Simulated Stamp Images On Nonprofit Mail

I have noticed a new (at least to me) technique used by nonprofit mailers: add simulated stamp images to the outgoing cover or to the business reply envelope. It must be significantly cheaper — at least in terms of time and labor — than adding five cents in postage to the envelope. I wonder if it is similarly effective as a way to engage recipients.

Here are recent examples from Sierra Club, Best Friends Animal Society, and Doctors Without Borders. I would be interested to see any others you have found.

From a post by rod222


PostNL issues what it calls 'attention stamps' since studies have shown people are more likely to read mail that is franked with an actual stamp.

https://goscf.com/t/70915&whichpage=3#684587

I'm not sure I follow your thoughts about the "five cents in postage." Since everything's prepaid, no one would have to add any postage of any kind. These all look like preprinted cinderellas, so to speak. There's no denomination, no country of issue. They're just thematic images made to look kind of like stamps. Just a curious design/marketing choice.

I understand that, classic_paper. My point is that, up until now, I have seen nonprofit mailers use five cents in actual postage stamps on the envelope (either a 5¢ stamp, five 1¢ stamps, or two 2¢ and a 1¢) to engage recipients, like Amnesty International did for this mailing. Preprinting simulated stamps must be a big money saver. I'm curious if it's as effective for them as using the actual stamps.

I understand now what you mean. IMO it likely keeps the people that cared about the real stamps, and doesn't attract anyone who didn't care in the first place (the old way). So like you said, a net win in cost savings but not a game changer.

On the other side of the coin, I have recently received two different ads from AARP with no stamps whatsoever or any kind of indication of postage paid.