2011, end of issuance of summer stamps
Undoubtedly, you have also reviewed and studied the stamp issues of the first half of 2011 with considerable interest. You will have noticed in the overview that one series is missing, namely the 2011 Summer Stamps.
Following necessary discussions between the National Foundation for the Elderly (the applicant for the Summer Stamp issues) and TNT Post, the postal company has decided (despite significant counterarguments from the Foundation for the Elderly) to no longer issue Summer stamps starting in 2011.
Arguments?
Causes of operational policy and practical nature at TNT Post and the Elderly Fund are:- Main argument for TNT Post: “The summer stamp places too much of a burden on the issuance program!” Last year, Ger Jacobs, Commercial Director of TNT Post, already spoke the prophetic words: “Children’s stamps are a fixed part of the issuance policy. The issuance of summer stamps will need to be discussed further!”
- The demand for summer stamps by philately decreases year after year.
- Many post offices are closing; service points no longer want to sell surcharge stamps.
- The number of volunteers on the local summer stamp committees is still declining due to old age.
- Sales figures for summer stamps and greeting cards have dropped rapidly.
- The number of items sold per local department is dropping drastically.
The grand launch of the new 2010 summer stamps in the 75th anniversary year of the summer stamps on April 27, 2010, by the person depicted on the stamps and/or family members/friends thereof and other invited guests, effectively marked the funeral and farewell of the summer stamps: [1] Mies Bouman; Ramses Shaffy represented by [2] Liesbeth List and [3] Shireen Strooker; Fanny Blankers-Koen represented by [4] Jan Blanker; Willy Alberti represented by [5] Willeke Alberti and [7] Ria Alberti; Annie MG Schmidt represented by [8] Flip Azijn; and [6] Frans Mulder. Dick Bruna is not present.
So, another tradition killed off thanks to our ever-commercial TNT Post. “The summer stamp burdens the issuance program too much!” Well……
It is a pity; the summer stamps were generally beautiful stamps. When it comes to taxing the emission program, there are certainly other issues to scrap, such as the *Mooi Nederland* series. As far as I am concerned, this series has now been beautiful enough.
and in return, we get those beautiful original personalized stamps that do not burden the issuing policy; I know a few more like that.
And the number of collectors will decline further as a result. To me, the Netherlands is starting to become more of a country of stick-on-letter stamps than a country of stick-in-a-post stamps.
Whether you issue 100 stamps or 107 stamps (6 summer stamps + 1 Europa stamp) per year. When Neelie Smit-Kroes was State Secretary around 1978-1979, it was even suggested that the Netherlands should issue only three types of special stamps (summer stamps, Europa stamps, and children's stamps).
Worthless. I still remember the beautiful beach skin and more. It is precisely in the summer that the Netherlands is at its most beautiful, and many events are organized. What kind of stupid argument is that about ballasting emissions? A good issuance policy is a harmonious policy in which various aspects of the Netherlands are put in the spotlight. TNT surely means that they lack the professionalism to shape such a policy.
It is often said that stamp collecting is a hobby for the elderly. Yet, the very issue that pays special attention to them is being cancelled. Sometimes I don't understand modern decisions.
Yeah, yeah, if you read carefully first, it boils down to the fact that the business isn't profitable and sales are declining. That post offices are being closed, and there are no young volunteers left, and also that postal agents don't want to sell surcharges. The decline driven by philately is lower, which is strange; the stamps/sheets are included in the annual sets anyway, and the collector wants to fill their Davo album with the stamps too; they won't leave a single page blank. Furthermore, I read that TNT wants to show its social side after all, so stay in contact with the committee to see what they can do. The summer committee has it in its own hands; bring on the first personalized summer stamps with surcharge + Max cards + FDCs + sheet from 6/9/12 + personalized prestige booklet. With the Wadden stamps, 2 euros goes to the Wadden Association; who is stopping the summer committee from doing something similar? Just involve the trade for issuance as well, and job done!
Solutions are sometimes simple, but you have to be willing!
Just expand on that summer aspect: older people who are still active, cycling, you name it. Doesn't that appeal to everyone? Volunteers disappearing and a stagnation in the supply of new volunteers is a general problem, thanks to the moral obligation imposed on anyone who can move a hand or a leg to “form a broad economic base.”
If all companies start adapting their policies to this insane policy, there won't be anything fun left. But… as a company, you don't have to adapt at all!!
If sales drop, there is something wrong with your PR and communication, and you have not taken measures to properly organize the provision of information and the promotion of stamps, especially now that post offices have disappeared.
How many people who don't collect know about the existence of certain emissions??? In my circle, people know about it because of me, and not otherwise.
My sister-in-law from Tilburg receives unsolicited new issues when she buys stamps, and a friend from the Utrecht area has to explicitly ask for them five times if he even knows about them at all... isn't that partly a cause too??
I'm not buying it, the arguments.
Last night (Saturday) I watched the documentary about TNT Post and drew your conclusions as well.
For example, regarding the unions that consistently adopt/adopted a wait-and-see attitude,
about the shareholders lining their pockets, about the postal workers sitting at home sick/burned out (where would that come from)
And especially about the fact that TNT doesn't care at all when we receive our mail or don't receive it.
I was quite shocked, although I had been somewhat warned about the ins and outs of “our” TNT Post!
75 is a good age, having enjoyed ten years of retirement, only to die.
Only I hope to grow older.
At least 100, at least that is what I have set out to do.
Too bad for those who hate me, I'm staying a while longer, hopefully longer than the summer stamps, cheers until the next Postex.
I had placed an order with the Elderly Fund for cards and stamps. Presumably, it wasn't known at the time that no new stamps were coming out? I sold stamps and cards for the Elderly Fund for years, and it pains me that this has stopped. I did receive a nice tile (which wasn't necessary), but no stamps or cards.
Warm regards and best of luck with the important work you are doing. Kunny Wieringa Winsumerdiep 5, 9951 CG Winsum.