I had an envelope returned for 17 cents postage.  the 61 cent meter stamp does not look like it was cancelled.
So can I just add the rest of the postage to that same envelope and reuse it?  seems a waste of the 61 cents.
this is not for a book or media mail, just an over sized envelope.

We have very lousy postal service in my work area, so I want to be sure and do this correctly.

thanks.

Generally Judye, you could just add the additonal postage and re-mail.  Unfortunately tho, you are limited by the knowledge of your local PO clerks, so you may wish to call them and confirm.  If they don't know procedure it could get returned again regardless.

well considering what we know about their lack of knowledge, I guess I better just redo the thing. We [and several other companies in this office park]  have been complaining for years about the service and the mistakes. Nothing has changed.

One of the drivers told us that it was not her job to pick up our out going mail, that we leave in our lock box.

thanks for your help Denise.

Dunno if it applies to urban lock boxes, but we hear that rural carriers are not obligated to pick up packages.  Although few actually refuse, apparently it is optional for them.

Judye- yes you can just add the additional 17 cents. Meter strips dont get cancelled, and it is not the carriers job to go through the boxes and determine what is outgoing and what was left in the box. You would be suprised at the people and companies that leave the mail in the box for days or weeks. and before you say it would only take him a few seconds----he has between 400 to 800 delivery points on his route on average...the routes with lock boxes tend to have more... so at 600 delivery points lets say if the carrier spends 5 seconds verifying incoming/outgoing mail that is : 5 x 600 = 3000 seconds/ or 50 minutes, close to an hour.

Denise and Brandy thanks for that info.  I have got to where I put a rubber band around the outgoing mail.
and at times I have put a post-it on them saying - please take our outgoing mail, those at least do get picked up.

re- the  ' takes time ',
I have stood out by the truck waiting to talk to a carrier while sat in the truck on a personal call.
I could over hear  her and it was pure chit chat. she finally said "mom hold on", then ask me what I wanted.  
I just dont have any sympathy for them anymore.
We have been in this office for 5 yrs. and the other tenants tell us the service has been like this for the 8 yrs they have been here.
And they have spoke with several people in the post office chain of command and got no satisfaction. Same with us.

Carriers are intitled to 2 breaks and a lunch...the same as all other full time employees. since they are on the route, they take breaks in the truck, and they usually use that time to make personal phone calls.