The Sales Packet
Have you any surplus Swiss stamps or items of postal history that you would like to sell?
The Helvetia Philatelic Society operates an efficient Sales Packet service, with up to 10 separate packets circulating concurrently throughout the year (with the exception of June-August). It has long been a popular activity within the Society and offers members the opportunity to either sell their duplicate Swiss material, or purchase those items that have long eluded them, often at a very reasonable price!
To find out more about this service, please email the Packet Secretary at: packetsec@swiss-philately.co.uk
All Sales Packets are insured. However, the cover provided is limited and members should be aware they are personally responsible for the packet while it is in their possession. The circuit operates in England, Scotland and Wales only, and packets must never be taken out of these countries. (The insurance policy does not cover the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for example)
The Rules that follow are dictated by the conditions set by the Insurance Company. To disregard these instructions could invalidate the insurance cover and render the member concerned liable in the event of loss.
Hon. Sales Packet Secretary – January 2008
Sellers
Booklets should preferably be of the printed type, but may be homemade not larger than 5″x8″. The cover should include the owner’s name, the number of pages with stamps or the number of items (i.e. entries) contained within the booklet. There must be room for the buyer’s signature and each page should indicate the total value. Pages should be stapled into the cover so as to be secure.
All stamps must be mounted neatly and securely on the right hand pages of the booklet only. The pages must not be over crowded. Pricing of all items must be boldly and unambiguously shown in ink above the stamp or item(s) concerned.
Entires and Postcards may be placed in a suitably ruled up envelope 5″x 8″and numbered in pencil, with each item listed on the envelope, price included.
Damaged or faulty stamps should not be included unless specifically marked to this effect.
Members are not permitted to insert material into a packet whilst in circulation.
Commission & Insurance
Members submitting material to the Packet Secretary must include a cheque, payable to the Helvetia Philatelic Society, to the sum of 3% of the total value of their submitted items. The Packet Secretary will deduct a further 7% of the total sales before returning the material to the vendor.
All packets will be insured by the Society.
The Packet Secretary has the right to refuse to accept any material that has not been submitted in accordance with the above rules, or material not considered suitable.
Buyers
On receipt of a packet, first check that the total number of books agrees with the total shown on the Postal List. Check that all spaces have been signed and if there are any discrepancies contact the previous member, who will be liable for the value of the missing items. The Packet Secretary must also be informed of these discrepancies when returning the Advice Note.
All items removed from booklets must be signed for using a ballpoint pen or rubber stamp. The total number and value of purchases must be entered on the cover of each booklet.
Note: pressure from signatures can cause damage to material on the pages beneath. Please exercise care or insert a thin card between pages when signing. (Members may be liable for the cost of damaged material)
All booklets, from which items have been removed, must be listed, with the number and value for each on the Advice Note provided. The Advice Note must be posted to the Sales Packet Secretary promptly, together with remittance for the total purchases, plus 15p to cover the Insurers Additional charge. After completing the Advice Note the totals must be entered on the Postal List, as well as the date the Packet was received, the date the Packet is forwarded and your signature.
NB. Please double check your purchases as numerous errors do occur.
Cheques and Postal Orders are to be made out to the “Helvetia Philatelic Society” and crossed “Account Payee”. For small sums (less than £2) postage stamps are acceptable.
Whenever possible, the Packet should be passed on by hand. The Advice Note should be signed by the recipient to provide a receipt.
When the Packet is posted to the next member on the Postal List, it is mandatory that the intended recipient be phoned prior to posting, thus ensuring that the person will be present to take delivery. A Certificate of Posting must be obtained and forwarded to the Packet Secretary with the Advice note and any remittance. Members must also confirm that the recipient was contacted prior to posting. There must be no reference to the Helvetia Philatelic Society on the package.
NB. If the Packet Secretary fails to receive an Advice Note from a member, with recipient’s signature if forwarded by hand, or confirmation that the recipient was contacted before posting, it will invalidate the Insurance Policy and the member could be held liable for any loss.
Booklets must be placed in a plastic bag prior to insertion in the outer envelope. The envelope should be strong paper and must not bear any markings indicating the nature of the contents.
Packets must not be held for more than 48 hours (Sundays, Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter excepted). Members who are likely to be absent from home (for any period) please inform the Packet Secretary so that the Packet can be re-directed.
Should no purchases be made from the Packet, the Advice Note must still be sent to the Packet Secretary, marked “NIL” but with a Postage Stamp to the value of 15p to cover the Insurers Additional charge. The Advice note must show the date the packet was forwarded to the next member, together with a signature if passed by hand or the Postal receipt, so that the Packet Secretary can track where the packet is at any given time.
Never send 2 or more packets in one parcel. The Insurance policy is quite explicit. Packets must only be sent singly. If a member has 2 packets at any given time, please hold one for at least 10 days before sending to the next recipient on the postal list. The lists are planned so that this should not happen, but sometimes they do catch each other up.