Computer Vended Stamps (2012)

Canada Postal Rates
Effective Monday, Jan 14, 2013

In Canada Canada
0-30g $0.63 | 30-50g $1.10 | 50-100g $1.34

To the U.S.A. USA
0-30g $1.10 | 30-50g $1.34 | 50-100g $2.20

Internationally International
0-30g $1.85 | 30-50g $2.68 | 50-100g $4.36


I like the design of these stamps.

Apologies if this was already posted (did not read back on all five pages of comments) but in case it wasn't, here's a bit from a fine blogger: http://postalhistorycorner.blogspot...-trials.html The author might even be on this board and I don't know it.

Peter

Peter, the blogger and Lorddenning must be the one and the same. The images are all the same including the receipts, as those shown on page 3 here.

Here is a shot of the error message I got, taken with my "dumb" phone.

Petermac and BeeSee

Yes. Postal history Corner is my blog.

I was disappointed that the cover I had mailed to my address bore no markings other than the 5-line porelon roller cancellation. No coding bars whatsoever. I have seen another example that went through the mail and had the familiar pink bars on the back of the envelope.

I have heard of several 'philatelic' covers of this new stamp having passed through the mails without any cancellation.

Seems the sorting/cancelling machines have not been "programmed" for the new design (?).

Are the stamps tagged? If not, they would have been rejected by the cancelling machine. Anyway, I would have had the human at the counter beside the kiosk hand cancel the stamps before posting the letters.

Yes, the stamps are tagged:



The paper is HB so the tagging (in the image) blends in.

Just to set the record straight. There are EIGHT possible denominations (both before the rate change and another eight after):

Denominations available from Dec 12/12 to Jan 13/13:

61c *
1.05 *
1.29
1.80 *
2.10
2.95
3.40
3.65

The three 'basic' values with an asterisk could be purchased in quantities up to 25 (but all were dispensed singly; i.e. no multiples).

[I know of a collector who took the time to get three complete sets. It takes forever to get the five 'odd' values as only single stamps can be dispensed after measuring and weighing each piece of mail. Are these the only full sets of the old denominations that were created by a collector?]


Denominations from Jan 14/13:

63c *
1.10
1.34 *
1.85 *
2.20
3.05
3.50
3.75

What was the $3.40 (now $3.50) rate for?

I would NOT be surprised one bit if Canada Post eventually prints complete sets of the first values. I would NOT pay big bucks for these on ebay or other places yet .

Used on cover during the proper date period will be the real deal.

Its for domestic 300g - 400g

To date I have only seen sets of 3 (.61/$1.05/$1.80) from one seller on ebay. To date he has sold 4 of these sets for $28, $27, $27 and $25. He has another set still listed.

Thanks IJ.

Computer vended stamps are popular world-wide. Here is a link for a catalogue dealing with the US stamps:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/karim-rode...1707119.html

It's too early to know what a reasonable price would be the first batch of Canadian kiosk stamps.

Should the trials lead to implementation we can expect new designs and of course misprints. This can be a costly pursuit.

It is unfortunate that collectors outside Toronto, Vancouver, and London don't have access to the machines. Perhaps Canada Post could print up a few thousand of each of the basic denominations and sell them.

I'm not sure that covers other than real commercial mail be of any real interest..The odds of finding such covers in the trial period are quite remote. Collector generated covers are better than nothing, I suppose.

Again thanks to board members who brought this to our attention. This forum appears to be the only source of information.

In period could also include the dates Jan 12, 13th AND 14th. The old 61c rate was good until midnight January 13th. Any mail put in drop boxes late Jan 13 (Sunday) would be cancelled Jan 14 and still be legally paid mail, and therefore "in period".

I saw the clerk at the counter in the Vancouver London Drugs post office cancel a parcel on Sunday (Jan 13) submitted by a customer (not posted with vending stamps). She also told me she would have cancelled my vending stamps if the machine was not out of order.