No stamps at Post Office

[otherclive]

Yesterday I went to the “not very local post office” to send a birthday card to a Canadian friend as she and I both share the same birthdays. The agent at the Post Office asked if I wanted the £3.40 standard delivery, which I did. She then started to input the recipient details and address into a mobile device, and sought clarification on the Canadian post code. She then printed out a bar code label for the envelope, and gave me a proof of posting receipt. I asked her if something had changed and she said “ it is because we have no stamps available “. I told her I hoped it would be sorted within a few days as otherwise the queues for posting overseas Christmas cards would be down to road.

 

[Hutch]

You can get a machine from the "Post Office" to print out your own barcodes for letters and parcels, I don't know how you are charged, my wife had to use one at an office where she worked.
We buy our stamps from Costco, a lot cheaper than at the Post Office,

 

[Sam Vimes]

You can buy postage on line and print your own which our postie says is cheaper.

Never tried it so far.

 

[otherclive]

You can get a machine from the "Post Office" to print out your own barcodes for letters and parcels, I don't know how you are charged, my wife had to use one at an office where she worked.
We buy our stamps from Costco, a lot cheaper than at the Post Office,

In the US 100 73 cent stamps costs $72.75. A saving of 25 cents in $73 plus if you buy online it’s $3 shipping. What’s the U.K. equivalent from Costco?

 

[Hutch]

I have just looked on Stamps in Costco, and can't find the basics stamps, but Mrs H says they are about 3 to 5 pence cheaper than buying at the post office.
We no longer send out Christmas cards, donate to charity instead.

 

[otherclive]

I have just looked on Stamps in Costco, and can't find the basics stamps, but Mrs H says they are about 3 to 5 pence cheaper than buying at the post office.
We no longer send out Christmas cards, donate to charity instead.

We do both but we feel that sending a card with a personal letter or message is a nice gesture at Christmas. Our friends do likewise. I buy the cards directly from charities as the so called bulk buy cards from supermarkets give precious little to charities. The rest of the year it is email/wifi calling.