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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : New US Commemorative Stamps

 

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kajones
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13 Nov 2016
09:33:21am
Just last week I went to the post office to mail a letter to one of my buyers. In the past it was always common practice to place a very nice commemorative stamp on the envelope and never just pay for the post office to put that nasty tape on it. Stamp Collectors love to get stamps. Well guess what they told me? They don't get commemorative stamps anymore. You have to ask to have them special ordered. What a disappointment. What is stamp collecting coming too.

Since most businesses have postage machines now, there are not as many stamps going through the mail system. You would think this would drive the price of stamps up. It does seem the new cancelled stamps might be gaining in price.

What do you other collectors have to say?

Karen
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ernieinjax
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13 Nov 2016
09:49:08am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Good morning Karen,

That's crazy. We've got a little post office here and they don't seem to get all of the latest issues. You ask for something that just came out and they'll say, "no I don't have that one but I do have this one". I'm wondering if the local person in charge has to order them. It might be a situation where if it's not a priority it just doesn't happen.

Ernie

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stokesville
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13 Nov 2016
09:55:26am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

My small town post office seems to get all the new issues. Our postmaster does place her own orders past the original shipment of a new stamp. Just recently I wanted a sheetlet of the new Star Trek stamps and she had sold her initial order out but she grabbed an order form and added those stamps to it and sure enough by the end of the week she had them.

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kajones
Members Picture


13 Nov 2016
10:28:13am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

I am guessing there are no other stamp collectors in town that ask for certain stamps. I hate to ask for them to order when I don't use that many stamps anymore. Think I might just go to a bigger post office and buy several different ones at a time for the future.

What do you think on the prices of the newer stamps in catalogues?

Karen

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DavidG
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APS member since 2004

13 Nov 2016
10:40:29am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Very frustrating, Karen. I am fortunate that the Post Offices near both home and work stock the most recent issues.

Perhaps ordering a bunch of commemoratives from the philatelic bureau would get you the stamps you want.

Good luck!

David G
Ottawa, Canada

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"President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors"
BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

13 Nov 2016
11:23:29am

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re: New US Commemorative Stamps

I would write in a complaint to the regional office. USPS has been on a campaign to attract new stamp collectors. Recently I went on a tour of 14 post offices with in a half hour circle in New Jersey. Even the very small offices had a wall mounted display of the latest commemoratives. Not all the offices had every stamp, but there was a collective effort to attract and service collectors.

Standing on the lines, I witnessed people looking at that display and requesting stamps shown to use on their mail. One lady spotted the Ice Cream Cone Booklet and said, "These look fun." Even the general public likes to put interesting stamps on their mail.

Your post office needs to be called out for being lazy and ignoring corporate directives.

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DavidG
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APS member since 2004

13 Nov 2016
12:36:49pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Tom:

"Your post office needs to be called out for being lazy and ignoring corporate directives."



Hear! Hear!

In Canada and the United States!

David
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"President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors"
sheepshanks
Members Picture


13 Nov 2016
01:35:44pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Our local post office, one lady and only open a few hours each morning, carries a basic stock of booklet/coil current stamps.
If I want anything else she can order them but as with year packs she has to order at least two and sometimes more, then she is stuck with items she cannot sell.
The other post offices (2) within 10 miles, in towns of 3-5000 people carry make up values, booklets/coils and a small number of current souvenir sheets. They do not get supplied with stock unless they specifically order items. It seems Canada Post wants everyone to order on-line from their philatelic retail outlet.
I guess it is all part of their cost saving. No rural deliveries we all have post boxes in towns or at the roadside and no deliveries in the local towns either.

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kajones
Members Picture


14 Nov 2016
12:54:39pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Guess what?

Today I went to the post office again. The lady in front of me was asking for stamps, and they didn't have of the different things she asked for. And she was buying lots of stamps. Seems I am not the only one that likes the commemorative stamps.

Karen

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kajones
Members Picture


18 Nov 2016
10:55:36am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Yesterday I went to a very small post office on the way home from the big city. What a surprise. They had commemorative stamps. They even had Star Trek, which really surprised me. So buy from me and you might get a Star Trek stamp on the envelope that I mail them to you in.

They even had the air mail stickers our local post office didn't have.

Ahhh a little satisfaction. I might even go there and get my Christmas stamps if our local doesn't get more in.




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Philatarium
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APS #187980

18 Nov 2016
12:42:27pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Karen: That's interesting about the airmail stickers. I've asked about them at several local branches (medium-sized, all of which have a good selection of new stamps), and the answer I always get is that they labels are no longer used. Instead, the counter agents use a rubber stamp if they feel like it's needed, although they say it's not needed because of the automated sorting machines.

(I may look on eBay or Amazon and pick commercial ones anyway.)


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kajones
Members Picture


18 Nov 2016
12:46:17pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

The new round international airmail stamp really identifies it also when sorting. Maybe they just don't think it is needed anymore.

You can bet I will go back to that small post office again though.

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malcolm197

30 Nov 2016
06:01:18am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

At least you still have a post office! Here in the UK we have "post offices"(labelled as such) which actually operate by agency agreement - implants in Supermarkets,Grocery stores and other retail outlets. They tend not to offer any philatelic products just bog-standard definitives ( and only when pushed -they prefer to offer labels which have a higher mark-up). Many places do not even have this facility - just your local newsagent offering 2nd and 1st class stamps in booklets, you can't even buy a rate step make-up stamp for heavier mail - just add an extra 2nd class stamp instead.

I live in a commuter village about 8 miles from the city with a population of about 4000 and growing. We have recently lost our busy agency post office. Our new facility is an implant in the off-licence( liquor store ) next door. The PO area has about half the floor area and half the staff, and does the minimum work necessary ( revenue per square metre is less for stamps than alcohol).

To get commemorative stamps you have to buy from Royal Mail direct and pay for postage ! If you are sending stamps to someone you have to buy the postage in advance, and accept the delay, or stock up and accept the financial penalty of tying up money. The City is a 30 minute bus ride away or extortionate parking charges.

Malcolm

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kajones
Members Picture


30 Nov 2016
08:30:24am
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

It is sad when the post offices go away. The small post offices seem to be going away here also.
Postage Meters have helped the post office to be able to handle move volume by not having to wait on customers at the window. But I miss getting stamps on envelopes in the mail. Here in the United States there are other mail services that are hurting their business. Federal Express and United Parcel Service seem to be giving great rates especially if you are a large corporate account.

Well time is changing the way we live and I guess we have to accept it even if we are disappointed at times.

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

30 Nov 2016
01:04:09pm

Approvals
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Times are a changing Karen! With technology the mail volumes are down to a trickle. Think about all the emails and text messages we send. Even today long distance calls are no longer an extra charge, so everyone just reaches out instantly. I can't tell you how many penny postcards I own from the early 20th century with messages like "Coming to visit you on Thursday". That would be a text today!

The post office has been consolidating for a while now. Invisible to most people is the consolidation of regional sorting centers. My brother in law worked at the one in Eatontown, NJ and that work was sent to the Trenton, NJ facility. He was fortunate that his job was one of the ones transferred even though it doubled his commute.

I believe they direct the volume of mail to be processed by availability. Here in Exton, PA sometimes my mail gets that Trenton, NJ postmark and other times a Wilmington DE one. Each of these are about an hour from here.

Part of my urgency in collecting current New Jersey postmarks is that post offices are going away. I just saw a 2010 article quoting PMG Donahoe that post offices would be going away by 2017 or 2018. I think he was off a bit! Still, local cancels are already extinct except for counter service.

Nostalgia aside, they probably could do away with a good number of post offices. During my NJ postmark tour I went to 14 different offices. Some of them were tiny with one person working there. There was a steady stream of customers buying stamps, mailing packages and registered type letters. Postal Money Orders also seemed to be a hot item. But while there were customers, there wasn't more than a person or two in line. And the one thing I noticed was that all the customers came by car so "walking distance" doesn't see to be an issue.

Take for instance the town of Florence, New Jersey. A town of 12,000 or so people has two post offices (Florence and Roebling) less than 2 miles apart. Each of those tiny offices had one clerk working. Google Maps even shows they're both on the bus route! Easy consolidation. I'm sure there are many situations like this.


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kajones
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30 Nov 2016
05:27:59pm
re: New US Commemorative Stamps

You said it with the e-mails. I worked for a large Fortune 100 company and we rarely had much mail go out. We had hundreds of invoices come in by fax and directly into our payable system. We still received invoices in the mail but nothing like we received by fax. And our customer services department in turn would send out our invoices by fax. So much faster and cheaper, both on postage and paper.

Years ago I used to save stamps from the incoming mail, but that went away long before I retired. My Mother in law gives me the most now. They receive them on cards that they receive. She still does a lot of snail mail as she doesn't like the computer.

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Author/Postings
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kajones

13 Nov 2016
09:33:21am

Just last week I went to the post office to mail a letter to one of my buyers. In the past it was always common practice to place a very nice commemorative stamp on the envelope and never just pay for the post office to put that nasty tape on it. Stamp Collectors love to get stamps. Well guess what they told me? They don't get commemorative stamps anymore. You have to ask to have them special ordered. What a disappointment. What is stamp collecting coming too.

Since most businesses have postage machines now, there are not as many stamps going through the mail system. You would think this would drive the price of stamps up. It does seem the new cancelled stamps might be gaining in price.

What do you other collectors have to say?

Karen

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
ernieinjax

13 Nov 2016
09:49:08am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Good morning Karen,

That's crazy. We've got a little post office here and they don't seem to get all of the latest issues. You ask for something that just came out and they'll say, "no I don't have that one but I do have this one". I'm wondering if the local person in charge has to order them. It might be a situation where if it's not a priority it just doesn't happen.

Ernie

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this post
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stokesville

13 Nov 2016
09:55:26am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

My small town post office seems to get all the new issues. Our postmaster does place her own orders past the original shipment of a new stamp. Just recently I wanted a sheetlet of the new Star Trek stamps and she had sold her initial order out but she grabbed an order form and added those stamps to it and sure enough by the end of the week she had them.

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this post
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kajones

13 Nov 2016
10:28:13am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

I am guessing there are no other stamp collectors in town that ask for certain stamps. I hate to ask for them to order when I don't use that many stamps anymore. Think I might just go to a bigger post office and buy several different ones at a time for the future.

What do you think on the prices of the newer stamps in catalogues?

Karen

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this post
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DavidG

APS member since 2004
13 Nov 2016
10:40:29am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Very frustrating, Karen. I am fortunate that the Post Offices near both home and work stock the most recent issues.

Perhaps ordering a bunch of commemoratives from the philatelic bureau would get you the stamps you want.

Good luck!

David G
Ottawa, Canada

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"President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors"
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BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
13 Nov 2016
11:23:29am

Approvals

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

I would write in a complaint to the regional office. USPS has been on a campaign to attract new stamp collectors. Recently I went on a tour of 14 post offices with in a half hour circle in New Jersey. Even the very small offices had a wall mounted display of the latest commemoratives. Not all the offices had every stamp, but there was a collective effort to attract and service collectors.

Standing on the lines, I witnessed people looking at that display and requesting stamps shown to use on their mail. One lady spotted the Ice Cream Cone Booklet and said, "These look fun." Even the general public likes to put interesting stamps on their mail.

Your post office needs to be called out for being lazy and ignoring corporate directives.

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Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
DavidG

APS member since 2004
13 Nov 2016
12:36:49pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Tom:

"Your post office needs to be called out for being lazy and ignoring corporate directives."



Hear! Hear!

In Canada and the United States!

David
Like
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this post

"President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors"
Members Picture
sheepshanks

13 Nov 2016
01:35:44pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Our local post office, one lady and only open a few hours each morning, carries a basic stock of booklet/coil current stamps.
If I want anything else she can order them but as with year packs she has to order at least two and sometimes more, then she is stuck with items she cannot sell.
The other post offices (2) within 10 miles, in towns of 3-5000 people carry make up values, booklets/coils and a small number of current souvenir sheets. They do not get supplied with stock unless they specifically order items. It seems Canada Post wants everyone to order on-line from their philatelic retail outlet.
I guess it is all part of their cost saving. No rural deliveries we all have post boxes in towns or at the roadside and no deliveries in the local towns either.

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Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
kajones

14 Nov 2016
12:54:39pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Guess what?

Today I went to the post office again. The lady in front of me was asking for stamps, and they didn't have of the different things she asked for. And she was buying lots of stamps. Seems I am not the only one that likes the commemorative stamps.

Karen

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like this post.
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Members Picture
kajones

18 Nov 2016
10:55:36am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Yesterday I went to a very small post office on the way home from the big city. What a surprise. They had commemorative stamps. They even had Star Trek, which really surprised me. So buy from me and you might get a Star Trek stamp on the envelope that I mail them to you in.

They even had the air mail stickers our local post office didn't have.

Ahhh a little satisfaction. I might even go there and get my Christmas stamps if our local doesn't get more in.




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Philatarium

APS #187980
18 Nov 2016
12:42:27pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Karen: That's interesting about the airmail stickers. I've asked about them at several local branches (medium-sized, all of which have a good selection of new stamps), and the answer I always get is that they labels are no longer used. Instead, the counter agents use a rubber stamp if they feel like it's needed, although they say it's not needed because of the automated sorting machines.

(I may look on eBay or Amazon and pick commercial ones anyway.)


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this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
kajones

18 Nov 2016
12:46:17pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

The new round international airmail stamp really identifies it also when sorting. Maybe they just don't think it is needed anymore.

You can bet I will go back to that small post office again though.

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this post
malcolm197

30 Nov 2016
06:01:18am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

At least you still have a post office! Here in the UK we have "post offices"(labelled as such) which actually operate by agency agreement - implants in Supermarkets,Grocery stores and other retail outlets. They tend not to offer any philatelic products just bog-standard definitives ( and only when pushed -they prefer to offer labels which have a higher mark-up). Many places do not even have this facility - just your local newsagent offering 2nd and 1st class stamps in booklets, you can't even buy a rate step make-up stamp for heavier mail - just add an extra 2nd class stamp instead.

I live in a commuter village about 8 miles from the city with a population of about 4000 and growing. We have recently lost our busy agency post office. Our new facility is an implant in the off-licence( liquor store ) next door. The PO area has about half the floor area and half the staff, and does the minimum work necessary ( revenue per square metre is less for stamps than alcohol).

To get commemorative stamps you have to buy from Royal Mail direct and pay for postage ! If you are sending stamps to someone you have to buy the postage in advance, and accept the delay, or stock up and accept the financial penalty of tying up money. The City is a 30 minute bus ride away or extortionate parking charges.

Malcolm

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kajones

30 Nov 2016
08:30:24am

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

It is sad when the post offices go away. The small post offices seem to be going away here also.
Postage Meters have helped the post office to be able to handle move volume by not having to wait on customers at the window. But I miss getting stamps on envelopes in the mail. Here in the United States there are other mail services that are hurting their business. Federal Express and United Parcel Service seem to be giving great rates especially if you are a large corporate account.

Well time is changing the way we live and I guess we have to accept it even if we are disappointed at times.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
30 Nov 2016
01:04:09pm

Approvals

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

Times are a changing Karen! With technology the mail volumes are down to a trickle. Think about all the emails and text messages we send. Even today long distance calls are no longer an extra charge, so everyone just reaches out instantly. I can't tell you how many penny postcards I own from the early 20th century with messages like "Coming to visit you on Thursday". That would be a text today!

The post office has been consolidating for a while now. Invisible to most people is the consolidation of regional sorting centers. My brother in law worked at the one in Eatontown, NJ and that work was sent to the Trenton, NJ facility. He was fortunate that his job was one of the ones transferred even though it doubled his commute.

I believe they direct the volume of mail to be processed by availability. Here in Exton, PA sometimes my mail gets that Trenton, NJ postmark and other times a Wilmington DE one. Each of these are about an hour from here.

Part of my urgency in collecting current New Jersey postmarks is that post offices are going away. I just saw a 2010 article quoting PMG Donahoe that post offices would be going away by 2017 or 2018. I think he was off a bit! Still, local cancels are already extinct except for counter service.

Nostalgia aside, they probably could do away with a good number of post offices. During my NJ postmark tour I went to 14 different offices. Some of them were tiny with one person working there. There was a steady stream of customers buying stamps, mailing packages and registered type letters. Postal Money Orders also seemed to be a hot item. But while there were customers, there wasn't more than a person or two in line. And the one thing I noticed was that all the customers came by car so "walking distance" doesn't see to be an issue.

Take for instance the town of Florence, New Jersey. A town of 12,000 or so people has two post offices (Florence and Roebling) less than 2 miles apart. Each of those tiny offices had one clerk working. Google Maps even shows they're both on the bus route! Easy consolidation. I'm sure there are many situations like this.


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kajones

30 Nov 2016
05:27:59pm

re: New US Commemorative Stamps

You said it with the e-mails. I worked for a large Fortune 100 company and we rarely had much mail go out. We had hundreds of invoices come in by fax and directly into our payable system. We still received invoices in the mail but nothing like we received by fax. And our customer services department in turn would send out our invoices by fax. So much faster and cheaper, both on postage and paper.

Years ago I used to save stamps from the incoming mail, but that went away long before I retired. My Mother in law gives me the most now. They receive them on cards that they receive. She still does a lot of snail mail as she doesn't like the computer.

Like
Login to Like
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