Post Office refuses to sell single Gold Medal stamps

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Dont see what the fuss is really. They are selling them as minature sheets of 6 not individually. Great bit of business for them.

NBLondon

Azari wrote: »

Yes but the point with the PO is that ALL stamps, apart from booklets, come in 'multipacks' (called sheets) which are routinely broken up for sale. As there is no premium for the Olympics winner stamps they are just being uncooperative (possibly at a corporate level).

Nope, for once, you're wrong

Sheets are one thing - they have about 60 stamps on them and a white border (with test codes) and are designed to be broken up although you can buy a half or complete sheet if you wish.

Minisheets are different - they have images or information on the border/matrix and are designed to be sold as a complete item.

Presentation Packs are a set of stamps in a cover with extras - this does have a premium price - and again is sold as a complete item.

Retail Booklets are designed to be sold as a complete item but some postoffices will break them up and sell individual stamps if they don't have a sheet of the right denomination.

There's also Prestige Booklets - which sometimes contain a combination or style of stamp never sold in sheets.

[/Nerdishness]

The corporate decision to sell these commemoratives as minisheets only is probably profit-based though.

Andy_L

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

There's no such thing as bad PR and if the Royal Mail are getting any sort of media coverage for the sake of £3.60, they'd be bloody chuffed at that.

Aren't Royal Mail & the Post Office different companies these days (with many POs being independant franchises anyway)

Azari

NBLondon wrote: »

Nope, for once, you're wrong.

It happens.

NBLondon wrote: »

Sheets are one thing - they have about 60 stamps on them and a white border (with test codes) and are designed to be broken up although you can buy a half or complete sheet if you wish.

Minisheets are different - they have images or information on the border/matrix and are designed to be sold as a complete item.

Presentation Packs are a set of stamps in a cover with extras - this does have a premium price - and again is sold as a complete item.

Retail Booklets are designed to be sold as a complete item but some postoffices will break them up and sell individual stamps if they don't have a sheet of the right denomination.

There's also Prestige Booklets - which sometimes contain a combination or style of stamp never sold in sheets.

[/Nerdishness]

I am aware of all this.

You missed the most important point of my post: "As there is no premium for the Olympics winner stamps they are just being uncooperative (possibly at a corporate level)".

As there is no premium, if you split a sheet of six to sell one you still have five stamps left to sell for exactly five sixths of the value of the sheet.

Given that you can always order the sheets from Tallents House there's really no need to 'save' the mini-sheets for collectors.

I was thinking about this earlier this morning whilst reading the September issue of 'Stamp' magazine (which hasn't - at least as far as I've read so far - yet mentioned the problem of not being able to buy single stamps), and wondering if some enterprising person will get a collection of all the mini-sheets, split them, and sell sets of winners stamps on Ebay.

NBLondon

Azari wrote: »

You missed the most important point of my post: "As there is no premium for the Olympics winner stamps they are just being uncooperative (possibly at a corporate level)".

Nope - I responded to the part with the EMPHASIS

Azari wrote: »

Yes but the point with the PO is that ALL stamps, apart from booklets, come in 'multipacks' (called sheets) which are routinely broken up for sale.

since EMPHASIS usually indicates the most important part.

Then I agreed with you that it's probably a corporate decision. I did a bit of googling and couldn't see anything that declared a PO manager couldn't split them so maybe it's local discretion.

Given that they sold out in an hour in Penzance (home of rower Helen Glover) it seems it the OP is in the minority and the PO will make the money.

Azari wrote: »

wondering if some enterprising person will get a collection of all the mini-sheets, split them, and sell sets of winners stamps on Ebay.

I would think it quite likely for some dealers/collectors to buy multiple sets and do exactly that. If supplies are limited - they should make a profit; if there are enough supplies for all those who want souvenirs then these speculators may find themselves overstocked. That's the name of the game though and they can still be used postally as a last resort.

teasleym

Just to update that some post offices have changed their views on selling individual stamps. I went into Tonbridge (Kent) yesterday and purchased 2 of all 22 medal stamps.
I questioned whether this was new and the lady told me that they had only been allowed to do this since the day before. It took a while to get all 22 as she had to cut them off the special sheets, but it seems their rules have changed and they can sell them individually.
Was told to be quick if you want them though as Bradley Wiggins is very popular and selling out!

custardy

teasleym wrote: »

as Bradley Wiggins is very popular and selling out!

poor Bradley

kermitfrog

An update on this grumble -

I emailed the Post Office about my complaint at the time, and I've just received a response (by post).

They apologised for the fact that I was unable to purchase individual stamps, and said that they were designed to be sold as a collectible sheet of 6 x 1st Class Stamps (a nice money-earner if they're never used).

There followed an undertaking to keep a record of my complaint on their system and use it when they analyze and monitor their performance.

AND they enclosed a book of 6 First Class stamps bearing the '2012' logo!

All in all, a satisfactory response to my complaint, but it does not address the issue of why they won't break a set of stamps which are sold at face value.

But I DO know why, don't I. It's PROFIT!

Irn-Bru-Kid

kermitfrog wrote: »

An update on this grumble -

I emailed the Post Office about my complaint at the time, and I've just received a response (by post).

They apologised for the fact that I was unable to purchase individual stamps, and said that they were designed to be sold as a collectible sheet of 6 x 1st Class Stamps (a nice money-earner if they're never used).

There followed an undertaking to keep a record of my complaint on their system and use it when they analyze and monitor their performance.

AND they enclosed a book of 6 First Class stamps bearing the '2012' logo!

All in all, a satisfactory response to my complaint, but it does not address the issue of why they won't break a set of stamps which are sold at face value.

But I DO know why, don't I. It's PROFIT!

Posted a couple of things today at my local PO and the assistant used the Olympic stamps.

I remembered this thread and asked about the stamps, saying I though they only sold them in books of 6. She said they did, but they have decided to sell them individually as 'they will never get rid of them'.

I don't think they are the money spinner that RM thought they would be. Now that the Olympics is over, no one is interested by the sounds of things.

NBLondon

kermitfrog wrote: »

But I DO know why, don't I. It's PROFIT!

That's the primary reason for commemorative stamps in the first place:D Every one that is bought mint and never used postally is a profit for the issuer.

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

I don't think they are the money spinner that RM thought they would be. Now that the Olympics is over, no one is interested by the sounds of things.

My guess:

a) Anyone who wanted a set for their local hero will have got it in the first few days so they sell out in the local area but might be left over at the other end of the country

b) Any collector who wants a complete set will either have got them by now or will order direct (It's about £104)

c) The better known names will have been snapped up and run out quickly - as Azari and I thought - a lot are re-appearing on eBay for a premium - £1.49 starting price for a single Wiggins.

So there will be leftovers in some post offices and it might well be a local management decision to break them up and sell them rather than have them hanging around.

It may also depend on whether Post Office Counters have to pay Royal Mail up front or can they take them on sale or return.