Postage increase!!! FYI, First class is now $ .41

[diamondfan]

While I am grateful that one can mail something for not too much money and most of the time it arrives I hate when the rates go up and I am loaded with the wrong postage!! Running out tomorrow to buy some more two centers, and I had just stamped all the camp stationery!!! Oh well, a first class stamp is still the best deal in town!

 

[gailrmv]

thanks for the heads up Diamondfan! It seems like every time I turn around my stamps are the wrong amount Will have to pick up some 2 c stamps!

 

[FireGoddess]

Yes, and airmail has gone up about 10 cents I believe?

I was so irked when it went up from 37 to 39 cents - I had just bought a book of ONE HUNDRED stamps

- as if they couldn''t warn me of the impending increase?!?!?! I had to use 2 cent stamps for more than a year. I barely finished the 37 cent stamps before I heard it was now going to 41 cents. Count me as one of the people who will be buying the Forever stamp.

 

[Skippy123]

I hate that; now I have to buy 2 cent stamps till I use up the old ones. Thanks for letting us know

 

[sumbride]

I''m just lazy... I just put 2 of the first class stamps on until I''m out, then I buy new stamps. I bet they count on a lot of people doing that!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/14/2007 1:12:21 PM
Author: sumbride
I''m just lazy... I just put 2 of the first class stamps on until I''m out, then I buy new stamps. I bet they count on a lot of people doing that!

See, you''re nice. I get mad, buy tons of 2 cent stamps, and cover the front of the envelope with 2 cent stamps till it equals the postage.

Have fun cancelling those stamps!! *bad girl*

 

[Alienor]

I read that they also have new thickness and shape of the envelope requirements.
Linky
When will they stop raising the prices?

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/14/2007 1:34:09 PM
Author: Alienor
I read that they also have new thickness and shape of the envelope requirements.
Linky
When will they stop raising the prices?

Oh brother.

That''s really going to be a headache. We have a postage meter at work with a scale, and now we have to worry about how thick things are? UGH.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Can someone explain the forever stamp? I heard something briefly about it but am curious on the details.

I hate when postage goes up and feel like it JUST did! I am grateful for bill pay online. I rarely mail anything anymore.

 

[chrono]

Tacori,
With the Forever stamp, you pay 41 cents as usual. You can stock up on them and when the postage rate rises, say up to 44 cents, you can still use the Forever stamp without having to add the extra 3 cents stamp. The downside is the post office does not sell them in the 100 count roll, just booklets of 10.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/14/2007 1:34:09 PM
Author: Alienor
I read that they also have new thickness and shape of the envelope requirements.
Linky
When will they stop raising the prices?

Yeah, and it''s just like the government to take something simple and mucky guck it up. It used to be easy - just put the package on a scale - now you have to take into consideration the SIZE and every other detail to figure out postage.

 

[pyramid]

Yes, they started that different size envelopes thing here in the UK last year. Our first class stamp is 32p which is about 64c. Second class is 22p about 44c.

 

[eks6426]

I work in the direct mail area and I sit on Postal boards so I''ve heard a lot about this issue.

The Forever stamp is good forever. It is supposed to help people not have to buy the $.02 stamps in the future. Not to mention the post office is hoping people stock up on these forever stamps to give them a temporary boost in revenue.

The price increase really changed the way pricing is done on envelopes and boxes. The increase was done to push people to using packaging that can go in the automated system. Before a box and an envelope weighing the same would have been the same price. Now, the box will be significantly higher because it does not go through the automation process. If you''re mailing more than a letter, think about the smallest way you can package it. If you normally send in a small box, could it fit in an envelope? If you''re using a flat large envelope could you tri-fold and get it into a business size envelope instead?

The price increases that consumers see are only the tip of the iceberg. Peridical rates are going up which means magazines will be paying more in postage costs too. On a good note, there are also increases in the pallets and bags etc. that large direct mail companies use so maybe all of our junk mail will go down.

All in all though, it is really amazing what the post office does on a daily basis for the cost to consumers.

 

[dianne]

Date: 5/15/2007 8:44:41 AM
Author: Chrono
Tacori,
With the Forever stamp, you pay 41 cents as usual. You can stock up on them and when the postage rate rises, say up to 44 cents, you can still use the Forever stamp without having to add the extra 3 cents stamp. The downside is the post office does not sell them in the 100 count roll, just booklets of 10.

Chrono, I had an entire roll of 39 cent stamps and the nice lady at the post office allowed me to turn them in and pay the $2 difference for 100 of the Forever stamps. True, no rolls, but I got booklets of 20.