Maybe one of our American members could purchase it on your behalf and forward it to Canada.
Thanks for the great idea. There's a couple of you I deal with quite a bit - I'll think about it and send a personal email to someone. Am I disobeying some subtle rule if I do this?
"Am I disobeying some subtle rule if I do this?"
Found another US auction seller who only sells to the US, many great US stamps posted and a few I wanted. I hope this doesn't turn into a trend. If you have to charge for the customs form I will still probably buy from you, just give me the choice. The last time this happened I got someone to buy for me but I shouldn't have to do that every time. I know it's your choice and I'll probably get ripped for this, but is it really that hard to ship to Canada? We know the times are difficult and we might have a much longer wait, but how about giving us a chance. Now I'll sit back and read all the nasty feedback this will bring!
Equally annoying are the sellers who do ship outside the US but then can't be bothered to describe the stamp beyond an image and the Scott number.
Which, especially when it comes to watermark and perf varieties, is really unhelpful to those of us who don't use Scott.
Or the sellers who do go the trouble of providing a little more information such as for example the watermark, but instead of a description along the lines of "multiple crown watermark" will just give a number, "watermark #117" which is presumably a reference to Scott as well.
Clive
It's funny that the things you really hate are the things I look for!
Many times I have purchased a stamp at bargain prices because a foreign seller using a foreign catalog didn't recognize the value of what he was selling. It does take some research and a few extra catalogs, but it is certainly rewarding!
Lars
You may want to approach the seller to see if they can make an exception to their rule. It may be a general statement to avoid naming specific countries.
If your not happy with what a seller is offering or their conditions of sale then it is your decision not to buy from them and buy from someone, somewhere else. Please don't try and coerce the seller into doing something that is not in his conditions of sale.
Sellers have a right to sell what they like, when they like and what countries they send to.
Unfortunately there are buyers out there that think they are the centre of the universe and demand, aggressively, conditions from the seller that the buyer has no right to ask for.
There are some buyers who threaten the seller with "I will not buy from you again if you do not do this".
In a large percentage of these extra demands the buyer and/or the seller end up disenchanted with the "sale".
To avoid disappointment please accept the sellers conditions of sale, if they do not suit your needs.......go to another seller.
Yea Ian - I agree with you 100%. I think a seller has a right to set his own conditions, even if they piss me off sometimes. I really do hate it when a stamp is offered that I can't buy, especially if the price is fair. But I would never ask an SOR seller to change his settings, if I really really want the item I would ask one of you kind people to buy it for me! I've done that before, but I don't want to do it often.
"if I really really want the item I would ask one of you kind people to buy it for me! "
I've done this before and I told the person, who is 100% trustworthy, that if something goes wrong it is my problem. Whenever someone is kind enough to do me a favour, if something turns out wrong, I will accept any loss and also accept any blame! The world would be a better place if we learned to trust! Asking someone to do a favour is never selfish, unless we overdo it.
Harvey:- Unfortunately not everybody is a gentleman like yourself.
I wouldn't hesitate to ask anyone in this club or any other club I belong to help me out in a situation like Harvey's. Someone bought from an auction company in the states that did not ship to his country and asked if someone here could help him. I volunteered and when I went to pick up his lot the company didn't receive payment yet although it was sent by charge card. I didn't know this member other than reading his posts. I paid for his lot and mailed it to him. He was very grateful and quickly reimbursed me for my time and out of pocket expenses. Just goes to show me that people here can be trusted. He got his stamps and I got the satisfaction of helping another member.
Vince
If you can't trust a philatelist, who in Hell can you trust???!!!
If you are purchasing stamps from the US, besides the customs stamp, shipping to Canada is about $12. That's if the seller is shipping the correct way. In January of 2018 the post office required any mailing which has merchandise in it (yes, that includes stamps) to be mailed as a package. It also requires a customs form. Many dealers do not adhere to this shipping rule and just put the stamps in an envelope and mail it as a letter. I can think of 3 reasons why this is done.
1) the dealer is not aware of the rule (shame on them)
2) The dealer is ignoring the rule (Shame on them)
3) the dealer is taking a loss on shipping (Yeah right).
If the seller uses a bulk center to process their international mailings the price is a little less.
Many dealers who understand the rule have just put their hands up and said, I'm not shipping internationally.
I still offer international shipping but because of the prohibitive shipping fees my international sales have plummeted.
Bob
My comment is not hate but ironic.
You order some fairly common stamps just to complete a set (ordering other pricey stuff too) but then the dealer uses similar stamps on the envelope that is mailed to you. This just highlights how artificial prices for common modern materials.
"You order some fairly common stamps just to complete a set (ordering other pricey stuff too) but then the dealer uses similar stamps on the envelope that is mailed to you. This just highlights how artificial prices for common modern materials."
It's funny actually! I collect US up to 1976 and was missing a few common later stamps. I just never worried about them since I like the older stamps much more. I finished a couple pages in the 1970's when an SOR seller used them for postage. So basically I got something for nothing - very rare now-a-days!
Addition: I don't care what you use for postage and I don't care about cancellation, you do what you want as long as the stamps I order are OK! We don't pay you extra for the other things!
One of my foibles is Machins so I much prefer to receive the current Machins on mail. The real kicker is I have difficulty getting the current Machins from the post office to put on items I have sold.
I really can't imagine anyone being a serious collector of Machins. I can't remember who it was, but a collector a little while ago posted pictures of several pages for each denomination. I couldn't face that level of collecting, hopefully most Machin collectors keep it a bit simpler than that!!
I am and know the thread. I collect Machins to a degree I do not collect anything else. When you print something for so many years the varieties can be endless. Each person has to decide where to stop but most do not take more than your own eye to identify without special tools.
I wish the US had something similar.
"I wish the US had something similar."
I collect US and, no offence intended, I'm glad they don't!
" hopefully most Machin collectors keep it a bit simpler than that!!"
""I wish the US had something similar." (talking about Machin)
I collect US and, no offence intended, I'm glad they don'"
" flag series with the stars and stripes against all the iconic national parks landmarks!"
I'm with Ralph on this one -
I LOVE what the American flag stands for, BUT ---
C'mon USPS! Show a little originality for once!!
I am SOOO tired of flag stamps.....how many ways can you show a picture of the same flag!!!
"Unfortunately some of the US definitive flag series, is equally boring and unimaginative! (an opinion which I am sure Ian will have something to say about!)"
There have been quite a few US issues called Flag over something but designs have varied. The Flag over Porch was one of the more recent issues that offered some collecting challenge.
The majority of stamps on incoming mail are bulk rate and these have often been the dullest ones. It may be intentional. The Spectrum Eagle was probably the best of the bulk rates.
The Machins have an iconic shape - not a cartoon or abstract art, etc. I would prefer a Lady Liberty.
"I am not an elitist so I would never describe what someone collects as boring or unimaginative."
"People should collect what they want and what interests them."
"that does not make it wrong or leave cause to instantly label someone an 'elitist'."
"of course there are times when one should keep ones opinions to oneself."
There's always a work-around. A couple of members here have been incredibly helpful in obtaining orders from sellers who don't/won't ship to Australia. I'd be more than happy to do the same for any other member.
Roy posted:
I will never tire of seeing my flag on a stamp.
Thanks for posting it, Roy.
David
"of course there are times when one should keep ones opinions to oneself"
I really hate looking at approval books where no attempt has been made to put stamps in any sort of order. I do not mind not having catalogue numbers, unless they are a variety where there are multiple choices.
Trying to flick back and forth through an album or in some cases three albums where the countries are jumbled together makes me give up very early. This means we both lose out, although those sellers who do try get the benefit of my money.
Daily rant from the grumpy old git over, have a good, safe day everyone.
"Wisdom is also shown by not taking the bait!"
Ian,
Is vainglorious the same as piss artist?
Gudgie:- Now! Now! Language Timothy!
I tried to stay away from the common vernacular, it was not easy but I thought I managed it quite well.
There were several words ending in ss, se, ch and ole that could have made the grade but I thought that they were not refined enough to include on such a high brow discussion thread.
I love flag stamps. No one looks at the denomination. Not that it matters all that much for the most part......
Ian,
highbrow and Brechinite should not be used in the same sentence. The same goes for gudgie. It's amusing this forum is entitled "I really hate......." , and the person who started it lists all his woes, caring not about whom he offends. Now that gives me an opening. No, I won't scratch that itch.
However, I must comment on the total lack of comments from those highbrow guardian's of other people's morals, so dominant on SoR, who totally ignored the contribution to this debate, (I use the term loosely), from parkinglot about people breaking the law when sending stamps inside letter mail across borders. As I thought at the time of an earlier assault on my morals by the SoR Mafia, "Don't do as I do, do as I say".
While I respect parkinlot's opinion I urge all stamp collectors to keep sending stamps inside envelopes. Just remember you risk what some members describe as "Severe Penalties" for doing so. Philatelists spend far too much buying stamps to be forced into paying extra for the privilege of keeping them. Campaign for a change in the law and force the UPU to recognise those they are serving.
I will now put down my campaigning hat and return to the nursing home.
"While I respect parkinlot's opinion I urge all stamp collectors to keep sending stamps inside envelopes. Just remember you risk what some members describe as "Severe Penalties" for doing so. Philatelists spend far too much buying stamps to be forced into paying extra for the privilege of keeping them. Campaign for a change in the law and force the UPU to recognise those they are serving."
Openly advocating violating the law should not be tolerated on this, or any other forum.Just remember that when your kid gets suspended from school for plagiarism or cheating ......what a great attitude you have. Go ahead and bounce me off the membership roles for stating what should be obvious. It is one thing to state your opinion - it is quite another to "urge" people to violate the law. And I imagine that you complain about the rate increases as you continue to steal $10 plus dollars every-time you do what you suggest. Does anyone know how to think... and reason.... anymore.
Time for my 5 cents worth again. Say I buy a stamp for less than a dollar and then someone puts $12 down for postage. That causes a problem that I'm really not sure how to fix. Any suggestions?
" Say I buy a stamp for less than a dollar and then someone puts $12 down for postage. That causes a problem that I'm really not sure how to fix. Any suggestions?
"
"Does anyone know how to think... and reason.... anymore."
Webpaper thinks we should all accept Universal Postal Union rules as the Law of the land. By that token we should all accept slavery, police brutality, or kids going down chimneys.
I read somewhere, I think it was the UPU website, that collectors account for 17% of stamp sales. How can collectors accept draconian, exorbitant costs for a third rate service? Today I received a PACKAGE from the USA, posted on 28 March. It had been opened with a razor, not by customs as proper information had been given, but by someone looking for items of value. By using Parcel Post and advertising the fact items of value may be enclosed, collectors are being fleeced by the Postal Services in all our countries, and laying us open to theft. Much better to send by letter post.
If a RULE is bad, or a LAW is bad then I for one will campaign to have it changed using whatever means I can use. I may disagree with webpaper but at least I'm being honest. Most others on here send stamps internationally by letter post, but are not prepared to openly say so.
And please explain why you are on my case but said nothing to those earlier contributors who say if you can't get someone to send stamps internationally, get the seller to post them to a friend in the USA, who can then send them across the border for you? I fail to see any difference between their point of view and mine?
"Openly advocating violating the law should not be tolerated on this, or any other forum."
Gudgie you prove my point which is why I did not bother to make it here but have done so privately. When you indicate (and you are supposed to be honest. Ebay shipping labels fill that out so you cannot lie) what is in a package it is waving a red flag in front of a bull. Steal me. Back in the day I had a friend who worked for customs at JFK. You would be amazed at the things he used to have for sale. After all, the company had insurance right? The ONLY place I have seen anything about the UPU is here on SOR. No place else. Not in the post office, or ebay (you would be hit with that fee when you print a label if ebay was pushing it as they take 9% of every penny a seller gets tax postage included). I suspect my PO would have no idea what to do if I were to ask them for a form or whatever it is. Think they would simply pocket the money? Who knows. I surely do not know, and should an item get "lost" how would I get my refund from UPU? Probably tougher than the PO, where if you can't provide proof as to what was in the parcel, you are just out of luck. Or maybe you'll be told "look, it was scanned as delivered. You obviously got the package" Then turn around and walk away.
Greg
I'll stick to a personal handstamp as a return address.
I had a few hours sleep since my last post. After taking breakfast in bed to my beloved, I told her I've decided to become politically active again, and my reasons for taking up cudgels. I told her about webpaper questioning my morals relating to the rearing of our schoolteacher daughter, who was out demonstrating against injustice last weekend.
The new rules introduced by the Universal Postal Union around 1 year ago hiked prices for packages. At the time there was outrage on this and other sites. Then we realised rules had been changed prohibiting customers sending stamps inside envelopes. International mail was no longer charged according to weight. A package with a few stamps, weighing less than 30 grams must now be sent as a package, not as a letter. Again members voiced displeasure, but many decided to accept the arbitrary increases. I don't criticise them, but I think they are wrong to accept the changes without question.
Stamp collectors keep our postal system going by their massive contribution buying mint stamps which will never be used or cancelled. Timidly accepting terrible treatment and disregarding our collective welfare by imposing nonsensical rules is something none of us should accept. I know there are some among us who will sit back waiting for others to force change, but c'est la vie. There are others like me who will get angry and try to change the system for the better. More power to their elbow.
National philatelic organisations should campaign on this issue and others, fighting on behalf of members. Clubs like Stamporama should discuss issues affecting members and allow all opinions to be heard. Decision makers will sometimes read these pages. Let them know we are unhappy with the way we are treated.
I am new to stamp collecting, but I worked for Royal Mail and a mailing company for some years. I owned a stationery business for 25 years and I am familiar with the massive reduction in sales of white paper and envelopes. Pricing mail at exorbitant levels results in people using email and courier services. In turn this affects quality of postal service, profitability and employment. By changing stupid rules back to what they were, they may just manage to reverse the decline in use and quality of service we all experience almost every day.
These are RULES, imposed by the UPU without proper consideration of the effect they have on our mail service, and significant proportion of mail users. They are not laws, but politicians do have powers to change them. Remember the pen is mightier than the sword. Write to your representatives (remembering to use paper and an envelope). Demand they work on our behalf. I can't think why any politician would not support lower postal prices, better postal services, and more employment.
OK Here is a couple of questions:_
a) How many sellers here have been prosecuted/fined for sending stamps without declaring they are "merchandise"?
b) How many sellers here have items "disappear" in the postal system with customs labels on them?
My answers are a) No and b) Yes
Ian, my answers are the same as yours. Here though I continue to hope that Amazon takes over the entire parcel business, and that regular mail becomes a weekly delivery to kiosk boxes. Want it daily? Convert the space in the PO's that is currently used for reasons unknown into hundreds if not thousands of boxes at $100 a year each. My current PO is one of the few in perhaps the country that turns a profit. It is one of the most profitable if not the most profitable in the state. Why? They have been doing that for years. They don't deliver mail. All they do is rent out boxes, sell stamps, and take mail. They close for 2 hours for lunch. Why? Because the two people who work the counter, and wonderful people they are, go and run another PO that is a town away and only open during lunch hours - for the same reasons as mine. Instead of moving towards this, we have to listen to bailouts for the PO, which is like bailing out a sinking boat. Until they change their business plan they cannot make money. It will happen. Parcels are their bread and butter and they raise the prices every single year. Now they zone mail that is under 16 oz. They have this whole volume pricing thing that says if the box is a certain size, then it must weigh a certain amount. If not you will be charged all the same. This was an attack on Amazon, where you get free return shipping and you print it on a label and slap it on any old box. So what does Amazon do? Panic? No, make an arrangement with a brick and mortar store to take your returns back and they put all of them in large boxes and send them off to Amazon, probably not using the USPS.
Here the PO constantly loses things. Complain and they show you a scan. It was delivered. You lose, you obvious liar. Amazon? From Amazon Last Mile I get an emailed picture showing where my package is that was just delivered. It comes with the question how was the delivery. I have to believe that too many complaints result in no work for the Last Mile Driver. The PO? Complain about something? Good luck thinking they care. The PO would rather create an app for your phone that will tell you what junk mail is arriving today. Who cares whats in the mail? I care about things like "why did you take an LP mailer that measures 12x12x1 and FOLD IT IN HALF and stuff it into a mail box instead of walking up to the door and putting it next to the door? (of course as far as ebay is concerned that is MY fault and the buyer gets a refund).
It is interesting to read that problems are not only here, and I think that for some, the postal rates are even higher than here in the US. You might even have it worse than us,
Greg
Greg:- You are right. It is a waste of time complaining to the postal services. Their staff are untrained and do not care. It stems from the top.
The last two CEO's have been made millionaires and were a complete waste of space.
The second last one arrived from Canada Post, put in place the wide range of weights, sizes and thicknesses that made everything so complicated even the counter clerks were confused. The biggest scandal she oversaw was the introduction of the Horizon computer system. This resulted in hundreds of sub-postmasters being accused of stealing money. Some were jailed, or fined, others had to pay thousands of pounds "back" to Royal Mail losing their homes and businesses, divorces and suicides were also a result. It has been proved that the computer system was at fault. The CEO walked away with millions of pounds and she has never apologized.
The last one was paid millions to take the job, paid millions during his tenure and ran Royal Mail mostly from his home in Switzerland. He did come to the UK two days each week.
Their business model does need to change. If I post a letter to a company here in Brechin it travels 80 miles to Edinburgh to be sorted, then 80 miles back to Brechin to be delivered. What nonsense.
Ian we have that round about way of delivering mail too. Goes all over before arriving sometimes in the next town. This is how it begins to get lost. We had a virtual closing on our last home. We were not supposed to travel so we had to send the necessary documents over night. If you were to pull up a map of Pennsylvania you would easily find Cornwall. The overnight had to travel to Stroudsburg a distance of perhaps 120 miles maybe. Paid our $27 and Sure enough when I checked the tracking the next morning it was in Baltimore. Hmmm. Going to be tough to get to Stroudsburg by 3PM. Of course it didn't make it. Instead it went to Texas. It took 3 days to go 120 miles. Naturally we had to scramble as the documents were needed so we redid everything and sent it FEDEX where it arrived in time. The Texas package arrived after the closing. The concern was that the package had copies of things like our ss# and photo id. Would not be good if it went into the wrong hands. Its what I've come to expect from the PO. At least I got my money back on that transaction
Greg
It's very easy to say "don't buy the stamp" but that means I'll have to change the way I use SOR. I go through the new material and if I don't have an item, and the price is reasonable, I either buy or bid, if the person ships to Canada. I don't always notice whether or not I already have items waiting from that seller. That means I occasionally end up with one item from a buyer and unfortunately I don't always check to see his shipping price - I know, that's my bad! But what if I end up with a 7 cent stamp with $12 shipping? There is not supposed to be a reason for backing out of the sale and it might take a long time to find enough items to make shipping feasible. Besides I bid on the item because I want it! Is there a way to include a symbol right with the item to show that the seller is following the letter of the postal law? I'm not trying to be a pain, this really is a problem!
Will someone please remind me. What is the title of this Forum and who was the person who started it?
Why do some people get so upset when a thread goes in another direction - it almost always does and as long as the thread is relatively interesting, so what?
" I don't always check to see his shipping price "
Love reading this thread. When I used to sell on Ebay, i had buyers from all over the world. It never occured to me to have to complete customs forms for shipping to Canada if it fit into a first class envelope. Larger lots yes as the postmater in the post office would always ask me to complete one when i brought in the package to be weighed and shipping calculated. My biggest challenge was in shipping to China....i found that there was way too much fraud both from the buyers and from the Chinese postal system that my losses soon exceeded my sales. Since selling on Ebay was more of a diversion I just stopped and found other things to occupy my time. However I will say that I NEVER had any issues sending or recieving from Canada with the exception of people sending cash through the mail. And yes its been a long time. For my Japanese customers I used to let them pay in current commerative issues at the exchange rate.
I really hate finding a stamp I want to buy only to find that the seller doesn't sell outside of the US. Come on, give us a break up here!!!
re: I really hate...
Maybe one of our American members could purchase it on your behalf and forward it to Canada.
re: I really hate...
Thanks for the great idea. There's a couple of you I deal with quite a bit - I'll think about it and send a personal email to someone. Am I disobeying some subtle rule if I do this?
re: I really hate...
"Am I disobeying some subtle rule if I do this?"
re: I really hate...
Found another US auction seller who only sells to the US, many great US stamps posted and a few I wanted. I hope this doesn't turn into a trend. If you have to charge for the customs form I will still probably buy from you, just give me the choice. The last time this happened I got someone to buy for me but I shouldn't have to do that every time. I know it's your choice and I'll probably get ripped for this, but is it really that hard to ship to Canada? We know the times are difficult and we might have a much longer wait, but how about giving us a chance. Now I'll sit back and read all the nasty feedback this will bring!
re: I really hate...
Equally annoying are the sellers who do ship outside the US but then can't be bothered to describe the stamp beyond an image and the Scott number.
Which, especially when it comes to watermark and perf varieties, is really unhelpful to those of us who don't use Scott.
Or the sellers who do go the trouble of providing a little more information such as for example the watermark, but instead of a description along the lines of "multiple crown watermark" will just give a number, "watermark #117" which is presumably a reference to Scott as well.
Clive
re: I really hate...
It's funny that the things you really hate are the things I look for!
Many times I have purchased a stamp at bargain prices because a foreign seller using a foreign catalog didn't recognize the value of what he was selling. It does take some research and a few extra catalogs, but it is certainly rewarding!
Lars
re: I really hate...
You may want to approach the seller to see if they can make an exception to their rule. It may be a general statement to avoid naming specific countries.
re: I really hate...
If your not happy with what a seller is offering or their conditions of sale then it is your decision not to buy from them and buy from someone, somewhere else. Please don't try and coerce the seller into doing something that is not in his conditions of sale.
Sellers have a right to sell what they like, when they like and what countries they send to.
Unfortunately there are buyers out there that think they are the centre of the universe and demand, aggressively, conditions from the seller that the buyer has no right to ask for.
There are some buyers who threaten the seller with "I will not buy from you again if you do not do this".
In a large percentage of these extra demands the buyer and/or the seller end up disenchanted with the "sale".
To avoid disappointment please accept the sellers conditions of sale, if they do not suit your needs.......go to another seller.
re: I really hate...
Yea Ian - I agree with you 100%. I think a seller has a right to set his own conditions, even if they piss me off sometimes. I really do hate it when a stamp is offered that I can't buy, especially if the price is fair. But I would never ask an SOR seller to change his settings, if I really really want the item I would ask one of you kind people to buy it for me! I've done that before, but I don't want to do it often.
re: I really hate...
"if I really really want the item I would ask one of you kind people to buy it for me! "
re: I really hate...
I've done this before and I told the person, who is 100% trustworthy, that if something goes wrong it is my problem. Whenever someone is kind enough to do me a favour, if something turns out wrong, I will accept any loss and also accept any blame! The world would be a better place if we learned to trust! Asking someone to do a favour is never selfish, unless we overdo it.
re: I really hate...
Harvey:- Unfortunately not everybody is a gentleman like yourself.
re: I really hate...
I wouldn't hesitate to ask anyone in this club or any other club I belong to help me out in a situation like Harvey's. Someone bought from an auction company in the states that did not ship to his country and asked if someone here could help him. I volunteered and when I went to pick up his lot the company didn't receive payment yet although it was sent by charge card. I didn't know this member other than reading his posts. I paid for his lot and mailed it to him. He was very grateful and quickly reimbursed me for my time and out of pocket expenses. Just goes to show me that people here can be trusted. He got his stamps and I got the satisfaction of helping another member.
Vince
re: I really hate...
If you can't trust a philatelist, who in Hell can you trust???!!!
re: I really hate...
If you are purchasing stamps from the US, besides the customs stamp, shipping to Canada is about $12. That's if the seller is shipping the correct way. In January of 2018 the post office required any mailing which has merchandise in it (yes, that includes stamps) to be mailed as a package. It also requires a customs form. Many dealers do not adhere to this shipping rule and just put the stamps in an envelope and mail it as a letter. I can think of 3 reasons why this is done.
1) the dealer is not aware of the rule (shame on them)
2) The dealer is ignoring the rule (Shame on them)
3) the dealer is taking a loss on shipping (Yeah right).
If the seller uses a bulk center to process their international mailings the price is a little less.
Many dealers who understand the rule have just put their hands up and said, I'm not shipping internationally.
I still offer international shipping but because of the prohibitive shipping fees my international sales have plummeted.
Bob
re: I really hate...
My comment is not hate but ironic.
You order some fairly common stamps just to complete a set (ordering other pricey stuff too) but then the dealer uses similar stamps on the envelope that is mailed to you. This just highlights how artificial prices for common modern materials.
re: I really hate...
"You order some fairly common stamps just to complete a set (ordering other pricey stuff too) but then the dealer uses similar stamps on the envelope that is mailed to you. This just highlights how artificial prices for common modern materials."
re: I really hate...
It's funny actually! I collect US up to 1976 and was missing a few common later stamps. I just never worried about them since I like the older stamps much more. I finished a couple pages in the 1970's when an SOR seller used them for postage. So basically I got something for nothing - very rare now-a-days!
Addition: I don't care what you use for postage and I don't care about cancellation, you do what you want as long as the stamps I order are OK! We don't pay you extra for the other things!
re: I really hate...
One of my foibles is Machins so I much prefer to receive the current Machins on mail. The real kicker is I have difficulty getting the current Machins from the post office to put on items I have sold.
re: I really hate...
I really can't imagine anyone being a serious collector of Machins. I can't remember who it was, but a collector a little while ago posted pictures of several pages for each denomination. I couldn't face that level of collecting, hopefully most Machin collectors keep it a bit simpler than that!!
re: I really hate...
I am and know the thread. I collect Machins to a degree I do not collect anything else. When you print something for so many years the varieties can be endless. Each person has to decide where to stop but most do not take more than your own eye to identify without special tools.
I wish the US had something similar.
re: I really hate...
"I wish the US had something similar."
I collect US and, no offence intended, I'm glad they don't!
re: I really hate...
" hopefully most Machin collectors keep it a bit simpler than that!!"
re: I really hate...
""I wish the US had something similar." (talking about Machin)
I collect US and, no offence intended, I'm glad they don'"
re: I really hate...
" flag series with the stars and stripes against all the iconic national parks landmarks!"
re: I really hate...
I'm with Ralph on this one -
I LOVE what the American flag stands for, BUT ---
C'mon USPS! Show a little originality for once!!
I am SOOO tired of flag stamps.....how many ways can you show a picture of the same flag!!!
re: I really hate...
"Unfortunately some of the US definitive flag series, is equally boring and unimaginative! (an opinion which I am sure Ian will have something to say about!)"
re: I really hate...
There have been quite a few US issues called Flag over something but designs have varied. The Flag over Porch was one of the more recent issues that offered some collecting challenge.
The majority of stamps on incoming mail are bulk rate and these have often been the dullest ones. It may be intentional. The Spectrum Eagle was probably the best of the bulk rates.
The Machins have an iconic shape - not a cartoon or abstract art, etc. I would prefer a Lady Liberty.
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"I am not an elitist so I would never describe what someone collects as boring or unimaginative."
"People should collect what they want and what interests them."
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"that does not make it wrong or leave cause to instantly label someone an 'elitist'."
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"of course there are times when one should keep ones opinions to oneself."
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There's always a work-around. A couple of members here have been incredibly helpful in obtaining orders from sellers who don't/won't ship to Australia. I'd be more than happy to do the same for any other member.
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Roy posted:
I will never tire of seeing my flag on a stamp.
Thanks for posting it, Roy.
David
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"of course there are times when one should keep ones opinions to oneself"
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I really hate looking at approval books where no attempt has been made to put stamps in any sort of order. I do not mind not having catalogue numbers, unless they are a variety where there are multiple choices.
Trying to flick back and forth through an album or in some cases three albums where the countries are jumbled together makes me give up very early. This means we both lose out, although those sellers who do try get the benefit of my money.
Daily rant from the grumpy old git over, have a good, safe day everyone.
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"Wisdom is also shown by not taking the bait!"
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Ian,
Is vainglorious the same as piss artist?
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Gudgie:- Now! Now! Language Timothy!
I tried to stay away from the common vernacular, it was not easy but I thought I managed it quite well.
There were several words ending in ss, se, ch and ole that could have made the grade but I thought that they were not refined enough to include on such a high brow discussion thread.
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I love flag stamps. No one looks at the denomination. Not that it matters all that much for the most part......
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Ian,
highbrow and Brechinite should not be used in the same sentence. The same goes for gudgie. It's amusing this forum is entitled "I really hate......." , and the person who started it lists all his woes, caring not about whom he offends. Now that gives me an opening. No, I won't scratch that itch.
However, I must comment on the total lack of comments from those highbrow guardian's of other people's morals, so dominant on SoR, who totally ignored the contribution to this debate, (I use the term loosely), from parkinglot about people breaking the law when sending stamps inside letter mail across borders. As I thought at the time of an earlier assault on my morals by the SoR Mafia, "Don't do as I do, do as I say".
While I respect parkinlot's opinion I urge all stamp collectors to keep sending stamps inside envelopes. Just remember you risk what some members describe as "Severe Penalties" for doing so. Philatelists spend far too much buying stamps to be forced into paying extra for the privilege of keeping them. Campaign for a change in the law and force the UPU to recognise those they are serving.
I will now put down my campaigning hat and return to the nursing home.
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"While I respect parkinlot's opinion I urge all stamp collectors to keep sending stamps inside envelopes. Just remember you risk what some members describe as "Severe Penalties" for doing so. Philatelists spend far too much buying stamps to be forced into paying extra for the privilege of keeping them. Campaign for a change in the law and force the UPU to recognise those they are serving."
Openly advocating violating the law should not be tolerated on this, or any other forum.Just remember that when your kid gets suspended from school for plagiarism or cheating ......what a great attitude you have. Go ahead and bounce me off the membership roles for stating what should be obvious. It is one thing to state your opinion - it is quite another to "urge" people to violate the law. And I imagine that you complain about the rate increases as you continue to steal $10 plus dollars every-time you do what you suggest. Does anyone know how to think... and reason.... anymore.
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Time for my 5 cents worth again. Say I buy a stamp for less than a dollar and then someone puts $12 down for postage. That causes a problem that I'm really not sure how to fix. Any suggestions?
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" Say I buy a stamp for less than a dollar and then someone puts $12 down for postage. That causes a problem that I'm really not sure how to fix. Any suggestions?
"
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"Does anyone know how to think... and reason.... anymore."
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Webpaper thinks we should all accept Universal Postal Union rules as the Law of the land. By that token we should all accept slavery, police brutality, or kids going down chimneys.
I read somewhere, I think it was the UPU website, that collectors account for 17% of stamp sales. How can collectors accept draconian, exorbitant costs for a third rate service? Today I received a PACKAGE from the USA, posted on 28 March. It had been opened with a razor, not by customs as proper information had been given, but by someone looking for items of value. By using Parcel Post and advertising the fact items of value may be enclosed, collectors are being fleeced by the Postal Services in all our countries, and laying us open to theft. Much better to send by letter post.
If a RULE is bad, or a LAW is bad then I for one will campaign to have it changed using whatever means I can use. I may disagree with webpaper but at least I'm being honest. Most others on here send stamps internationally by letter post, but are not prepared to openly say so.
And please explain why you are on my case but said nothing to those earlier contributors who say if you can't get someone to send stamps internationally, get the seller to post them to a friend in the USA, who can then send them across the border for you? I fail to see any difference between their point of view and mine?
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"Openly advocating violating the law should not be tolerated on this, or any other forum."
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Gudgie you prove my point which is why I did not bother to make it here but have done so privately. When you indicate (and you are supposed to be honest. Ebay shipping labels fill that out so you cannot lie) what is in a package it is waving a red flag in front of a bull. Steal me. Back in the day I had a friend who worked for customs at JFK. You would be amazed at the things he used to have for sale. After all, the company had insurance right? The ONLY place I have seen anything about the UPU is here on SOR. No place else. Not in the post office, or ebay (you would be hit with that fee when you print a label if ebay was pushing it as they take 9% of every penny a seller gets tax postage included). I suspect my PO would have no idea what to do if I were to ask them for a form or whatever it is. Think they would simply pocket the money? Who knows. I surely do not know, and should an item get "lost" how would I get my refund from UPU? Probably tougher than the PO, where if you can't provide proof as to what was in the parcel, you are just out of luck. Or maybe you'll be told "look, it was scanned as delivered. You obviously got the package" Then turn around and walk away.
Greg
I'll stick to a personal handstamp as a return address.
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I had a few hours sleep since my last post. After taking breakfast in bed to my beloved, I told her I've decided to become politically active again, and my reasons for taking up cudgels. I told her about webpaper questioning my morals relating to the rearing of our schoolteacher daughter, who was out demonstrating against injustice last weekend.
The new rules introduced by the Universal Postal Union around 1 year ago hiked prices for packages. At the time there was outrage on this and other sites. Then we realised rules had been changed prohibiting customers sending stamps inside envelopes. International mail was no longer charged according to weight. A package with a few stamps, weighing less than 30 grams must now be sent as a package, not as a letter. Again members voiced displeasure, but many decided to accept the arbitrary increases. I don't criticise them, but I think they are wrong to accept the changes without question.
Stamp collectors keep our postal system going by their massive contribution buying mint stamps which will never be used or cancelled. Timidly accepting terrible treatment and disregarding our collective welfare by imposing nonsensical rules is something none of us should accept. I know there are some among us who will sit back waiting for others to force change, but c'est la vie. There are others like me who will get angry and try to change the system for the better. More power to their elbow.
National philatelic organisations should campaign on this issue and others, fighting on behalf of members. Clubs like Stamporama should discuss issues affecting members and allow all opinions to be heard. Decision makers will sometimes read these pages. Let them know we are unhappy with the way we are treated.
I am new to stamp collecting, but I worked for Royal Mail and a mailing company for some years. I owned a stationery business for 25 years and I am familiar with the massive reduction in sales of white paper and envelopes. Pricing mail at exorbitant levels results in people using email and courier services. In turn this affects quality of postal service, profitability and employment. By changing stupid rules back to what they were, they may just manage to reverse the decline in use and quality of service we all experience almost every day.
These are RULES, imposed by the UPU without proper consideration of the effect they have on our mail service, and significant proportion of mail users. They are not laws, but politicians do have powers to change them. Remember the pen is mightier than the sword. Write to your representatives (remembering to use paper and an envelope). Demand they work on our behalf. I can't think why any politician would not support lower postal prices, better postal services, and more employment.
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OK Here is a couple of questions:_
a) How many sellers here have been prosecuted/fined for sending stamps without declaring they are "merchandise"?
b) How many sellers here have items "disappear" in the postal system with customs labels on them?
My answers are a) No and b) Yes
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Ian, my answers are the same as yours. Here though I continue to hope that Amazon takes over the entire parcel business, and that regular mail becomes a weekly delivery to kiosk boxes. Want it daily? Convert the space in the PO's that is currently used for reasons unknown into hundreds if not thousands of boxes at $100 a year each. My current PO is one of the few in perhaps the country that turns a profit. It is one of the most profitable if not the most profitable in the state. Why? They have been doing that for years. They don't deliver mail. All they do is rent out boxes, sell stamps, and take mail. They close for 2 hours for lunch. Why? Because the two people who work the counter, and wonderful people they are, go and run another PO that is a town away and only open during lunch hours - for the same reasons as mine. Instead of moving towards this, we have to listen to bailouts for the PO, which is like bailing out a sinking boat. Until they change their business plan they cannot make money. It will happen. Parcels are their bread and butter and they raise the prices every single year. Now they zone mail that is under 16 oz. They have this whole volume pricing thing that says if the box is a certain size, then it must weigh a certain amount. If not you will be charged all the same. This was an attack on Amazon, where you get free return shipping and you print it on a label and slap it on any old box. So what does Amazon do? Panic? No, make an arrangement with a brick and mortar store to take your returns back and they put all of them in large boxes and send them off to Amazon, probably not using the USPS.
Here the PO constantly loses things. Complain and they show you a scan. It was delivered. You lose, you obvious liar. Amazon? From Amazon Last Mile I get an emailed picture showing where my package is that was just delivered. It comes with the question how was the delivery. I have to believe that too many complaints result in no work for the Last Mile Driver. The PO? Complain about something? Good luck thinking they care. The PO would rather create an app for your phone that will tell you what junk mail is arriving today. Who cares whats in the mail? I care about things like "why did you take an LP mailer that measures 12x12x1 and FOLD IT IN HALF and stuff it into a mail box instead of walking up to the door and putting it next to the door? (of course as far as ebay is concerned that is MY fault and the buyer gets a refund).
It is interesting to read that problems are not only here, and I think that for some, the postal rates are even higher than here in the US. You might even have it worse than us,
Greg
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Greg:- You are right. It is a waste of time complaining to the postal services. Their staff are untrained and do not care. It stems from the top.
The last two CEO's have been made millionaires and were a complete waste of space.
The second last one arrived from Canada Post, put in place the wide range of weights, sizes and thicknesses that made everything so complicated even the counter clerks were confused. The biggest scandal she oversaw was the introduction of the Horizon computer system. This resulted in hundreds of sub-postmasters being accused of stealing money. Some were jailed, or fined, others had to pay thousands of pounds "back" to Royal Mail losing their homes and businesses, divorces and suicides were also a result. It has been proved that the computer system was at fault. The CEO walked away with millions of pounds and she has never apologized.
The last one was paid millions to take the job, paid millions during his tenure and ran Royal Mail mostly from his home in Switzerland. He did come to the UK two days each week.
Their business model does need to change. If I post a letter to a company here in Brechin it travels 80 miles to Edinburgh to be sorted, then 80 miles back to Brechin to be delivered. What nonsense.
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Ian we have that round about way of delivering mail too. Goes all over before arriving sometimes in the next town. This is how it begins to get lost. We had a virtual closing on our last home. We were not supposed to travel so we had to send the necessary documents over night. If you were to pull up a map of Pennsylvania you would easily find Cornwall. The overnight had to travel to Stroudsburg a distance of perhaps 120 miles maybe. Paid our $27 and Sure enough when I checked the tracking the next morning it was in Baltimore. Hmmm. Going to be tough to get to Stroudsburg by 3PM. Of course it didn't make it. Instead it went to Texas. It took 3 days to go 120 miles. Naturally we had to scramble as the documents were needed so we redid everything and sent it FEDEX where it arrived in time. The Texas package arrived after the closing. The concern was that the package had copies of things like our ss# and photo id. Would not be good if it went into the wrong hands. Its what I've come to expect from the PO. At least I got my money back on that transaction
Greg
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It's very easy to say "don't buy the stamp" but that means I'll have to change the way I use SOR. I go through the new material and if I don't have an item, and the price is reasonable, I either buy or bid, if the person ships to Canada. I don't always notice whether or not I already have items waiting from that seller. That means I occasionally end up with one item from a buyer and unfortunately I don't always check to see his shipping price - I know, that's my bad! But what if I end up with a 7 cent stamp with $12 shipping? There is not supposed to be a reason for backing out of the sale and it might take a long time to find enough items to make shipping feasible. Besides I bid on the item because I want it! Is there a way to include a symbol right with the item to show that the seller is following the letter of the postal law? I'm not trying to be a pain, this really is a problem!
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Will someone please remind me. What is the title of this Forum and who was the person who started it?
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Why do some people get so upset when a thread goes in another direction - it almost always does and as long as the thread is relatively interesting, so what?
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" I don't always check to see his shipping price "
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Love reading this thread. When I used to sell on Ebay, i had buyers from all over the world. It never occured to me to have to complete customs forms for shipping to Canada if it fit into a first class envelope. Larger lots yes as the postmater in the post office would always ask me to complete one when i brought in the package to be weighed and shipping calculated. My biggest challenge was in shipping to China....i found that there was way too much fraud both from the buyers and from the Chinese postal system that my losses soon exceeded my sales. Since selling on Ebay was more of a diversion I just stopped and found other things to occupy my time. However I will say that I NEVER had any issues sending or recieving from Canada with the exception of people sending cash through the mail. And yes its been a long time. For my Japanese customers I used to let them pay in current commerative issues at the exchange rate.