Post Office Laugh

I was at the post office today to purchase the new "Garden of Love" stamps.

The friendly gentleman behind the counter said that, no, they hadn't gotten them in yet. Then went on to say he didn't know why.

He pulled out a photocopied page from Linn's Stamp News and said, "According to Linn's, those should have been out on the 19th."

It was all I could do not to laugh. According to Linn's???? What the heck?!?!?!?!

That is rich -- but also kinda cool. I wish my postmaster read Linn's.

I'm lucky that before coming to my small town, he used to work in a Philatelic Center, so he is pretty aware of what collectors expect.

Kirk

Here's the reason. Those stamps are meeting with the exact same problem the new Purple Heart Forever stamps are. They are considered "definitives" of a sort and as such they do not get automatically shipped to post offices on the date of issue. In fact, all PO's are urged to deplete their present supply of denominated stamps for this theme before ordering or releasing for sale the new ones. I understand there have been reported cases where the new ones are in their vault, but they refuse to sell them (even to collectors) until their existing supply is gone. An order to Kansas City winds up to be the quickest way to get them.

Here's the official statement included in the latest Postal Bulletin about their availability:

No wonder Linns gets all that insider information about the post office, they are in cahoots! ;o)

gave me a good laugh spanishmoss! Thanks

I've never heard of the practice of withholding new issues until the current stock is depleted. Its a shame that some accommodation couldn't be made for collectors specifically requesting same.

Especially sines that a collected stamp is never used so is nearly pure profit!

Hi Spanishmoss,

I used to give a clerk at my branch the latest Linn's and he used to make a copy of the US new issues. Then the branch supervisor said that it was not right and he would be fired or reprimanded if he did it any more. So much for Post Office etiquette.

mhc99
I seem to remember reading somewhere that a rule has been put in place that states exactly that. Where I read it escapes me at the moment.

Jerry B

I am from the Post Office and I am here to help you - NOT - Bureaucracy at its best