# Can I reuse the uncanceled stamps from my junk mail? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 7, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740 "2000-02-07T07:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/1 "2000-02-07T07:02:00Z")
I found this interesting, only because I’ve been considering something. Let’s say I write a letter. In the return address spot I put my intended recipient’s address; in the addresse’s spot I put a different address. Then I “forget” to affix a stamp. It will go to the return address, yes?? And with no cost to me 🙂 Highly illegal, I’m sure, and while I’ve never tried it, I can’t help but wonder… Would it work? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/2 "2000-02-07T07:18:00Z")
If the return address was not in the neighborhood where the letter was dropped off, I bet the Post Office would just throw it out or send it back to the “big” address. (If it’s for a different state, I would think they would definitely think that something is amiss.) You could try it once. I’m sure the Post Office isn’t going to bring you up on mail fraud if you try it once. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/3 "2000-02-07T16:49:00Z")
This should be posted in General Questions. This forum is about Cecils newspaper columns & you need to site which one you are talking about, if indeed this question is one he talked about. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/4 "2000-02-08T02:40:00Z")
handy, you’re 1 post shy of 3000 posts and don’t know how to check the archives? This classic column was re-published just last week. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_026.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_026.html) * * * Sue from El Paso Siamese Attack Puppet - Texas Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/5 "2000-02-08T04:28:00Z")
Thanks, majormd. I don’t post to pages very often and REALLY thought I was doing something wrong 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/6 "2000-02-09T03:37:00Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, sandyr. This is the place to get all kinds of questions answered. If you have questions unrelated to column from Cecil, the forum titled General Questions is the place to post. If you have questions relating to column from Cecil, come here. First check to see if that column is already being discussed. If so, jump on in. If not, start a new discussion, but please do include a link to the column you’re referring to. Sometimes we emulate his Cecilness a little too much in the putdown department, so bring a thick skin & a sense of humor… - Sue ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/7 "2000-02-10T15:38:00Z")
Sandy - (shhhhh!) But I have done it before. Once, in fourth grade. To see if it would work. Wrote a letter to my friend (who lived a couple suburbs away), return-addresed it to her, addressed it to myself. She got the letter, but I never tried it again because I was a law-abiding little nine-year-old. * * * Sucks to your assmar. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/8 "2000-02-19T04:56:00Z")
Ok Heres the real poop I know because my wife works at a lettershop Yes if it is an uncancelled 1st class stamp. No for everything else. Because they are 3rd class Bulk mail stamps. I dont know how your going to get it off the envelope but hey to each his own 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/9 "2000-02-19T08:36:00Z")
Cuz ah ahsked mah wahife ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Feelgud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Major\_Feelgud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Feelgud)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/10 "2000-02-27T19:55:00Z")
OK, how about those return envelopes from those credit card companies. Can you put a label over the address to the credit card and send it to someone else? ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/11 "2000-02-28T02:04:00Z")
Hell, you can sent an old shoe if you want. Just remember "the post office does not deliver mail with no postage."Don’t know who to credit this quote to. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Feelgud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Major\_Feelgud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Feelgud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/12 "2000-02-28T17:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by justwannano: > **Hell, you can sent an old shoe if you want. Just remember "the post office does not deliver mail with no postage."Don’t know who to credit this quote to.** You can credit that to someone with no education. You’ve got a double negative there. It should the “the PO does not deliver mail without postage”. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/13 "2000-02-28T19:04:00Z")
So shoot me. geeze. Try to add a little humor and what do you get… ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/14 "2000-02-28T19:05:00Z")
So shoot me. geeze. Try to add a little humor and what do you get… ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/15 "2000-02-28T19:13:00Z")
Anyway, to respond to the original post, mailing a letter with the intended recipient in the “return address spot”, and no stamp, would very probably be delivered, regardless of whether the “return address” is in the vicinity of the post office or not. I know since I’ve mailed bills from other states when on vacation, and once my phone bill came back to my home because I forgot a stamp. I’m sure it’s illegal, but the chances of being caught and discovered are very small, and the profits also are minimal, so most people don’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740/16 "2000-02-29T16:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > You can credit that to someone with no education. You’ve got a double negative there. It should the “the PO does not deliver mail without postage”. Errr… I hate to have to break it to you, but one of your schoolteachers was a loony. * * * John W. Kennedy “Compact is becoming contract; man only earns and pays.” – Charles Williams