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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

 

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Bhsxvet
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11 Feb 2010
04:28:46pm
Some background before my question:
We yesterday put our youngest daughter on a plane bound for the Czech Republic. Since she is planning on being there for over a year, she wanted to take more than her suitcases could hold so we filled a few boxes as well. Then since I collect stamps my wife thought we should send the boxes by mail, using stamps instead of the meter and my daughter could then save the stamps for me at the other end.
First observation is that mailing parcels to Europe is expensive! Second is that the post offices don't keep much inventory of large denomination stamps.
When I get parcels from F.v.H Stamps in Vancouver, he covers them with a plastic sheet after they are cancelled so they are protected in transit. With our parcels I wanted to put the stamps on a sheet of paper and after they are cancelled put them in a page protector which I would tape to the parcel for protection. The post office here wouldn't let us do that - they said the stamps had to be stuck directly on the parcel and not covered. Can any of our Canadian members comment on this and if possible direct me to any Canada Post documentation/web page that will clarify how to do this (cover the stamps for protection)
We are looking at $100 per parcel and I would like to get these stamps back in good condition.
P.S.Postage over $5 on international parcels is tax free!(The only silver lining I see)
Brian
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Patches

Liz

11 Feb 2010
06:05:26pm

Auctions - Approvals
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Brian - I have often affixed the stamps to a piece of white printer paper, taped to the box and affixed a sheet protector with tape over the stamps. I have the stamps affixed to the paper when I go into the post office, have them hand cancelled and then proceed to tape the sheet protector over the stamps in front of the postal clerk.

I personally have never had a problem with this method, and I really think that each postal clerk has a different interpretation of Canada Post's mailing procedures.

You can read through the hundreds of pages of the Canada Post Rules & Regulations on their website

http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/default-e.asp

I read through several sections and cannot see any reference as to covering stamps once they have been affixed to a package.

Something I did learn is that you can returned unused postage to the post office for a full refund up to a maximum of $1,000 a day.

Liz

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Rgnpcs
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11 Feb 2010
06:58:10pm
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

If you are just sending an envelope, and want a nice clean cancel, ask clerk to let you cancel the stamps in front of him, and once canceled, place envelope in a poly bag and hand back to the clerk to be mailed.
I have never had a problem with this. Also it prevents the envelope from getting any other markings on it like those little receiving numbers, and keeps envelope clean.
BTW, the US does not accept the return of stamps for refund, except for postal cards that may have been purchased in uncut sheets for advertising, and then the refund is only partial.
Richaard

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Bhsxvet
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11 Feb 2010
07:18:12pm
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Thanks Liz, I found this line:
"The following are not acceptable for postage:
* stamps that are mutilated, soiled, covered with transparent material or defaced in any way " which could be interpreted different ways, though I don't see what difference it would make to cover them once the stamps are cancelled. Our problem likely was that we had loose pages that we wanted to have cancelled, then put them in page protectors and tape the protector to the parcel. Maybe if we had started with the pages stuck to the parcel they wouldn't have said anything. The postmaster told my wife that collectors didn't want them covered, they wanted to have the stamp with all the travel damage to authenticate it. I think we will go to a different post office for the next parcel and try it your way.
Brian

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Lpayette
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11 Feb 2010
07:42:45pm
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Hi
I never have any problems at my local post office,quite often if I mail parcels with hi value stamps, I bring along seran wrap, scissors and tape and ask them to hand cancel, then I cover parcel with wrap;

Lee

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Patches

Liz

11 Feb 2010
08:04:42pm

Auctions - Approvals
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Philatelic items and/or postage stamps can be returned to a Canadian post office for a full refund PROVIDING one has an original sales receipt.

Brian - it's o.k. for Canada Post to mutilate or deface the stamps once they have them in their hands. :-)

I do believe that all the stamps have to be showing to prove that you have paid the appropriate postage so putting a pile of sheets in a protective cover probably would not be acceptable.

Good luck on your next venture to the post office.



Liz

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Harley

12 Feb 2010
10:52:26am
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Brian,
I believe you did have some advance notice of the impending trip, and could have ordered high denom stamps either through the PO,or directly from the "Cave" to be prepared for this endevour.
Even if you did not anticipate the mailng prospect of the extra "things" she would need.
(I belive a lot of the "things" would have been cheaper to buy there,rather than the expense of shipping those "things".).
If all you are expecting to save are the stamps,you can get canceled stamps here,or mail yourself letters to get the canceled stamps.
But if used,on cover,with canceled stamps showing proper postage, and from origination point to destination point,then the entire cover(front panel from the package,and any auxilary markings that may appear elsewhere),is needed.
An entire of this nature is in more demand than just the stamps themselves(canceled).
If you do mail these "packages" have your daughter carefully open them with as little damage to the cover,or wrapper,as possible.Stored flat,and returned to you in proper large envelopes with stiffeners for maximum protection.

Sometimes (sometimes) marking the package with "fragile,handle with care" helps get the item delivered with minimal damage to package or the stamps.
If you cover the canceled stamps ,or large area with a protector of any kind,it may not recieve proper"additional" cancelations that may add to the beauty (value) of the cover.

Of course,if it is only the canceled stamps you desire,, mail yourself a few letters,it wont matter in the least what the envelope looks like or what if any extra markings are on it,,after all,it's the used stamps you want.
And just let the PO use a PVI,,which BTW ,the package will recieve even if you put stamps on it.(it may be a "0,00" denomination,but it will be there non the less.).

IMHO
TOM

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Bhsxvet
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12 Feb 2010
02:31:29pm
re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Thanks for all your advice everyone. And yes we knew the trip was coming but sometimes I don't plan or do things logically. It keeps things interesting
Brian

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Bhsxvet

11 Feb 2010
04:28:46pm

Some background before my question:
We yesterday put our youngest daughter on a plane bound for the Czech Republic. Since she is planning on being there for over a year, she wanted to take more than her suitcases could hold so we filled a few boxes as well. Then since I collect stamps my wife thought we should send the boxes by mail, using stamps instead of the meter and my daughter could then save the stamps for me at the other end.
First observation is that mailing parcels to Europe is expensive! Second is that the post offices don't keep much inventory of large denomination stamps.
When I get parcels from F.v.H Stamps in Vancouver, he covers them with a plastic sheet after they are cancelled so they are protected in transit. With our parcels I wanted to put the stamps on a sheet of paper and after they are cancelled put them in a page protector which I would tape to the parcel for protection. The post office here wouldn't let us do that - they said the stamps had to be stuck directly on the parcel and not covered. Can any of our Canadian members comment on this and if possible direct me to any Canada Post documentation/web page that will clarify how to do this (cover the stamps for protection)
We are looking at $100 per parcel and I would like to get these stamps back in good condition.
P.S.Postage over $5 on international parcels is tax free!(The only silver lining I see)
Brian

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this post
Patches

Liz

11 Feb 2010
06:05:26pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Brian - I have often affixed the stamps to a piece of white printer paper, taped to the box and affixed a sheet protector with tape over the stamps. I have the stamps affixed to the paper when I go into the post office, have them hand cancelled and then proceed to tape the sheet protector over the stamps in front of the postal clerk.

I personally have never had a problem with this method, and I really think that each postal clerk has a different interpretation of Canada Post's mailing procedures.

You can read through the hundreds of pages of the Canada Post Rules & Regulations on their website

http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/default-e.asp

I read through several sections and cannot see any reference as to covering stamps once they have been affixed to a package.

Something I did learn is that you can returned unused postage to the post office for a full refund up to a maximum of $1,000 a day.

Liz

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this post
Members Picture
Rgnpcs

11 Feb 2010
06:58:10pm

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

If you are just sending an envelope, and want a nice clean cancel, ask clerk to let you cancel the stamps in front of him, and once canceled, place envelope in a poly bag and hand back to the clerk to be mailed.
I have never had a problem with this. Also it prevents the envelope from getting any other markings on it like those little receiving numbers, and keeps envelope clean.
BTW, the US does not accept the return of stamps for refund, except for postal cards that may have been purchased in uncut sheets for advertising, and then the refund is only partial.
Richaard

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Members Picture
Bhsxvet

11 Feb 2010
07:18:12pm

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Thanks Liz, I found this line:
"The following are not acceptable for postage:
* stamps that are mutilated, soiled, covered with transparent material or defaced in any way " which could be interpreted different ways, though I don't see what difference it would make to cover them once the stamps are cancelled. Our problem likely was that we had loose pages that we wanted to have cancelled, then put them in page protectors and tape the protector to the parcel. Maybe if we had started with the pages stuck to the parcel they wouldn't have said anything. The postmaster told my wife that collectors didn't want them covered, they wanted to have the stamp with all the travel damage to authenticate it. I think we will go to a different post office for the next parcel and try it your way.
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Lpayette

11 Feb 2010
07:42:45pm

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Hi
I never have any problems at my local post office,quite often if I mail parcels with hi value stamps, I bring along seran wrap, scissors and tape and ask them to hand cancel, then I cover parcel with wrap;

Lee

Like
Login to Like
this post
Patches

Liz

11 Feb 2010
08:04:42pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Philatelic items and/or postage stamps can be returned to a Canadian post office for a full refund PROVIDING one has an original sales receipt.

Brian - it's o.k. for Canada Post to mutilate or deface the stamps once they have them in their hands. :-)

I do believe that all the stamps have to be showing to prove that you have paid the appropriate postage so putting a pile of sheets in a protective cover probably would not be acceptable.

Good luck on your next venture to the post office.



Liz

Like
Login to Like
this post
Harley

12 Feb 2010
10:52:26am

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Brian,
I believe you did have some advance notice of the impending trip, and could have ordered high denom stamps either through the PO,or directly from the "Cave" to be prepared for this endevour.
Even if you did not anticipate the mailng prospect of the extra "things" she would need.
(I belive a lot of the "things" would have been cheaper to buy there,rather than the expense of shipping those "things".).
If all you are expecting to save are the stamps,you can get canceled stamps here,or mail yourself letters to get the canceled stamps.
But if used,on cover,with canceled stamps showing proper postage, and from origination point to destination point,then the entire cover(front panel from the package,and any auxilary markings that may appear elsewhere),is needed.
An entire of this nature is in more demand than just the stamps themselves(canceled).
If you do mail these "packages" have your daughter carefully open them with as little damage to the cover,or wrapper,as possible.Stored flat,and returned to you in proper large envelopes with stiffeners for maximum protection.

Sometimes (sometimes) marking the package with "fragile,handle with care" helps get the item delivered with minimal damage to package or the stamps.
If you cover the canceled stamps ,or large area with a protector of any kind,it may not recieve proper"additional" cancelations that may add to the beauty (value) of the cover.

Of course,if it is only the canceled stamps you desire,, mail yourself a few letters,it wont matter in the least what the envelope looks like or what if any extra markings are on it,,after all,it's the used stamps you want.
And just let the PO use a PVI,,which BTW ,the package will recieve even if you put stamps on it.(it may be a "0,00" denomination,but it will be there non the less.).

IMHO
TOM

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Bhsxvet

12 Feb 2010
02:31:29pm

re: Using stamps on parcels and protecting them in transit

Thanks for all your advice everyone. And yes we knew the trip was coming but sometimes I don't plan or do things logically. It keeps things interesting
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

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