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

JWM

Chomeur said:

Doc_N said:

Royal Mail did clearly state on their website that there was no time limit on the use of decimal stamps. I saved it when I bought a load - just in case.

Any chance you could post it here or send me a copy by PM?

Does that have relevance though? RM can change and discard their own rules whenever they like. Seems pointless to fight them on semantics.
Sometimes you just have to suck it up and get on with life.

TOP_CAT

Which type of stamps can we save till very last or use after the cutoff date ?
Reality is I might not use all I have so will use what is best first and see how I get on by end of dec 

Im attempting too use up definitives although Im not up to speed on all types of definitives so will google any Im uncertain of which I have done so far (as the word  definitives didnt mean much to me .)

For now Im using the queens head types up first but have Xmas stamps too and a few others Im not sure on .

millie

I have received my replacement stamps this morning. they have sent the correct amount but have not sent any extra for the special deliver cost £7.55 The letter enclosed with them does say they have included them so I have phoned them and they are going to send them. They have given me a reference number in case they do not arrive.

They are in sheets of 50 which is a pain. I used to keep a couple of books in my purse in case I needed any while I am out or on holiday.  Hopefully I should be back on the survey soon so I will get some books for in my purse.

Doc_N

Chomeur said:

Doc_N said:

Royal Mail did clearly state on their website that there was no time limit on the use of decimal stamps. I saved it when I bought a load - just in case.

Any chance you could post it here or send me a copy by PM?

This was the wording on the Royal Mail website earlier this year - it's been there for years.

1. Do stamps have an expiry date?
   Stamps without a specified monetary value are described as Non Value Indicator (NVI) and are typically First and Second Class stamps. These do not have an expiry date, therefore can be used regardless of the length of time you've had them. Stamps with a monetary value also do not have an expiry date and can be combined to make up the value of postage required.

Perfectly reasonable to regard that as part of the contract between purchaser and Royal Mail when originally buying the stamps - and that's doubtless why RM have set up the replacement scheme.  Whether they've chosen the most sensible way of achieving that is another matter.  Small amounts don't matter much to RM in the overall scheme of things, but if you get an argument about whether, say, a couple of thousand pounds worth of stamps were or weren't placed inside a jiffy bag by the sender then it might become more significant.

soolin

TOP_CAT said:

Which type of stamps can we save till very last or use after the cutoff date ?
Reality is I might not use all I have so will use what is best first and see how I get on by end of dec 

Im attempting too use up definitives although Im not up to speed on all types of definitives so will google any Im uncertain of which I have done so far (as the word  definitives didnt mean much to me .)

For now Im using the queens head types up first but have Xmas stamps too and a few others Im not sure on .

I’m on an iPad and can’t post photos, but basically if it just has the Queens head (and possibly a country within the UK symbol) then it’s a definitive. If it has a picture and a small queens head in the corner it is a commemorative. So use plain ones first (or swap them) and then the picture ones. 

The other day I had a new person at the PO counter (he was being trained by an existing member of staff) and he queried the Star Wars stamps I was using as he didn’t think they were British , obviously the supervisor he called told him they were fine, but to always double check the values to make sure I had used the correct amount . Poor bloke I could see him panicking trying to calculate the cost of a standard 1st class stamp plus all the extra odd amounts. 

NBLondon

soolin said:

TOP_CAT said:

Which type of stamps can we save till very last or use after the cutoff date ?
Reality is I might not use all I have so will use what is best first and see how I get on by end of dec 

Im attempting too use up definitives although Im not up to speed on all types of definitives so will google any Im uncertain of which I have done so far (as the word  definitives didnt mean much to me .)

For now Im using the queens head types up first but have Xmas stamps too and a few others Im not sure on .

I’m on an iPad and can’t post photos, but basically if it just has the Queens head (and possibly a country within the UK symbol) then it’s a definitive. If it has a picture and a small queens head in the corner it is a commemorative. So use plain ones first (or swap them) and then the picture ones. 

I've encountered PO staff who didn't know what Definitive meant....

Here's the link for TC  https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2022-03/Stamp-Images-for-swap-out.pdf

Country Definitives can be pictures as in https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/GBPictorialRegionalStamps.JPG  - or the older ones are as soolin describes with  small emblem in the corner (Welsh dragon, Scottish heraldic lion, Red Hand of Ulster, Manx triskelion)

If you have stuff you're not likely to use up - high values? recorded and Special Delivery?  then best to swap them soon; then use all the Queen's Head type you can; then swap any you have left over.

You don't at the moment need to use up commemoratives (which RM also call Special Stamps) or Christmas stamps as these are not being invalidated.

TOP_CAT

Thanks for the help  everyone I dont know much about stamps but am more up to speed now...I looked at google and with the advice above I will use up 2nd class definitives first in case the 1st class go up again (as they seem to go up more than second class when price rises happen )

I dont really want to bother with trading up for bar coded types if I can help it so will see if I can use the majority of "priority" or definitive to be correct, stamps first .

soolin

TOP_CAT said:

Thanks for the help  everyone I dont know much about stamps but am more up to speed now...I looked at google and with the advice above I will use up 2nd class definitives first in case the 1st class go up again (as they seem to go up more than second class when price rises happen )

I dont really want to bother with trading up for bar coded types if I can help it so will see if I can use the majority of "priority" or definitive to be correct, stamps first .

The prices went up last week so hopefully the next one won't be until about the same time nex year and therefore after the definitives cease to be usable. 

petersy

millie said:

I have received my replacement stamps this morning. they have sent the correct amount but have not sent any extra for the special deliver cost £7.55 The letter enclosed with them does say they have included them so I have phoned them and they are going to send them. They have given me a reference number in case they do not arrive.

They are in sheets of 50 which is a pain. I used to keep a couple of books in my purse in case I needed any while I am out or on holiday.  Hopefully I should be back on the survey soon so I will get some books for in my purse.

Can you post the phone number please/

millie

03452 660 804

There is also a web address with an online form to fill in for queries
  royalmail.com/swapoutsupport