But many thanks to the several people who tweeted, phoned and emailed about this. Thanks to Brian for this picture of part of a collectors strip, this one from Nottingham. Pete confirmed that Cambridge was also updated, but sadly no Spring Blooms left as they only lasted about a week. Maybe there will be some elsewhere so that somebody can produce some first day covers of this new stamp - which may get a sub-number in Stanley Gibbons Concise*.
Machins now in stock - no collectors strips yet.
Thanks to Chris for the picture of the Spring Blooms from a machine at Wealdstone.
* Who would be a catalogue editor? The 2014 GB Concise has entries for the Europe and Worldwide 60g stamps, but only for the Machin, Spring Blooms, and Union Flag stamps. That only leaves the Robin, Freshwater Life, Farm Animals, and Birds to add :-)
Both machines at Wealdstone dispensing Spring Blooms
ReplyDelete(Gulp) No more signed for or special delivery from NCR machines for collectors ! I saw a memo this morning at Acton PO, which said all such labels are to be seen to be attached to a letter or package. Staff would not waiver from that instruction.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably due to fact that you have to scan the correct label to get these stamps which puts them into the system. It probably applies to the tracked/signed international services and parcelforce stamps to so it just leaves the standard services, a big loss in revenue for the P O.
DeleteI tried to get some SD Open Value stamps from an NCR machine yesterday and the system has changed completely!!
DeletePreviously the stamp was paid for first and then the stamp was printed, after that a member of staff was called over to scan their barcode badge and if you wanted the Open value stamp you just took it away with the receipt.
From last Thursday the system has changed so that a member of staff is called over before you have paid for the stamp. A barcode from the label you want to use, such as Special Delivery, International Tracked, Parcelforce 48, etc. is scanned into the machine and registered on the system and that label is put on your packet. After that you pay for the stamp and the member of staff sticks the stamp on the same packet!!
It means that it is no longer possible to obtain mint Open value stamps for all Parcelforce services, International signed and/or tracked services or Special Delivery priority services!
I suppose it reduces the number of mint Open value stamps available for future issues, but as some of the others will now only be available in a used condition, it will make them very difficult to obtain!!
I had the same problem at Battersea at the beginning of May. No reason given.
DeleteHarlow, Essex (NCR) Both their machines dispensing Machin Year 13
ReplyDeleteDoug (Enfield)
All machines at London Bridge dispensing Spring Blooms today
ReplyDelete