'Swap out' postage stamps

SevenOfNine

If you have a little stock of stamps, don't forget to 'swap them out' via Royal Mail before early next year for the ones with the bar code. I did my 1st & 2nd small & large (I 'inherited' several), just received bar coded in exchange. Think time runs out Jan/Feb, so thought it best to get it done before any 11th hour rush!

TELLIT01

We'' only bother about changing them in January.  Many will be used sending C******** cards out.  I won't use the word before December :-)

greyfox

Just a word of warning. My late husband had a large number of low-value stamps (1p,2p,5p,10p) as well as a number of definitives. (No, I don't know why he had quite so many, either!) Had I realised that the bar-coded replacements were about 3 times the size I would have delayed swapping them out, although some friends have been amused to receive Birthday cards in envelopes almost completely covered in stamps bar a small window for their address!

SevenOfNine

greyfox said:

Just a word of warning. My late husband had a large number of low-value stamps (1p,2p,5p,10p) as well as a number of definitives. (No, I don't know why he had quite so many, either!) Had I realised that the bar-coded replacements were about 3 times the size I would have delayed swapping them out, although some friends have been amused to receive Birthday cards in envelopes almost completely covered in stamps bar a small window for their address!

Goodness, I didn't even realise they did stamps in those denominations! I still can't figure out why my late mum had about 15 large 1st class, she rarely posted anything to anyone, not even in December.

I agree they are pretty massive, the stamp part is about 1/3rd of the old stamp bigger + the barcode on the side.  By the time you've stuck all those small denominations on, your envelopes are probably overweight for the ordinary 1st/2nd class postage.  

Savvy_Sue

I didn't realise the stamps with a value on had to be swapped out, just the ones with 1st and 2nd on?

SevenOfNine

Savvy_Sue said:

I didn't realise the stamps with a value on had to be swapped out, just the ones with 1st and 2nd on?

I think it's anything with 1st/2nd &/or any denomination price indication along with the Queen's head. My Royal Mail letter said if they rec'd any denomination ones they no longer sold they'd make up the return bar coded stamp value with their 2nd class stamps. Exclusions for Christmas & other themed ones though - I think that's weird, either they need to be bar coded or they don't!

I think Martin has an article somewhere here.

olgadapolga

There's another thread about it:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6331387/royal-mail-barcoding-stamps-existing-stamps-valid-only-until-31-jan-2023/p54#latest

Katiehound

I'm almost pretty certain that you can swap them until the end of March next year so Iam not rushing.

I am using all my oddments up when I send  small packets (I do that about once a month) - that's when small denominations come in handy to make the full amount: I try very very hard not to overpay!!

My friendly postie very kindly brought me a couple of envelopes from the sorting office which saved me a trip.

NBLondon

SevenOfNine said:

Savvy_Sue said:

I didn't realise the stamps with a value on had to be swapped out, just the ones with 1st and 2nd on?

I think it's anything with 1st/2nd &/or any denomination price indication along with the Queen's head. My Royal Mail letter said if they rec'd any denomination ones they no longer sold they'd make up the return bar coded stamp value with their 2nd class stamps. Exclusions for Christmas & other themed ones though - I think that's weird, either they need to be bar coded or they don't!

I think Martin has an article somewhere here.

This article:  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/08/stamps-royal-mail-swap-out-six-months/

The headline might be what's causing Savvy Sue some confusion.

Here's the Royal Mail guide as to what needs to be swapped.  https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2022-03/Stamp-Images-for-swap-out.pdf

Christmas stamps are barcoded (started last year).  RM were going to invalidate them but changes their mind earlier this year.

Savvy_Sue

NBLondon said:

SevenOfNine said:

Savvy_Sue said:

I didn't realise the stamps with a value on had to be swapped out, just the ones with 1st and 2nd on?

I think it's anything with 1st/2nd &/or any denomination price indication along with the Queen's head. My Royal Mail letter said if they rec'd any denomination ones they no longer sold they'd make up the return bar coded stamp value with their 2nd class stamps. Exclusions for Christmas & other themed ones though - I think that's weird, either they need to be bar coded or they don't!

I think Martin has an article somewhere here.

This article:  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/08/stamps-royal-mail-swap-out-six-months/

The headline might be what's causing Savvy Sue some confusion.

Here's the Royal Mail guide as to what needs to be swapped.  https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2022-03/Stamp-Images-for-swap-out.pdf

Christmas stamps are barcoded (started last year).  RM were going to invalidate them but changes their mind earlier this year.

Indeed, it is the 'everyday' in the title which led me astray. 

I'm not sure we've had any publicity about this at work: I sent a link to the article to my colleague who keeps the stock of stamps, with the comment "I'm sure you're all over this!" to be told they'd heard nothing about it! We've now started sending the 'old' stamps back. 

I'm sure they won't cut off the swap scheme as soon as the old ones are invalid, so I'm doing nothing just yet. I don't have huge stocks but I may end up with a few. 

NBLondon

Savvy_Sue said:

I'm sure they won't cut off the swap scheme as soon as the old ones are invalid, so I'm doing nothing just yet. I don't have huge stocks but I may end up with a few. 

I'd expect it to carry on at least another 6 months i.e. to mid 2023

SevenOfNine said:

greyfox said:

Just a word of warning. My late husband had a large number of low-value stamps (1p,2p,5p,10p) as well as a number of definitives. (No, I don't know why he had quite so many, either!) 

Goodness, I didn't even realise they did stamps in those denominations! 

They're known as "make-up" stamps because you need them when the rate changes; you add them to an old stamp to make it up to the new rate.   E.G.  you have a £1.70 stamp for Europe from earlier in the year - you now need a 10p and 5p to make the new rate of £1.85.

If you have a lot of these to swap; you will get a lot of barcoded ones back.  So if you don't think you will use those it might be a better idea to sell them on - either on eBay or to a dealer.

SevenOfNine said:

I agree they are pretty massive, the stamp part is about 1/3rd of the old stamp bigger + the barcode on the side.  By the time you've stuck all those small denominations on, your envelopes are probably overweight for the ordinary 1st/2nd class postage.  

It's a pain for postcards.  Especially if you are adding a make-up stamp as well.