Cancels On Metered Postage

wt1, no, not all of the metered pieces are coming in with spray cancels. The ones I posted yesterday were just those that did have spray cancels, as well as the stamped pieces to simply provide additional examples for comparison. I tossed them up there in a hurry and apologize for not including more information at the time. :)

My hope in offering these examples is that a pattern can be deduced and/or we can collectively come up with an explanation for the differences. I consider it a puzzle, and I tend to go overboard when I can't solve a puzzle.

Office mail received Friday, 03/14/2014:

Here's an interesting one I received at home Friday, 03/14/2014:



The envelope is approximately 5.25" x 7.25" and was mailed from 68803 to 68803. It appears to have been first sprayed on the perpendicular with the "abbreviated" no-killer-bar postmark and shortly thereafter with the familiar postmark and killer-bar cancel. Adding to the curiousness, there is simply a barcode at the bottom of the envelope - no digits or other characters were printed.

Office mail received Saturday, 03/15/2014:

That Neopost meter label is interesting since it shows a 69c rate (i.e. 48c discounted meter for the first oz. and full price 21c the second oz.)

wt1, there is no discounted rate for metered postage after the first ounce. Refer to the FP Mailing Solutions link you posted earlier in this thread: http://www.fp-usa.com/48-cent-club-...er-discount/

Slow mail day today - office mail received Monday, 03/17/2014:



This was directed to our street address rather than our PO Box, which accounts for the difference in delivery ZIP. Our street address is 68801; PO Box is 68802.

The 03/20/2014 Postal Bulletin (now online) offers this explanation for the new postmark appearing on metered mail. Interestingly, the article suggests that it is "effective March 20, 2014" although several earlier examples have been posted. It will be interesting to see what may prove to be the EKU for this variety of spray-on postmarks:

That all seems unnecessarily complicated, but what do I know? I don't think I've been noticing as many sprayed meters since you posted that, wt1, but I could be mistaken.

I did receive this in today's mail. I'm not sure it would be considered a meter, but the stamps.com postage is printed directly on the envelope rather than a self-adhesive stamp.

Zuzu, that would be considered Computer Vended Postage (or CVP for short). If it was placed in the mail as a single item, it woulld be cancelled. Sometimes I see them where they are uncancelled but I think that is items that are mailed at a bulk rate. I am open to being corrected though.

Ah thanks, smauggie. I see a few stamps.com labels/stamps, but this is the first one I've noticed that was printed directly on the envelope.

With respect to the Stamps.com frank shown above, stamp collectors call it CVP, but the Postal Service considers it a postage meter. It even pays the new reduced first class rate for postage meters ($0.48). I just read an article about the new rate: I think it was in the latest Linn's Stamp News.

Robert

I believe the USPS considers meters anything with the IBI (information based indicia) on it to qualify as a "meter" in terms of the reduced $0.48 first class (first oz.) mail rate (and there is no minimum quantity mailing requirement). Therefore CVPs will qualify.

Interestingly, anything you do at the post office (i.e. have the clerk imprint a meter and affix it to a First Class Mail item) or purchase labels at the self service kiosks at the post office, both require a standard $0.49 first class rate, even though they, too, contain the IBI indicia.

It is getting harder and harder (at least for me) to tell the difference between meter and CVP. APC labels are supposed to be CVP but they have the IBI.

Thought I'd just add to this thread by showing this spray-on cancel (without killer bars) on metered mail just received today as dated 05 DEC '14:



As this is the first piece of metered mail I have seen with a spray on postmark in a few months, maybe the USPS is changing their procedures over the holidays? (They could have at least included the Rudolph part of the spray-on postmark!)