Help ! local post office doesn't accept stamps for registered mail postage

My local post office has advised me three times this month not to use stamps for overseas registered mail. Are stamps not legal postage for all forms of mailing? Isn't post office obligated to accept stamps that are sold by the post office itself for postage?

Initially, I thought the clerk didn't like to run out of space to put the additional postage sticker (the stamps are usually not sufficient, I pay the balance at the counter.) So I try to leave plenty of room for the additional postage sticker as well as the registered mail label, but still, the clerk reluctantly processed my mail but reminded for the third time that I am not supposed to put stamps on the registered mail.

I have accumulated a lot of stamps over the years and I'd like to use various pretty stamps for mailing (overseas registered mail included).

I think the clerk will give me a hard time if I continue ignoring her and bring another registered mail with stamps for her to process. Please advise.

Stop going to the post office. You're holding up everyone waiting behind you.

For your next domestic piece of mail uses 44 1 cent stamps.

---- "What reason are you given for not being able to use them?"

Thanks, rhino850. The clerk says "they don't want you to use stamps, not for registered mail". and "you are not supposed to use stamps for registered mail." It is not clear who "they" are. If it is really not allowed, she should have rejected my mail. But so far she still processed the mail but told me not to do so again next time. I think it is either because it is not so easy to fit all the additional labels after many stamps take up some space (I have tried to leave plenty of room for that in my subsequent trips.) OR she is too lazy to count the value of stamps.(foreign registered mail costs $12+, I put various stamps that add up to some odd amount, she had to figure out the balance for me to pay at the counter.) Now she has warned me three times in a month, I feel that the burden of justifying using the stamps sort of shift to me How do I contact local postmaster as you have suggested?

Post office employees can sometimes be very anal-retentive. Every time I give them my unsigned AMEX Blue Cash card they tell me they won't accept it without a signature on the back. I give them another card.

Crazytree said:
the post office is not like burger king... you can't always have it your way.

The post office is a government entity. You can NEVER have it your way.

Crazytree said: madcowdisease said: highmktgoods said: Post office employees can sometimes be very anal-retentive. Every time I give them my unsigned AMEX Blue Cash card they tell me they won't accept it without a signature on the back. I give them another card.

...And why isn't your blue cash card signed?because he likes to pick fights with low-paid employees.

be a real dick and ask for a pen. Then sign it in front of them and say will you accept it now becuase thats essientially what you are asking me to do.

From faq.usps.com

Sending a Mailpiece Registered Mail

How do I send a mailpiece as Registered Mail?

Registered Mail must be mailed from the Post Office™. (Rural carriers that operate a "Post Office on Wheels" may accept Registered Mail.) Payment methods include: cash, check, debit cards, money orders, or COD.

What type of packaging should I use for Registered Mail?

Window clerks may not help you prepare or seal Registered Mail. Mail must bear the complete names and delivery information of both the sender and recipient. Padded, Tyvek, plastic, self-sealing or glossy-coated envelopes may not be mailed registered. Must be sealed with glue, plain paper tape, or cloth tape. (Tape must absorb ink and must visibly damage the envelope or wrapper if removed). The fee and postage may be paid with ordinary stamps, meter stamps, or permit imprints.

That said, I agree with Qcumber ...

From USPS DMM:

2.3.2 Fee and Postage
The fee and postage may be paid with ordinary postage stamps, meter stamps, or permit imprints. If a permit imprint is used, the exact amount of postage and fees paid must be shown within the permit imprint. For pieces that are part of a manifest mailing, only the registry fee must be shown within the permit imprint. The fee and postage on official mail of authorized federal agencies may also be paid with penalty stamps, penalty meter stamps, or penalty permit imprints. The fees and postage on items registered with merchandise return service are paid through a postage due account under 507.11.0.

I use A LOT of stamps on my mail, too. )I'm collecting used sheets of stamps)
Try combining 10 of the same denomination ones in one area, so counting of the total amoun is a bit easier.
I count up everything at home & tell them how much is already on my package. If they trust me, they just cancel the stamps, if it's a new employee they start counting.

Next time you could take in a jar of pennies.... "well you said "they" don't want stamps.. so this time I brought cash!"

highmktgoods said: Post office employees can sometimes be very anal-retentive. Every time I give them my unsigned AMEX Blue Cash card they tell me they won't accept it without a signature on the back. I give them another card.You've done it repeatedly?

Correction they accept stamps they just think you are an idiot for using them.

Dont mess with the Post Office

curtisekarr said: Yes, I agree with you. But highmktgoods has no intention of signing the card, yet continues to hand it to postal employees.

I was wondering about that too. Keep handing an unsigned AMEX card to the postal employee tp prove a point is ridiculous. Unless he derives much on the spot enjoyment out if it every time. It has to be a fetish?

What is he going to do if that employee finally go postal right in front of him?

Funny, this happened a few days ago, but for a first class parcel. The counter person refused to take it, saying that "you can't use stamps for that." Our normal post office accepts them just fine.

It sounds like if you want to use stamps, you'll have to print out the regulation and give it to her...and maybe escalate it to the postal clerk next to him/her.

There was a post 9/11 thing about using stamps for big packages. Maybe that got overgeneralized in the minds of some postal clerks to "stamps are evil."

also overseas and registered mail you cant use the forever or no denomination stamps...because overseas does not know how much they are worth

rhino850 said: larrygreenwalt said: also overseas and registered mail you cant use the forever or no denomination stamps...because overseas does not know how much they are worth

You are paying USPS not the overseas post office. They do not split the postage, it all goes to USPS. You can use forever stamps (or any other U.S. stamps) for all your USPS shipping needs.

Isn't there a reciprocal agreement with every country that we'll mutually handle each others' mail?

Few points:

Stamps are like cash for mailing letters/packages - if they give you a problem ask for another clerk or the postmaster in that office. If they're not canceled they're valid. The caveat is that they can't be covered with anything like tape, use glue if you've removed them from another source.

What's funny about the registered mail quote is that my PO has sealed my box with paper tape when I sent registered packages, contrary to the article. I'm not going to complain.

I once ran into a problem where I had someone mailing packages for me in the neighboring town with a different ZIP code and I had printed the labels in my own ZIP code, and the PO didn't want to accept them. I emailed the USPS and they told me that that is OK and they should accept it. I could see if I was mailing from outside of the postage zone but not one town over. But, the person who was doing the dropping off told me all they had to do was counter the clerk's attitude with the same and they never had a problem after that.

The USPS is one entity that are sticklers about signed credit cards - if it's unsigned chances are good they'll make you sign your card right then and there. Some people are purists and don't want to sign the card but they'll make you to accept it.

The only other problem I've had was it would take me a few days to drop off or request a pickup for packages for which I had printed labels, so the day that the PO would process it would be a few days after the postmark. I received a letter from them stating that this makes their metrics look bad and if I keep doing it I can expect my packages to be returned.

Unless you're living in Podunk, Nowhere, it shouldn't be a problem to go to a different post office. Proving a point is great but at what cost?

gatzdon said: My attitude is that these employees are at risk of losing their jobs due to
cutbacks. They should be glad that I visit their counter thus adding to their
job security. They should be glad that I sign up for every piece of junk
mail to help support them.Your attitude is wrong. They have a no layoff clause in their contract.

hkgfnt said: I use the online USPS a lot to pay for postage at a discount and all custom forms if necessary. It really has made my life easier. No more filling out a form right there and hoping not to make any mistake and get back in line. These days all they have to do is to scan the form and accept my package. But I wonder sometimes the look they gave me is because if everyone are doing what I am doing, there will be even less need for postal workers at the counter? I also use Dymo stamp which is free even though it is limited to what it can do. Honestly I have not purchased a real stamp in years. A friend who has 25+ years in at the post office said they are acutely aware of people using more e-mails, printing labels online, etc.

Its not entirely true, when you sign up for online postage it asks for dropoff PO this is so they get credit for the sales, When I moved I pushed probably a few percent of the sales and never waited at the counter. A small PO in an unincorporated area where I was going 10k in postage, prob made them look really good.

As for anyone trying to quote the DMM, please note its the DOMESTIC Mail Manual. You need to reivew the IMM.

A guy who sued his elderly neighbor because a tree limb falls on his fence berating a guy trying to use his stamps at the Post Office. Classic fatwallet.