Barcoded stamps

[Simpo Two]

I have a few non-barcoded stamps so looked to see how to swap them.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

I assumed the barcodes were for faster/more automatic sorting but it says:

Royal Mail said:

The barcodes will enable exciting new services by connecting physical stamps to the digital world through the Royal Mail app

Actually I'm quite happy with just posting something from A to B, if that's OK. That's what stamps are for. Well OK, give me an example of as exciting new service...

Royal Mail said:

Our new barcoded stamps also enable you to watch and share exclusive Shaun the Sheep* videos

Good grief you couldn't make it up! How much is the industry (ie ultimately us) paying so we can watch Shaun the Sheep videos, and/or what trickery that dare not speak its name lurks beyond the Trojan sheep?

[fuzzymonkey]

The barcodes are to stop fake stamps.

[Simpo Two]

fuzzymonkey said:

The barcodes are to stop fake stamps.

The old ones had kind of surface watermark and little die-cuts slots; I thought that would have deterred forgers as stamps aren't exactly high value. And barcodes can be copied...

[Dingu]

A misrepresentation in an OP is always good.

[Simpo Two]

Dingu said:

A misrepresentation in an OP is always good.

All taken from their website.

[bigandclever]

Simpo Two said:

fuzzymonkey said:

The barcodes are to stop fake stamps.

The old ones had kind of surface watermark and little die-cuts slots; I thought that would have deterred forgers as stamps aren't exactly high value. And barcodes can be copied...

If you look around you can buy fake stamps on Amazon, never mind more nefarious places.

[CoolHands]

Yet somehow they posted an operating loss of 1.04 billion pounds! Be cheaper for them to get rid of stamps altogether I expect. Speed things up.

[Puzzles]

Dingu said:

A misrepresentation in an OP is always good.

Theyre stamping out fraud.

[Dingu]

Simpo Two said:

Dingu said:

A misrepresentation in an OP is always good.

All taken from their website.

Taking part of the info from it though. It states “ The move is part of the Company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.”. Whereas you focussed on a cartoon sheep.

[CoolHands]

Dingu said:

to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.”. Whereas you focussed on a cartoon sheep.

I don’t think you’re winning this argument. What you quoted is suitably bland nothingness.

[Simpo Two]

CoolHands said:

Yet somehow they posted an operating loss of 1.04 billion pounds! Be cheaper for them to get rid of stamps altogether I expect. Speed things up.

I was due a delivery from Parcelforce (part of Royal Mail) last Thursday. It is currently sitting at the delivery depot and won't be here until at least tomorrow. Every day they don't deliver I'm stuck at home because it's a part for my car and I've had to postpone Monday's work. I can't even get a lift to collect it because I don't know which depot it's at, or whether collection is possible, and there is no way to call them.

And then yesterday I saw an Amazon van pull up and deliver something to a neighbour. Amazon can do everything in 24 hours, no problem. Their live chat works well if you have a specific issue. Perhaps Amazon should buy Parcelforce and make it work?

[Simpo Two]

Dingu said:

Simpo Two said:

Dingu said:

A misrepresentation in an OP is always good.

All taken from their website.

Taking part of the info from it though. It states “ The move is part of the Company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.”. Whereas you focussed on a cartoon sheep.

One line 'The new stamps will reduce forgery' would have done it. No need for cartoon sheep at all. It's the evasive waffle and bks I object to.

[Dingu]

CoolHands said:

Dingu said:

to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.”. Whereas you focussed on a cartoon sheep.

I don’t think you’re winning this argument. What you quoted is suitably bland nothingness.

I already won, the OP confidently stated it was just for gimmicks like the video, it isn’t. It was a poor rant in any case.

[CoolHands]

Not that it matters, cos who cares, but if there is nothing else then the gimmicks are all there is. If the forgery aspect isn’t any use (as these can be replicated by forgers too) then what else is there.

[A500leroy]

bigandclever said:

If you look around you can buy fake stamps on Amazon, never mind more nefarious places.

And if used the recipient may get a £2.50 charge before anythings delivered.

[A500leroy]

Simpo Two said:

I was due a delivery from Parcelforce (part of Royal Mail) last Thursday. It is currently sitting at the delivery depot and won't be here until at least tomorrow. Every day they don't deliver I'm stuck at home because it's a part for my car and I've had to postpone Monday's work. I can't even get a lift to collect it because I don't know which depot it's at, or whether collection is possible, and there is no way to call them.

And then yesterday I saw an Amazon van pull up and deliver something to a neighbour. Amazon can do everything in 24 hours, no problem. Their live chat works well if you have a specific issue. Perhaps Amazon should buy Parcelforce and make it work?

Owned by IDS not Royal Mail, there just part of the same group. PF now mostly use owner drivers a'la Yodel.

[Countdown]

How or why is this an "issue"?

I used to have a couple of old style stamps. I now have some new style barcoded stamps. They cost the same, The amount of effort to buy them and to use them is the same. The service I get is the same. I couldn't care less if RM decided they wanted to move to QR codes.

[cuprabob]

Thankfully all the stamps I currently have are commerative Xmas ones and these don't need to be swapped out and can still be used on the the very rare occasion I need to use a stamp.