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Has anyone else noticed that the post office hasn't been canceling the new US stamps? Or is it just my post office that hasn't been doing it or something?

Hi starreyes,

I haven't received much mail with the new stamps yet, so I haven't had a chance to check it out, but you could be right! I'm just not sure though


Joey

Thanks,

Also, I'm not sure if maybe they are scanning them for a code or something so they would know if you reused them. If anyone works in a post office or something and knows could you tell me?

I've been getting a ton of mail lately, auto's and not, and hardly any of the stuff is canceled.

I doubt they have a scanning ability. A technology like that would probably cost a lot of money. And that would cause the price of stamps to increase more than 2 cents to pay for. It's probably just been getting through the system. Over where I am stuff is still being canceled out.

starreyes wrote:Thanks,

Also, I'm not sure if maybe they are scanning them for a code or something so they would know if you reused them. If anyone works in a post office or something and knows could you tell me?

I've been getting a ton of mail lately, auto's and not, and hardly any of the stuff is canceled.

Hi starreyes

Interesting you should say that, but I had the same 'problem' in the UK recently. I had a heck of a lot of post coming through which wasn't cancelled - some originating in the USA, but most from the UK.

I asked at the post office, and it is the sorting office's responsibility to cancel stamps, so I am guessing your local office is not that hot on it at the moment

That was what I was told. Also, the technology checks for obvious ink (cancellation) marks on stamps when they are used, but not for anything more than that at the moment.

I might be wrong for the US, but I reckon the story would probably be the same as here!

Ian

TheCollector wrote:

starreyes wrote:Thanks,

Also, I'm not sure if maybe they are scanning them for a code or something so they would know if you reused them. If anyone works in a post office or something and knows could you tell me?

I've been getting a ton of mail lately, auto's and not, and hardly any of the stuff is canceled.

Hi starreyes

Interesting you should say that, but I had the same 'problem' in the UK recently. I had a heck of a lot of post coming through which wasn't cancelled - some originating in the USA, but most from the UK.

I asked at the post office, and it is the sorting office's responsibility to cancel stamps, so I am guessing your local office is not that hot on it at the moment

That was what I was told. Also, the technology checks for obvious ink (cancellation) marks on stamps when they are used, but not for anything more than that at the moment.

I might be wrong for the US, but I reckon the story would probably be the same as here!

Ian

Thanks Ian!

So just to sum stuff up for myself and to make sure I understand, I should be able to reuse any of the postage I get returned that isn't really obviously canceled?

Thanks for your help!

So just to sum stuff up for myself and to make sure I understand, I should be able to reuse any of the postage I get returned that isn't really obviously canceled?

Technically, you could re-use the postage that hasn't been cancelled. Just soak, cut around or remove the stamp in some way and stick it onto a new envelope, or re-use the old envelope (if possible.)

However, your not really supposed to "recycle" postage stamps that have been used but haven't been cancelled.

nowandagain [rockon]

Yeah, I've done that before!
Just have to be kind of careful about it....

Thanks everybody

starreyes wrote:

TheCollector wrote:

starreyes wrote:Thanks,

Also, I'm not sure if maybe they are scanning them for a code or something so they would know if you reused them. If anyone works in a post office or something and knows could you tell me?

I've been getting a ton of mail lately, auto's and not, and hardly any of the stuff is canceled.

Hi starreyes

Interesting you should say that, but I had the same 'problem' in the UK recently. I had a heck of a lot of post coming through which wasn't cancelled - some originating in the USA, but most from the UK.

I asked at the post office, and it is the sorting office's responsibility to cancel stamps, so I am guessing your local office is not that hot on it at the moment

That was what I was told. Also, the technology checks for obvious ink (cancellation) marks on stamps when they are used, but not for anything more than that at the moment.

I might be wrong for the US, but I reckon the story would probably be the same as here!

Ian

Thanks Ian!

So just to sum stuff up for myself and to make sure I understand, I should be able to reuse any of the postage I get returned that isn't really obviously canceled?

Thanks for your help!

Hi starreyes

This question comes up quite a lot on the forum

Technically, it is actually illegal to reuse uncancelled stamps if they have been used once to mail a letter. One of our other members checked with the US Postal Service and they confirmed this is the case.

I am sure on the other hand that many people do reuse them, so I guess it is up to you to decide what you want to do.

Ian

Yeah, I have seen LOTS of posts like that. As far as no one gets in jail for it or anything I have no problem with it, but I guess that topic should be in another topic that has already been covered.