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Post by pepperwood on Jul 19, 2022 18:09:13 GMT
I am so disgusted. I have a USPS account because I sometimes buy stamps and labels online. I received an unsolicited 50 page Philatelist (Stamp Collector) catalogue in my mailbox today. It is beautifully photographed on heavy paper with several glossy pullouts. I can't believe that the post office spent money on something ridiculous like this when they are losing money and can't deliver the mail on time.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905 
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Post by tracylynn on Jul 19, 2022 18:27:04 GMT
Out of curiosity, I googled this. It looks like you have to OPT in to get this catalog. I don't have a problem with them putting something like this out. From a marketing standpoint it's probably smart - a lot of collectors out there.
This catalog is not why the USPS is struggling. The history on this goes back to the Bush Administration, and just like everyone in this Covid/post-Covid World, they are struggling with staffing as well.
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Post by Merge on Jul 19, 2022 18:35:53 GMT
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Post by papersilly on Jul 19, 2022 18:42:39 GMT
aside from stamps and other postage, i know that junk mail was also USPS's bread and butter. now email is killing their revenue stream, as well as competition from other delivery services. another big expense is their retirement system. too many people retired with really generous retirement benefits and the USPS can't keep up with it with the dip in revenue. my local office sells greeting cards, gift cards, postal supplies. guess they have to boost their income somehow.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:22:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2022 18:45:21 GMT
Why are there so many ignorant people of how things actually work?
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jul 19, 2022 18:48:20 GMT
I also get USPS mailers reminding me of things
..at the moment they escape me.
And sure get piles of junk mail.
I get the Philatelic book too, every year...
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 9,460
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Jul 19, 2022 18:51:11 GMT
I had assumed when I received my catalog that it was so you would know what stamps are coming out or are available to purchase? We're excited about the Buzz Lightyear stamps.
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Post by pepperwood on Jul 19, 2022 19:24:06 GMT
I didn't opt in to receive this catalogue. I am aware of the longstanding issues with the postal service. While I am not saying this catalogue is the cause of the issues, I still feel it is a waste of money and paper.
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Post by hopemax on Jul 19, 2022 19:24:43 GMT
I would just assume any unsolicited mailings are part of their Marketing budget. People do buy collector stamps and that is a way to generate revenue. On one hand people seem to want government to operate more like a business. The USPS is a quasi-government thing, so I would expect it to be even more like a business, and that includes marketing. If some people got their wish that the USPS would be privatized, I'd expect to be flooded with unsolicited mail.
I don't think we've ever gotten the catalog. I wonder if it's based on your purchases. Like if you buy a lot of stamps, you get on the list. A book of stamps lasts us like 4-5 years at this point.
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,493
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jul 19, 2022 20:26:47 GMT
Why are there so many ignorant people of how things actually work? Oh wow. You must have a boring bunch friends/family if they know everything there is to know in this complex world. |
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Post by Zee on Jul 19, 2022 20:33:14 GMT
Out of curiosity, I googled this. It looks like you have to OPT in to get this catalog. I don't have a problem with them putting something like this out. From a marketing standpoint it's probably smart - a lot of collectors out there. This catalog is not why the USPS is struggling. The history on this goes back to the Bush Administration, and just like everyone in this Covid/post-Covid World, they are struggling with staffing as well. I got one but I didn't "opt in", I thought it was because I order stamps frequently for Postcrossing. It's lovely and yes I'm sure was expensive but I might tuck it in the wall of my soon-to-be-finished basement for a future generation to find and marvel over. 🤔 |
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 19, 2022 21:01:39 GMT
Well I just ordered one as I have never seen this catalog before.. I always love to see what stamps are available.. I get about 20 stamps every six months or so for a couple of random bills.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905
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Post by tracylynn on Jul 19, 2022 21:15:01 GMT
Out of curiosity, I googled this. It looks like you have to OPT in to get this catalog. I don't have a problem with them putting something like this out. From a marketing standpoint it's probably smart - a lot of collectors out there. This catalog is not why the USPS is struggling. The history on this goes back to the Bush Administration, and just like everyone in this Covid/post-Covid World, they are struggling with staffing as well. I got one but I didn't "opt in", I thought it was because I order stamps frequently for Postcrossing. It's lovely and yes I'm sure was expensive but I might tuck it in the wall of my soon-to-be-finished basement for a future generation to find and marvel over. 🤔 I didn't dig that deep, it was one of the first things I found. I've never gotten one and I order stamps online pretty exclusively now. Although, I don't order often. Around Christmas usually. |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Jul 19, 2022 21:37:25 GMT
Out of curiosity, I googled this. It looks like you have to OPT in to get this catalog. I don't have a problem with them putting something like this out. From a marketing standpoint it's probably smart - a lot of collectors out there. This catalog is not why the USPS is struggling. The history on this goes back to the Bush Administration, and just like everyone in this Covid/post-Covid World, they are struggling with staffing as well. I got one but I didn't "opt in", I thought it was because I order stamps frequently for Postcrossing. It's lovely and yes I'm sure was expensive but I might tuck it in the wall of my soon-to-be-finished basement for a future generation to find and marvel over. 🤔 that would be a fun thing to find in the wall! |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:22:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2022 21:57:13 GMT
Why are there so many ignorant people of how things actually work? Oh wow. You must have a boring bunch friends/family if they know everything there is to know in this complex world. Who said everyone in my life know how things work? For all you know, I'm including my cousin, you, my neighbor, the random stranger that keeps screaming that there's a dark government running things, and the cashier who just could not figure out how to remove the wrong item from our order. |
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Post by elaine on Jul 19, 2022 23:06:05 GMT
I didn't opt in to receive this catalogue. I am aware of the longstanding issues with the postal service. While I am not saying this catalogue is the cause of the issues, I still feel it is a waste of money and paper. Re: your thread title, the US postal service doesn't receive taxpayer money. See Merge ‘s link above. Lands End wastes a boatload of money and paper on catalogs. More than the USPS. Which our taxpayer dollars also don't pay for. We could talk about US automobile manufacturers. I receive big glossy unsolicited brochures from Ford, Buick, & Chevy. Maybe the taxpayers wouldn't have to keep subsidizing them if they stopped printing and mailing glossy brochures. |
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Post by LiLi on Jul 19, 2022 23:09:12 GMT
I didn't opt in to receive this catalogue. I am aware of the longstanding issues with the postal service. While I am not saying this catalogue is the cause of the issues, I still feel it is a waste of money and paper. Re: your thread title, the US postal service doesn't receive taxpayer money. See Merge ‘s link above. Lands End wastes a boatload of money and paper on catalogs. More than the USPS. Which our taxpayer dollars also don't pay for. We could talk about US automobile manufacturers. I receive big glossy unsolicited brochures from Ford, Buick, & Chevy. Maybe the taxpayers wouldn't have to keep subsidizing them if they stopped printing and mailing glossy brochures. Do any of you guys get campaign mail? HOLY Schmegegge! It is STACKS DAILY! From the same campaigns! This isn't a USPS problem, it is a USA wastes shit for capitalism and greed, problem. |
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Post by pepperwood on Jul 19, 2022 23:21:19 GMT
I removed "Taxpayers" from the title. I still think it is a waste of money and paper, but I understand how some people might enjoy receiving the catalogue.
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Post by mom on Jul 19, 2022 23:26:22 GMT
I'd prefer to get that than any political mail, credit card offers and junk about insurance that I don't need.
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Post by cmpeter on Jul 19, 2022 23:31:08 GMT
The catalog also helps them sell stamps. The cost of producing the catalog is offset by the extra stamps they sell because of the catalog.
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jul 19, 2022 23:42:28 GMT
I am so disgusted. I have a USPS account because I sometimes buy stamps and labels online. I received an unsolicited 50 page Philatelist (Stamp Collector) catalogue in my mailbox today. It is beautifully photographed on heavy paper with several glossy pullouts. I can't believe that the post office spent money on something ridiculous like this when they are losing money and can't deliver the mail on time. Oh, Lordy save us from these paintbrush criticisms. Buying stamps online pretty much puts you in the hopper for philatelic mailings. The USPS has those booklets sponsored by the Philatelic Society. No tax money, or mail delivery personnel are involved in the production. YOu're creating a false equivalency . |
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 19, 2022 23:45:16 GMT
I didn't opt in to receive this catalogue. I am aware of the longstanding issues with the postal service. While I am not saying this catalogue is the cause of the issues, I still feel it is a waste of money and paper. you may have if you didn't read all the terms and conditions when you signed up for the account People buy stamps to keep. A catalog like this could net them quite a bit of funds in unused stamps. The post office isn't wasting tax payer money and I am grateful they are there still. |
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 19, 2022 23:50:49 GMT
Well I just ordered one as I have never seen this catalog before.. I always love to see what stamps are available.. I get about 20 stamps every six months or so for a couple of random bills. I'm gonna order one roo |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 20, 2022 2:05:14 GMT
This reminds me I need to order stamps. I have all my summer cards ready to address and mail and no fun stamps on hand.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jul 20, 2022 2:38:47 GMT
I received this today too, I definitely do not remember opting in to receive this. I did, however, order stamps online for the first time this past December, so it must have something to do with that. I would assume that the post office wouldn't print and send these out if they didn't sell stamps because of them but I admit to being a little dismayed at seeing this unsolicited catalog knowing I'm going to throw it away while my local post mistress is inundated with mail she cannot keep up with and relentless demands from her superiors. She does not need any more junk mail to deal with.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,098
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 20, 2022 2:46:31 GMT
Why are there so many ignorant people of how things actually work? Oh wow. You must have a boring bunch friends/family if they know everything there is to know in this complex world. I don't think that given how much news coverage has been given over the last few years to the actual reasons the Postal Service is struggling, it is unreasonable to expect people to know that it isn't because of catalogs marketing stamps to collectors. But I get it. It's like the complaints about people who spend their food stamp money on grocery store birthday cakes or those elusive Obama phones. We don't want to worry about the actual details of things vs. making cheap, unfounded complaints at easy targets. But hey, what about that defense budget? |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:22:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2022 3:56:27 GMT
Not directly, no. They have borrowed a shit-ton from the government, though. Because it's borrowing and must be paid back, it's not considered direct taxpayer funding. As of 2020, the USPS is still $160 billion in debt, so I don't think we're getting our money back any time soon. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 20, 2022 4:42:52 GMT
I'd prefer to get that than any political mail, credit card offers and junk about insurance that I don't need.  I must fill up a standard sized paper grocery bag every two weeks for recycling with all the unsolicited crap like that we get in the mail, and that’s not even including the parts I pull out to shred. I’d actually kind of like getting a catalog like that. I frequently buy stamps at the PO just because they’re pretty or fun and I don’t typically use them all especially if I really like the designs. |
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905
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Post by tracylynn on Jul 20, 2022 6:38:28 GMT
Not directly, no. They have borrowed a shit-ton from the government, though. Because it's borrowing and must be paid back, it's not considered direct taxpayer funding. As of 2020, the USPS is still $160 billion in debt, so I don't think we're getting our money back any time soon. It's the Governments fault they are in debt. The least they can do is bail them out with loans. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 20, 2022 12:43:25 GMT
I'd prefer to get that than any political mail, credit card offers and junk about insurance that I don't need.  I must fill up a standard sized paper grocery bag every two weeks for recycling with all the unsolicited crap like that we get in the mail, and that’s not even including the parts I pull out to shred. I’d actually kind of like getting a catalog like that. I frequently buy stamps at the PO just because they’re pretty or fun and I don’t typically use them all especially if I really like the designs. Same!!! I bought some Star Wars stamps last time I got stamps. The 'mean' Star Wars characters always goes on my IRS tax bill. LOL.. It just makes me a little happy to do this.. |
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I must fill up a standard sized paper grocery bag every two weeks for recycling with all the unsolicited crap like that we get in the mail, and that’s not even including the parts I pull out to shred. 
I must fill up a standard sized paper grocery bag every two weeks for recycling with all the unsolicited crap like that we get in the mail, and that’s not even including the parts I pull out to shred.