know what they have and what they need. I must be missing something here, because I cannot fathom why the year of issue matters?

I went the extra mile and listed the Scott catalog numbers. I thought that would work. No, he needs the year of issue. If I add that, what is next? The quantity printed? The first day date? The name of the designer? Where does it end?

I get the impression that no matter how much information I list about a set of stamps, it is never going to be enough to satisfy this customer. He is off my mailing list once again.