THE NEW BAR-CODED STAMPS

Material relating to the philately of the reign of Elizabeth II.
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Wilding Mad
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THE NEW BAR-CODED STAMPS

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After reading the review presented by Guy Thomas (the editor) in the Stamp Magazine forum regarding the new issues of the recently issued bar-coded definitives on the following link >
https://www.stampmagazine.co.uk/news/ar ... ives/27675 and in combination with the following report made by the BBC that all GB decimal non-coded stamps issued since 1971 will become postally invalid with effect from 1st January 2023 >
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60213179
Collectors and dealers alike over the past 50 years have accumulated surplus unwanted stocks of these stamps when buying job lots etc. but knew eventually that they could use them for postage, however, this will no longer be the case as the days of discount postage will promptly come to an end regarding NVI's and combinations of lower values being offered by individuals and dealers for sale.
Royal mail say that the old stamps (presumably) can be exchanged for the new barcoded versions if taken to the post office prior to their invalidity date, so all is not lost (hopefully).
It looks like the post office are going to be busy in the next remaining 11-months exchanging old stamps for the new bar-coded ones if that is the case !
The Royal Mail's "Swap Out" scheme begins on 31 March 2022, the new NVI's are out now from the 1st of February, and the definitive values 1p,2p,5p,10p,20p,50p,£1,£2,£3,£5 will be barcoded from 4th April, apparently special issues and regionals will not be affected for now, just definitives and NVI's based on current information received.
All this has come as a bit of a surprise, and in order to let people know of the changes, I would have thought that some pamphlets or literature would have been exhibited in post offices throughout the country giving details relating to the invalidation of the current definitives, and how to go about exchanging them for the new ones, I doubt so far that this has been put into practice.
After all, this is where most people normally buy their postage stamps from, therefore (logically), anyone with smaller quantities should be able to exchange them at their local post office.
IMG_20220209_111404.jpg
if the QR (quick response) matrix barcode is going to become a part of philately, which seems to be the case, then we need to know what makes it tick and as to how and why it came about.
Below you will find a brief history of what it's all about ↓

https://www.tech.gov.sg/media/technews/ ... -come-from

What have you to say on the subject and how will it affect you ?
Have a nice day. WM
Last edited by Wilding Mad on Sun Nov 20, 2022 2:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Wilding Mad
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Re: THE NEW BAR-CODED NVI's

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This is how the media responded shortly after the declaration was made by the Royal Mail on the 1st of February 2022, regarding the invalidation of decimal postage stamps from 1971.
IMG_20220328_080039.jpg
There has even been a petition made to parliament that was rejected !
https://petition.parliament.uk/petition ... %20unclear.
Based on the governments response to the petition, and the fact that the Royal Mail is a private company now owned by a variety of shareholders (not all British), the heading of "Royal" should consequently be removed from its name, as it is no longer part of the constitution, but a "for-profit" making logistics organisation.

Here is a current guide as issued by the Royal Mail explaining the situation to-date, it should answer a few queries that you might have, but leaves many unanswered ones.
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

As at 28³/22 :
It would seem that the Royal Mail are still using the proverbial "mushroom system", as with only days to go before the "swap out" system begins, most people are being kept in the dark in relation to the different stamps involved and the address of which to send them for replacement, freepost has been mentioned, but would you send £100's of stamps or even £10 for that matter using this method ?

What's going on !! WM.
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Wilding Mad
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Re: THE NEW BAR-CODED NVI's

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UPDATE.........
The Swap Out forms are now available on the RM website: https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

Apparently there are two versions.

One for up to £200 to a Freepost address. You stick the stamps with normal gum to the back of the form (more than one form can be used), self adhesives still have to be attached to their original backing paper to enable you to swap them and do not need to be stuck down.

The other is for bulk swaps - stamps over the value of £200. This has a checklist of Machins, including things like E and Worldwide. and they say that the 2012 Olympic stamps and country-definitives (regionals) should be swapped. They then ask for stamps to be batched up in plastic bags. You send this to Tallents House also they advise using an insured courier service that can later be reclaimed.

There's a note on this bulk form relating to certain stamps that are not produced anymore, they will total these and round them up to the value of 2nd Class stamps.

The general status is that if a stamp is a definitive then it qualifies for the swap out scheme but does not qualify at the moment if it is a commemorative, however, there are a few exceptions, Ian Billings at NorPhil gives quite a good coverage of what can and can't be exchanged on the following site. >
https://blog.norphil.co.uk/2022/03/more ... -swap.html
UPDATE .....
Since the NorPhil site was created, it is now believed that country definitives (regionals) can be included in the "swap out" scheme.
Have a nice day everyone :) ! WM
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Wilding Mad
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Re: THE NEW BAR-CODED NVI's

Post by Wilding Mad »

It would now appear that the Royal Mail have made further compensation for holders of non-barcoded stamps as per this swap-out article by "Money saving expert" placed on the website on the 14th of November 2022.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/ ... oyal-mail/

NB. The dates may need further confirmation.

WM.
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