General Discussion

Baitball Blogger

(46,709 posts) Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:09 PM Dec 2013

US Stamps go commercial with Harry Potter. Your input is requested.

A brewing debate over stamps

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service's inspector general is seeking public opinion about the recently released Harry Potter stamps as a test of how Americans feel about a new commercial direction for postage.

Inspector General David Williams is asking stamp fans to weigh in on its blog and wondering whether the fictional British boy wizard created by author J.K. Rowling will "cast a spell" on young collectors as the Postal Service hopes.

"Stamp collecting is seen by some as a dying hobby, as fewer young Americans participate," Williams's office said Monday on the inspector general's blog. Referring to a debate over the series of "forever" stamps the Postal Service issued in November to honor Harry Potter, the office said the controversy "actually underscores a larger Postal Service dilemma: How does it stay relevant among a generation that doesn't really think too often about stamps or even hard copy communications?"

The Washington Post first reported that the choice of Harry Potter by the Postal Service's new marketing team had brought attention to an ongoing battle between the marketers and a committee of high-powered cultural figures that has recommended images for new stamps for half a century. The staff bypassed the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee in choosing Harry Potter, as it has for several other stamps.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-wp-washpost-bc-potter-stamp02-20131202,0,2839849.story

14 replies

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Highlight:

US Stamps go commercial with Harry Potter. Your input is requested. (Original Post) Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 OP

I'm for whatever will make $$ for the USPS. WinkyDink Dec 2013 #1

eh. I bought stamps online the other day Heddi Dec 2013 #2

I think the uproar is that HP is not Merkin. Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #4

Merkin? Heddi Dec 2013 #5

hee-hee-hee. Those clever brits. Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #6

on Du, when bush was prez, people would abbreviate it 'Murkin Heddi Dec 2013 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author Heddi Dec 2013 #3

Anything that makes arsonist Darrell Issa cry is fine with me. nt onehandle Dec 2013 #8

I wish I still had all the stamps my Aunt sent me when I was a kid OriginalGeek Dec 2013 #9

Trying to remember... TlalocW Dec 2013 #10

If it saves the USPS, good ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2013 #11

I don't mind the commercial aspect blogslut Dec 2013 #12

Here's the blog address. CBHagman Dec 2013 #13

Thanks! Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #14

WinkyDink

(51,311 posts)

1. I'm for whatever will make $$ for the USPS.

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:10 PM

Dec 2013

Heddi

(18,312 posts)

2. eh. I bought stamps online the other day

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:12 PM

Dec 2013

I thought about getting the Harry Potter stamps, but I haven't read any book past the first one, nor seen any movie other than the first one. I thought they looked cool, though.

I don't see any difference in this and the Elvis stamp (Elvis is certainly a commercial venture). I've seen Disney Pixar stamps...how's that different?

I really don't see what the issue is, or how Harry Potter is different from DisneyPixar stamps, Elvis, other "commercial ventures" that have appeared on stamps.

Baitball Blogger

(46,709 posts)

4. I think the uproar is that HP is not Merkin.

Reply to Heddi (Reply #2)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:14 PM

Dec 2013

Heddi

(18,312 posts)

5. Merkin?

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Reply #4)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:18 PM

Dec 2013

I crocheted one of those for a friend for christmas using bright purple fuzzy yarn.

Does Harry Potter wear a merkin?

Baitball Blogger

(46,709 posts)

6. hee-hee-hee. Those clever brits.

Reply to Heddi (Reply #5)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:21 PM

Dec 2013

That's what they call Americans on the big net. I didn't get the joke until now.

Heddi

(18,312 posts)

7. on Du, when bush was prez, people would abbreviate it 'Murkin

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Reply #6)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:23 PM

Dec 2013

because of his illiterate way of speaking and pronouncing American. GOd forbid the president of the united states pronounce American with all of its syllables intact. so instead of A-Mer-Ah-Can he pronounced it 'mur'kin. You'll still see that on DU.

Same with how he pronounced Nuclear. Nuke-lur. NUKE-YOU-LER. THREE SYLLABLES> Not a mushy one syllable word!!!

Wait..harry potter. Oh yeah. I wanted the stamps because they had the owl and Hagrid. THat would be fun to put on envelopes

Response to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Heddi This message was self-deleted by its author.

onehandle

(51,122 posts)

8. Anything that makes arsonist Darrell Issa cry is fine with me. nt

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:24 PM

Dec 2013

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)

9. I wish I still had all the stamps my Aunt sent me when I was a kid

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:27 PM

Dec 2013

She was a retired teacher and traveled the world and sent me postcards and letters from everywhere she went so I would have the stamps. I guess, philatelically speaking, those aren't the stamps that stamp collectors really want what with them being postmarked and all but I thought they were cool as hell. I had hundreds and loved them all but I guess I got older and she stopped traveling and they just fell by the wayside.

Oh well. Anyway, yes, as the first responder said, I'm for anything that makes the Post Office money.

TlalocW

(15,382 posts)

10. Trying to remember...

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 08:41 PM

Dec 2013

Last time I sent a letter... Then I'm trying to remember when I really gave a damn what was on the stamp to begin with...

Anyway, number one, any complaints about the HP stamps are... just stupid. So much more to worry about. And number two, the postal service is moving too slow. The last Harry Potter book was published over 6 years ago. It's a phenomenal set of books (and movies) that people of all ages enjoyed, got kids to read, taught valuable lessons, and pissed off religious conservatives, but they're not exactly the hot property they once were.

TlalocW