Setting Up A Mpp

What is a MPP you might ask? It is a Mailers Post Mark Permit. In other words I can hand cancel my own stamps. This makes sense when you want to make sure that your outgoing letters contain an interesting post mark instead of the normal machine ones that most of them get.

This site can explain it a lot better than I can.
http://www.mppclub.org/HowToObtain.htm

Today Nancy was back at work after being off a few days so it was time to take my application to the Post Office. Nancy had a surprise for me when I got there. The Alaska stamps where in and she saved me a sheet.

Then I told her I have a project for her as I handed her my MPP application. She looked it over and said she had never completed one of these. I said I didn't think she ever did so I had the copy of the explanation letter from the above site.

She looked it over and told me she would have to call the Erie help center to figure it out. That was ok with me because I know she will work on it. I told her to take her time and to just let me know if she needed anything more.

So my first step has been started and I hope things go well that I can order the cancel stamp soon. I will need a permit number in order to do this.

I will update this through the process just to let you know how easy it hopefully is. Then look out I will stamping everything.

GOOD LUCK! It is good to know that you have a dependable postmaster err postmistress. I do not know how my postmaster would react to a MPP request. I had a hard enough time getting a circular date handcancel on cover handed back to me one day without going it through the mailstream. Ha!

MK, you've got it bad for this project. Congratulations on your persistence and here's hoping you are rewarded with your MPP soon!

Please do keep us informed about how it goes. Also, if you will please share the cost of getting your MPP.

Greg,
In looking into having my own local post canceling device made I have seen cost around $30-$45 from a local print shop. However, that is for a stamp that does not have a changable date.

There isn't suppose to be any fees. The only cost is the cancel stamp which can run anywhere between $30 and $80. It really depends if you want one stamp that includes the cancel and date stamps, etc. But I will review the choices after I get my approve for the USPS.

I'm thinking you may be on to something really neat here! Another reason I hang out here. I get less and less stupid every time I spend an hour or three with you guys and gals!

Have you looked into getting some cinderellas printed up to use on the covers with normal postage? I suppose one could buy some of the personalized postage to use as well.

I have started a LOCAL POST in addition. My essay's are here and the full explanation on the progress of my Local Post.

https://goscf.com/t/3471

and this one

https://goscf.com/t/3502

I stopped into the Post Office today to see how my request is going for my MPP. Nancy was as pleasant as she always is. She had made the phone call to the Erie, Pa service center and that is where things started to go a little , well off is a good word.

The Erie service office started by telling her there is a $180 fee and a requirement of 200 pieces of mail. Then they were not sure what the regulations where. So she did make a phone call to the Johnstown Post Office the largest in the area.

At least someone down there did seem to know what it was but again they never did one. They didn't know much except it was an obscured rule or regulation.

So again Nancy called Erie and then sent the letter that I had drafted from the MPP site to help guide the Erie Service center.

So as of today my fate rests in the Erie Service Center. I doubt they will place it on a high priority as my local post master Nancy did.

In any event I will wait to see of the Erie Service Center can figure this out. It has only been four days so I'm not excited one way or the other. I figure anything worth wanting is worth waiting for.

Most of all I suspect I threw a curve into someones work day and my fate rests on them. I think my local Post Master Nancy has done a great job so far and to be truthful I knew she would.

If nothing else, you've accomplished making a bureaucrat somewhere in the USPS have to think a little.

Ok this is where I am at with this. I stuck in Erie probably with someone who doesn't consider my request worth the time to work on.

My local post master has kept me undated and feels sorry she can't get any info from Erie.

Thus after the playoffs I am going to start pushing on this since I have given them what I feel is enough time.

Good Luck with the paper pushers. I know your persistance will payoff in the end.

Well I'm am still lost somewhere in the USPS black hole. So today I printed out most of the web site that covers this subject and delivered to my local post office in hopes that this can move this project ahead.

At least the local post master did take the material I supplied. I'm not sure but I think I would fire some people in Erie or at least send them a regulation book for the USPS.

Good luck mkfarm! Im sure things will eventually work out for the best