Does this mean the end of VTR exemption for 1st/2nd?
Does this mean the end of VTR exemption for 1st/2nd?
It was only a matter of time.
Stamps join the digital world with barcodes - BBC News
I presume they will find a way of us scanning the stamps to show amazon the serial numbers.
48 replies
Seller_LKjg1QRrO36Yq
I heard this earlier on the radio.
It seems we have until next January to use up any old stamps. Or we can swap them out for the newer ones, apparently.
I doubt my local PO will be too happy if I bring in all my old loose stamps and partly used sheets.
Before I began printing out my own labels I regularly used to put a mixture of ordinary postage stamps on Large Letter orders.
I might do it again to use up my remaining stock of stamps…
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
It seems likely. I know back in the summer some people were being warned about this change happening by their RM account managers, who were asserting that Amazon were going to withdraw the exemption on the basis of these coming in.
That said, just having a QR code built in doesn’t mean there’ll be delivery confirmation, and we’ve seen how Amazon struggle dealing with that with BPL large letter post already. Using Stamps at all might just become impossible.
Seller_77IcbQKVGdZo0
I would think so as it looks like every QR code on the stamps will be different as it allows the sender to be able to link a personal video/message to the QR code on the stamp.
It would be relatively easy for Amazon to allow sellers to scan the QR code via their phone/tablet to confirm which serial numbers were used.
It will also cut down on fraud a lot as some people have been known for reusing stamps and there are also fake stamps in circulation. This is probably the primary driver behind doing this.
Seller_IotgWgSZV4UrT
If you can’t use them for postage, they’re not postage stamps, they’re just stickers.
Seller_lljyzgTxr5fgI
Commemoratives are not part of the plan, only definitives (as far as I can ascertain). It would not be cost effective for RM to barcode commemoratives because they are produced in far, far fewer quantities than definitives. This is borne out by every decimal stamp ever produced being universally valid (up until this announcement). We often buy bulk presentation pack stamp lots at auction, purely to use them as postage for lower value, large letters. We save around 50 - 60% on the total postage cost, though there’s lots of licking to do 
Many postage stamp dealers also do the same.
Seller_I4fb52gPZubYw
Just wanted to ask do you guys not have issues sending parcels through 1st and 2nd class, as I’ve had customers say they haven’t received parcels and I do not have tracking , then they open claims and I can’t win it because I have no tracking and then it goes on my order defect rate.
Seller_Mi6R9tcTOAoU3
Will the barcode have any actual use other than attaching silly videos to it?
Seller_y7wlA8Npjq1Or
So glad they are doing a swap I’ve got loads ( 100s ) of 1st class been very slowly using them.
My first thought half way through the read was how much out of pocket i will be.
Read till end a breathed a sigh of relief.
Seller_x1xMSBwZsJrTE
Wow, my prediction came true much sooner than I expected…
Seller_FvPdaQ2KTpRfK
I sought clarification from Royal Mail and got this response:
“I can confirm that barcodes are only being added to our Definitive Stamps (generally known as our ‘everyday’ and Christmas stamps which feature the Arnold Machin created profile of HM The Queen), with it only being these kind of stamps that are being phased out. Non-barcoded stamps will still be available for both purchase and use in the format of the Special Issue/commemorative stamps that are released regularly throughout the year, although I’m sorry for the concern caused.”
