Royal Mail barcoding stamps - existing stamps valid only until 31 Jan 2023

badmemory

We will also have to watch the stamps we buy before the closing date as it is quite possible that some POs & other shops will still be selling unbarcoded stamps right up to the last day.

custardy

badmemory said:

We will also have to watch the stamps we buy before the closing date as it is quite possible that some POs & other shops will still be selling unbarcoded stamps right up to the last day.

I would expect POs will have a switch over. Shops however could be selling right past cut off.

Rantband

martindow said:

Here's a  page from a blog where someone has analysed the bar code on a 2nd class stamp

https://blog.norphil.co.uk/2021/03/barcode-added-to-2nd-class-business.html

Amongst other things the current price for a stamp is included.

If correct the following quote from the blog should stop the reuse of unfranked stamps.

Datamatrix codes

The stamps use datamatrix technology which means that every stamp will be different.  The so-called 2D-barcode at the right of the new stamp will be scanned on use, and any reuse could show that the stamp has already been used.  Of course if these stamps too are forged but all have the same code pattern, every one of them should be rejected.  

jon81uk

Just noticed the Christmas stamps I bought last December have the barcode. So they were issuing barcoded stamps before the announcement

Money_Grabber13579

jon81uk said:

Just noticed the Christmas stamps I bought last December have the barcode. So they were issuing barcoded stamps before the announcement

They were part of the trial which Royal Mail did, along with barcoded 2nd class blue stamps issued earlier last year.

custardy

jon81uk said:

Just noticed the Christmas stamps I bought last December have the barcode. So they were issuing barcoded stamps before the announcement

They can issue any stamp they like
The issue is the removal of acceptance for non barcoded stamps

cx6

Rantband said:

martindow said:

Here's a  page from a blog where someone has analysed the bar code on a 2nd class stamp

https://blog.norphil.co.uk/2021/03/barcode-added-to-2nd-class-business.html

Amongst other things the current price for a stamp is included.

If correct the following quote from the blog should stop the reuse of unfranked stamps.

Datamatrix codes

The stamps use datamatrix technology which means that every stamp will be different.  The so-called 2D-barcode at the right of the new stamp will be scanned on use, and any reuse could show that the stamp has already been used.  Of course if these stamps too are forged but all have the same code pattern, every one of them should be rejected.  

this is perhaps the most important part of the blog well done for spotting it

veryintrigued

cx6 said:

Rantband said:

martindow said:

Here's a  page from a blog where someone has analysed the bar code on a 2nd class stamp

https://blog.norphil.co.uk/2021/03/barcode-added-to-2nd-class-business.html

Amongst other things the current price for a stamp is included.

If correct the following quote from the blog should stop the reuse of unfranked stamps.

Datamatrix codes

The stamps use datamatrix technology which means that every stamp will be different.  The so-called 2D-barcode at the right of the new stamp will be scanned on use, and any reuse could show that the stamp has already been used.  Of course if these stamps too are forged but all have the same code pattern, every one of them should be rejected.  

this is perhaps the most important part of the blog well done for spotting it

Wasn't this established some time ago on this thread?

cx6

No ............

Money_Grabber13579

I thought it was clear that this was the reason why the change was happening…to prevent fraudulent and reused stamps. If it was just a change in design or because someone in RM really thought that they needed to let recipients watch Shaun the Sheep videos, there would have been no need to invalidate old stamps.