Buying A Book Of Stamps

[Suetheramble]

A couple of days ago I purchased 24 2nd class stamps - 2 books of 12. The man asked for £16.66. Although like most of the population I only know roughly the price of stamps. I questioned the price and the shop keeper could not quote the price of one 2nd class stamp ( 60p). The stamps were not for me so I genuinely needed a receipt and then the price was then reduced to £14.44. I have checked my records and it seems shops regular add a bonus to the standard price. They appear not to scan them. I do vaguely remember thinking a while back the independent outlets must be allowed to charge a service charge or something; can this thought be correct?
For those who care the prices are 2nd class 60p (increasing to 62p 31/03/2017) & 2nd class 50p ( increasing to 53p)

[roopower]

I thought as from March last year, 2nd class 56p, 1st class 65p, large 2nd 76p, large 1st 98p. Which would have made 24x2nd class £13.44

[bednobs]

you are compleely wrong sue

[dannyk13]

I think many small shopkeepers charge what they want.I used to buy mine from the local shop and the price varied from week to week.I now get mine from Tesco who do not add anything to the normal price.

[hc4361]

From 27 March 2018, the price of a First Class stamp will increase by 1p to 65p and the price of a Second Class stamp will increase by 1p to 56p

https://www.royalmailgroup.com/first-and-second-class-stamp-prices-2

A shop can charge less but not more than the current official price. You should have been charged £13.20

[dannyk13]

hc, There is no restriction on a shop charging more than face value.Check with the Post Office.

[douglas9401]

This type of sharp practice needs to be stamped out.

Little wonder people go postal.

[dannyk13]

hc, sorry forget my post (senior moment)

[hc4361]

"Retailers are not permitted to charge more than the face value of a postage stamp. Retailers are bound by a set of Terms & Conditions when they sell any of our products. We take very seriously any reports of retailers who overcharge for stamps (ie for more than their face value). Customers can complain in writing to:
Denise Sivills
Royal Mail Retail Manager
21 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 9PA"

[ichkeria]

He's made a mistake.
First time out he miscalculated and in any case he had the price wrong.
If goods aren't scanned there's nothing to stop people either deliberately or accidentally over charging (or undercharging)
On scanners, Sainsbury's scanning macines seem unable to cope with foreign newspapers. Twice there has been mass confusion at the automatic checkout when I've attempted to scan one: on the last occasion I was allowed to take a free copy of the New York Times as they didn't know how to handle it. I pointed out that there was in fact a price in sterling on the back but they told me just to take it anyway!

[jno]

the good news is once you have them (or the owner has) you can use them forever - even if the price of postage goes up, 1st adn 2nd class stamps with no price on them remain valid no matter what you originally paid for them.

[EDDIE51]

https://www.postofficeshop.co.uk/postage-stamps/royal-mail/2nd-class-book-of-12-stamps-single-2c12single/
£6.72 for one book of 12 so £13.44 for 2

[fiction-factory]

Apart from the typo of 2nd class where you meant first class in your last sentence, your figures seem to be out of date, sue- you say for example they will go up on 31/03/2017 but it's 2018 now

[Jackdaw33]

Are the gold 1st class stamps (no value printed) still valid for use as the colour has changed to red now?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, if they say 1st class.

[mikey4444]

At the moment, a second class stamp costs 55p, rising to 56p from the end of March. So a book of 12 should cost you £6:60....2 books for £13:20.

If anyone tries to sell you a book for more than this, tell where to stick their stamps !

The man is a charlatan.....hc is right at 10:34 !

[EDDIE51]

Stamps marked as just 1st or 2nd class with no price will always be valid for the appropriate post service no matter when they were bought. So a 1st class stamp bought today will still be valid for 1st class post in 10,20 or even 100 years time. You can look on them as an investment.
A few years back there was a larger than usual yearly increase in the post price, people were bulk buying so many 1st and 2nd class stamps in advance of the increase that post offices ran out of stocks.

[EDDIE51]

Although technically illegal (these have to be listed as Philatelic interest only) people buy these to use on letters
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GB-1ST-CLASS-UNFRANKED-STAMPS-WITH-GUM/162889606926?hash=item25ecfa270e:g:NqgAAOSwgGFaebQ~
48 first class stamps

[Cloverjo]

My OH stockpiled a load of stamps with just '1st' or '2nd' on them a few years ago just before a price hike. I thought he was daft at the time to spend so much money on them, but he's probably saved quite a bit by now.

[jno]

I did the same Cloverjo - I've had them so long I think they've got Queen Victoria's head on them

[Davemano]

27th March 2017 First and Second Class stamps each were increased by 1p to their current price of 65p and 56p.