Portugal ATMs 2010. Compro o que é nosso

The 'Compro o que é nosso' campaign was launched by the Associação Empresarial de Portugal (AEP) in late 2006, with the aim of raising awareness in Portuguese society of the need to consume national brands and products. Faced with economic problems and the challenge of globalization, the campaign seeks to enhance national products and focus on creativity, effort, and development initiatives to succeed in creating wealth and jobs.

As in many previous releases, the new labels have a very simple design that only includes the campaign logo on the left and the usual black optical scanning bars on the right edge. On this occasion the designer, Anabela Silva, did not even added the name of the issuing country, which only appears as part of the logo.
The rolls of self-adhesive labels which were printed by offset and manufactured by the Portuguese company Litho Formas Portuguesa (it could not be otherwise, according to campaign). According to the distributors in service at the time of issue, the rolls of self-adhesive labels were manufactured in 2 different sizes, - 55 x 30 mm., on waxed paper of 60 mm. width, to be used in Amiel, SMD and NewVision Epost vending machines, and 80 x 30 mm., on waxed paper of 85 mm. width, for the Crouzet distributors. Each label has a preprinted number on the back of the waxed paper.

The 'Compro o que é nosso' ATMs could be obtained in vending machines from October 9th 2010, although during the first day of issue (Saturday) they were only available from very few machines. Most of the Correios post offices received the rolls from October 15th.

At the date of writing this article, it was possible to obtain this issue, normally, with up to 7 different printing varieties, corresponding to the 4 types of ATM distributors in service, fitted with black ink cartridges, plus 3 specials using purple-violet ink cartridges.

Some months ago, Correios de Portugal started restructuring the number of ATM vending machines, with the removal of some distributors across the country. This reorganization affected all machine types, both installed at post offices and in outdoor postal kiosks (right picture). Where possible they targeted distributors with maintenance problems or which were underutilized.
Specifically, between late September and early October 2010, just a few days before the new issue, many of the Crouzet postal kiosks installed inside post offices across the country, were removed, including the machine installed in the Vagos post office, south of Aveiro, possibly the last one remaining machine with normal ... purple imprint.
After this restructuring there are a few Crouzet postal kiosks in service, in Portugal.

After the last change in postal rates on June 1st 2010, the 7 values programmed into the majority of Amiel, SMD and NewVision machines, on the date of issue, were: 0.32, 0.53, 0.57, 0.68 and 0.80 EUR, and CORREIO AZUL 0.47 and 1.85 EUR.

	Sets Correio Normal	Correio Azul
Issue (9.10.2010)	0.32 - 0.53 - 0.57 - 0.68 - 0.80	0.47 - 1.85
Issue (9.10.2010)	0.32 - 0.60 - 0.57 - 0.68 - 0.80 *	0.47 - 1.85

* Some machines have the second button which issues the value 0.60 EUR instead of 0.53 (see tariffs), programmed for domestic shipments up to 100 g. Others, by error, maintain the older value 0.54 EUR.

		ATMs with the first values of *Correio Normal* (Normal - priority mail) and Correio Azul (Express post) issued by the AMIEL vending machines, using black printing.

		ATMs issued by the AMIEL vending machine, special purple printing.

		ATMs with the basic values of *Correio Normal* and Correio Azul issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, black printing.

		ATMs issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, special purple printing.

		ATMs with the basic values of *Correio Normal* and Correio Azul issued by the SMD vending machine, black printing.

		ATMs issued by the SMD vending machine, special purple printing.

The Crouzet distributors offer the direct purchase of only the lowest basic values for domestic normal (0.32 EUR) and express mail (CORREIO AZUL 0.47 EUR) for this issue. The remaining values, starting from a programmed minimum value, can be obtained by keying in the amount, or by using the scales and indicating the destination and type of shipment.

It is possible to obtain ATMs with any face value starting from EUR 0.01, when the distributor does not have the right coins for change, which is typical in this machine type, because of a common coins recycling malfunction. In this case, the machine offers the user the choice of receiving change, by issuing a stamp, or to cancel the operation.
If required, the machine can issue a receipt, printed on another self-adhesive label of the same design.


*Correio Normal* and Correio Azul ATMs sold by a CROUZET distributor, impression in black

For this issue the philatelic service prepared illustrated first day covers and commemorative postmarks for Lisbon and Porto.

Postal rates programmed in the ATM vending machines Amiel, NewVision and SMD (EUR)

,	*Correio normal*						*Correio Azul*
Change of postal rates	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, up to 100 g.		Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, except Spain, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
1.1.2002	0.27	0.45		0.46	0.54	0.70	0.43	1.75
1.1.2003	0.30	0.46		0.47	0.55	0.70	0.43	1.75
	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, from 20 to 50 g. normalized	Domestic, up to 100 g. *	Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, except Spain, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
1.1.2004	0.30	0.45	0.48	0.48	0.56	0.72	0.45	1.75
1.1.2005	0.30	0.46	0.49	0.48	0.57	0.74	0.45	1.75
1.5.2006	0.30	0.48	0.50	0.52	0.60	0.75	0.45	1.80
1.1.2007	0.30	0.50	0.55	0.52	0.61	0.75	0.45	1.85
1.8.2008	0.31	0.55	0.60	0.57	0.67	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.1.2009	0.32	0.54	0.60	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.6.2010	0,32	0,53	0,60	0,57	0,68	0,80	0,47	1,85
* This value appears from 2005 programmed in some of the Amiel, NewVision and SMD ATM vending machines, instead of the value of Domestic Correio normal (inland normal mail) between 20 and 50 g.