Using stamps on international packages - new policy?

boombap

Hi,

I was at a PO earlier in the week and I passed a package to the assistant that was going to Switzerland. I had 'stamped' it up at home and had put 6 x large first class stamps on the front which worked out as being a couple of pence more than the actual rate.

The assistant seemed pretty damn put out about putting it in the post sack and told me that she wouldn't accept it as you're not allowed to have stamps on international parcels and I would have to buy a label. Incidentally the package was correctly adorned with customs and airmail stickers.

I normally just post international items in post boxes but this particular item was bigger than normal as the customer had bought quite a few items of me. I have mailed out a couple of thousand items over the last couple of years using stamps rather than labels and have never had a problem.

Could someone advise if there's a new policy or was I just on the receiving end of a crack pot who'd had a bad day?

S.

F&L

I've not heard this. Sometimes when I go to the post office they press "stamps" instead of "label" and they then just stick postage stamps on and this has happened on overseas packages.

VanyaHargreeves

I tried sending something with stamps to America the other day and my PO person told me I couldn't, either. But I put it down to it being a horrid woman...

RFW

I seem to recall something about not putting stamps with '1st' or '2nd' on for international post and needing the ones with the amount on, I may be wrong it was a while ago.

anamenottaken

Perhaps they get more income if they sell you the label (or even the stamps) than if you turn up with a ready-stamped package . . .

TurkishDelight

I seem to remember a couple of days ago it was mentioned that international parcels ideally need to be with a numbered label or stamps, because they don't know over there how much our 1st/2nd class stamps cost.

Can't find it now though (typical)

soolin

My post offices still use stamps for international items if they go as a letter.

I do wish if RM changed their rules they would let people know!

macfly

Yes, the post office gets more income from the label, unless they sold you the stamps. You only risk a delay if you put loads of stamps on. The sorting process is automated and reads labels and single stamps. There are staff for the "rejects", smudged and multiple methods of payment. But those are done when and if. You can use stamps which show no value, but the euro ones were withdrawn after problems with other countries.
My advice would e if you are going in the post office anyway, let them label it up. It also looks better for the customer.

boombap

Thanks for your replies all. I think I most probs just had a crack-pot serving me on the day.

macfly wrote: »

My advice would e if you are going in the post office anyway, let them label it up. It also looks better for the customer.

It does look neater I agree but I know many of my international customers like seeing the English stamps. Plus as CostCo sell them much cheaper than the PO I'm making a substantial saving (a first class works out as being 33.8p rather than 39p). :beer:

S.

soolin

I also have a lot of overseas buyers that say they prefer the stamps. I buy up the special editions with pictures on them and use them.