Reusing unstamped postal stamps?

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Is it ethical or morally acceptable to reuse a unstamped stamp?

Yes

71%

[ 47 ]

28%

[ 19 ]

Total Votes : 66

Leah J ↓

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 1:15 pm

Is it ethical or morally acceptable to reuse a stamp that was not officially canceled or stamped by the postal service?

AlwaysCleaning

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:29 pm

Are you talking about a stamp from a letter you recieved in the mail? Or a stamp from a response card that you didn't use?

Personally I don't reuse either but I would think the latter would be ok/ethical

giftedmom

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:42 pm

We always did that back in the day

simcha12plus

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:48 pm

I paid for all those stamps that I put on my daughter’s wedding invitation return cards. Please use it!

Hashem_Yaazor

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:50 pm

giftedmom wrote:

We always did that back in the day

And they were only 29 cents back then 😜

BrachaVHatzlocha

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:53 pm

I think I once asked a Rav (about uncancelled stamps) and was told it's okay. but please dont' quote me on it.
I also wondered about paying a meter (NYC)... If I come late and didn't get a ticket...do I "owe" the gov for that time?

chanatron1000

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:55 pm

It's technically considered federal mail fraud.

naturalcurls

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 3:58 pm

AlwaysCleaning wrote:

Same question

But I would use a stamp from the second scenario not the first

Molly Weasley ↓

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 6:52 am

chanatron1000 wrote:

It's technically considered federal mail fraud.

Up to three years in the slammer!

jkl ↓

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 6:59 am

chanatron1000 wrote:

It's technically considered federal mail fraud.

It is and it's unethical ( as per the first scenario outlined earlier). But I do it anyways, it's my teeny tiny revenge for the exorbitant taxes they suck out of me.

↑ Molly Weasley

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 7:02 am

jkl wrote:

It is and it's unethical ( as per the first scenario outlined earlier). But I do it anyways, it's my teeny tiny revenge for the exorbitant taxes they suck out of me.

It's technically a private company

MiracleMama

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 7:03 am

I didn't know people do such things.
While it does sound unethical, I don't know that I want to judge anyone who is in such bad shape financially that they are resorting to this.

↑ jkl

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 7:05 am

Molly Weasley wrote:

It's technically a private company

It's a public company, supported in part by the government. That's enough for me. Anything government associated I put into the same bucket.

↑ Leah J ↓

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 11:40 am

Just found this on the USPS web site:

Poster 5 - Warning - Reusing Postage
July 2005

WARNING!
Once a postage stamp has been used, it is a federal crime to:

1. Remove, attempt to remove, or assist to remove cancellation marks from postage.
2. Reuse a stamp whether cancelled or not.

If you have questions concerning the reuse of postage, please contact your local Postal Inspector.

Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 471 and 1720

Poster 5 July 2005
PSN 7690-03-000-9182

↑ Leah J

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 11:41 am

jkl wrote:

It's a public company, supported in part by the government. That's enough for me. Anything government associated I put into the same bucket.

Agree!

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