New US Issues - You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

Is it just me but I don't care for all the pop culture on stamps. Perhaps some, but we have let it get out of hand.

I suppose it is a result of "running out" of historical events to commemorate. On the other hand, the presidents are now in overkill.

Why would they honor people for stacking chairs???? I know a lot of other people would ask the same question.

I don't think the collectors have let it get out of hand, the Stamp Advisory Board has decided on the overal stamp program along with the Post Master General. Collectors should voice their opinions to the board, PMG, and our local congressman/woman. Anyone can submit an idea for a stamp to be voted on.

I am not sure if this is done in the States but I have heard that in Canada at the franchaise Post Offices located at your corner drug stores, they get a discount from Canada Post (or it is cheaper for them to purchase somehow) the metered mail rather than the real postage stamps.

So, they tend to want to sell more metered labels. You usually have to ask for a real stamp. This was a couple of years ago, maybe they have changed it now? I must sneak it into the conversation next time I am at a Post Office.

David recently confirmed this to me. Apparently, they get a 10% cut on metered, vs. only 5% on stamp sales.

That doesn't make a lot of sense, considering that Pitney Bowes owns the meters and they get a rental fee for them, whereas stamp sales (especially to collectors) are clear profit for the Post Office.

Just another misguided Canada Post half-baked idea.

I don't like it, so I let them go ahead and print up their little meter tapes, and then I tell them, "Hey, I wanted stamps..."

One would think that if they were "properly" trained, they would be offering a choice instead of just going ahead and assuming you'll be okay with a meter tape.

Ah, thank you WpgLwr. Yes, a choice offered would be nice.

I think if you say I want to mail this they use meter but when you say Could I buy a stamp? they use stamps (sometimes).

I like US stamps! Yoda! The Muppets! Yay!

The problem with so many pop culture topics is that they are issued too soon after the actual event, before the subject has had a chance to prove itself as being totally worthy of the honor. I think the history is too recent on a lot of them.

But they're commercial and popular and the post office makes a lot of money on them, so the rules as to subject matter have been bent to the extreme in a lot of cases.

I mean, yes the subject matter is popular too, but for a hypothetical, what if the UK had issued an Andy Capp stamp? That was a popular comic strip, had many faithful readers every day, but our revisionist view (or at least the revisionist view that seems to be pushed by a lot of people) is that Andy Capp was a drunk and a wifebeater. Nevertheless, based on the current trend of issuing stamps on "popular" subjects, such an issue could have occurred, and what would something like that have said?

I suppose that a multitude of "sins" can be overlooked so that a subject can be placed on stamps. After all, the USPS issued a Richard Nixon stamp.

Then too, no person ever placed on a stamp was perfect. All have flaws. Events also can be seen from different perspectives. I wonder what the Mexicans thought of the 1953 Gadsden purchase issue.

Glenn:

My solution to the post office using meter stamps is to use obsolete postage. Then I get the stamps on the packet I want to see.

If I want to use a recent stamp (say a souvenir sheet) I purchase it first, then place my parcel or packet upon the counter and ask "How much postage do I need to put on this?"

David

Understood David, but maybe I just miss the days when one could take their time at the wicket and get exactly what they wanted instead of "being told" what they were getting.

Back in the day, if a format was issued that people didn't want, it was no big deal to, say, break up a miniature sheet to sell only a corner block -- as the clerk, I knew I could use the remainder on a parcel or a Priority Post manifest or a Change of Address card if I didn't want to carry it in my till, because it was all postage, after all.

Take a recent example -- the Canadian vocalists issue. The only way it was issued was in booklet form containing 8 stamps. There were only four different designs, and this meant that you got two of each design in the booklet. Only want the four? Too bad, because the concept of only selling a half booklet is something apparently abhorrant to these idiots at the drugstore, and they wouldn't even hear of it. Customer service is not the goal anymore; the bottom line is to maximize profit. The answer? Pretend that stamps don't even exist and slap a meter on the item before the customer can even get a word out.

As usual, the "new" Canada Post misses the boat entirely. Of course, that is typical, considering that it is and has been headed by a succession of dummies along the lines of current CEO Moya Greene, who consistently cut service while blowing money on such rediculous things as redecorating the mail boxes and lobbies of the Post Offices and Sub-Offices.

I like the new look of your post boxes I think the red one's stand out like a sore thumb,but this isn't the reason why I'm posting,we have meter posting here as well.
The same thing happens here,you walk into a post office and tell the counter attendant that you want to send mail overseas,he/she weights it and wackes a meter postal on it without asking if you would like stamps instead of the meter postal.
So now I buy the stamps and frank (most of the time over franked) the parcel/envelope at home,take it to the post office to have it weighted just to make sure it's O.K.,then send it on to it's destination so in that way I negate all the hassle and it works for me .

"I think if you say I want to mail this they use meter but when you say Could I buy a stamp? they use stamps (sometimes)."

When I go to mail a letter, the first thing I say is, "I DO NOT WANT A METER. I WANT REAL STAMPS". Then I wait until they start to put the postage on my mail before I pay.
Only one time did the girl at the counter still started to use a meter. I wouldn't pay for it. I just said no, and reminded her that I had specifically asked for real stamps.
Her boss had been standing behind her when I said that, and she had also heard. The meter hadn't been firmly put on my parcel yet, so it was taken off and set aside and I had real stamps put on the mail.

The funniest thing that happened is when my mom went to have some mail sent. She forgot to ask for real stamps and ended up with a meter. The worst thing about that is the man behind the counter was one of the men who comes to all the stamp shows to promote stamp collecting, and to sell philatelic products from Canada Post. He said he wasn't even thinking when he used the meter.

I have gotten to know all the girls that work at our local PO,
and when I go in with a package they know I want stamps,
but I too always remind them that I am sending this to someone that cares and needs the stamps.

ok a im looking for one more trading partner from USA I need to get all of these stamps and one trading partner cant possibly supply all. I already have 2 each from canada and USA and one jack that is half the year in canada and half the year in usa and I am still behind so god help them help me :(

brother desertgem osted on this thread too. I wonder what happened to mys upply of gold we never heard from you about that :)