New type postage stamps

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

I am getting letters and cards now with the new type stamps on them.

But, they are not franked! Can I re-use them?

Bit iffy I think. Clive

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Nice thought but I am sure there will be a giant computer somewhere storing all the information about the use of every stamp. I sent some of the old stamps back to get replaced with the new ones and it took them ages to oblige, but they did replace all the second class ones with first class so I can't complain too much.

Doug

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Apparently each stamp has an individual code number which will be read and 'digitally' franked. Second time around will be ejected and charge levied for extra processing and delivery. Ran a few through a bar code reader they do appear to have different numbers.

John

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The bar code identifies the stamp and is for a one shot use, once it has been through the system it will be deleted as a valid stamp so the recipient will be charged if a stamp is used twice. Do not remove the barcode or the stamp will not be valid.

Mike

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Is the bit with the monarch's head on now purely decorative then?

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Just had a bloke in a bright red jacket come up my drive, at first I thought it was Santa coming early but no, it was a postman, first one we have seen for two weeks, all he delivered was junk mail. I asked him if he knew where I could buy third class stamps, he seemed a bit confused so I explained that I want a third class stamp to go with the third class service they are delivering.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

They havent started to print the forth class stamps yet for the service you will now get Baz ! Noel.

[Dick HParticipant @dickh]

Same in Germany. Buy stamps, pay with a card and you can track the sender and recipient. Perfect.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Anonymous communication is hated by authoritarian governments – sounds as tho the UK is applying for membership of this club – maybe the PRC can supply some expertise.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I presume that when postal charges go up, these new stamps will also be rejected as out of date!

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

Lets hope that the software validating these stamps is more reliable than the accounting system which resulted in hundreds of perfectly innocent Sub-Postmasters being prosecuted for theft.

What happens if the stamp gets marked on it's travels before it gets scanned?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Anthony Knights on 06/12/2022 23:42:09:

Lets hope that the software validating these stamps is more reliable than the accounting system which resulted in hundreds of perfectly innocent Sub-Postmasters being prosecuted for theft.

What happens if the stamp gets marked on it's travels before it gets scanned?

.

There is a lot of redundancy built-into QR codes

[ the inevitable pun was not intentional ]

Incidentally; I scanned a stamp yesterday, and it read :

JGB S11251017031181564650006603122101 11E72B53F9826C8801

MichaelG.

[RMAParticipant @rma]

'Royal Mail' is just an operating name for a private company. I predict in the not too distant future, mail will have to be collected rather than delivered, whatever the class of stamp! This has been the case in Spain, and no doubt other countries for many years.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Multiple-choice question:

1. It brings operational efficiency
2. It delivers ‘added value’
3. It’s ‘vertical integration’ of a new revenue stream.

**LINK**

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/01/royal-mail-adds-barcodes-to-stamps-offering-digital-extras

MichaelG.

.

P.S. __ [with reference to my previous post] the QR code on the publicity image reads:

0100000000000000

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/12/2022 08:43:18

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Too late to edit ^^^ but I am intrigued to see that the Grauniad saw fit to ‘re-correct’ its previous description of the code used on the stamps.

If it looks like a QR code, and reads like a QR code ….

MichaelG.

.

[quote]
This article was amended on 21 February 2022 to restore the article’s original description of the new stamp feature as a barcode, and remove “corrections” (to text, and in a 3 February footnote) that erroneously renamed the feature a QR code. A line has also been inserted defining the type of barcode used.

[/quote]

Edit: __ One lives and learns :

https://www.neodynamic.com/barcodes/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/12/2022 09:30:24

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Posted by Adrian R2 on 06/12/2022 15:26:28:

Is the bit with the monarch's head on now purely decorative then?

Depends on your definition of "decorative" I guess…

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 07/12/2022 08:37:10:

Multiple-choice question:

1. It brings operational efficiency
2. It delivers ‘added value’
3. It’s ‘vertical integration’ of a new revenue stream.

**LINK**

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/01/royal-mail-adds-barcodes-to-stamps-offering-digital-extras

MichaelG.

Thanks for the link. My understanding from the rather unsatisfactory PO website is that Christmas stamps will remain valid and are not "swapoutable".

I have posted my swapouts today at the "local" sub-postoffice; they were unable to provide a certificate of posting – not clear to me from the website – but they were happy for me to take a photo (to go with the photo I took previously of the contents of the envelope).

To my regret, the PO seem to be committing economic and reputational suicide and inviting a socially damaging split up and takeover. The opportunity to provide tracking via the new stamps seems unlikely to bear fruit.

[Tim HammondParticipant @timhammond72264]

Hmmmm. Going back to the OP, does he not think that the re-use of unfranked stamps is theft?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Bought some online postage last night. It used to be very straightforward, but now it is impossible to avoid the option of having it collected. I walk past the postbox most days as I'm emptying the dog, so I don't find this at all helpful.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Tim Hammond on 08/12/2022 13:51:30:

Hmmmm. Going back to the OP, does he not think that the re-use of unfranked stamps is theft?

I think it might be that offshoot called "obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception".

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Post box option still appears to be an option, just as before, Duncan Webster. Nothing changed that I can see other than the yellow labels saying that collection is free?

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Tim Hammond on 08/12/2022 13:51:30:

Hmmmm. Going back to the OP, does he not think that the re-use of unfranked stamps is theft?

I can see his point.

As the new stamps are unfranked, it would be easy to reuse an envelope by sticking on a new address lable – which could appear as quite legitimate mail. If it were already franked there might be less incentive to try such a dodge.

Martin.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Whole set of cards just arrived with the new stamps. ALL franked.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by blowlamp on 08/12/2022 14:33:53:

Posted by Tim Hammond on 08/12/2022 13:51:30:

Hmmmm. Going back to the OP, does he not think that the re-use of unfranked stamps is theft?

I can see his point.

As the new stamps are unfranked, it would be easy to reuse an envelope by sticking on a new address lable – which could appear as quite legitimate mail. If it were already franked there might be less incentive to try such a dodge.

Martin.

I suspect the reuse of a QR coded stamp would result in a charge to the recipient who may not be best pleased or return to sender.

Mike

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