Computer Vended Stamps (2012)

sportfanatic1
There's a big difference between Computer Vended Stamps (CVS) or Kiosk stamps (this column) and Picture Postage stamps (another column).

Here's an envelope offered on ebay (321255499833) and it set me wondering. The cancellation is right over the bar code (as it would very often be).

I would think that this would defeat the purpose of a bar code of this sort on any stamp because it could so easily become unreadable. The unreliability diminishes its usefulness to the PO, perhaps fatally.

Any help identifying these? The first two are stamps.com and the bottom is an APC

APC is the US Postal Service version of the kiosk stamps. stamps.com is a US company authorised by USPS to sell personalized postage.

Thanks, but I guess I didn't make my question clear. I'm looking for the catalog number of the APC and anything available as far as cataloging the two from stamps.com. Thanks though!

I have a set of the original series of these kiosk stamps and I'm willing to part with it. I'm going to go and figure out how to use the new (to me) sales system on SCF. Wish me luck!

Peter

Here is another mint example of a Pitney Bowes kiosk postage stamp. The stamp was bought on the first day (SEP 30 2008). It was dispensed by the postal kiosk installed at the Meadowlands P.O. in Ancaster, ON.

I was in Toronto yesterday. I bought a ton. So that I make some nice parcels I am sending to New Zealand. $200 in Postage on the one. Has anyone ever tried to make a very expensive item. I was thinking about making a nice one. Like #600 to 2000. No doubles. Just for fun.

Any idea's.

How is the collection market for meter stamps?
I am sure it will have some people. Also does anyone know how many stamps that Canada Post will issue less over the 5 years. Well just a guess. I am thinking about 20% less.

What do you think?

Joe

Neat thing:


The postal code, when entered into Canada Post's 'Find a Post Office' search, gives out Burlington, ON at L7L 6M0, a post office postal code, as apposed to a street address postal code.

SHOPPERS DRUG MART #0726
2080 APPLEBY LINE
BURLINGTON ON L7L 6M0
URL POCON = 0000439258 (usually uses the last 6 digits or numerals).

The POCON number (I assume) 201652, replacing the 439258, does not work at finding a post office when attached onto the URL in the same search,

The above Pitney Bowes meter that was sold at the Meadowlands retail outlet in Ancaster belongs to Pitney Bowes. The postal code L7L 6W6 is the postal code that is assigned to Pitney-Bowes' Burlington office which is located at Pitney Bowes Canada at 5500 North Service Road, Burlington, ON L7L 6W6.

There is no connection between that meter and the Shoppers Drug Mart retail outlet at 2080 Appleby Line, Burlington (POCON 439258). Pitney Bowes just happens to be not too far away from that location.

Postal Outlets have usually 2 postal codes. One is the actual location of the retail outlet (no different than your own postal code), and the other is the code assigned by Canada Post to an outlet serving a certain area of town. Should the location change that code may actually move to the new outlet serving that area. Corporate codes for outlets end with the last digit as "0" (usually). Location codes are almost the same except the last digit is not "0". Canada Post has run into the problem where they do not have sufficient codes so there are occasions where this suggestion does not hold.

@ Puzzler and Berliner
Many thanks for the info. I am a little bit confused though. I got two mint Pitney Bowes kiosk stamps from the first day. The one shown above (postal code: L7L 6W6) and another one with a different postal code (L9K 1J0). Although I cannot say for sure, I assumed both types were dispensed by the kiosk at Meadowlands P.O. (if I am not mistaken, the kiosk there was the only operating one on the first day of this issue). Therefore I have assumed until today that the postal code printed relates to the addressee of the mail item the postage stamp was printed for (similar to the large APC labels dispensed by the Wincor-Nixdorf kiosks in the US). Or is there any other possible explanation for the two different postal codes?

That is rather interesting! If both labels were issued by the same machine and at the same location then there is really only one explanation.

The Pitney-Bowes machine was set up at the Meadowlands RO by the Pitney-Bowes staff. They issued a number of labels with the L7L 1W6 postal code before they realized it was the WRONG postal code, corrected the programming to now show the correct L9K 1J0 postal code, which is the correct code for the Meadowlands RO. So, if issued by the same machine and at the same Meadowlands location then I think you have a very nice collectible. Congratulations!

@ Berliner
That sounds absolutely logical to me. Many thanks for your explanation.

A great exhibit dealing with US Machine Vended Stamps (1989 - 2009) has been posted recently:

http://www.japhila.cz/hof/0838/index0838a.htm