Free Stamps for Christmas - A bit outdated now.

[tramssirhc]

I found a load of old Xmas stamps without the barcode. Are they still valid?

No. You were able to exchange them.

Christmas stamps are still valid, even those without a barcode

Nope. It's a surcharge.

[ted_e_bear]

I found a load of old Xmas stamps without the barcode. Are they still valid?

No. You were able to exchange them.

Christmas stamps are still valid, even those without a barcode

Nope. It's a surcharge.

Nope. It isn't, please accept you're wrong.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barco ... ge%20value.

[Jefferson Starfish]

I found a load of old Xmas stamps without the barcode. Are they still valid?

No. You were able to exchange them.

Christmas stamps are still valid, even those without a barcode

Nope. It's a surcharge.

You really haven't got a clue.

[Beanyjazz]

I found a load of old Xmas stamps without the barcode. Are they still valid?

No. You were able to exchange them.

Christmas stamps are still valid, even those without a barcode

Nope. It's a surcharge.

Have you even tried to use them? Christmas stamps are 100% FINE to be used.

I don't even know why you're arguing, it is literally one search on Google 'can I use Christmas stamps'........

'non-barcoded Christmas stamps will remain valid even after 31st July 2023, so they can be used for postage any time. '

[tramssirhc]

Well what do you know. You learn something new everyday.

[moonjaguar]

Nope. It's a surcharge.

I went to use my old Xmas stamps today and they did accept them but I did have to pay a surcharge. It was because when they were issued the 1st class stamp was cheaper and I had to pay the new rate.

[Jefferson Starfish]

Nope. It's a surcharge.

I went to use my old Xmas stamps today and they did accept them but I did have to pay a surcharge. It was because when they were issued the 1st class stamp was cheaper and I had to pay the new rate.

I don't think that's right.
As far as I know if it's first class it's first class, regardless of when you bought them, or when they were issued.

Unless it's changed?

[HTPostman]

If every RM employee used all their stamps each year that would put a stop to letter decline for sure.

No it wouldn't!

If every free stamp was used to send 1 letter, it would add about 0.1% onto the total letters delivered by RM.

I dunno, 50 letters x what, 100,000 employees? Quite a few letters I reckon.

If 100,000 employees sent 50 letters each, it’s a 0.075 increase. Royal Mail delivered 6.6 billion letters in 23/24. An extra 5 million (just 96000 extra letters a week) doesn’t even touch the sides.

I was going on 120,000 employees and 6 billion letters a year, but my maths is the same as yours.

Whatever the exact numbers are, the free stamps are a drop in the ocean.

Exactly! It’s like those saying with the number of shares employees own(ed), Royal Mail could’ve been taken over by its workers. Not a hope when you look at % share compared to those owned by investment companies etc.

[moonjaguar]

Nope. It's a surcharge.

I went to use my old Xmas stamps today and they did accept them but I did have to pay a surcharge. It was because when they were issued the 1st class stamp was cheaper and I had to pay the new rate.

I don't think that's right.
As far as I know if it's first class it's first class, regardless of when you bought them, or when they were issued.

Unless it's changed?

That's what I said to the grumpy old sod at the post office but he said that's the rules. I couldn't be bothered arguing for the sake of putting another free stamp on.

[Mr Rush]

Exactly! It’s like those saying with the number of shares employees own(ed), Royal Mail could’ve been taken over by its workers. Not a hope when you look at % share compared to those owned by investment companies etc.

I faintly recall David Cameron name dropping John Lewis in the run-up to privatisation, thereby creating the perception our then-148,000 employees were going to control enough (it was never going to be all) shares to have real influence over the company. The Cameron government had a habit of sounding like they'd moved on from being the nasty party only to act in accordance with economic orthodoxy (sell the common wealth to school friends in the City). Not that Labour's 'part-privatisation' would have turned RM into a workers' co-op.

[GizzardPuke]

That's what I said to the grumpy old sod at the post office but he said that's the rules. I couldn't be bothered arguing for the sake of putting another free stamp on.

The Post Office has really gone downhill since we've split. I refuse to use my local one due to the owner.
As well as not knowing about stamp validity, many of them locally will refuse to handle mail that's been pre-paid by the sender. They get paid for this but the payment isn't as much as if they sell the postage themselves.
And then there are the parcels we deliver which were posted and paid for at a Post Office but have the wrong postcode on them or an address that doesn't exist. Because the info is in the 2D barcode the parcels are invariably delayed. They should be checking the address when accepting the parcel. I recently had a Special Delivery for an address that was demolished nearly 10 years ago. It's not just the address that's gone - the whole road has disappeared under a new estate and no longer features on any postal database. It cost nearly £20 to post!

Regarding stamps, I have about six years worth now. I use maybe half a dozen a year. I gave a sheet to an old customer a couple of years ago as she said she needed some for Christmas. No-one's asked me if I happen to have a stamp on me since then.

[iHateD2Ds]

I found a load of old Xmas stamps without the barcode. Are they still valid?

No. You were able to exchange them.

Pictured stamps are still valid

[twoloops]

Maybe it's time RM offered an opt in opt out payment instead of the useless Christmas stamps?

[Mr Rush]

Regarding stamps, I have about six years worth now.

Congratulations, you've made the Times' rich list. If I extend the graph the line goes off the image up to your quote.

[Jefferson Starfish]

Maybe it's time RM offered an opt in opt out payment instead of the useless Christmas stamps?

It's not cost effective for them to pay us what they're worth instead.
They cost a hell of a lot less to produce than they're worth as stamps.