Mystic Stamp Company

I've been an avid collector since I was 14, I'm now 62, you do the math.

Actually I collect all kinds of ephemera, but in regards to stamps I really only collect US and all US specials. Documentary, Wine tax Parcel Post Airmail, well you get the jist of it.

Although since I inherited my grandfathers and mothers collections and I bid estate sales in CA. I have accumulated a great deal of foreign stamps which I simply pack in luggage bags and store. I decided to get rid of them since I dont really pay much attention to them and since I've dealt with Mystic in the past I sent them an email about selling mine.

I got a call from some gal from Mystic says she's in Colorado, and that's really where collections go to be valued and estimations to buy is done.

Now Ive seen stamp shops come and go for many a year, and Ive checked the complaints here. Those complaining about packets not solicited being sent. yes it's annoying but they've all been doing that since I was a kid. Stamp shops always pay low and sell at top catalogue or rather they try to. You can always call them and haggle. And yes that still works.

Here's what Ive found out and what's changed that bothers me.

I asked outright what do you usually buy at, what percentage of

catalogue value generally do you guys pay. I let her know Ive been around the block and didnt expect anything outrageous I know how wholesale

resale works and markets in general should work. To my surprise I didnt

get even a rough estimate 40 percent? 30 percent I asked ? Can you give me a general ball park I understand grading and quality matters etc etc but she should have been able to give me an idea.

She dodged it completely and noticeably so, which gave me pause.

So they sent me boxes with prepaid labels so they can review and estimate. the countries Ive perused and quickly scanned for value. I have another

luggage bag full I havnt even looked at yet. So she skillfully recommended I send that as well since they now have a service for that kind of estimating.

I played along and said ya maybe ill do that.

Now its research time my spidey sense is tingling. First I found 2 forums confirming 25 percent is the best I could expect even for quality stamps, several other sites concurred. Then I found they pay even less if what you send isnt orderly which half of my WW isnt which she just tried to talk

me into sending but never mentioned a charge or fee.

25% buy rate is outrageous and if anyone sells to them at that rate, they must have stole the collection.

How can anyone justify taking 75 percent of my capital gains merely for being essentially a short term broker. I know of no brokerage getting those kinds of percentages anywhere, not even the big boys on Wall street garner that

Now I see also on this site a reference to Mystic and Mark Morrow of Mark Morrow Stamps, Inc., which coincidentally is in Colorado as well.

Then one post says he buys for Mystic and was up on federal anti trust charges, which to be honest doesnt necessarily mean anything nowadays. I know people who perfectly moral reputable people who have had charges

filed on them, in some cases Ive even seen a few completely railroaded by the government and falsely prosecuted.

Then someone commented Its not true Mark Morrow doesnt buy for mystic, another said yes he does. So I did my own research.

I cant say he still works there but he did as late as 2015 at least his web site advertises that he does and it still advertises that fact

https://www.markmorrowstamps.com/

This link takes you to a letter on his site that is written and signed by none other than the president

Don Sundman

https://www.markmorrowstamps.com/meet_mark_morrow.asp

Its quite possible Mr. Sundman is totally uninvolved in the auction bidding scams of Mike Morrow, And with a company the size of Mystic you know they have massive amounts of associates partners of all kinds etc etc.

Here's my problem

There is no doubt Morrow got caught fudging his auction house.

There is no doubt Morrow and Sundman have had big business dealings together. I found this also

"Years later, in 1995, The American Philatelist published an article about the CIA Invert and Mystic's role in its story:

"A group of three younger investors – Mystic Stamp Company president Donald Sundman, Dana Oakey, and Mark Morrow – gambled that the stamp would remain rare and desirable and bought fifty of the stamps from Schiff in two lots of twenty-five. Sundman donated one of his stamps to the Smithsonian Institution. He then filed a request under the federal Freedom of Information Act for all information on the stamps' origin in the files of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing"

":https://www.markmorrowstamps.com/meet_mark_morrow.asp

There is no mention on Mystics site linking Morrow with them, past or present, but there are many references linking them in numerous business dealings over the years. Its not even an issue that you cant get past if they were open about it.

Furthermore Ive decided since the comments and reviews were so eclectic, i've decided which side is true. Well BOTH I think are true. Mystic is a huge company, had 3 different owners and has been around a long time 100 years I think. They didnt get to be that big by not being good in some ways. Quality stamps, overall giants in the industry, that kind of expertise is rare.

But the same can be said about big business shenanigans.

Overall I have decided I wont be sending any of my collection to Mystic for appraisal or purchase

1. There is no excuse for attempting to give only 25 %, for being a broker. And I believe there is enough evidence online to merit it truthful.

2. Any sales person on the phone or otherwise who needs to completely dance around and dodge giving a potential client a rough estimate

of their purchasing practices, is suspect. especially since their site claims they pay more. Doubtful as that is, the bigger companies have tons more overhead volume alone wont cover all that overhead.

3.The effort to disassociate themselves from Morrow was obvious only one side is still advertising a relationship, that looks bad.

4. I then find out if I dont like their offer I can simply have the stamps sent back to. If I pay for it. Wow now Im responsible for their costs of doing business? Yikes, thats a double edge sword as well since it aids their favor in lowballing their offer. once you find that cost + insurance and special handling wont be cheap.

5. My real deep down distaste for this ordeal was in every instance, I saw

deception or plain ignored information that should have been paramount in our dealings at the forefront of every issue. And you can see this happening in ever industry these days.

Im a capitalist at heart, I absolutely know the huge wonderful things it is responsible for creating in our society over all these years. But this isnt a free market capitalism society anymore. This, all this is a [censored]ized good ole boy monopoly favored buddy system fostered by liberals in this country trying to create some kind of Socialistic / Oligarchy like Russia is today. And they're getting away with it. I sure hope people wake up and realize only 60 70 years ago you only paid for a service after it was rendered never before. Thats how you assure you get the service period. Also brokers fees should never be more than 25 30 percent, used to be 15 to 18 percent. People need to take back their purchasing power. Get one whole city to for 1 month cancel all cell phone service. And watch how fast the phone companies capitulate and come to your door

finally this link will take you to the courts ruling and sentencing, the other links show emphatically a number of verifiable things linking Mystic with Mr. Morrow, and how Mystics long on claims and short on principles and practices.

I ordered us postal stamps, did not see where the price was doubled so if it is there, must be in tiny print. charged double for two sheets of stamps and slow delivery. big mistake. go to post office! this company is a scam.
I should have read the reviews.

A004679802

Three issues with the Statehood Collection:
1108 - stamp had been folded two or three times and then flattened out. This is more than a minor flaw.
1144 - was missing from the shipment
1286 - top left corner was torn off. Half of the stamp denomination is gone making the stamp worthless.

One issue with the Revenue Collection:
The tobacco stamp for 2 7/8 ounces is about 7 1/2 inches long. The mount included in the shipment is only 6 1/4 inches long.

And just a comment. Why did the narrative that came with the shipment state that they are wine stamps? It was actually 7 Cigar Stamps and 2 Tobacco stamps. Was the price figured correctly?

i am being billed for coins that were returned. i paid 2.95 for shipping for my free elvis 80th birthday half dollar.then i purchsed 2 more elvis coins i paid 27.50 on feb 28 2016.i have my check#.i asked them not to send anything else and they sent two more elvis halfdollars.i returned them with the envelope provided .mailed 3/23/16.now i reveived another bill saying i did not return or pay, order#[protected].i would like this to be cleared up.i do not owe any thing, an i will never order from you again, believe me if this not cleared up i will let others know how you conduct your unfair practies.i look forward to hearing from you thank you

lindsey blair louderback 4451 gate way park blvd#428 sacramento ca, 95834
email [protected]@yahoo.com

Mystic Stamp Company sells hingless stamp albums (DS132) for collectors. It does not contain all US stamps for the years indicated [protected]), It only contains the stamps that Mystic sells. So collectors that purchase the album do not get a complete year album. We have stamps and no album to put them in. This is the only company that I know of that does something like this. All of the other companies that offer albums have spaces for all stamps. Buyers need to know this up front.

i have received 3 empty envelopes 1st was some adv. the last 2 want $80.00 some . but have not received anything for the $80.00 i don't want my credit to depleat but don't tell me anything about what its for.

They continue to send me more stamps per month than I can afford.
This month alone they have sent me (7) orders totaling $ 192.50.
I have written Mr. Donald Sundman before about this matter, I would like no more than 2 offers per month not more than $ 50.00 to
$ 60.00 per month. However, Mr. Sundman has ignored my previous communication about this. If this continues I will stop purchasing anything from the Mystic Stamp Company.
Sincerely, Rev. Richard A. Pickard

This company will overwhelm you with packages of stamps or review free promotions. A time period is provided to review the package of stamps for differnt themes, Presidents, VIP's, Countries, Era's, Princess Diana, Elvis, etc, etc. You name it they have a coin or a stamp for it. At first they slowly send a package of stamps or coins to review and attach a payment due bill. At first it is easy to keep up with what has been paid for and they make sure you are paying. Then the scam starts. You mailbox is overloaded with stamp collecting products you did not order. Packages of stamps for review, for every thing under the sun. Again you did not order them. You are also over powered with Shipment two and three of the Elvis Collection, when first still reviewing the first shipment. Then you pay say for shipment two, a notice is sent that you did not pay and your entire account will be sent to a collection Agency. I called and told them ...DO NOT SEND ANYMORE STAMPS OR COINS...and it was like I opened up the flood gates for the Mystic Stamp company to "send" all series or shipment of stamps/coins, etc, to my home. I called again and CANCELLED my ACCOUNT...I then requested that the Company, Mystic Stamp send me an itemized list of shipment sent, payments received and identify the "name" of the package of Stamps/Coins and which shipment. Then send me a invoice showing me what "shipment of Stamps or Coins" that still need to be paid. All that they sent me was a PAST DUE NOTICE for a total amount of money, while offering me the opportunity to send them my credit card number to take care of my account. Again they state that your account WILL be turned over to a collection Agency. I still have the packages of stamps and coins in their original mailing envelopes, however I am reluctant to send back to this Company as they are very dishonest.

After notifying Mystic Stamp Company in writing not to send anymore items for review, I once again received more of their product. Upon receipt I called and spoke with a representative. I informed them that I no longer wanted anything to do with their company and would be returning their products. The representative said that it would be noted on my account. Now a month later I have an invoice for the items I returned----- for $71.25.
HOW CAN I PROVE THAT I RETURNED THE ITEMS VIA THE PREPAID ENVELOPE!?.
This company is a scam and should be avoided.
I will file a complaint every day with this Complaint Board as well as the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission as well as the United States Postal Inspection Service until my account is is cleared.

Irving Texas