How can I remove postage stamps from return envelopes from charities I'm not going to donate to? I read about using a hairdryer, but I can't get that to work. It seems a shame to throw out the stamp when I am not using it to send a donation. I'm talking about the stamped envelopes that come as enclosures from a charity requesting a donation. Is it ethical?
By HJ from DE
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I don't think it's right to use a charity paid for stamp if you don't donate to that charity in other ways, frankly. I do understand though-postage is going up and a lot of us are on strictly restricted budgets, the temptation is incredible.
But wrong to succumb to. Just my opinion, but if my adult son did that I would speak to him about what he is teaching my grandson.
The stamp is already paid for. When they mail it as a soliticitation then it becomes your property. The charity is out of the money for the stamp whether it is used or not.
I dont feel its wrong to use those stamps. If you check the charities theyve dont give much of the money they collect to the organization they collect. I recently checked some of the charities and was shocked to see that the top of the organization made over 6 figure salaries. Who do you think is paying that. I only will donate to organization that at least 90 percent of money goes to the organization
Someone said she didn't think it right to use a stamp from a charity. So she'd just trash it? If that stamp is mailed to me then it's mine to use as I choose. Sometimes there is so much waste in those charities. I don't believe in waste even if it is a 40 something stamp. In addition, they probably aren't paying for those stamps so why would they be mailing them out knowing a great percentage won't be used.
As to your question: Bring a pan of water to boil on the stove and lay the envelope above the pan but not touching the water. The stem will release the stamp; I've done it when I've put a stamp on an envelope and decided not to use that envelope. And call me dishonest if you wish, but I'd have no problem if that stamp was mailed to me from a charity because I don't like unsolicited mail or phone calls. My 2 cents worth.
Place in freezer for 30 minutes or so and should come right off once frozen.
I have never gotten the freezer suggestion to work. Maybe I just didn't leave it long enough. When I have placed a stamp on an envelope and then decide to remove it, for whatever reason I use my hairdryer and get the stamp hot and lift it off while the glue on the back is still warm.
Occasionally I stamp an envelope and realize I have made a mistake on the envelope, I simply remove the stamp by cutting it off the envelope and gluing it on a new envelope. I Have often wondered why charities waste money by placing stamps on envelopes when they are unsure if they are going to get a donation.
If you're talking about a regular (pre-paid) stamp and not the metered kind that guarantees delivery back to the charity then just cut it off and tape or glue on another envelope. If it's not a regular (pre-paid) stamp then please don't use it because the charity will be charged when used because of the coding on the metered type.
The way I look at it, if it's already paid for, is that it would be downright wasteful and a shame not to use it by just throwing it away. I hope I made sense.
I am with Lilac that I also don't understand why charities put pre-paid stamps on a return envelope :-(
Cut and glue, but if you tape, make sure it's not covered completly. That means the postal service can't stamp it. It's yours, you can use it as you please. Or, if you feel bad, donate it to an elderly person who still gets and sends mail.
In the freezer overnight does it.
I just spoke with a cousin of mine who recently stopped working for USPS after fifteen years as a mail sorter. Wanted to double check mine and others answers here. Poor But Prouds suggestion about covering the addresses is the only one legally acceptable. If the stamp is "glued" or "taped" to another envelope and the sorting machine or a human sorter catches it, it will be returned to you as 'postage due'. Even my cousin thinks it's a ridiculous rule when it's an unused stamp but she said you would be surprised how many letters are returned and letter delivery delayed because of it.
You can cut an unused stamp off the envelope & turn it in to the post office for a refund. I've done this before & they give you the money back on them - or you can trade them for stamps that are useable.
Or:
The freezer never worked for me. What I do is boil waater in my tea kett.e, then hold the envelope over the steam & start pulling the stamp off. Be careful you don't tear the stamp or burn yourself on the steam. Let the stamp completely dry before using it. Put a thin dab of glue on the back(bottled glue or glue stick both work), being careful not to get near the edges of the stamp. Put it on your envelope & smooth it out. If you put too much glue on or put it on the edge, the glue will squeeze out on the envelope, make a mess & void the stamp if it gets caught.
Cut out the stamp and soak it in a bowl of warm water, after a while the stamp separates from the paper. then glue it to another letter. I have never had a letter returned because I reused the stamp, to me this sounds like an "urban legend". Unless you are living somewhere very small that hand stamps their envelopes I would just reuse the stamps.
cailifouhnofthemist, pretty funny about saying the USPS rules/laws about this particular stamp issue is an urban legend, LOL! How can it be untrue when it's a real regulation? You did notice I said 'US'PS didn't you? Perhaps Canada simply has postal rules that are more slack. ;-)
If you take the entire envelope to the post office, they will replace the stamp. But you must take the entire envelope and not cut the stamp off.
Yes, of course it is ethical to remove stamps from unsolicited junkmail. The silly mooches should be glad you are not pasting that envelope onto a box of rocks.
10 seconds of steam from your steam iron, or a few drops of water on the stamp and then nuking it for 20 seconds will release the stamp.
If the stamp is the old-fashioned type, soaking the envelope in warm water for 5 minutes will release the stamp.
If the stamp is printed on the envelope by really sneaky mooches, then just cut it out and glue it onto whatever you are going to mail.
It is YOURS, just like the paper of the unsolicited junkmail. You can do with it whatever you want.
Have FUN!
DearWebby
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