Postage stamps

[Michael Rolls]

I am at a loss trying to understand what the Post Office is up to. As from 31st January next year only the new style stamp with its barcode will be acceptable. The PO say the barcode will improve security, but they don't actually say how.
Anyone know anything?
Mike

[Alex]

There's an app you can download apparently, though I don't know what it does. You can also exchange stamps without the barcode for new ones.  That's all I've read, but I imagine the code will speed up sorting of mail.

[klondike]

I'm guessing it is to stop unfranked stamps from being reused. I imagine that they won't bother with franking at all once the system is in place.

[Michael Rolls]

seems probable
Mike

[Scrumpy]

I doubt many people use stamps owing to the rising cost..

[Michael Rolls]

Must admit I only use snail mail as a last resort
Mike

[crabbyob]

when it was tuppence ha'penny stamp we got two deliveries a day
now they cost a fortune and our post comes at three in the afternoon sometimes
i reckon this self-isolating is being well abused...

[Ashy]

Only a few weeks left to exchange postage stamps for new type with a QR code on.

We can't just take them into a post office and change them, that would be far too easy, in fact we can only get the form (!) from a Royal Mail delivery office, or download and print it at our own expense and send away for them.

I don't know what data they are mining from this, it's troubling.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps?iid=HP_M2_3_BARCODEDSTAMPS

[klondike]

They won't be mining much from me. I swapped out the few stamps I had left for the new style some time back. I think it was free post and took an age before I got the replacements. Very rare I ever use a stamp. They could mine more data from the junk I return to ebay chancers.

[Alex]

One of my birthday cards wasn't delivered because of 'insufficient postage' intrigued, I called at the sorting office.   The woman brought the card to the desk and said it was a fake stamp !  I recognised the writing so I didn't pay the 48 pence and she kept the card.    When I spoke to my friend she said she'd bought the stamps on e bay.   There ya go fake stamps, who'd have thought it ?

[Michael Rolls]

quote from that link

>>>The barcodes will enable exciting new services by connecting physical stamps to the digital world through the Royal Mail app which you can download here.<<
What the heell is that waffle supposed to mean? Needless to say, I have NOT downloaded their app

[Scrumpy]

Christmas and Birthday cards will soon become a thing of the past..
The few I give are by hand.. 

[Michael Rolls]

I mostly send e-cards now