02/14/11 | 44 Cent (Not "Forever"?) Quill & Ink 3k/10k Coils

How many SCF members are aware of this upcoming stamp slated to be issued on 02/14/2011? It's not a commemorative, so I missed it. Further, it's only to be available in 3K and 10K coils for mass mailers (apparently) but to my surprise, I understand they are 44 cent denominated stamps (not "Forever" stamps!)



The story I heard suggests that either these stamps were printed before the decision to go to "Forever" stamps was firmly made or the USPS doesn't want to allow large volume coils of "Forever" stamps to be released in mass quantities to high volume mailers for financial reasons.

I haven't seen this one yet. Thanks for posting. I'll have to keep an eye out on my junk mail. I always like getting coils in the mail for the potential for PNCs (plate number coils).
Will

I did see this one. I think your point about financial loss is a valid one. As a business I would never want to sell a service for a fixed price that someone could redeem whenever they wanted to.

Unfortunately, "junk mail" or direct mail or whatever they call it, doesn't require First-Class Postage.

And because these will ship only in large rolls, it might be difficult to find this stamp in postally-used condition.

Of course, that just makes it more fun

Kirk

[edit to fix typo]

Kirk: I consider all unsolicited mail to me "junk mail", especially since we get the wife's grandmother's mail and the amount of scam mail is incredible. Some of that mail, especially the letters from "psychics" and the fake veterans groups have 44 cent stamps.
Will

Another interesting story about the reason for the "44"-cent denomination on this issue:

It seems that "psychological" reasoning may be involved. According to direct marketers, the general public gives direct mail pieces more attention if they don't use meters or preprinted "postage paid" corners, but instead use actual stamps. In the case of this issue, it shows the mailer paid the 44 cent first class rate.

According to these so-called "experts", the non-denominated stamps don't gain as much attention; likewise, the "Forever" stamps are also grouped into the same category, as the general public still recognizes 44 cents as the first class denomination. Apparently it was not only intentional to make the stamp read the "44"-cent denomination, but it was also intentional to make the numerals "44" a bit larger in the stamp design to stand out.

In other words, the direct mail marketers, think that the general public is "stupid" not to realize this. But I suppose that same group are probably the ones that direct mailers bank on to respond to their advertising.

Yes, I accpted junk mail when I purchased my PO Box.
I could get an early copy of the local supermarket's specials
amongst other things.

One higlights the specials and when in the supermarket
curiously, all the specials have "sold out" "have not arrived"
or "we were not given these".

On the good side , a ream of A4 copy paper in the Post Office is $4.95
next door at the newsagent $11.00

Rod -- everything you say is so 'out of context' for me!

Here in the U.S., we have no real choice about receiving junk mail. We can ask to have our names removed from 'the list' but that rarely works. By the way, the request goes to the direct mail industry association. So you know they don't overwork themselves to keep the list accurate. To further complicate matters, it's not just one list. So if you manage to get off one list, you're probably on another and withing a few months, your name is sold back to the original as a 'new' contact.

I'm not familiar with Australian laws, but I've always admired the Canadian privacy laws and their opt-in system -- it seems far superior to the USA opt-out-if-you-can-but-we-fixed-it-so-you-can't system.

Of course, as you probably know, our P.O. doesn't sell paper or much of anything except a few boxes and mailing supplies.

KirkS

I just received a strip of 25 of these coil stamps from the Stamp Fulfillment Services today. I wanted to collect the coil plate number strip, figuring I could use the remainders for general postage.

Here's the strip that was included in my order:



Now for my questions:

1. Note that the original post in this thread showed an example of said stamp with the "2011" in the lower left corner; the actual stamp shown here has the "2011" in the upper left corner. Is this a variation from the proposed versus final printing? Or is this a variety based on a different printer? Or does the 3K and 10K coil show a different date position? (My copy is supposed to be from the 3K coil).

2. Is it still acceptable to collect these stamps in strips of five (5) the center stamp being the one with the plate number?

3. In this case, the fifth stamp (far right) has the count number on the reverse. Is there reason to collect in a higher strip because of that?

4. I understand the plate number is supposed to be an "S" followed by five digits; but in this case it is an "S" followed by four digits. Could it be that some last minute modification was made to the plate number?

I'd welcome any comments. Thanks.

Just goes to prove even the USPS makes mistakes ... this is from the cellophane packaging in which the above stamps were shipped.

What's a "STIRP"?

I think a stirp is a rectangular chad, as opposed to a round one. Just thinking.

On a serious note, it is nice of them to warn about the unsuitability of the packaging on a longterm basis.