r/PostcardIndia

I’m a philatelist, and today I’m honestly frustrated by an experience I had with a Postmaster.

I’ve dealt with some Postmasters who are exceptionally helpful. In one case, a Postmaster sent me a Speed Post regarding a postage shortage and simply asked me to pay the balance when I received it. Another even contacted me directly and said, “There is a shortage of ₹___; you can UPI the amount and I’ll process it.”

That is what good public service looks like.

And then there are experiences like this.

I was supposed to receive some philatelic material, but the Postmaster didn't provide the remaining material worth ₹15. And to make matters worse, look at the condition of the PPCs (Permanent Pictorial Cancellations) I received. Is this really supposed to be a pictorial cancellation?

The cancellation is so faint/incomplete that the pictorial element is barely visible.

At this point, instead of Permanent Pictorial Cancellation, I feel like calling it “Permanent Kamchor Cancellation.” 😑

And this isn't about expecting VIP treatment. These are paid philatelic services. Collectors spend their own money, time and effort to obtain these cancellations and preserve them as part of postal history. The absolute minimum expectation is that the cancellation should be applied properly.

What frustrates me even more is the contrast. There are genuinely hardworking postal employees who will go out of their way to help collectors and customers. So why should basic responsibility be treated as an extraordinary favour by some others?

We often talk about corruption in India and immediately point fingers at politicians. But corruption and administrative inefficiency also exist at the ground level because of people who take public money as a salary while having little interest in actually doing their job.

Politicians toh waise hi badnaam hain. Yeh jo everyday level par government services ko deliberately neglect karte hain, unko hum log kuch nahi bolte.

I know this may sound harsh, but after spending money on a service and receiving something like this, it is genuinely frustrating.

What do other philatelists think? Have you experienced similar issues with Permanent Pictorial Cancellations or postal staff?

Recently added this in my collection and I am loving it ! ♥️📮

PS - since lighting at my place is not very good, I asked Claude to help me with the editing 😅😂

That too under ₹100! 🌸✨️

​How to get postal cancellations from Antarctica:

1. ​Get two envelopes, 5-10 postcards, stamps worth ₹12-17, a sheet of paper, and a pen.

2)​On one envelope, write the address of the NCPOR Director.

3)​On the other envelope, write your own address.

​Affix ₹12–17 worth of stamps on the envelope that has your address, not the NCPOR one.

4)​Now write a letter appreciating our scientists and India Post's hard work. (This is not strictly necessary; you can write anything, but appreciating the scientists is a great gesture because they genuinely work hard under some of the toughest climate conditions.)

5. In that letter, state how many postcards you have included. Also, mention that you have inserted a self-addressed envelope with stamps already affixed, and politely request them to place the cancelled postcards inside your self-addressed envelope.

6. ​Insert the letter and the postcards into the NCPOR-addressed envelope.

7. ​Take the envelope on which your name and address are written, fold it, and insert it into the NCPOR-addressed envelope as well.

8. ​Seal the NCPOR-addressed envelope.

​Write "Philatelic materials for cancellations from Antarctica" on the NCPOR envelope (as shown).

9. With self address envelope, postcards and letters inside the NCPOR envelope, speed post it from your nearest post office ;)

u/Other_Savings1901 Thankyou so much for the Hampi PPC. 💌♥️