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

Codger1947

I notice that according to the Royal Mail's website, the date after which the old stamps cease to be valid is still January 31st.

KeithP

Codger1947 said:

I notice that according to the Royal Mail's website, the date after which the old stamps cease to be valid is still January 31st.

It's been mentioned a few times, but my post of last Friday - 18 November at 2:21PM - comes to a different conclusion.

molerat

Codger1947 said:

I notice that according to the Royal Mail's website, the date after which the old stamps cease to be valid is still January 31st.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

What happens if I use a non-barcoded stamp after 31 January 2023?

 
Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first 6 months be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised. After this 6 month grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage. Any item that has insufficient postage is subject to a surcharge. Surcharge fees can be found on our website.

martindow

As I read the RM message, it allows non-barcoded stamps to be used for an additional six months.  But it does not say that the exchanging scheme will continue to any particular date - or have I missed something?

NBLondon

martindow said:

As I read the RM message, it allows non-barcoded stamps to be used for an additional six months.  But it does not say that the exchanging scheme will continue to any particular date - or have I missed something?

No specific end date for the Swap Out was ever stated in the first place so it presumably continues until RM say otherwise.  I'd reckon it needs to be another 6 months (if not a year) after the invalidation date.

NBLondon

jrawle said:

NBLondon said:

That's an interesting thought....   I would have thought that there would be millions printed to account for the Swap Out so there will be no new stocks of Charles III printed until the QEII ones are close to being used up.  There's no word on how long the QEII stamps will remain valid but it could be 10 years plus based on previous cases.

Yet the posts above imply that they have already run out of second class stamps and are sending first to similar value as substitutes.

It looks like the Swap Out team in Edinburgh are temporarily short of barcoded 2nds - not that the entire Royal Mail has run out.   There must be stocks at the printers, depots and in safes.   What I don't know is the difference in time/cost between them requesting a new print run to keep things going and the setting up of a big new print run of Charles III.

Doc_N said:

There’s no logical reason why there should be any end date for validity at all. Any more than for outdated ‘event’ type stamps.

Agree - if the values are still useful - and obviously 1st and 2nd will be - then there isn't a practical reason.   There may be personal and cultural reasons like jrawle says.

I dug around some stamp forums -  Some Victoria stamps were still valid until WWI; Edward VII to 1930 or so; George V onwards until decimalisation.   Don't know how many were actually being used in the later years though.

You could well end up with stamps being used in combination e.g. next time the overseas rates go up people may end up using a £1.85 stamp from one monarch and a 5p from the other to meet a new rate.

Doc_N

martindow said:

As I read the RM message, it allows non-barcoded stamps to be used for an additional six months.  But it does not say that the exchanging scheme will continue to any particular date - or have I missed something?

It may well have to continue indefinitely in view of the earlier statements on the website by Royal Mail that decimal stamps had no end date and indefinite validity.

Codger1947

molerat said:

Codger1947 said:

I notice that according to the Royal Mail's website, the date after which the old stamps cease to be valid is still January 31st.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

What happens if I use a non-barcoded stamp after 31 January 2023?

 
Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first 6 months be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised. After this 6 month grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage. Any item that has insufficient postage is subject to a surcharge. Surcharge fees can be found on our website.

Thank you, I had not noticed that.  IMO it would be clearer were the RM just change the cut-off date.

davidian84

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374363487922
says stamps cannot be used
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354394708318
this listing makes no mention, yet no negative feedback yet

Im sure both fake but what is deal here? why make fakes if cant be scanned and used?

GaleSF63

martindow said:

We may be using stamps for some years, but queen's head coins will be around for decades I imagine.  Before decimalisation coins were in circulation with several monarchs going back as far as Victoria.

If we hadn't decimalised we might still be seeing the occasional Victorian penny though most had already more or less worn down into blank discs.