duck stamp story

John Klingenstein

John Klingenstein

Well-known member
Due to fewer and fewer USPS locations in my area carrying the Federal Duck Stamp I have gotten in the habit of purchasing it from USPS.com
I ordered my duck stamp about ten days ago and awaited it's arrival in normal fashion.
Two days ago I received a little pink note from the mailman indicating that I needed to stop by our town's local Post Office to pick up a package.
Yesterday I stopped by the Post Office and waited in the usual ten person line. After a few minutes I was waived forward to the next available clerk (of the two) and I presented my little pink note for my parcel pick-up.
The clerk produced a slightly over-sized envelope that was $3.43 POSTAGE DUE. Looking at the Sender address...sure enough...it was mailed by the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Service. (The Post Office)
Laughing...I pointed out the error to the clerk and said I had paid for shipping when I placed the order for the stamp.
The envelope hand a First Class Postage Paid Permit NO-G-10 in the upper right hand corner.
She disappeared back into the "back area" and emerged and said that her Supervisor had said I could pay the POSTAGE DUE or refuse the parcel...my choice


I shook my head....laughed....and paid the postage due.


PS: checking my original receipt last night at home it clearly stated that I had paid $1.30 for shipping and handling.
Only the government could be so inept.
 
Went to local USPS for my duck stamp. Was told 5-7 days to get one. Asked if THEY could get it overnite, they are a part of the business??????
 
I think it was Will Rogers that said, "Thank God we don't get all the government we pay for". Leads one to wonder how an organization that's run so efficiently could possibly be losing money.
 
well, i said this in another thread

i went to get mine - and they were still selling the previous years stamp,
 
I walked to our post office weeks ago (same day I purchased my new license), asked for a Duck Stamp. They had plenty, paid my money and was out the door no problem. I'm starting to think it's all about where you live. Less demand, smaller community of hunters, and the folks behind the counter not knowing their customers.
 
I guess it is where you live--went to Fish & Game HQ in early Sept. and bought my archery, muzzleloader,pheasant,state duck "stamp",federal duck stamp and special extra doe permits all together at the same time!
 
John, I definitely felt your pain! What an incredible story--- If you have a national refuge not too far from you, they sell duck stamps. Too bad you didn't have a "forever" stamp, then you could have given it to the clerk to pay the additional postage. I know that wouldn't have worked.
Al
 
Unbelievable!! The area I live in is on the Mississippi River and I live within 15 minutes from (3) post offices yet none had the Federal stamp a few weeks ago when I called. They couldn't answer my simple question "When will you have some?" Two of the three clerks I talked to didn't know what I was asking for. Thank goodness a small simple bait shop where I do business orders them from the Federal Duck Stamp Office.

http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/stamps.htm for those who may have the same experience as I have had in the past. Hopefully those who order from here don't have Johns experience.
 
One of my hunting buddies got checked by the warden and had the previous year's stamp instead of the current one. He explained to the warden that he had just bought the stamp a week before. Luckily the warden was a good guy and allowed him to run to his car where luckily he still had his receipt from the week before. The warden said he was going to make a beeline to the post office to set them straight and tell them to quit selling old duck stamps!
 
So this brings up a good point.... why must your stamp be this years issue? If it is affixed to a currently license, and is properly signed over its face. So what if I buy 3 stamps this year and use them in coming years? I buy postage stamps in advance, and use them when I need them? I suppose you could cheat and steam off the old stamps, but the peel and stick are not coming off clean? It never occured to me before, and I never paid much attention to the regulations wording, but Kirk's post got me thinking....

Took 2 weeks for my E-stamp to arrive yesterday. No wonder the USPS can't compete... the posts above have me shaking my head over and over...
 
I had an anti hunting post master offer to sell me her's 2 years ago for $65. (only in jersey)
Click to expand...

Suuuuure.....why didn't you report her then?

Never mind that the stamp is more of a conservation stamp or just as much of a conservation stamp as it is a hunting stamp... Over 95% of the funds acquired go to the MBCF.... It's also a sought after collectible stamp by many non-hunters... It also can be used as a means of admittance to several national wildlife refuge systems around North America.... Furthermore; as "waterfowler" it's also your responsibility to know what the current year stamp looks like.... I don't know ANY waterfowler worth his salt that has bought the wrong stamp and didn't realize it ....mostly weekend googans do that... Also I don't know any waterfowler that doesn't know every year where to get his stamp from... What regular/semi regular waterfowler hasn't ascertained over the years what local sports shops or post offices do or do not have the stamp???
 
"[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]I don't know ANY waterfowler worth his salt that has bought the wrong stamp and didn't realize it ....mostly weekend googans do that..."[/font]

Last week I went hunting with two guys in there 20s. Neither had ever duck hunted before. Had they been sold last year's stamp they wouldn't have had a clue. Since at this time in their lives they can only hunt on weekends I guess that they shouldn't try something new.

If a post office or store sells last years stamps after June they need to be slapped (figuratively).

I try to keep an eye on the art world and think I know a thing or two about waterfowl. Still unless someone posts it here I don't always know what the stamp looks like. It is not my type of art and is only a showcase for a few artists anymore. I do know to look at the date though because I have seen old ones out there.

Tim
 
Dave,


The federal stamps have always, as far as I can remember, had "Void after June 30, xxxx" printed on the stamps border or some where on each stamp. So, I guess you can say they do expire. I always have an extra stamp(s) in my gunning box in case someone forgets one. After the season closes I use them for shipping packages before there expiration date.
 
I've never had a problem getting mine from the local post office, but when I get the chance I buy direct from a wildlife refuge. I've never understood why they're sold through post offices. Why not distribute them for the states to sell when they sell state licenses? I like one-stop shopping.
 
Cool!
I think I'll try it now. The real test is....would they allow me to use it with my signature across the front.
 
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