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https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187768-i20-k11515115-Be_careful_of_the_GPS_in_Italy-Italy.html

Last weekend I was in Venice. Venice is a great city and I enjoyed my time there, except one thing: the postal service.

I wanted to buy some stamps for the post cards and I saw "we sell stamps" in front of some shops. Then the shopkeeper sold me the "stamps" from GPS without explaining that they're not official stamps.

The GPS didn't claim that it's "post office", but I think it's trying to mislead the tourists, because we all assume that "stamp" is issued by the government.

Next week I'll go to Rome and I'll definitely avoid GPS and buy the official stamps.

I know I was a fool. But I hope my experience could help other people who want to send post cards from Italy and are not aware of those private postal service.

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1

I think it's a minor scam, and I suppose it didn't cost you much money.

Morevover, most souvenir shops do sell regular stamps in Italy, and so does every single tobacconist in the country.

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In response to #1

It's not about money.

There are nice words on the post cards. I think people who like post cards know those words are invaluable. So I just want to let other people be aware of the stamps.

And thanks for the information.

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I always send my postcards by public post with regular stamps be it in Italy or anywhere else I travel. However, I too was in Venice 10 days ago and not a single "Tabacchi" shop had regular stamps and I never made it to a post office in time so as to find one open. So, for the first time, I took my chances and sent my postcards with the GPS stamps using the special yellow boxes. I know that my postcards may never reach their recipients and, I agree, it's not so much about the money. It's all about those precious thoughts not ever getting to where they are supposed to.
Anyway, I will be using their tracking system and if they are more than 14 days long, I will be contacting them.
Fingers crossed for all postcards sent via GPS out there!

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4

Hi again!
The postcards I sent via GPS post from Venice have all reached their receivers! It's no scam, after all.
Just make sure you buy the correct type of stamp (there are 3 types: Italy, Europe & outside of Europe) and that you post them in the small yellow boxes rather than the large red ones that are used for public post.
Of course, I will always go for the public post whenever possible because postcards without the post office stamp are less romantic.
But it's good to know there is an alternative if it's difficult to find regular stamps.

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I have bought such private stamps in the Canary Islands a few years ago. They were from a Swiss brand. Luckily I've posted them in the right box. I remember it took very long before they arrived.

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I sent a few cards using this system in Rome 6 weeks ago and when posting in the yellow box was a bit horrified that you lifted a large lid to post outside the shop so anyone could reach in and take out the postcards..needless to say my family never received their cards..a waste of only $10 for me but that's not the point. Luckily I sent more cards via Italy Post (cheaper too) and they arrived safely within 3 weeks

Edited by grodgers460015
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