Prior to April 30, 2014, all retail associates (RAs) must return unsold migratory bird stamps (also known as Duck Stamps) to the unit reserve. Unit reserve stock custodians must ship unsold migratory bird stamps to the stamp distribution offices (SDO) or stamp distribution centers (SDC) for receipt during the next scheduled return cycle. All postal retail units are required to return unsold migratory bird stamps annually. Only philatelic units may maintain inventories of prior year bird stamps for sale to collectors.
Migratory bird stamps can be included with regular return shipments using the following guidelines found in Handbook F-101, Field Accounting Procedures, section 11-6.5, Non-Saleable Stock Returned from the Unit Reserve to the SDC or SDO.
When returning any non-saleable stock to the SDC or SDO, the unit reserve stock custodian does the following:
a. Verifies and resolves any difference in stock returned from the RAs or the retail floor stock, and enters the total into the unit reserve stock identified as “redeemed stock.”
b. Follows the return schedule provided by the SDC or SDO.
c. Prepares an original and three copies of PS Form 17.
d. Enters the system-generated 10-digit numeric shipment number on the PS Form 17.
e. Prepares a separate PS Form 17 for each carton. The PS Form 17 must equal the exact contents of each carton of stock submitted for destruction.
f. Removes all redeemed stock from the unit reserve.
g. With a witness, independently counts the stock and enters the total for each item, by item number, on PS Form 17.
h. Ensures the redemption rates are clearly marked for each item listed.
Package non-saleable stock for return as follows:
a. Place the original PS Form 17 in a sealed envelope and tape it to the outside of the carton.
b. Place two copies of the PS Form 17 inside the carton, and file the third copy locally.
c. Use Registered Mail service to send the stock for destruction to the SDO or the SDC if the amount of the shipment is $10,000 or more. Do not commingle redeemed stock returned for destruction with saleable stock or International Reply Coupons (IRC).
d. Use Priority Mail service with Signature Confirmation service to send the stock for destruction to the SDO or the SDC if the amount of the shipment is less than $10,000. Do not commingle redeemed stock returned for destruction with saleable stock or IRCs.
Do not use original manufacturers’ cartons/boxes to return stamp stock to the Priority Mail network.
— Revenue and Field Accounting
Controller, 4-17-14
