Postage Stamps.

[Tilly2]

Did you know that any commemorative postage stamps you have can be used in perpetuity? I found this out today when I had two whole books of Christmas stamps returned to me by the stamp swap team at Royal Mail.

[barry1010]

I was puzzled by your post until I realised you are referring to the new stamps with barcodes and your old stamps don't have them.
That's good to know, thanks, Tilly

[jourdain2]

Yes, thanks for that, Tilly.

[Peter Pedant]

Non-barcoded stamps can be used as postage up until 31 July 2023.

I had to remind a post-master of that ! Jesus
then you can swappsies

[Tilly2]

Non-barcoded commemorative stamps can be used beyond July.

[FoxLee2]

Yes, I knew that. From the sixties, I collected commemorative stamps and the post office obviously knew they were onto a good thing with new ones issued practically every month. Eventually I realized I was collecting them out of habit so decided to stop when it got to the year 2000. A few years ago, we had someone value my collection and I was offered all of £30 for the mint stamps as well as First Day Covers. I declined his generous offer and began using the stamps and have saved myself several hundred pounds on postage.

[choux]

"Note: Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps without a barcode will continue to be valid and don't need to be swapped out."
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps#:~:text=old%20stamps%20are%3F-,You%20now%20have%20until%2031%20July%202023%20to%20use%20them,to%20all%20our%20regular%20stamps.

Happily, RM decided to give Christmas stamps the same perpetuity as commemorative issues.
"Originally you said Christmas stamps are being barcoded and non-barcoded Christmas stamps would become invalid as postage - has this changed?

Following our announcement on 1 Feb 2022, and subsequent discussions with key stakeholders, including feedback from our customers, we have removed Christmas stamps from our Swap Out scheme. These stamps are mostly kept by customers to send their Christmas cards and we anticipate that the vast majority will have been used by the end of this year. We are still adding a barcode to Christmas stamps, but non-barcoded Christmas stamps will remain valid so can continue to be used after 31 July 2023 and therefore there is no requirement to swap them out."

[choux]

Well done, FoxLee - nice feeling to get something out of Royal Mail ;)

[lankeela]

Why do they need to use 'out' - why not just Swap Scheme?