New Stamp Categories Mostly Done

[Mark]

As stated in our newsletter from last week we're working hard to quickly push out the NEW StampWants so that it can replace the current one. The last thing we need to do before that (there's some other things we still need to finish too, but they're not as important and will be done afterward) is finish the new categories we were are working on.

The NEW StampWants should have a place for just about any item. However, about 90% of the main categories (there will be around 15-18) will be focused on collectible items. Other types of categories will be grouped together in just a couple of main categories, just so there is a place to list different kinds of items if someone is so inclined (we've actually received a lot of emails for various requests). However, the main focus will be Stamps and Coins, with Stamps being listed first, and there being a separate home page for each main category (with Stamps and Coins also having links in the "Home" menu). Again, please keep in mind if you are only interested in Stamps all you need to do is go to the Stamp Home page and that's all you'll see - stamps. As we also previously discussed larger categories such as Europe and the United States also have their own home pages.

Our first priority was to finish our changes to the stamp categories, which are now mostly done (we're still currently moving some items around so they show up in the correct places). The two most noticeable changes are in the Africa and Europe categories: Africa now has almost 50 sub-categories. Almost every county in Europe now has a category (also take a look at the East & Southeastern Europe category). All categories which previously were X & Colonies now have sub-categories for the main country and the colonies. Larger categories such as France, Germany and Spain also have additional sub-categories.

-Mark

[albionstamps]

Mark!

Great stuff!

Although, do we need to change all our previously listed store items manually? I know for things like Reunion I have quite a bit - not to mention Netherlands Indies, etc.

Andrew

[Mark]

No you shouldn't have to. We're in the process of moving most of the items automatically. It'll probably take another day or so to finish.

-Mark

[albionstamps]

Great stuff!

Thanks a lot!

[cocollectibles]

OMG!!! Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! especially for the new Africa groups! Wonderful! And there's DDR all on its own too! Yes! And German States! and .... okay, I'm excited!

Excellent!

[cocollectibles]

Oh please don't kill me but ...

Can we add Gibraltar to Europe please?

[gsdstamps]

Oh please don't kill me but ...

Services for Peter will be held....

[michael78651]

Now that you guys are finally getting the categories that you've been fretting over and asking for for quite a while, now maybe you can relax the stress level and won't have to smoke as much!

[Mark]

There are two categories which we will probably break down further, both most likely after the launch of the NEW StampWants - British Commonwealth and French Colonies. Gibraltar would be in British Commonwealth. The problem is that many of these places became independent and issued their own stamps, and kept the same country name, and have their own categories. So for now we have held off on creating duplicated categories. Were still researching into the best solution but most likely what we will do is create "sister categories". So that for example if you go to Stamps -> Asia -> Hong Kong and browse or search you'll see a note at the top that Stamps -> British Commonwealth -> Hong Kong has an additional XX items. Or something along those lines.

-Mark

[Minnephila]

The new categories are great! Looking forward to the next batch.

[albionstamps]

Mark -

Do you know why a fair amount of my stamps have been moved into Coin categories?!

Andrew

[Mark]

I moved them back. They should be in the correct place by tomorrow. It looks like they weren't moved but for some reason those are the categories they started in. How did you created these listings?

-Mark

[albionstamps]

Mark:

No idea how they made it there! They were listed about a week and a half ago. I just listed them the long way by taking an item I previously had up and listing a similar item. I am positive I only chose stamp categories!

So I couldn't be more help though...

Andrew

[jerbear722]

I have fixed almost all of the small countries in French Colonies & Africa. A few more to go.

Mark, I know you're really busy but I have several issues with the large countries. Can you, please, help me?

Categories that need to be changed:

French Colonies

Reunion - French Colonies & DOM
Ubangi-Shari - French Colonies & DOM
Upper Senegal & Niger - French Colonies & DOM

Africa

East Africa - Africa Other
French Equatorial Africa - Africa Other
French Guinea - Africa Guinea
Rhodesia - Africa Other
Somali Coast - Africa Djibouti
Southern Rhodesia - Africa Other
South West Africa - Africa Other or Africa South Africa
Ubangi-Shari - Africa Other
Zanzibar - Africa Other

Thank you

[cocollectibles]

Jeri, is you rationale for moving Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and SW Africa to "other" (the latter isn't the same as South Africa IMHO), that you want to keep the categories in Africa to the main and current countries? All three of those could go to British Commonwealth when that expands; for example, the first two could be under Rhodesia and Region (which would also nicely accommodate Northern Rhodesia), or all three under British Colonial Africa in BC maybe?