Getting USPS Permit To Use Precanceled Stamps For First Class Mail

I got from the USPS one of the forms that would provide me as a stamp collector a permit to use such precanceled stamps such as Pre-Sorted and Non Profit for first class mail.

I went to my local post office and he was flummoxed and told me there was no one there who could help[ complete the permit application. He called one of his colleagues who said there is an online application but I think they were thinking I was applying for say have a metered stamp or something else other than what I was asking. I live in NYC so I am not completely surprised by this reaction. But I am disappointed the clerks at US Post offices do not have a knowledgeable source to contact.

The procedure I was told was given by a postmaster I know who has a philatelic desk at his PO ( a rarity) but has anyone else gotten permission to use PreSorted and Non-Profit stamps for first class letters? I would like use my extras and share some of the neat designs that have been on them.

I got one of these. Go to www.PNC3.org for infor,ation. You can also search this forum for the info


Peter

Thanks Peter.

chris, a bit more closer. Go to www.pnc3.org , click on "reference" on the side bar and then click on "precancel permit"


Peter

There is something missing here.

Are you mailing hundreds or thousands of pieces of mail each month ?

I hope your not thinking to get a permit to recycle all those pre-cancel stamps that most of us who ever purchased mixture lots of U.S. stamps get in the mix .

Are you planing to buy huge bulk lots of pre-cancel stamps from the P.O. , buy like a thousand dollars worth at one time for your business ? Hope your not thinking to reuse stamps , that is a CRIME and maybe a felony .

Can you make that clear ?

Floortrader, you're thinking of a bulk mailer's permit, not a postmark mailer's permit, which is what the OP is referring to.

I have a postmark mailer's permit and it *DOES* allow you to use precanceled pre-sorted and non-profit rate stamps (that you normally cannot), but you don't get a reduced rate like bulk mailers do. While you can use these stamps, you still need to apply 66 cents worth on a letter, for example.

Making ill-informed suppositions out of the gate that someone is doing this for nefarious reasons is uncool.

The title of this section is "USE PRECANCELED STAMPS FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL " not " putting your own cancel on first class mail" -------what am I missing .

If you have a postmark mailer's permit you CAN use precanceled stamps for outgoing mail, but you don't get a discount on the rate. Note that we're not talking bureau precancels or anything like that, but rather the stamps issues by USPS that have "Precanceled" on them, originally intended for bulk rate and nonprofit use.

You are correct - the precancelled stamps can be used by collectors on outgoing mail at the current rate.
Cancelling ones own outgoing mail is also allowed, but there is a separate permit needed for that.
I use all the precancels that I collect, including the Bureau precancels that are part of the Transportation Coil Series.


Peter

Not true. The same mailer's postmark permit fulfills both requirements, hence the name.

That may be true, but a permit can be issued to use precanceled stamps without requesting a mailer's postmark permit.

Well many of you need to work for the post office (if you don't already) - they could use your expertise!

I went to three post offices before I got to somebody who said they would investigate my understanding that as a stamp collector I can use such precancelled stamps as Presorted Standard, Presorted First Class, and Non-Profit (plus anything else I missed) as part of postage for use to mail letters

It all started with a local visit to the post near where I lived. Then a trip to Manhattan to a post office that seems to have a manager who tries to meet the needs of stamp collectors along with their other customer bases. They said I had to go to the central post office - James Farley PO on 34th Street near Penn Station. Then I was told they moved permit services to the Morgan Annex at 29th Street and 9th Ave (and which was a little tricky to find - second door that adjoins the loading docks which you need to be buzzed into then a warehouse space which a lady will then bring you to USPS Business Services for permits. I want to emphasize all USPS staff were courteous and helpful as they could be but it does show how in such a large city that in 2016 hosted the World Stamp Show, how limited is their philatelic knowledge OR how cumbersome the USPS can make certain procedures for stamp collectors. I do understand it is partly NOT their fault - the USPS is expected to handle mail and package requests of all sorts PLUS money orders and passports. But it is a shame such a large city as NYC does NOT have a true philatelic desk when there are small towns (albeit few) that have a healthy philatelic desk and make some nice extra money for the USPS.

Will keep you abreast but so far it seems the main USPS business desk for all of NYC has not dealt with a stamp collector seeking a permit to use precanceled stamps in a VERY long time. Also, floortrader's initial erroneous assumption is common -- the person at the business office at first told me the fee to use precancelled stamps is $310 but I shared that I was told it was free and presented the form I had completed that the PNC3.org site directed me to use.

It isn't that big a deal but I would not like to stick my heirs with too many unused precancelled stamps and see them thrown out. If the main post office in NYC continues to tell me I have to pay a permit fee I will donate the non-profit stamps. As for the presorts - not sure.

Wish you the best of luck in pursuing your permit. I tried to obtain one several years ago. After trips to two different offices ... and being informed that what I sought did not exist ... I decided that using a few precanceled stamps on my outgoing mail wasn't all that important. I knew I was right and the authority with whom I spoke was wrong ... but I have enough postage on hand to meet my postal needs for the next decade or so. Unless, of course, the 6-month rate increases start really ballooning.

I am my own postmaster in 4 different zip codes.
I can cancel at home (or wherever) my first-class mail, then I bring it (or mail it in an envelope) to a post office desk in one of my 4 zip codes.
I only use regular stamps, not those discounted for bulk mailers.

My MPP (Mailer's Postmark Permit) is from USPS Form 3615, for precanceled stamps [I do the canceling], and that permit is FREE.
On the same Form 3615 there is the permit for bulk mailers (using discounted stamps), and that permit costs more than $200/year.


This wolf non-traditional maxicard is postmarked with an MPP postmark by Bill Porter.
I have designed the Zazzle personalized stamp.

There is no fee for a permit to use precanceled stamps. The $200 fee mentioned is for bulk mailings at discounted rates. With form 3615, both the precancel permit and the mailer's postmark permit are available, no cost. Since I have both I use bulk mail, presort, and non-profit stamps on my first class mail all the time. I have never paid any fees for this. It is often true that clerks at a local post office have no idea what this is about. The last (of several) permits that I got required the bulk mail handler to consult with someone for nearly an hour before he understood the process, and then he had to explain to the head clerk at my post office what's what. Since them I have used precanceled stamps daily on first class mail. They can also be used on Ground Advantage and priority mail. But see the rules in the DMM, section 604.3.

Paul071

Thanks for sharing. If you don't mind what post office do you use? I am still awaiting to hear from the NYC postmaster's office about this.