I bought these “forever stamps” from the post office about a year ago. I don’t mail much so I’m only half way through my only roll. So I use one to send in my tax return check to the IRS and they returned my envelope indicating that I’m one cent short on my postage. But these stamps are supposed to be good for first class mail regardless of the postage rate. That’s why they don’t have a price on them.
So how is it that they decide the stamp has any specific price and that I’m short. I think the post office owes America an explanation because their whole forever stamp program looks like a scam to me. It’s not like this is a trivial letter either. This is my 2008 tax payment and they took my letter and rather than delivering it to the IRS, they sent it all the way back to my house which is more expensive… and at a time when the post office is crying that they need more money. I suppose they thought it was funny to screw me on my IRS payment letter.
Well Jesus H. Christ !!! There will be ice skating in hell tonight. I agree with Cow-Paddy.
*
Marc,
I too thought I had “Forever” stamps. Those that have suggested you are a moran, are really blowing smoke (and other debris) out their butts and into their lace undies.
Our local Post Office does not have anything even telling you the cost of a First Class Stamp. You need ask at the counter. But hey, they have lots of other goodies to sell you. They didn’t include any notice that “Forever” stamps are only Liberty Bells. So while yes, they do have something buried on their web site, I usually buy my stamps over the counter.
# 41 Mr. Fusion said, “Well Jesus H. Christ !!! There will be ice skating in hell tonight. I agree with Cow-Paddy.”
And, I thought hell was causing global warming.
OH and …
The tax return I mailed at the same time for my STATE tax return (Sacramento) was delivered without a problem.
How do you know it was delivered without problem? Did you get delivery confirmation on it? Regardless, you are claiming that they are mistaken. If they did indeed deliver one and not the other then they are but which is the mistake, delivering an under-postage letter or not delivering a properly posted letter? Why would you assume that someone you are claiming made a mistake would be more likely to make a mistake that harmed you rather than one that helped you?
Here’s yet another link to prove that the stamp shown above is not a forever stamp http://msnbc.msn.com/id/19874886/&usg=__k1U9mSlh2qoOYUV2biNUcT_DEkY= right at the top they compare the forever stamp and the stamp that is on the letter in the image above.
#43–Marky==your letter to Sacto got delivered even though the problem of insufficient postage was present. Probably recognized, easier for some slob to deliver it than dig it out and throw it into another bin.
Its “people” acting like people.
I agree in each individual case, underpostaged letters should be delivered and forget about the hassle of collecting the gap===but what would be the cumulative effect? A net plus or minus?
Is there any net to allowing the citizens to pay somewhat on an honor system with the taxpayer making up any shortfalls for “convenience?”
With all the blathering self centeredness on display, I’m actually waiting for someone to say they should pay less per mailing if they deliver the envelop to the Post Office for the first leg of the trip. Wouldn’t that be more fair?????
Yet more proof that the stamp in the picture above is a 41 cent stamp http://usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/definitives/
second stamp down.
That was the first class rate at the time the stamp was issued. But the value of the stamp is printed on it. The value is “USA First Class”.
# 47 Marc Perkel said, “But the value of the stamp is printed on it. The value is “First Class Postage”.”
That’s what I always thought. It makes no sense for it to be a fixed monetary value. And, as I posted earlier, it is working for me to use as a 1st class stamp.
That is not a Forever stamp. You are wrong. Admit it.
It’s not a 41 cent stamp. It doesn’t have 41 cents on it.
I go by what the stamp says.
Whatever it is, no matter how much you argue, it isn’t a “forever stamp” which is what the post is about. It isn’t about how dumb it may or may not be to make stamps worth a set value that don’t have that value on them.
If you go by what the stamp says you are still wrong because it does not say “forever stamp” on it.
Moreover, the original stamps did indeed have “forever” on them.
Hi, I’m a stamp collector so maybe I can provide some history.
The official name for this kind of stamps is a non-denominated stamp. The first one was released by the USPS in 1973. The main reason they exist is because they are used to cover postal rate changes. The non-denominated stamps have a value declared by the Post Office at the time they are issued.
Thus, the non-denominated stamps issued in 1973 still have a value of 10 cents, no matter what the rate is today. The same applies to the non-denominated flag stamp you have there. It was issued at a 41 cent rate and that is what where its rate stays, no matter what later rates are.
The Liberty Bell Forever stamp is the first stamp ever issued by the USPS that was designed from the beginning to have a rate that would change with time. Also, as has been said elsewhere, the forever stamps have only bee issued in booklets of 18 (if purchased from an ATM), or 20 (if purchased from a vending machine or over the counter). There have been no forever stamp coils yet.
I think the big issue here that you are missing is the fact your Federal tax return has more forms, therefore it weighs MORE. The State return had less, so the stamp was probably sufficient postage.
BUT WAIT, why is a blogger like you even mailing your tax returns? Get with the times and EFILE…lol
@Marc:
“That was the first class rate at the time the stamp was issued. But the value of the stamp is printed on it. The value is “USA First Class”.”
Can you provide a citation of post office policy or law for this or is this just what you believe to be the case? I suspect it’s the latter and that means nothing. No matter how hard you want this to be true it just is NOT the case unless you can PROVE otherwise.
It really irks me when pompous people such as yourself simply cannot bring themselves to admit they were/are wrong considering absolutely no evidence supporting your belief.
What does the STAMP SAY?
A) 41 cents
B) First Class
If it’s a 41 cent stamp it would say 41 cents. If it’s a stamp good for first class postage it’s says First Class.
The stamp says FIRST CLASS.
As to the weight – it was just a check.
@56 Marc
Sigh. The USPS disagrees with you. Look at page 8 of the following document (upper right).
http://usps.com/mailpro/2008/marapril/marapril.pdf#search=Flag
It states:
I have nondenominated American Flag
stamps. Will I need additional postage?
Yes. The postage value of the nondenominated
American Flag stamp is 41 cents. Any mailpiece subject
to a higher price will require additional postage.
Perhaps you got lucky with the other mail items. The USPS could have sent them back too. As others have stated – this kind of stamp (w/o a price) has been in use for a LONG TIME – this (unlike the “forever stamp”) is not new.
–Mark
@ Marc Perkel,
I think the horse is dead…
It has nothing to do with what the stamp is worth. It could be worth one million dollars. The point is that you wrote that it was a Forever Stamp and that the post office was not honoring Forever stamps. That is not the case. The End.
Marc,
RE: What does the STAMP SAY?
>>If it’s a 41 cent stamp it would say 41 cents. If it’s a stamp good for first class postage it’s says First Class.<<
Where is this the law or the policy of the USPS though? My point is that it is not. It’s just what you happened to believe, and you believed incorrectly. Try as you might simply believing something does not make it true.