Illegal to reuse postage stamps - warning

[bopboa]

There is a trend to sell stamps that have missed being proofed as 'mint no gum' or unproofed, etc I believe the prices asked and the large bundles show a clear intention that the stamps are for reuse;  the price is also higher than a collector would pay. A 'mint' stamp is one that is in the same condition as it was when purchased from Australia Post gum and all and it is misrepresentation if used for anything else. The meaning of 'mint' relating to stamps is very clear and readily available so there is no excuse to misuse the term. This practice by some people wanting to make a quick buck and a few unethical 'dealers' is harming our hobby.

If these stamps come up later and are sold 'on paper' and the purchaser then finds they have been glued on due to the 'no gum' rendering them worthless, the purchaser out of pocket and seller reputation may be damaged. I now am very unlikely to purchase stamps 'on paper'.

Sellers selling stamps with the intent or knowledge that they will be (illegally) reused could be committing a crime by participating in a fraud, similarly, someone advertising stamps as mint when they are not.

Australia Post also monitors this practice as it impacts on their viability, if the impact becomes too significant it may result in the cessation of printed stamps and the sole used of printed labels destroying our hobby and many ethical dealers.

[putney32]

several people in the UK, and one in Australia have gone to jail for selling 'washed' stamps to be reused as postage

as far as being ''collectable'' not sure where you are coming from there, once stuck back onto paper and calcelled they are no different to any used stamp

but....aust post definately are hunting down anyone who tries to re-use them to defraud the PO of postage revenue, both here and overseas and have been doing so for many years now.

Post offices world wide make too much out of ''stamps'' to ever discontinue them, dont you worry about that

[bopboa]

With the collectables, when they are reused by gluing them on they usually cannot be soaked off by collectors and are therefore useless.

[best.buys]

you can't wash the postmark ink off the stamps - unless Australia post have downgraded their ink to make more profit.

as a collector I come across mint stamps that have been stuck into books [never used] all the time, have used them postaly with glue. once many years ago I bought a massive investment collection which had been allowed to become wet so all had stuck together. soaked them apart in the bath tub and used them with glue as well since collectors want original gum.

the problem is with Australia post, if they have no checkers any more to save money. why then whinge about. I receive mail all the time that has never been hit with the postmark machine. perhaps Australia post should take some of their massive profits and hire some folks to check the mail.