Confused About Cancellation Policies

Yesterday, I had to stop by the PO, so I thought, "Hey, why not get an unofficial FDC for the Frank Sinatra stamp?" So I grabbed a blank envelope, asked the clerk for a set of Ol' Blue Eyes (all is well so far), and then asked if she would mind giving me a hand cancellation (once I put a stamp on the envelope of course).

At this point, she gave me the "You are such an idiot," look. To sum up a somewhat embarassing conversation, she basically said the only way I could get a cancellation was if I sent the letter through the system.

I don't get it. I can mail this exact same stamped but unaddressed envelope to the USPS (with another SASE envelope to get it back to me), and they will give me an official first day cancellation for free. But the local post office isn't allowed to do the equivalent?

Am I really an idiot; is there some legitimate reason for this? I would think the USPS would be happy to make a sale that was guaranteed they would never have to process. Or do I need to make another trip to the PO to talk to her supervisor (to promote proper education of the clerks)?

I have tried to do the same thing a long time ago, and was given the same answer that you received.

I know of no postal regulation which would prevent her from canceling your cover and handing it right back to you.
Except perhaps the postal guideline for clerks to be as unhelpful as possible so as not to spoil the customer.


However I would have put it through the system. I liked addressed FDCs and the auxiliary markings that letters receive in the mailstream (like the spray-on bar codes). To me the resulting cover would be much more desirable than an unaddressed, unmailed FDC with the standard cancellation. It does break all "the rules" of FDC collecting. though.

I wonder about that postal clerk..if they cancelled the stamp they would have made 42 cents profit without having to deliver the letter !

Let's not stereotype all postal clerks. The people at my post office go out the way to be helpful. They even hand me the hand cancellation stamper, so I can cancel the stamps myself.

Steve

Triggersmob that reminds me...my friend in Canada buys his stamps at the 7-11 around the corner...he gave the kid a bottle of wine and he lets him cancel the souvineer sheets he puts on my envelopes..of course the kid in the 7-11 is not a postal employee !!

you are right, Triggersmob, my bad.

Sounds odd to me......on several occasions I've asked for a courtesy cancel and have had no problems. Sometimes they even hand me the handstamp and let me apply the cancel myself.

I agree--I have had several cancels done and then they hand them right back to me.I don't understand some people.
Gussyboy1

As a postal employee, regulations allow for cancelling of stamps affixed to envelopes on a hand back basis as long as stamps totaling the first class rate is applied.