Used stamps

[natalie_1982]

When collecting old stamps to give to charity, etc, what exactly do they do to the stamp to get any benefit?

[IndieSinger]

I think they usually cut them up into billions of tiny pieces and stick them back together creating a collage of a five pound note. Then they spend this money saving the world. (I think).

[natalie_1982]

Hmmm, thanks. But I'm certain there's more to it than that. Not that saving the world isn't great. What section should this even be in?

[GuavaHalf]

They sell them to the people that make those packets of stamps junior collectors buy. Or they sell them to people that sell them on on ebay. They do not get a lot of money for them. I once bought some on ebay - I got a package of unopened enveloped addressed to the charity containing stamps, letters of support and in once case a cheque to the charity (which obviously I sent on to it).

[natalie_1982]

I don't think I really understand that last bit. But thanks, so genereally hey just sell them.

[allan.g0ias]

Thats right Natalie, they sell them...usually its in the form of "KILOWARE"... allegedly unsorted,( they are sold by weight ) you might just find a stamp with some imperfection, or its a cheap way of filling albums for the junior collector. There is no such thing as "scrap... unwanted, these days 99.9% of EVERYTHING can be made use of.... I am a stamp collector, and a Radio Ham... all my stamps go to the local Post Office where there is a box for unwanted stamps to help the poor of Malawi...Wonder how much gets to the poor...!!