New Postage Rates Coming May 12

[Kevy Baby]

From the USPS:
New Postage Rates Coming May 12

On May 12 we will adjust prices for mailing services — First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Special Services. The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

A First-Class Mail stamp will be 42¢. Customers can continue to use the Forever Stamps they purchased for 41¢, even after the price change. We will have 5 billion Forever Stamps in stock to meet increased demand before the price change. Forever Stamps are widely available through Post Offices, Contract Postal Units, consignment locations, Automated Postage Centers, vending, and online (http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10152). We also will have a 62¢ stamp available shortly after May 12 for 1-ounce nonmachinable First-Class Mail letters, such as square greeting cards.

[Morrigoon]

AGAIN?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I have a stash of stamps in my car. Annoyingly, it seems that every time I purchase stamps, it's right after a rate change, so they have yet to print them with the actual value (why it takes them so long do that I'll never understand). I don't use stamps all that often anymore, so every time I need to use them, I have to go into the post office to ask what the stamps are worth and how many 1 cent stamps I need to add, because invariably the rate has changed since I purchased them, or last determined their value. Pain in my ass.

[Alex]

Get used to it. The postal law passed in 2006 has the USPS update postal prices annually and in line with inflation. This is the first of those increases and you can probably expect them almost every year from here on out.

Other than Christmas cards, I've bought exactly 2 paper stamps in the last year so that's not much of an issue.

[Kevy Baby]

I have a stash of stamps in my car. Annoyingly, it seems that every time I purchase stamps, it's right after a rate change, so they have yet to print them with the actual value (why it takes them so long do that I'll never understand). I don't use stamps all that often anymore, so every time I need to use them, I have to go into the post office to ask what the stamps are worth and how many 1 cent stamps I need to add, because invariably the rate has changed since I purchased them, or last determined their value. Pain in my ass.Hence the value of the "Forever Stamps"

[scaeagles]

I'm like Alex - I don't use the mail anymore, and once email Christmas cards gain wide acceptance, I have no doubt I'll be doing that as well.

[Alex]

The only reason that Christmas cards get regular stamps is that Lani considers those electronic bar code stamps from the APC to be too tacky for such a solemn mailing.

[BarTopDancer]

A First-Class Mail stamp will be 42¢. Customers can continue to use the Forever Stamps they purchased for 41¢, even after the price change.

Bolding mine. Isn't that the point of the forever stamp?

[Disneyphile]

I pay all bills online, and only use maybe 4 stamps a year, so I'm not sweating it.

[Kevy Baby]

Isn't that the point of the forever stamp?I believe the intent of the statement (by the USPS) was just to emphasize the point, lest people think that they would need to add a 1¢ stamp to their Forever Stamp. This is a new product here in the US and some people are slow on the uptake.

[Moonliner]

I pay all bills online, and only use maybe 4 stamps a year, so I'm not sweating it.

10 Post office raises rates.
20 Individuals use more email, less snail mail
30 Postal revenues decrease
40 GOTO 10

[Kevy Baby]

Don't forget in the equation that Direct Mail Marketing (some call it junk mail), heavily subsidizes the cost of First Class mail. I have heard estimates in the $3 - $4 range for First Class Letters if it weren't for Standard Class mail.

[figment1986]

again... didnt they just do this like 6 months ago??

breaking news.... more people go to online banking to pay bills and direct deposit checks...

[Moonliner]

Don't forget in the equation that Direct Mail Marketing (some call it junk mail), heavily subsidizes the cost of First Class mail. I have heard estimates in the $3 - $4 range for First Class Letters if it weren't for Standard Class mail.

*sniff* *sniff* Humm that smells like propaganda put forth by the Direct Mail Marketing folks: "Hey all that crap junk you get in your mail box that's ends up in our landfills.... Yeah that stuff. It's actually GOOD for you. Yup that's right. It all SAVES you money! Un Huh, we're actually doing you a favor sending you 100 pounds of paper per year."

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm actually considering the forever stamps just because I seriously despise always having to check postage rates and see how many $.01 stamps I have to put on the rotten thing. I do use some stamps, a couple a month, and it always seems they raise the rates before I get all the old ones used up. My bills are paid electronically, so it's just random things that get stamps. I don't mind using stamps, I just wish they'd keep the price more stable. I'd even go up to $.50 so long as they can *keep* it there a couple of years.

[Moonliner]

Forever stamps cost the same as any other first class stamp. Why would you purchase anything but forever stamps?

[Alex]

Design, I imagine. Seems like whenever I'm stuck in a slow line at the post office it is because someone wants 13 entire sheets of some design that is only available through an arduous 30 minutes search.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The last time I bought a book of stamps was, I believe, before Forever stamps existed.

[alphabassettgrrl]

My last page of stamps were Disney themed. Those don't come in "forever". I'm starting to think I ought to forgo pretty and just get the forever and call it a day. I just hate being generic, y'know?

[blueerica]

Design, I imagine. Seems like whenever I'm stuck in a slow line at the post office it is because someone wants 13 entire sheets of some design that is only available through an arduous 30 minutes search.

It's actually the only reason I buy stamps, period. If I'm going to take the time to mail something out the long way, particularly to a bunch of people, I want cool stamps versus boring stamps, hands down. The rest of the time, if something reeeeaaallly needs to be sent the slow way, I just hop over to the post office and have them do the sticker thingie. It's so infrequent, I do it just to remind myself where the post office is.

I've also picked up a couple of commemorative stamp sets for framing.

[Kevy Baby]

AGAIN?

again... didnt they just do this like 6 months ago??The last rate increase went into effect on May 17, 2007. See Alex's comments about the USPS being able to increase rates annually commensurate with inflation.

Get used to it. The postal law passed in 2006 has the USPS update postal prices annually and in line with inflation. This is the first of those increases and you can probably expect them almost every year from here on out.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Thing is about the cool stamps - they come in books. I bought pretty flower ones for a baby shower a few months back and now we have leftovers.

If they are going to up the price every fricking year, all stamps sold should be forever stamps, IMHO.

[€uroMeinke]

Why would you purchase anything but forever stamps?

Sending mail overseas, odd sized mail, or heavy mail