The Angry Radical Traditionalist now has a customized postage stamp with which to post grumpy letters to his bishop. Using the personal-design technology approved by the U.S. Postal Service, these stamps feaure a mushroom cloud with the caption "Vatican II: Mass Destruction."
Before Angry Radical Traditionalists who think such stamps are a wonderful idea rush out to order a package — only $16.99! — let me offer some words of caution: Simmer down.
There is no quicker way to be dismissed as a crank than by decorating your mail with stuff like this. Those on the receiving end of a large amount of mail take seriously letters that make the writer’s point in as courteous and succinct a manner possible. Crisply professional business letters demonstrate that the writer is someone who is open to reason and thus it is worth trying to resolve this person’s dilemma. An envelope with a stamp like this might be posted on the lounge bulletin board at the local chancery for the amusement of the staff, but the letter writer’s problem will likely not be taken seriously.
This custom postage looks much more tasteful. 🙂
I’d buy the stamps! Not for the Bishop or clergy, but for various family members who might fit the Rad Trad description 🙂
The ‘Galileo Was WRONG’ stuff is kinda funny to see.
I’ve actually seen that “Mass Destruction” design on t-shirts before. It’s pretty hilarious — and, of course, completely dead on — but very few ppl would get it. And, I would have to agree that it wouldn’t be any good for use when writing letters to the bishop.
If only they could use custom stamps for GOOD instead of EVIL.
+J.M.J+
Wait, $16.99 for twenty 37¢ stamps? That comes out to 84¢ per stamp! Twenty boring-old USPS stams would only cost $7.40.
The real question is, do I really want to pay more than twice that for my postage? Answer: No thanks. I’ll just wait till the Post Office issues the Christmas Madonna stamps in two months, and buy a year’s supply then for $7.40 per sheet. 🙂
In Jesu et Maria,
Wait, $16.99 for twenty 37¢ stamps? That comes out to 84¢ per stamp! Twenty boring-old USPS stams would only cost $7.40.
It’s unsettling to me, though I can’t quite explain why, that someone is trying to turn a profit on this.
Looking at that stamp got the ending song from Dr. Strangelove stuck in my head. Now if I could only remember the title.
How much profit do you think they see?
$7.40 is the base cost for postage. Then you have to add in the custom print jobs and S&H and the CafePress deduction.
He probably is turning some profit (as anyone would expect him to), but I doubt it is very much.
Ryan C: The song is “We’ll meet again,” sung by Vera Lynn.
YOU CAN BUY IT HERE.
Ahh…Vera.
Thanks Jimmy.
How much profit do you think they see?
$1.00 per sale. The base price for that product on CafePress is $15.99. The $16.99 price does not include S&H.
+J.M.J+
It’s not so much the question of profit that bothers me. It’s the whole idea of paying that much more for postage.
A letter sent first-class that weighs less than one ounce gets a 37¢ stamp. If it’s between 1-2 oz. the postage is 60¢, and between 2-3 oz. is 83¢. So if I bought this stamp (which I wouldn’t do anyway because I disagree with it) I’d be paying the rough equivalent of a 3 oz package to send a 1 oz letter.
That just doesn’t seem right to me. I guess if you have money to burn and want to make a statement, that’s one thing. But I think the Christmas Madonna stamp makes a fine statement – especially if coupled with an address label that has a Catholic picture on it. 🙂
In Jesu et Maria,