posted on August 8, 2001 05:09:21 AM new
...stamps!
Got dem ole cosmic newbie blues!
Auction ends...I send EOA with totals...I offer both P-MAIL and MEDIA MAIL ....hey, I give em a CHOICE!
Newbie responds that she sent PAYMENT MO plus "POSTAGE" to cover MEDIA MAIL!
SAY WHAT! Me no want no stinking stamps! I use Endicia, so my mark-up on shipping MEDIA MAIL equals $0.80 (hey, the boxes cost me $0.41 each + $0.10 for the labels + bubble wrap + tape + fragile sticker...ETC!)
YES...every auction ad indicates THE EXACT SHIPPING CHARGE for both classes:
$4.80 for P-MAIL /or/ $2.80 for M-MAIL
"POSTAGE/PACKAGING"
posted on August 8, 2001 05:16:06 AM new
Depending on how she sent it, you'll be able to use it in the future unless you pay all your bills online. I'm not sure, but I think you can redeem stamps at the PO for cash.
It's a hassle, and you might want to email her and tell her that though you'll accept it this time because she's new, other sellers might not be so nice.
On the other hand, you haven't received it yet, and it might just be the way she worded her email.
posted on August 8, 2001 08:58:23 AM new
Sorry, stamps can not be redeemed for cash at the post office. It's a one way street. They make a ton of money from people buying sheets of stamps, because it can not be exchanged for cash. These people usually sell their stamps to dealers at below face value. I often buy postage stamps at 85-90% of face value, sometimes even lower!
posted on August 8, 2001 09:15:53 AM new
I'd wait to see what she sent. But regardless, I would tell her that you'll send the "postage" back in the package once she sends you the balance due in cash/M.O., etc.
She might have produced a strip off her (or her employer's!) postage meter or just boosted some stamps from work, etc.
I wouldn't play this game. She's paying YOU shipping and handling. Not the Post Office.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:17:47 AM new
AARRGGHH!! That just happened to me too tomwiii. The customer sent a METER STRIP that has postage plus enough for USPS insurance--I don't use USPS insurance, but insure everything through u-pic and that "little bit extra" helps cover my packaging costs. AAARRGGGHHH!!!!
At least the strip isn't dated. I think I can use it on another package that will cost more to send...I hope I can. Sigh.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:21:44 AM new
I had someone send me mint postage once to help cover the cost of postage. Problem was that I live in Canada and the buyer lived in the U.S.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:27:12 AM new
I think sadie had the best answer, take the stamps and send her an email cautioning her that most sellers have a well established process and are not normally willing to take stamps as payment or use buyer-provided stamps on packages.
(We need Eventer to write us a tactful letter! )
You can always use the stamps on your packages and just print a specified amount on the endicia label.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:43:32 AM new
Actually, I have seen several of these (I am a stamp collector, so that may be a reason why) and I have both sent stamps as payment, and received them as well when I've sold inexpensive stamps.
As long as it is in the TOS, it's fine, but of course, if it is not, then it is not fine!
posted on August 8, 2001 09:57:15 AM new
I collect stamps too, and it was when I sold some stamps that I received the stamps for postage. I understand that it can be quite a common practice for those who collect stamps to send stamps as payment, especially for small amounts. The problem I had was that I don't collect U.S. stamps and I can't use them for postage in Canada. I just sent the stamps to the buyer anyway, I figure I'll just hang onto the postage. Maybe I can send it to someone else for partial payment...
posted on August 8, 2001 10:14:18 AM newahc3 -- how do you buy stamps below cost? I buy hundreds of dollars of stamps a month..
* ~ * ~ * ~ * http://techgems.net
posted on August 8, 2001 10:50:11 AM new
Actually, I've purchase some large lots on Ebay. One of them involved about $750 worth of stamps for $600 (5 to 21 cent face value) - You can even do an ebay search using the words discount postage
Also, stamp dealers on the internet advertise this as well. Here is one example (I don't recommend them, I just found them by doing a yahoo search):
http://www.stampo.com/discount.html
Generally, the more you buy, the higher the discount. Also, since you generally pay postage and insurance, it may be more of a wash with a smaller purchase. Also, it tends to be cheaper for a mixture of values. You can still get 34 cent stamps discounted, but expect to pay closer to face value.
It's fun to use different stamps, most clerks at the post office get a kick out of seeing so many different stamps.
Finally, here is one more thing to consider. Certain stamps tend to have more value used than others. There is one set in particular called celebrate the century, released by the post office in 1998-2000, and still available too! I've seen lots of these stamps go above face value for used copies! Over the past several months, I've been using these almost exclusively, and including a SASE to get the stamps back, which happens often! Now, I am a collector, I do not plan on selling these stamps, but if I ship something for $3.95 and get the stamps back and sell them used, I can basically get my postage costs paid back to me, and possibly more! It's pretty crazy.
posted on August 8, 2001 10:55:49 AM new
Try this:
the next time you're at a pay phone and the operator cuts in and tells you to deposit more money, tell her you're putting in stamps.
posted on August 8, 2001 12:52:13 PM new
These usually fall into 2 categories
1) Collectors buy sheets of stamps (This was very popular until a decade ago, since stamps cost so much now, I just purchased a sheet of the new Lucille Ball Stamps for $6.80) - Anyway, they buy the sheets thinking they will be worth something. A decade or three passes, and it is time to cash in - Surprise, not only are the stamps not worth more than they paid for (with very few exceptions this is true) but they are worth less, because you can't even sell them for face value, and it is not practical for most people to use so much postage (I use several hundred dollars per month, but I imagine the average person uses about $3 per month) - Plus, you have all that lost potential as $1000 invested 30 years ago would be worth a fortune today!
2) Companies buy stamps, get a huge tax writeoff, and sell the stamps below face value for cash
I doubt postal workers are even a minor contributor to discount postage.
Oh, and one more tip - If you are in New York City near the United Nations, you can purchase discount UN postage for about 50% of face value, but you have to mail it from the UN. I would do that if I lived in NYC (but I won't ever live there though)
posted on August 8, 2001 07:18:47 PM new
based on the responses i recv'd from the holyites here i think you're just gonna have to suck it up...hey i wonder if i could refund the 3.50 i was overpaid in stamps....feel better about yourself...send em to me.
posted on August 8, 2001 07:25:38 PM new
Tom, Well, if they work for the PO then that is a monkey of another color. I would want payment in cash money too.
I think I would send a mesage and say thanks for your offer, but payment is due in US currency.
posted on August 9, 2001 04:15:34 AM new
Just as an interesting aside that does not help your particular situation much,
People who trade grocery coupons routinely trade with new unused postage stamps. Maybe these are people who are coupon traders? For coupon traders these are better than cash because they would have to buy stamps to do their trading and this way, do not have to take the cash to the post office to buy stamps.
I thought of this after reading the coupon selling thread here.
)
