5% off First Class Stamps

Former_MSE_Archna

What's the deal?

Superdrug is offering 5% off First class stamps until 21 June. While it's often just as quick and cheaper to buy Second Class, if you use First Class often anyway, stock up while this offer's on (you can buy up to 72 stamps in one transaction).

Stamps are inflation proof, so stock up

Provided the stamps say "1st" rather than having a cost on them (e.g. 36p) then even when stamp prices go up they're still useable as first class stamps, making them inflation proof! Thus there isn't a problem stocking up on them when you can get them.

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misterthrifty

As mentioned in previous threads, much bigger discounts than this are always available with online dealers. Just do a search for 'discount stamps' or a similar search and you will find there are some great deals.

I have bought many times from these places for postage to use on ebay sales and I have never had a problem.

Mr T

brila

There are discount stamp dealers on the internet, however many of them sell "secondhand stamps":- washed used stamps which have been lightly franked or not franked at all and which need to be glued onto your envelope. I'm all for discounts, but not paying Royal Mail for your postage just drives up the costs for everyone else and increases the chances of the service being butchered further by the government.

Buy superdrug gift vouchers at less than face value from eBay, pay with a cashback credit card through paypal then stock up in Superdrug when they offer their 5% off. This way you get a good discount without stealing.

Dagobert

brila wrote: »

There are discount stamp dealers on the internet, however many of them sell "secondhand stamps" [...] not paying Royal Mail for your postage [...] This way you get a good discount without stealing.

Maybe you should research your subject first before shooting down misterthrifty?

There are various reputable dealers selling unused stamps at a 5-10% discount, for instance discountstamps.co.uk.

brila

I'm sure there are some reputable dealers. However I have had numerous encounters with dealers of used stamps passing them off as usable and since MisterThrifty's advice was to do a search for discounted stamp dealers (rather than a direct recommendation of a reputable dealer) I thought it pertinent to add a note of caution into this thread. Not all dealers of discounted stamps are selling stamps that can legally or ethically be used as payment for postage. People should be aware of this so they can make a decision about who to buy from and whether to defraud Royal Mail or not.

G_M

Thanks Dagobert for the recommendation, and Brila for the caveat.

payless

so where do the dealers (good or bad) get the stamps .. seems like unfranked ( or even washed ? ) - are you going to save 2p a stamp with the risk of your letters being caught out

KittaKatta

I was actually shocked to realize that, after I went to buy 24 1st class stamps at Superdrug in Shepherd's Bush, and even though it was pointed out to me at the till that there was a 5% discount on them, no discount was actually applied to my purchase at the checkout, and I paid the full price. :mad: I tried to argue with the cashier but she could not speak English very well so she was unable to help. I have now made a complain to Superdrug as I have the receipt... let's see what happens.
So make sure that you know the exact cost when you go to buy stamps at Superdrug, because they tend to tell you the discount is actually applied, but does not appear on the receipt...

misterthrifty

payless wrote: »

so where do the dealers (good or bad) get the stamps .. seems like unfranked ( or even washed ? ) - are you going to save 2p a stamp with the risk of your letters being caught out

The dealers buy collections built up by stamps collectors and then break them up. The postage is perfectly valid (and eye catching for those who sell things) it's just that Royal Mail have flooded the market with stamps which has driven down the re-sale price. You should be able to get up to 20% off, depending what stamps you want to buy.

I didn't want to name a specific company, but I have used the one mentioned previously and I have had an excellent service.

Mr T

JustWonderful

KittaKatta wrote: »

I was actually shocked to realize that, after I went to buy 24 1st class stamps at Superdrug in Shepherd's Bush, and even though it was pointed out to me at the till that there was a 5% discount on them, no discount was actually applied to my purchase at the checkout, and I paid the full price. :mad: I tried to argue with the cashier but she could not speak English very well so she was unable to help. I have now made a complain to Superdrug as I have the receipt... let's see what happens.
So make sure that you know the exact cost when you go to buy stamps at Superdrug, because they tend to tell you the discount is actually applied, but does not appear on the receipt...

With the 5% off stamps, the price shown on the receipt INCLUDES the discount. For example if the price before the 5% off is £2.00 the price on the receipt would be £1.95, it wouldnt say £2.00, and then have seperate thing at the bottom saying DISCOUNT -5p..HTH

walkman50

A friend sent me a letter using one of these so-called 'cheap' stamps. All I got through my door was a card from Royal Mail telling me I had an unspecified item in the post, which I had to travel several miles to collect and pay a one pound fine, plus the price of the second class stamp. It looked fine to me, and was unfranked, but they said they could tell it was a previously used stamp.

Fine+postage+fuel cost ME £1.70 so my friend could save a couple of pence! I would not do that to any friend of mine...

I'm also outraged that an organisation can give a fine for someone elses act.

P.S. Using an unfranked stamp that has already been used is like taking items off a supermarket shelf and showing them an old receipt to prove you have bought them. A criminal offence!