The catalog of all known banana labels — now with around 50,000 entries — is by far the most comprehensive reference available. Much like the Michel catalog for stamp collectors, it not only lists and sorts what is known but also provides valuable background information like country of origin or year of issue. The idea itself isn’t new: Gerri once managed this catalog on paper. Today, it has evolved into a professional online database where collectors can manage their own collections, create trade lists, and see what others have to offer.

Without such a structured reference, it would be nearly impossible to keep an overview, given the enormous number of labels and the wide variety of brands and sets. A complete, well-maintained catalog is the foundation for this hobby — it connects collectors, enables collaboration, and keeps the shared knowledge alive.

Since I took over from Gerri, the number of new entries has risen from about 20–30 per month to more than 200–300. Paper-based methods could never keep up with that. Maintaining this digital catalog takes both time and money — but it’s what makes serious collecting possible at all.

The Costs

One may argue whether €1,000 per year is reasonable — and of course, it could be done cheaper. It has always been that way, but a few experiences show why investing a bit more makes sense:

• Data security: In the past, two collectors accidentally deleted essential parts of the table of contents. Paying for automated backup solutions is preferable to relying on manual backups and having to identify and fix differences by hand.
• System stability: The database can grow beyond the initially agreed limits. Discovering during a holiday that the catalogue no longer works and trying to figure out how to allocate more storage space is not ideal. Paying for proper monitoring and automatic scaling is worth it.
• Server protection: The database and server are exposed to attacks by programs trying to use computing resources for their own purposes. It is wise to pay for additional software that detects and prevents such unauthorized activity.
• Software testing: PHP, MySQL, Drupal and other components change constantly and must be tested to ensure they still work together. An extra service can freeze the software environment and reduce this effort — so that testing is only needed occasionally — but it comes at an additional cost.

In short, a discussion focused solely on reducing costs is pointless. It would only result in me taking on even more of the technical work myself instead of paying for professional maintenance. The annual cost of around €1,000 is also considered appropriate by colleagues experienced with Drupal-based systems.

Over the years, I decided not to pass the catalog’s costs on to collectors. Collecting even small contributions proved extremely time-consuming, especially when handling all the email correspondence and membership management. Money has different value in different countries, and trying to gather 10 € from each member quickly became impractical. In addition, many reactions to the idea of contributions were discouraging, ranging from “this is my hobby, not a business” to “I sleep under bridges and don't want pay anything” or “can I pay part of the 10 € for just six months first, because I don’t know how things will go.” As a result, the admin continues to cover the costs almoust personally, while the catalog remains freely available — though support in the form of new labels is always welcome.

The Workload

I don’t think many collectors truly realize how much time it takes to maintain the catalog. Reviewing around 250 new labels each month, removing duplicates, updating the table of contents, IT stuff, and handling user inquiries — there were 47 in October alone — already takes 20 to 40 hours of work per month.

Of course, I appreciate it when collectors upload new labels themselves or correct database errors. That’s far better than posting images on Facebook and leaving it to Peter and me to find and add them later. Still, over the years I have personally uploaded about 18,000 labels, and this work doesn’t actually reduce the ongoing maintenance effort — checking for redundancies, ensuring accurate descriptions and placement, and responding to the community remain continuous tasks. After all this, I often have no energy left for trading — and too much community work is simply too much.

What Makes a Collectors’ Community Work

One of the main problems I want to solve is that I no longer have the time or energy for trading — the very heart of this hobby. Most of my duplicates from recent years are still unsorted in a box — it’s hard to find anything in there. Bringing joy to others and receiving an envelope from somewhere in the world used to be what made collecting so special. In the past, I managed two or three trades per month; now, months go by without any. It simply doesn’t make sense to invest so much time and money in the catalog while having no time left for the real essence of the hobby — exchanging labels with fellow collectors.

There’s also another aspect. I don’t want to provide other collectors with a wonderful platform at the expense of my own collection — a platform that allows them to do exactly what I would love to do myself if I still had the time. I don’t see myself as some kind of Samaritan whose role is to entertain others or offer them a free space to pursue their hobby while mine has to wait.

For me, there are three groups of collectors. The first group visits only occasionally — they stop by from time to time, see what we’re doing, and sometimes leave a comment. I have no problem with them at all; I’m simply glad when they drop in.

Then there’s the second group — people like Anastasia, Peter, Piero, Klement, Martin, and Barbara — whom I truly enjoy having around. Working with them on this project is a real pleasure. They not only help keep the catalog up to date with their new finds, but also support my own collection from time to time, sending me nice labels they’ve discovered without me having to ask. Being part of such a circle of collectors really warms my heart — it feels like a genuine community built around this rather unusual hobby.

And finally, there’s the problematic group, unfortunately: those who seem to treat the catalog like a library/museum they can enjoy for free, and that I’m doing all this purely for their entertainment. They are often online, curious about the comments and see what is new, manage their own collections and trading lists, trade frequently and enthusiastically, and want a place in this community — without contributing or supporting the necessary maintenance. Using the work of others while giving nothing back is not just disappointing — it’s the exact opposite of what a collectors’ community should stand for. If someone enjoys the hobby of collecting banana labels and benefits from a well-maintained online catalog, it seems only fair to support the work that makes such a resource possible.

A constructive way forward

Since 2014, the catalog has been maintained with great effort and dedication. Over the years, I’ve described the situation several times — not as a complaint, but to explain what keeps this project meaningful.

For the catalog to make sense, it must remain a shared effort. Yet some collectors still believe it’s enough to upload a few new labels and offer them for exchange — while completely ignoring the ongoing discussion that has been raised again and again over the past six years. Despite many reminders that I no longer have the time to trade or sort duplicates, the issue is consistently dismissed. Even when addressed directly, some react unwillingly — although many have built large duplicate stocks thanks to the catalog itself.

It’s simple: if most collectors from group 3 occasionally send a few labels, the admin will be happy — and the whole project will keep its meaning for everyone. I don’t think that’s asking too much, especially from those who have accumulated hundreds of duplicates. After all, you’ve already got me paying the 1,000 € a year and keeping everything running — so why should it fail because of just some of your duplicates? Imagine for a moment what it would feel like if you had to spend 1,000 € a year and 20–40 hours each month on community work — without any real benefit in return. It should be clear by now that I won’t keep doing all this for nothing, while barely being able to trade myself. And for anyone who still hasn’t quite grasped that — this article might be worth another read.

Michael

Articles

October 2019 – The Catalog is NOT for Free (1)
This first article explains the real costs of maintaining the catalog and why it cannot be treated as a completely free service. The admin asks the community to contribute in some way, such as sharing labels.

December 2019 – The Catalog is NOT for Free (2)
A follow-up emphasizing the catalog’s ongoing expenses and risks of the project becoming unmanageable. Users are reminded that participation and support are essential.

February 2020 – The Catalog needs your Help
A direct appeal to the community to actively support the catalog through label submissions and collaboration. Without such help, maintaining the catalog at its current level would be impossible.

February 2020 – How to Proceed with the Catalog
Provides guidance on how collectors should interact with the catalog, including submitting labels and handling trades. It also emphasizes that those who are not willing to contribute or support the project should seriously consider leaving the catalog, as active participation is essential for its continued success.

February 2020 – The Catalog is NOT for Free (Think Win‑Win)
Emphasizes that maintaining the catalog requires ongoing time, money, and effort from the admin. Collectors are encouraged to support him in return — for example by sending labels — so that both sides benefit and the catalog remains a fair, shared project rather than a one-way effort.

June 2021 – The Catalog is NOT for Free (3)
Reiterates that the catalog cannot be maintained without support from the community. Active participation ensures that the catalog remains a valuable resource for all collectors.

September 2022 – The Catalog is now for Free
Announces that the catalog is now freely accessible to everyone. The attempt to share the running costs among users did not succeed, so most of the expenses are now covered by the admin. This does not mean, however, that collectors should stop sending new labels to support the project from time to time.

March 2025 – No More Free Ride
A firm reminder that the catalog cannot continue to serve collectors who only take without giving. Contributions, such as sending new labels, are necessary to keep the project alive.

October 2025 – A Little Thanks for a Lot of Work
A thank-you note to those who have supported the catalog so far. The article highlights the ongoing effort and cost involved and encourages continued reciprocity through label sharing.