Am I Overly Sensitive?

Received the third quarter issue of USA Philatelic in the mail
today. Had a good chuckle over the unmitigated khutzpah of USPS in the advert for the Inverted Jenny to be issued August 22nd. It indicates that the design "is revived with a $2 denomination to make it easily distinguishable from the 24-cent original." Think about that for just a moment please, before reading on.

Now USPS obviously believes that we are all dimwits on several different levels. Apparently I'm one of the dullest tacks in the box,and seemingly would not have recognized the difference between the new stamp and the original C3a if USPS had made it in a 46-cent Forever denomination. Thank goodness it's in the $2 denomination or frankly I would never have noticed it!

Furthermore, I doubt that I would have paid any attention to the fact that these are die-cut vice perforated. Nor would I have noticed the "2013" date on the lower edge of the stamps, or that these are sticker stamps vice gummed, etc. etc.

I don't mind that USPS frequently cashes in at the expense of collectors as with all the imperfs and the sheer number of different issues they crank out every year. If I choose to collect every issue, it is my decision to spend/waste my money on them. What really sticks in my craw is, as in this case, when USPS attempts to tell me that they're doing me some huge favor as they pocket my money for hugely overpriced stamps.

I am sure you will see some on ebay listed as a c-3 A

How true lpmiller - not the stupid part lol

The only favour the USPS and any other postal entity is doing, is for themselves.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Come to the dark side . . . of collecting postally used US stamps.

I dunno, smauggie...we're getting close to the point where postally-used U.S. stamps are all 'philatelic' usages...

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

CJD - I think you overstate the current situation a bit, though there is no doubt we are going down that road.

I believe that a 46 cent inverted Jenny would have just as easily be distinguished from the original as a 2 dollar one! Come to think of it, easier! There would be many more bought and maybe in circulation! Peter

Only a bit? Usually I can do better than that...

In my opinion that's just the point. The USPS doesn't want to see too many of these in general circulation, thus the reason for the high denomination. They want to encourage collectors to buy and retain them for collecting purposes only (i.e. "no postal use" = "clear profit for the USPS").

And don't forget this other collectible fiasco that hasn't even been priced yet -- I suspect it will be priced quite high:

http://stampproducts.com/inverted-jenny/

Wt1, I was being sarcastic! I realize it is all about the profit - be happy they did not make it a higher value! Peter

I saw that in the AP and thought "Wha-Wha-WhaaaaTTT!?!?!"
And see the die wipe pic? Sp-sp-spooky

See the ghost on the right?????

The USPS needs money, and this is an easy way to get some.

I cannot fathom why people collect current issues (FROM ANY COUNTRY!). They are only created to fund PO operations. The only challange is having enough disposable income to buy them. The PO must hire consultants to determine the optimum face value is each year for maximum income.

However, I do thank you for keeping my mailing costs down.

Collecting modern stamps for me seems like the same as collecting Pokemon cards. I don't collect modern stamps of any kind but my children and I have collected Pokemon cards from time to time. In fact we just got hooked again, which is why this comes to mind. Nintendo makes it nearly a requirement to buy new cards to be able to compete in tournaments etc. and with four releases of about 100 cards each per year, the kids want to "collect them all". For those of you that don't know, Pokemon is a collectible card game and you play with 60 cards per deck, built from the sanctioned releases of cards. Nintendo makes it very difficult to just buy a deck that will work well. You have to buy a theme deck and then a ton of booster packs to eventually get to the point where you can create a good deck. It costs a boat load of money. (Kind of like the USPS forcing you to buy a sheet rather than singles).

From what I hear (I don't pay attention to the USPS at all anymore because they are irrelevant to my collecting interests), the USPS is like Nintendo, flooding the market with newer and more awesome issues. The only incentive I would see to collecting them all is if I were compulsive in that direction. The only reason I let Nintendo sucker me so often is because my kids get so much enjoyment out of it (I'm the only one complaining).

You'd be surprised, they do need to spell that out for the masses out there today. I'll never get used over a winter job I held a long time ago; how many people came up to me to ask how much 50% of something would amount to. That's why shopping has becoming a web of tedious confusion and fighting to figure out if the sale price is "as marked" or will be marked at the register.

At any rate, this is the modern section, and I frankly like modern issues. I like some older ones too. I think it's because my interest lies mostly in artwork and subject matter.
Not saying I'm happy with all the issues, obviously, it really does depend. A few people they've commemorated once that I wish would have a do over frankly.

If you collect them postally used from kiloware, the cost is much less.