Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I affix the new International Forever stamp, ( the one that looks like an artichoke,) I take the time not only to affix the stamp, but also to affix the plate number that is part of the selvage.
The girl at the window, looks at the envelope, and says " you have too much of the margins on the stamp " and starts to peal off the selvage.
I scream at the top of my lungs NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I tell her that its going to a stamp collector, and he collects the plate numbers on the stamp.
She looks at me and says " You stamp collectors are weird "
My blood is starting to bubble....
I look her straight in the face and say, "Hey Toots" in this day and age of text messaging, and attachments to emails, the post office would be out of business if it wasn't for us weird-os..
My apologies to any of the ladies on this chat-board if my " hey toots " remark should offend them.
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Did you say Hey Toots in English or Italian????
Mike
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I said Hey Tootzunee 
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"you have too much of the margins on the stamp " and starts to peal off the selvage."
I have never had a clerk tell me that, and then try to damage the cover!
You should have told her that the selvedge adds to the weight of the item. Often that means that the item weighs more to go over to the next ounce rate, which means more money for your bankrupt company!
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Michael...they didn't even weigh it, I am sure with the amount of stamps that were enclosed, it most likely did go over one ounce..
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Oh well...go figure. And they complain that they are losing money on the services they provide. They need to get their staff to protect the USPS' financial interests, if that many staff really care.
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In the UK I have had a range of experiences trying to buy stamps. Most times the clerk looks at me as if I'm mad asking for definitives; often it elicits bemusement and I get offered a range of commemoratives. I then explain I want Machins, then realise my error because their face wrinkles quizzically. So I say, "Just the regular, everyday stamps."
It's become more difficult since the advent of date codes on Machins. What I've done is explain with enthusiasm that the stamps now have hidden codes in the top left, and suggest they look. This has worked a few times and I can now request specific values to see what codes they have. I aim to go in quiet periods to avoid starting a curiously impatient queue!
Most recently I went to a sub-post office and asked for "regular stamps" but wanted some cylinder blocks. "Ah," said the lady, "we don't do those any more."
I stifled amusement and just pointed out those I wanted from her book.
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"In the UK I have had a range of experiences trying to buy stamps."
In the USA I'm finding that the clerks don't have broken sheets as they did in the old days. As a child in the 1970s, I'd ask for a block of a new commemorative, maybe a single of a 40 cent definitive and the clerk would go in his file and produce those stamps.
When people brought letters or packages to the counter, the clerk would go into that stamp stock for the postage. Today if you bring a light envelope to the counter, they just print out a meter for the added postage.
Recently I tried to buy 50 cents worth of 5 cent stamps and was told I needed to buy the sheet of 20. Seems those smaller sheets were made just for this purpose, and mailing rate stamps come in those and booklets.
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The problem with the post office selling broken panes is that the back paper of many issues of the self-adhesive stamps are not perforated. The clerks are not allowed to break those sheets.
You may be able to buy broken panes of stamps where the back paper is perfed through, if the clerk is willing to do that. The problem there is the inventory system where the clerk has to count every stamp every day. Broken panes slow down the process.
For the larger denomination stamps (like the Priority and Express Mail stamps) you can buy individual stamps.
When I buy stamps, and I see broken panes or a few loose stamps, I buy them from the clerks. They are thankful for that, and as a result they will let me buy 1/2 a pane or even a block of four of a new issue if I'm a little short on funds.
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I received the said letter from Bobgggg, a few days ago.... all intact and the stamp has been clipped and mounted in my USA collection. Thank-you, Bob!
A letter has been sent to you.
Postal Clerks, Canadian or American, rarely surprise me anymore.
David in Ottawa, Canada
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"For the larger denomination stamps (like the Priority and Express Mail stamps) you can buy individual stamps."
IF they have any! I tried to get both earlier in the year and was told that they never stocked them, just used meters for high denomination mail.
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Tom, that's my experience often, too.
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08:27:56pm
I've run into the "We never stock that any more crowd" a few times, and then I ask to see the postmaster, or postmistress, with usually good result. Many clerks do not even know what they have in stock. Not always, and at the Richmond post office they claim to not even have a hand stamp to cancel mail. Since I have to rely on a ride from someone else I have yet to be able to properly follow up with that. But one day I will.
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After so many miss-adventures at the post office I just order from the fulfillment center and leave the outgoing mail on the mailbox on the porch. I use click and ship for packages and request a pickup. I use to have a MPP and would cancel my mail but I got tired of the clerk's telling me I was doing something illegal and they were going to call the postal inspectors. I had a lot of great clerks back in the day who would do anything to help a collector out, but those folks are all but gone and new people just don't get it. Sorry if I offended anyone but this is my 2 cents worth.
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My local PO has taken to sellotaping over stamps on small/medium packages (in case they fall off!).
Unfortunately todays young counter clerks think people are weird if they collect stamps.
Also try getting a hand cancel today - its near impossible, and if you do get a friendly clerk the letter still goes through the automatic franking machines as well. I have occasionally managed getting a letter hand stamped and then slipped it into a cellophane over cover.
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01:07:28am
Alamogordo, NM. Post office in town...I put a bunch of $0.04 cent stamps on an envelope to a stamp collector myself..
TOOTSIE..asks me..'Where did you get these old stamps from??'
I took a breath and Calmly said..
'From you guys!!!!!'
Dahh!!! Smiled all the way back to the grand kids house..
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02:42:48pm
I go today to my local Post Office today, to mail one of my Canadian trading partners an envelope containing U.S. singles,used, with marginal markings.
I affix the new International Forever stamp, ( the one that looks like an artichoke,) I take the time not only to affix the stamp, but also to affix the plate number that is part of the selvage.
The girl at the window, looks at the envelope, and says " you have too much of the margins on the stamp " and starts to peal off the selvage.
I scream at the top of my lungs NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I tell her that its going to a stamp collector, and he collects the plate numbers on the stamp.
She looks at me and says " You stamp collectors are weird "
My blood is starting to bubble....
I look her straight in the face and say, "Hey Toots" in this day and age of text messaging, and attachments to emails, the post office would be out of business if it wasn't for us weird-os..
My apologies to any of the ladies on this chat-board if my " hey toots " remark should offend them.
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re: My experience at the Post Office today
Did you say Hey Toots in English or Italian????
Mike
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06:41:43pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
I said Hey Tootzunee
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07:33:01pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
"you have too much of the margins on the stamp " and starts to peal off the selvage."
I have never had a clerk tell me that, and then try to damage the cover!
You should have told her that the selvedge adds to the weight of the item. Often that means that the item weighs more to go over to the next ounce rate, which means more money for your bankrupt company!
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09:21:14pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
Michael...they didn't even weigh it, I am sure with the amount of stamps that were enclosed, it most likely did go over one ounce..
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09:41:32pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
Oh well...go figure. And they complain that they are losing money on the services they provide. They need to get their staff to protect the USPS' financial interests, if that many staff really care.
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04:08:31pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
In the UK I have had a range of experiences trying to buy stamps. Most times the clerk looks at me as if I'm mad asking for definitives; often it elicits bemusement and I get offered a range of commemoratives. I then explain I want Machins, then realise my error because their face wrinkles quizzically. So I say, "Just the regular, everyday stamps."
It's become more difficult since the advent of date codes on Machins. What I've done is explain with enthusiasm that the stamps now have hidden codes in the top left, and suggest they look. This has worked a few times and I can now request specific values to see what codes they have. I aim to go in quiet periods to avoid starting a curiously impatient queue!
Most recently I went to a sub-post office and asked for "regular stamps" but wanted some cylinder blocks. "Ah," said the lady, "we don't do those any more."
I stifled amusement and just pointed out those I wanted from her book.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: My experience at the Post Office today
"In the UK I have had a range of experiences trying to buy stamps."
In the USA I'm finding that the clerks don't have broken sheets as they did in the old days. As a child in the 1970s, I'd ask for a block of a new commemorative, maybe a single of a 40 cent definitive and the clerk would go in his file and produce those stamps.
When people brought letters or packages to the counter, the clerk would go into that stamp stock for the postage. Today if you bring a light envelope to the counter, they just print out a meter for the added postage.
Recently I tried to buy 50 cents worth of 5 cent stamps and was told I needed to buy the sheet of 20. Seems those smaller sheets were made just for this purpose, and mailing rate stamps come in those and booklets.
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01:51:32pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
The problem with the post office selling broken panes is that the back paper of many issues of the self-adhesive stamps are not perforated. The clerks are not allowed to break those sheets.
You may be able to buy broken panes of stamps where the back paper is perfed through, if the clerk is willing to do that. The problem there is the inventory system where the clerk has to count every stamp every day. Broken panes slow down the process.
For the larger denomination stamps (like the Priority and Express Mail stamps) you can buy individual stamps.
When I buy stamps, and I see broken panes or a few loose stamps, I buy them from the clerks. They are thankful for that, and as a result they will let me buy 1/2 a pane or even a block of four of a new issue if I'm a little short on funds.
Login to Like
this post
re: My experience at the Post Office today
I received the said letter from Bobgggg, a few days ago.... all intact and the stamp has been clipped and mounted in my USA collection. Thank-you, Bob!
A letter has been sent to you.
Postal Clerks, Canadian or American, rarely surprise me anymore.
David in Ottawa, Canada
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: My experience at the Post Office today
"For the larger denomination stamps (like the Priority and Express Mail stamps) you can buy individual stamps."
IF they have any! I tried to get both earlier in the year and was told that they never stocked them, just used meters for high denomination mail.
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re: My experience at the Post Office today
Tom, that's my experience often, too.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
16 Sep 2017
08:27:56pm
re: My experience at the Post Office today
I've run into the "We never stock that any more crowd" a few times, and then I ask to see the postmaster, or postmistress, with usually good result. Many clerks do not even know what they have in stock. Not always, and at the Richmond post office they claim to not even have a hand stamp to cancel mail. Since I have to rely on a ride from someone else I have yet to be able to properly follow up with that. But one day I will.
Login to Like
this post
re: My experience at the Post Office today
After so many miss-adventures at the post office I just order from the fulfillment center and leave the outgoing mail on the mailbox on the porch. I use click and ship for packages and request a pickup. I use to have a MPP and would cancel my mail but I got tired of the clerk's telling me I was doing something illegal and they were going to call the postal inspectors. I had a lot of great clerks back in the day who would do anything to help a collector out, but those folks are all but gone and new people just don't get it. Sorry if I offended anyone but this is my 2 cents worth.
Login to Like
this post
re: My experience at the Post Office today
My local PO has taken to sellotaping over stamps on small/medium packages (in case they fall off!).
Unfortunately todays young counter clerks think people are weird if they collect stamps.
Also try getting a hand cancel today - its near impossible, and if you do get a friendly clerk the letter still goes through the automatic franking machines as well. I have occasionally managed getting a letter hand stamped and then slipped it into a cellophane over cover.
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IPDA past chairman, Sacramento Philatelic Society #2112-past vice president, ISWWSC #2966, Iran philatelic study circle, US Army Veteran, Grandfather of 6, stamp collector/seller!
21 Sep 2017
01:07:28am
re: My experience at the Post Office today
Alamogordo, NM. Post office in town...I put a bunch of $0.04 cent stamps on an envelope to a stamp collector myself..
TOOTSIE..asks me..'Where did you get these old stamps from??'
I took a breath and Calmly said..
'From you guys!!!!!'
Dahh!!! Smiled all the way back to the grand kids house..
3 Members
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Login to Like.