Talk:Personalised stamp
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Discussion of Methods
[edit]Methods of manufacture and dispensing (you have to send away for some, have your picture taken there for others such as UN) should be included. --Daniel C. Boyer 17:33, 1 May 2007 (UTC)
Merge tag deleted
[edit]This page has had a merge tag on it from May, 2007 to January, 2008, with no discussion here. I believe that the merger doesn't make sense because personalized stamps are a separate topic of interest. Accordingly, I have deleted the tag. If you still believe that the articles should be merged, please put the tag back and state your reasons here. Bry9000 (talk) 23:13, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
German service?
[edit]Is https://www.plusbrief-individuell.de/ the German service link?
Edits to United States Section
[edit]Below are some proposed edits that I would like to contribute on behalf of Pitney Bowes to the United States portion of this article. New edits are in italics. Your feedback and suggestions would be much appreciated as we work to expand and improve the information contained on this page.
In the United States, personalized stamps – also known as customized postage – are technically a form of meter labels and are governed by the United States Postal Service. As meter labels, they are not supposed to be cancelled.
While consumers may find that customized postage is available in a number of retail and online outlets, the USPS has authorized different companies to handle select aspects of the program.
Providers, including Pitney Bowes, Endicia and Stamps.com, are authorized to generate, transmit and print the indicia barcodes, ensure that images conform to USPS standards, market and sell customized postage and fulfill customer orders.
Partners such as Zazzle can approve imagery, market, sell and fulfill orders, but they must be associated with an authorized provider who creates the indicia using an approved postage evidencing system.
Affiliates like Fuji can market, sell and fulfill orders, but are not authorized to approve imagery or print postage and must be associated with an authorized provider who creates the indicia using an approved postage evidencing system.
In the United States personalized stamps are technically a form of meter labels[17] and thus do not fall under the regulations for what can be depicted on U.S. stamps; for example, the restriction that people, with the exception of U.S. presidents, have to be dead for five years (formerly ten) before they can be commemorated is not applicable. This means that, under the standards for metered mail, they are also not supposed to be cancelled, though there are examples of this being done by unaware or other-enthusiastic employees, or perhaps as a favour for collectors.
Initially advertising was banned from this postage under a U.S. law banning advertising on U.S. securities, but this was later relaxed to allow for a test program.
Pitney Bowes, Stamps.com, Zazzle.com and Fuji offer provide United States Postal Service-approved personalised postage via Stamp Expressions, PhotoStamps and ZazzleStamps and Yourstamps.com respectively.; however, unlike in some foreign countries, the postage is defined not to be stamps, but are technically meter labels. (Both ZazzleStamps and Yourstamps.com are powered by Pitney Bowes.) Because they are regarded as meter labels, they are distinguished from NetStamps labels (a form of postage that could be printed out -- but not personalised -- on someone's PC, although some NetStamps labels come with pictures) in that the NetStamps labels "may or may not be canceled" based on local decisions.
Some customers order the postage online and it is mailed to the recipient at a premium over the cost of postage; there has been some criticism of how much this premium is. Somewhat different is PremierPostage.com, which offers licensed U.S. postage of a similar type (outside the regular U.S. stamp programme and with similar indica), but issued by the company, not personalised by the individual.
Consumers and businesses can also print their own postage using a small, specialized printer, such as the Pitney Bowes Stamp Expressions® Printer. Recent innovations include postal kiosks, where consumers can download an image at their local convenience store.
While initially considered a consumer application, Pitney Bowes offers a Customized Postage Partnership Program that provides corporations and small business owners with an opportunity to take advantage of this business opportunity. Commercial applications include:
*Merchandising, where companies can promote sales and market collectibles, either in postage format or as a framed premium.
*Photographers and Greeting Card companies can sell customized postage to customers to commemorate special moments or upcoming events.''
*Nonprofit Organizations and Universities use customized postage to capture the attention of potential and existing donors.
*Marketers and advertising agencies can add customized postage to envelopes to boost brand and image awareness for their clients.
(These forms of personalised postage should be distinguished from Pitney Bowes Stamp Expressions, personalised postage printed out immediately via the use of a special printer.)
I hope these edits are helpful! Please let me know your feedback. We would like to implement these changes by Friday July 18 if we do not hear of any edits. Vlbastekzeta (talk) 16:00, 11 July 2008 (UTC) on behalf of Pitney Bowes
Smilers (UK)
[edit]I think that the service has been discontinued. --DL5MDA (talk) 19:01, 5 September 2023 (UTC)