Why Do They Do This ???

Devlin,
That is just incorrect. Mainly because since after 9/11 you have to take large mailings to a post office window to a clerk and are not suppose to use a drop box or a home mailbox. I think some just don't want to be bothered to do their job as described in their handbook because it is an inconvenience. Ignorance is no excuse, especially when a collector can prove, site, and quote postal regulations. Can you tell I've had this happen to me before? Yelling, screaming, cursing, & threats will get you nowhere fast. I've found it easier to go around or over someone then charge thru like a bull.

Actually, I took the letter to the PO and asked the clerk to pen cancel the stamps....

Stamperdude,
That is really good to know. I would be very interested in that regulation so the next time I go in, I can bounce it off this guys head. Not that I'm one to start any friction, but I can't stand people not doing their jobs just because it's a bother. Done ranting now. :-)

God, that makes me mad, pure laziness in my opinion. Plus a little idocy thrown in!

If there's a Postmaster on site, ask him...usually, they're happy to do it if the clerk refuses. Makes the clerk look bad, too...as well it should.

That is a great idea!

initiative? maybe they just wanted to make sure that the stamps were cancelled so the postman went the extra mile

Here is a post card I received the other day. Local mail often (very often) comes uncanceled, but someone was good enough to go the extra mile and stroke their ball point across this poor stamp.

well not to be a fly int he ointment but all the canadain stamps that I get that are ont he envelope are cancelled while I prefer mint. I dont know why I get this special treatment as I dont want it.

I know this is an old thread, and there are several more -- even older -- about the Marker Monkey. But since it's resurfaced, I'm going to jump in ...

I think the USPS Regulation about not using markers is a myth. Am I wrong? If so, I need documentation

In fact, I sent a letter to Postmaster Potter complaining about Pen Cancels; the answer I received essentially said USPS employees have an obligation to make sure all stamps are canceled. If the machines miss them, the clerks get them with whatever happens to be handy -- usually a Sharpie

Even if there is a regulation, obviously management has created a practice that supersedes policy.

Kirk

KirkS is correct. There is no postal regulation that forbids the use of markers to cancel stamps.

While there are regulations in the DMM regarding request and fulfillment of hand cancels, the problem I've run into is that in some post offices, the postal clerks are no longer issued daily hand cancellers. I assume that this is some cost cutting measure enacted by a few station managers. I can no longer get hand-cancels at my local post office, but I don't seem to have any troubles when I stop by post offices while on my road trips. Nevertheless, it is not only annoying, but just downright stupid. They are now relying on the silly machine printed stickers to document dates.

If this is the case, then why do I constantly get envelopes from stampers with six or eight stamps none of which are cancelled? In most cases, because the package has cardboard protection, there hasn't even been an attempt to cancel the stamps. Is it laziness on the part of some? Meanness on the part of others? How about some consistency?

I thought I would add an example I received in the mail today.
Both stamps are obviously machine cancelled. It looks to me like the clerk decided to just mess up the stamps "just in case" it was for a collector.



Maybe the pen cancel was done at the desk, but wouldn't the clerk know that the machine cancel was going to be applied?

Dan

Too bad. I like that $1 Airlift stamp, don't you?

Kirk,
Yes, I always liked its clean look.

I bet the stamps are older than the clerk! 1942 and 1968!

Dan