La Poste has announced that it is ceasing to market the Ecopli, the cheapest stamp. This gray stamp is sold for 1.14 euros each until the end of the year. But what will you have to do next year if you have unused gray stamps left? Is it possible to change them or to be reimbursed? This is the question posed by Jean-Charles MoneyVox.
Question from Jean-Charles, December 20, 2022
Hello. What to do with gray, unused stamps on January 1? Reimburse them or change them?
Hello Jean-Charles, your question is topical since as of January 1, 2023, La Poste is implementing a new pricing policy, announced in July. Main novelty: the red e-letter 1.49 euro which replaces the red stamp of the priority letter. Green stamp stay 1.16 euro but the letters will be distributed in 3 days instead of 2 today.
Another novelty with the turquoise letter 2.95 euros for the most important shipments requiring traceability. As for the registered letter, the service will be marketed from 4.83 euros, against 4.55 euros today, with a distribution period of 3 working days.
The gray stamp removed
But La Poste is taking advantage of this tariff overhaul to remove the Ecopli. It’s about gray stamp, the cheapest offered so far 1.14euro piece. This gray stamp is intended for the delivery in France of envelopes and small parcels up to 250 grams for non-urgent shipments since the delivery is carried out in approximately 4 working days.
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Questioned by MoneyVox this summer, the Post office justified its decision by several factors: on the one hand the difference in price of only 2 cents with the green stamp, but also the low demand for the gray stamp which only representedone letter per household per yeari.e. a total of 20 million out of 7 billion sent.
You can still use your gray trimmers already purchased
An argument to temper since the Post Office did not actively promote the gray stamp. On the automatons, for example, it is never about from the outset. In addition, the gray stamp is absent from the MonTimbrenLigne service, which gives the possibility of printing stamps at reduced prices at home.
But if the Post office ends the marketing of the gray stamp by the end of the year, it makes it known thatit will still be possible to use them for mail sent from 2023. Jean-Charles, you therefore have the option of using your gray stamps next year to frank envelopes and small parcels.