Philatelic Friendly Or Non-Friendly Pos

We have had several posts in the past that mentioned 'over cancellation' and other non-philatelic friendly practices at local post offices. Other posts make the point of mentioning those post offices which support our hobby. Perhaps this thread can be the lightning rod for posts of these types. By communicating and publishing the philatelic friendly posts offices we may help them and others. And calling out those which are annoying is therapeutic and might even shame a few of them into improvement.


To start I give a philatelic thumbs up to the PO in Zirconia North Carolina USA. This small PO is always helpful and accommodating. Clerks will take the time to show you the current selection of stamps and are happy to sell you singles.




A big philatelic thumbs down for the Hendersonville North Carolina USA PO. It seems like virtually every package I sent through this PO will receive pen cancellations that make the stamps useless for further collecting. Here is a imperf block from a press sheet which they so thoughtfully ruined with a black marker on every stamp. Grrrrr.


What POs have you had that merit being ranked as being philatelic friendly or non-friendly?
don

Morrison, Colorado ---- very friendly.

Newport Minnesota could possibly be the most easy going group of People I've ever dealt with.

Example: I recently sent a Priority flat rate box to Australia with over $80.00 in Stamps on it. The best part is that I glue sticked the inverted Jenny sheets to the box so I didn't have to peel off 6 individual self adhesive Stamps. The postal clerk did question me on this to which I replied "What does it matter if you cancel the Stamps ?" to which the clerk replied, I guess you're right and cancelled them all with their brand new handstamp.

Sometimes the good done by your friendly PO can be undone elsewhere. I recently mailed an envelope at my friendly local PO. The clerk applied a nice hand-cancel to the stamp ... which another collector planned on adding to his collection. But when it reached Kansas City, someone apparently decided that the cancel had missed the stamp (actually the stamp was canceled but only very lightly on one corner). They then applied a much heavier cancel & in the process managed to tear the right side of the stamp.

Hi JLLebbert

My personal preference with used stamps is a nicely placed 'socked on the nose' cancel. I won't buy corner clipped used stamps as they carry no cancel information. If I have the opportunity to get my stamps cancelled at the Post Office I ask for, and usually get, a nicely placed CDS. Why not try it next time and maybe your stamp will arrive as it was sent.

Terry

Rhinelander, Wisconsin P.O. is a very friendly post office for the collector. They tend to have publications, catalogs, and year sets available and on display.

The ultimate level of friendliness, when it comes to postmarking mail, is when YOU are the one who does the postmarking.
Not just by "borrowing" a canceller from the friendly postal associate and doing your postmarking in front of them, at the postal desk;
I am referring to HAVING your own canceller/postmarking device and using it, even at home. See USPS Form 3615 - Mailer's Postmark Permit.