Could another scandal be on the way? allegedly

I never have to pay postage for anything I buy from China. Always free. They just stamp it with people’s republic of China or people’s republic of Taiwan ( the Taiwanese people might not agree,but still ). How do they do it ?

Do they really expect us to believe that China is trying to ruin our economy using stamps? Especially when one poster says 17 used with no problem and suddenly there is. Have Post Office changed their stamp reading hardware or software lately? Is this another computer system supplier problem! Has their system been tested independently, to find out what the problem is? Have Post Office outsourced stamp production to someone new? Is it just another money raising scam?

People are moving away from postage and going electronic. Seems an odd thing for China to do.

In view of the fact we cannot trust the Post Office now - or any company for that matter - these questions need to be answered before accusing China of underhand behaviour.

We don’t have a local PO anymore so I was looking online to buy stamps. I was confused at all the different companies advertising stamps and ordered some from the PO official site, they delivered the wrong ones and when I tried to change them at a PO they said it was a different company and they couldn't help.
Had to go back to the PO site and start all over again.

paid £5 for Christmas card to be delivered the chap who sent it said that some of the stamps he purchased were counterfeit and others in the book weren’t .
Trouble is I didn’t know if the the letter was important so coughed up a fiver

My son who lives in NZ has been told that there will be no more postal deliveries after the next two years.
Are we going the same way, a lot of our shop post office counters have disappeared

Indeed. Hence my using the supermarket.

Unfortunately, we have very few ‘ real ‘ post offices ‘ now. Most are in corner shops, and they may be buying the fake stamps, albeit unknowingly.

Sweetness1

Over a year ago I bought a book of 1st class stamps from the local newsagent mostly for birthday cards. A couple from the same book of 6 were counterfeit( I found out from recipients being asked to pay fee!) The others weren’t. I wouldn’t buy from my local newsagent now though.

Clearly if part of the book were classed as fake but not all, the detection system is unreliable. I use very few stamps these days and the ones I currently have were bought in order to send my Christmas cards. No problems so far but next year I shall only buy the Christmas special stamp books and buy from the post office. Most of the things I post are packages which I pay for at the post office and get one of their printed stickers put on. I assume they are safe. I always keep the receipts as they are usually for gifts sent to neices and nephews who live overseas.

kittylester

You can buy postage and/or stamps on line.

The counterfeit stamps are sold online on sites mimicking the Post Office sites. Also sold in shops.

It’s not cheap to send a letter these days nanna8

I could understand people making false banknotes but stamps ? Must be desperados. Wouldn’t think it was worth it.

I havent bought a standard first/,second class stamp since I swapped the ones I had (used to use loads but nowadays very few) I didn't keep the receipts.
I've bought a few large letter ones but from a PO
Hope all ok
I had bought the original ones at Costco so a tiny bit cheaper.

Over a year ago I bought a book of 1st class stamps from the local newsagent mostly for birthday cards. A couple from the same book of 6 were counterfeit( I found out from recipients being asked to pay fee!) The others weren’t. I wouldn’t buy from my local newsagent now though.

You can buy postage and/or stamps on line.

I expect the Chinese counterfeiters make a profit given the high price of stamps, and it’s yet another way of undermining our economy.

Thanks sago. We don’t have a PO very near, and up to now I’ve had no problems with my stamps from our local, independent card shop.
I don’t understand what China have to gain from this.

Absolutely!

Let’s hope the supermarket ones are kosher, but avoid Amazon.

I agree, but will they obey? As we have no actual PO for miles, I will continue buying supplies from the supermarket.

In that case the sub post offices must be told to only buy from their own reputable sources!

But PO counters in small shops have been selling fake stamps! Our local PO counter is in a petrol station and Spar shop and I trust the people who run it, but who knows?

Only buy from the PO in future to be sure you get the genuine article.

Germanshepherdsmum

I suspect this is not unlike the man in corner shop selling illegal cigarettes under the counter.

I generally buy books of stamps with my groceries - hopefully the big supermarkets buy supplies from the proper source.

Yes this. I rely on this site for my news as I rarely watch it on TV. I think this is one of the obvious dangers of unmitigated internet shopping- how do you know what is fake or not?

I thank RosiesMaw for her post, as this puts it into context.

maddyone

I normally buy my stamps from my local card shop. I need stamps because I send birthday cards to my friends and family who don’t live near to me.
Last night it was reported that the fake stamps have come from China. No idea if this is true or not.

It is true.
Unfortunately some retailers buy their stamps from wholesalers, these are the fakes.
Unless they have been bought from the PO there is every possibility they are fake!
Bloody China!

I normally buy my stamps from my local card shop. I need stamps because I send birthday cards to my friends and family who don’t live near to me.
Last night it was reported that the fake stamps have come from China. No idea if this is true or not.