Stamps Through Atm Trial

Hello,

The Canadian Post has offered a sheet of 18 stamps with face value of 45c in 1998 through ATM machines in a trial. Later that year they replaced the 45c sheet through an equivalent 46c sheet due to a tarif change.

Apparently shortly after they abrubtly stopped the trial. Can someone tell me:

1. Why the trial has been stopped ?
2. When exactly it has been stopped ?

Thank you
Dieter

My records indicate that my wife and I drove from Toronto to Whitby which was one of 22 south-central Ontario trial ATM locations. It was Saturday April 14th, 1998 so the start date was probably no sooner than Monday April 9th, 1998. I purchased a few sheetlets of SC1696, the initial 45 cent stamp. I remember that it was a stand-alone CIBC ATM just off of the sidewalk on a grassy area.

It was a one year trial period ending on or just prior to April 30th., 1999.

We also drove to a location on Sheppard Avenue in Toronto in December of 1998 to purchase the 46 cent issue SC1699, which was the second sheetlet issue. Whether this was also a stand-alone CIBC ATM or inside a building, I don't remember.



April 16th - Corrected the 46 cent issue from SC1696 to SC1699.

@Blackjag

Thanks for your reply and explanation

Can I therefore assume the following:

1. The trial was planned for a year and did last a year without being discontinued prematurely ?!
2. The trial was considered a failure since there was no follow-up in terms of offering those or other sheetlets on a smaller or bigger scale ?
3. The sheetlets have a catalogue value of 100$, if I am correct, which seems quite substantial. Is that because the public did not adopt the fetching of stamps through ATMs ? And this was then also the reason why the trial was considered a failure ?

Dieter

Sorry Deiter, I can't answer any of your questions.

I'm really not sure how the non-philatelic public would even have known that they could purchase postage stamps through a CIBC ATM during the period unless they stumbled over a trial ATM.

The 2020 Unitrade values the SC1696 booklet at $35.00 and SC1999 at $65.00

@BlackJag,

Thanks again for your reply.

Would be nice if anyone else can shed more light on this. I would like to add the two issues to my collection, but I usually try to have the "full" story documented

Without any proof - just my thoughts. The trial was a failure because it was a bad idea - although not as bad as the Cello Paqs of the 1960s.

The stamps were dispensed without any protective covering and so had to be kept in a wallet or purse where I suppose that they could easily get damaged or if they started to peal off become stuck in bank notes etc. At least they were the same size of bank notes.

Why replace the functional and well proven booklets with something less good ?.

I would not pay any attention to the Unitrade "value" it is a factor of 4 or 5 too high. There are two of the 46c sheets on ebay at present for $20 and C$25. Probably most of the sales went to collectors and speculators. On the other hand try to find a commercially used single on cover. That will indicate what the public thought of the idea.

AQ

I have found a newspaper clipping with a news article issued by the Canadian press announcing these stamps, attached below. They sold for a premium over face like a few earlier booklets issued by Canada Post. Not very popular. They were designed to fold in half, like other booklets, if so desired to fit wallet. I do not know if they ever made it into other ATM's beside CIBC's or how far across Canada they were issued.

The 45c sheetlet #1696 was printed by Avery Dennison Corporation in 4 colors on JAC paper with USA tagging and was issued April 14,1998. 250,000 bklts issued.
There also was a (#1697) 45c coil of 100 printed by Ashton-Potter Canada Limited with 3 color printing on JAC paper and Gt4 tagging issued on September 30,1998. 27,200 coils of 100 issued in a box.
Lastly came the (1699) 46c sheetlet printed in 4 colors by Avery Dennison Corporation on FCP paper with USA tagging issued on December 28,1998. 125,000 bklts issued.

Edit: As for the $8.99 cost, it was comprised of $8.10 for postage, 30c for convenience fee and then the 7% GST tax that was applicable on both at the time when purchased.