Dursleys and owl post

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 41319

"darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...> wrote:

> How does post work in the UK? Because in the U.S., the clerk at the 
> post office would have stopped Molly from putting so many stamps on 
> the letter, or if she dropped it in the nearest mailbox, it likely 
> would have been returned to sender.

Why? The postal services in both countries are meant to turn a profit 
and if someone is stupid enough to put too many stamps on the 
envelope, why should the post office care?

As an example, just last week I found myself sending a parcel (to my 
HP-obssessed nephew, as it happens, sending him new HP pyjamas) :-) 
but I didn't realise that I had absolutely zero cash in my wallet, 
although I had several postage stamps. The clerk invited me to stick 
on stamps to just over the actual cost (he wasn't prepared to give me 
stamps in "change") and accepted it (I ended up paying £1.19 instead 
of £1.07).

> It was a humorous moment, but  not the most logical thing.

Of course. Not knowing how the Muggle post works, Mully went to the 
post office. The clerk would have told her exactly what value of 
stamps was required and would have sold them to her. Even if she were 
just buying stamps without the letter on her person, she would have 
been asked how big the letter was and whether it was inland or 
abroad. There is no way she'd have gone in and just dreamt up a sum 
of stamps to buy. 

Scenario at post office desk:
Molly: I want to send a letter
Clerk: where to?
M: erm... [consults notes] Little Whinging
C: how big is the letter?
M: [(either) shows the letter (or) shows with her hands]
C: [(either) puts letter on scales (or) guesses]: 26p, please
M: [fumbles in purse & pulls out huge banknote or handfull of change]
C: [thinks this woman is a bit strange but gives her the right change 
anyway] Next
M: Thank you

No other scenario is possible.