In the UK stamps are legal tendar so I take it they have to give refunds.

Having watching "The Office" on BBC America, I can confirm this. See below:

David: “In fact, a postage stamp is legal tender. A bus driver would have to accept that as currency.”
Tim: “Yeah, that’d happen.”
David: “Well, if he doesn’t, report him.”
Tim: “Yeah, I’ll report him while I’m walking home.”
Gareth: “Get a taxi, if you’ve got enough stamps.”
Dawn: “or cash ‘em in at the Post Office.”
David: “Shouldn’t have to. Shouldn’t have to.”

David, Tim, & Gareth (Series 1 Episode 4)

However, being legal tender, wouldn't purchasing them be a cash advance charge since they are, in fact, cash instruments?

peace,
~Ben~

Our local drugstore sells stamps at face value as a courtesy to its customers. So, if you own a business, you could sell stamps to your customers as a courtesy at face value.

Buy the stamps at the post office with a credit card, collect the miles, and sell them to your customers for cash.

But it would still be treated as a cash advance and therefore a losing proposition.

peace,
~Ben~

No. I buy stamps at the post office using a credit card (Citibank AAdvantage) all the time, for years. Always a normal credit charge, not debit nor cash advance purchase. No doubt about it. I guess, technically you are purchase a "service".

D'oh - yeah sorry. I was all mixed up there. My bad. :rolleyes:

peace,
~Ben~

True, though they're having second thoughts about that as well, apparently, and are trying to persuade heavier mailers (e.g. Internet postage users, like eBay sellers) to switch to account debits. Seems like everyone's trying to do an end run around credit card companies that way.

eBay's annual report can make for interesting reading. It says that PayPal would be hurt badly if it couldn't do credit card transactions, but they try hard once you're signed up to get you not to use credit cards.

You would hvae to buy an insane amount of stamps to make this worthwhile. Way too much hassle. Just keep buying charterone giftcards, friends. :)

I just checked my USAir account statement and I received miles for a MO purchased at the USPS last month using a BofA USAir DM debit card. Only 1 mile/$2 spent and a 90cent fee for 82 miles. I didn't buy anything but the MO and it was a PIN transaction. I'll do it again this month.

BofA closed this debit card mileage earning opportunity in January 2004 and Chase just put the brakes on it this month.

Stamps are technically a tax, not a product or service. The postal service is "free" so long as the user pays the tax to mail the letter. Ahh, semantics and the government!