djcmh
Member
Posts: 773
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Feb 1, 2022 8:41:01 GMT
Just read this on the excellent Commonwealth Stamp Opinion website EDIT - REMOVED LINK DUE TO REPORTS OF ANTI-VIRUS WARNINGSThat should produce an interesting reaction among the public! New Machin Definitives with Barcodes integrated into the stamp were issued today 1 February - new colors for the 2nd and 1st (I think on the Large as well)
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Feb 1, 2022 8:47:35 GMT
Just a warning for others - I tried to go to the linked website and my anti-virus software flagged it as a malicious site with potential dangerous software.
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djcmh
Member
Posts: 773
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Feb 1, 2022 8:55:22 GMT
Just a warning for others - I tried to go to the linked website and my anti-virus software flagged it as a malicious site with potential dangerous software. really - what software do you have - I use Avast and have not had any warnings
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 1, 2022 10:01:04 GMT
I expect everyone who buys these stamps owns a scanner/mobile phone etc. It's a joke. I certainly won't be collecting these. End of another era sadly. "we are doomed Mr Mannering". The following is from the official R.M. website. Following a successful national trial we will now be adding unique barcodes to all our regular ‘everyday’ Definitive and Christmas stamps. Each barcoded stamp will have a digital twin and the two will be connected by the Royal Mail App. The unique barcodes will facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for our customers. Definitive stamps are the stamps that will be very familiar to most people. They feature the profile of HM The Queen. The barcodes match the stamp colour and sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line. The new barcode is an integral part of the stamp and must remain intact for the stamp to be valid. Transition to Barcoded Stamps Non-barcoded stamps will be phased out but will remain usable until 31 January 2023. Customers are encouraged to use their non-barcoded stamps before this date. Alternatively, non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through Royal Mail’s ‘Swap Out’ scheme. The ‘Swap Out’ scheme will open on 31 March 2022. Forms will be available via a variety of channels, including local Customer Service Points; the Royal Mail website and via our Customer Experience team. Customers will be able to use a Freepost address. Further details will be announced shortly.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 10:36:04 GMT
This seems genuine! It is on the official Royal Mail website. Google “ Royal Mail” and the story appears.
Devastating news for those who hold a batch of unused GB decimal stamps which we now have to use within a year. By 31 January when they are demonetised I understand we will be able to trade them in against bar code stamps ..
There are dealers who buy in decimal collections at 50% face to resell at 75%- I guess that market will vanish and with it some dealers may decide to quit.
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Post by michael on Feb 1, 2022 12:44:20 GMT
Very interesting development and definitely genuine.
I've been using my old booklet machins since I stopped collecting them in 2000 but only low value ones left now.
Will be interested in how the swap out scheme works. Will it only be for 1st and 2nd class stamps? How could they possibly check and addup a bag of mixed value machins!
No menton of commemorative stamps. I would happily trade my commemoratives from 1971 for their equivalent face value...
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,656
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Feb 1, 2022 12:56:36 GMT
Thanks for mentioning about commemorative stamps, michael. I was also wondering about those, as those are what I mainly gather up from mixed lots that I purchase and then use for postage. Well, the changeover won't really affect me in the end, since I will probably have moved away by the Jan-2023 deadline.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 13:42:52 GMT
It Seems it is the NVI ( nonvalue indicator) 1st and 2nd class Machin definitives that are to be phased out by 31 Jan 2023 and replaced with the barcode. Royal mail has finally wakened up to the face that what they sold 15 years ago are double the value as postage that they were originally sold at. My post office will apparently still have regular low value, 1,2, 5,20 P for making up rates
It seems commems are not to be demonetised where they have the same face value as purchased.
I am not clear about the Commems which read "1st" ?
This may be a precedent ! USA watch what USPO does with "Forever " stamps in a couple of years time .
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 1, 2022 14:51:11 GMT
It Seems it is the NVI ( nonvalue indicator) 1st and 2nd class Machin definitives that are to be phased out by 31 Jan 2023 and replaced with the barcode. Royal mail has finally wakened up to the face that what they sold 15 years ago are double the value as postage that they were originally sold at. My post office will apparently still have regular low value, 1,2, 5,20 P for making up rates You are lucky to get the low values from your local post office. No chance around my area. Last time I asked, the staff weren't even aware there were year codes etc on the stamps they had??
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 15:35:24 GMT
Just an update on the value of these 1st class stamps , when the first NVI was issued in 1989 or 1990 the 1st class postage rate was 22p. Today it is 85p with a probable rate increase in April. No small wonder Royal Mail wants to stop carrying letters where the stamp was sold at a quarter of the current rate. It would be an unsustainable loss.
the first Greetings stamps to appear at that time are also marked 1st , but as these are large size commemorative type they may perhaps continue ?
i foresee many arguments at P.O. counters over what is valid and what is not accepted.
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,883
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Feb 1, 2022 17:07:08 GMT
Royal Mail lost the plot years ago. When they did, I got out. If they'd learned to cancel stamps back in the day the rot would never have set in. The barcoded stamps look awful. In fact, that's being kind but this is a family group so I will say no more. Sympathy for GB collectors.
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Feb 1, 2022 18:09:29 GMT
Could someone please explain this to a dumb American in layman's terms? I'm not following what it all means. Is the QR code in the images above the bar code that's being discussed?
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kostia84
Member
Posts: 192
What I collect: Pharmaceutics (thematic), WWII (thematic), Israel (chronologically)
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Post by kostia84 on Feb 1, 2022 18:44:40 GMT
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djcmh
Member
Posts: 773
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Feb 1, 2022 18:49:37 GMT
daveg28 yes the matrix-like QR-code pattern to the right of the Queen's head is the barcode that will now be integrated into all Machin head definitives, and all those Machins issued until now that lack them will be demonetized at the end of January 2023 (for Machins inscribed 1st or 2nd) Basically this would be like USPS saying they are gonna put QR codes on the Flag stamps, and all Forever flag stamps issued previously that do not have QR codes will become invalid in 12 months.
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djcmh
Member
Posts: 773
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Feb 1, 2022 18:54:33 GMT
Also read on another forum that this is just step 1. In April Royal Mail will issue new barcode versions of several Machin values with fixed numeration, from 1p to £5, likely at time of expected rate changes, so it quite possible ALL Machin definitives will be phased out and possibly demonetized in the next 18 months. So far though this does not seem to affect commemorative stamps of any form, just the Machin definitive (and some recent Christmas stamps)
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 18:59:36 GMT
Hi Dave daveg28, Just like your Forever stamps ( but starting earlier by several years if not decades even) UK has issued stamps for 1st or2nd class postage with no value shown in pence…. non value indicator or NVI which retained full current postal validity. So if you bought at the rate in 1991 (22p) these are worth 85p today. As stocks come on the market from deceased collectors or ol’ dealer stock, with full validity, they are usually traded at about 60% of current face, so Royal Mail is making a huge loss on every letter carried with old NVI = Forever stamps. They have finally wakened up to this and at the end of 2021 did a trial release of stamps with a unique code attached( as in the examples shown above) which theoretically could only be used once , not exactly a QR code but similar. Germany and Austria has had trials of similar coded stamps crypto stamps for a couple of years. This new coding gives Royal Mail a chance at 1 years notice to declare the older NVI invalid from 31 January . So for those with accumulated mint stock it is use it or lose it , or trade in your oldies for new , I hope at current prices. Does that make sense?
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 19:09:16 GMT
Also read on another forum that this is just step 1. In April Royal Mail will issue new barcode versions of several Machin values with fixed numeration, from 1p to £5, likely at time of expected rate changes, so it quite possible ALL Machin definitives will be phased out and possibly demonetized in the next 18 months. So far though this does not seem to affect commemorative stamps of any form, just the Machin definitive (and some recent Christmas stamps) Commemorative stamps have not appreciated in value unlike NVIs , though recently in mini sheets we have seen 1st class NVI commems included. Generally they have the face value as issued so there is no urgency to demonetise…….yet! So they can still be used and not cause a loss of revenue. what happens on the death of Her Majesty is another question.
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Feb 1, 2022 19:10:15 GMT
Thank you, vikingeck and djcmh, for the explanations. It sounds like all the wonderful reasons they gave us when Forever stamps first came out are now biting them on their behinds? We all did exactly what they asked us to do...buy them up, use them forever no matter what the current rate is and how much you initially paid for them. Am I on the right path to understanding this?
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djcmh
Member
Posts: 773
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Feb 1, 2022 19:16:11 GMT
Thank you, vikingeck and djcmh , for the explanations. It sounds like all the wonderful reasons they gave us when Forever stamps first came out are now biting them on their behinds? We all did exactly what they asked us to do...buy them up, use them forever no matter what the current rate is and how much you initially paid for them. Am I on the right path to understanding this? Basically yes, though the UK issues don't say Forever so there isn't that added difficuty. Honestly can never see USPS doing anything similar, the public outcry would be too loud in part exactly because USPS marketing says they are good Forever.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 1, 2022 19:16:56 GMT
Absolutely, A great idea until you factor in INFLATION🎈🎈
it may be however the USPS might just stop issuing new Forevers.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,352
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Feb 1, 2022 19:45:33 GMT
It almost reads like Royal Mail will demonize Machins.
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Feb 1, 2022 19:49:10 GMT
Just a warning for others - I tried to go to the linked website and my anti-virus software flagged it as a malicious site with potential dangerous software. really - what software do you have - I use Avast and have not had any warnings Gene djcmh - I use Webroot. I know these can give false positives, but I always err on the side of caution. For those looking for the official Royal Mail post - you can find it here: www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps?iid=H1_BARCODEDSTAMPS
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,607
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Feb 1, 2022 23:10:50 GMT
It almost reads like Royal Mail will demonize Machins. LOL, demonize or demonitize? Either one works!
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 1, 2022 23:15:40 GMT
Royal Mail lost the plot years ago. When they did, I got out. If they'd learned to cancel stamps back in the day the rot would never have set in. The barcoded stamps look awful. In fact, that's being kind but this is a family group so I will say no more. Sympathy for GB collectors. I agree, the rot set in even further when down stream accessing was allowed, but that's another story not told.
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 2, 2022 6:45:23 GMT
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Feb 2, 2022 14:00:43 GMT
Here's a link to the new definitive stamps being issued. What? No prestige booklet?
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 2, 2022 16:08:25 GMT
Here's a link to the new definitive stamps being issued. What? No prestige booklet? No Smilers sheet either or indeed framed booklets.
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Post by elfstone99 on Feb 2, 2022 16:29:44 GMT
Here's a link to the new definitive stamps being issued. What? No prestige booklet?Don't give them any ideas. Spent over £50 on Rolling Stones issue.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Feb 2, 2022 16:39:11 GMT
What? No prestige booklet? Don't give them any ideas. Spent over £50 on Rolling Stones issue. What!
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Feb 2, 2022 16:45:35 GMT
Don't give them any ideas. Spent over £50 on Rolling Stones issue. What!I thought just that!! AFTER I'd replied. Ordered The Rolling Stones Issue 2 days ago, skint this week.
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