Reminder....Postage increase

[Panama Red]

Just a reminder for anyone in the US mailing a letter tomorrow. The cost of a stamp increased yesterday to $.39 from the previous $.37. Save yourself the grief of a returned letter or bill payment by making sure you affix the correct amount.

[David M]

I don't understand why the Post Office does not round the number to a nice even number. It was stupid enough for them to use a prime number (37) with the last postal price increase. Why don't they have the sense to price a letter at 40 cents and 45, 50 etc? They could spread the gain or loss over time and save people the aggrivation

[Force Flow]

Is it just me, or are these increases increasing in frequency? Seems like we just increased from 35 to 37.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Force Flow Is it just me, or are these increases increasing in frequency? Seems like we just increased from 35 to 37.

Hard to believe but it's been 2.5 years since the last increase. This frm the Seattle Times:


"The postage increase is the fourth since 1999, when the cost of a first-class stamp went from 32 cents to 33 cents. The most recent previous increase was a 3-cent rise in June 2002, to 37 cents."

[mbossman2]

the reason that the USPS doesn't raise it to a nice round number (like 40 cents) is that they are a quasi-governmental agency and, by law, are not allowed to turn a profit...so they must justify the increase to ensure that it does not cause them to make money...

still, for 39 cents, a 1 oz letter can go from ME to Hawaii or Alaska to Key west..not a bad deal....in Europe, to go a far shorter distance (domestic only), the cost is almost 2x as much...

[Kasturi]

Just a quick note: The price of stamps is likley to rise again next year.

[glc]

I don't doubt it - with the price of diesel and jet fuel being what it is.

[doctorgonzo]

Originally Posted by Force Flow Is it just me, or are these increases increasing in frequency? Seems like we just increased from 35 to 37.

Also, keep in mind that this rate increase was the work of Congress, which passed a law that requires the USPS to come up with a $3.1 billion escrow account, use to be determined later. If it weren't for that requirement, postage would not be going up right now.

[HAL9000]

That's still cheap.. a good 10 cents CDN cheaper than here.

[freakitchen]

in Europe, to go a far shorter distance (domestic only), the cost is almost 2x as much...

30 pence for a First Class letter in the UK (1-2business days). I don't really consider this exessive. I tend to get hit in the wallet more by courier prices from component websites, £8 for next day delivery from my store of choice (they don't offer a cheaper alternative)!

Freakitchen

[Mac Medic]

Man, I can't remember the last time I bought a stamp, it was 35c though. The only reason I ever bought them was to pay bills, now I just pay them all online and my bank mails the check for me at no cost. I figure if i pay 10 bills a month @ 39c @ 12 months thats $46.80 my bank is covering for me, not too bad really.

[blue60007]

Heh, I heard the local post office ran out of 2 cent stamps for folks with leftover 37 cent stamps.

[rspassey]

Crap, just before we came back to Argentina we bought a BUNCH of 37 Cent ones for all the letters we mail - Great, now we have to stick two on each because we can't get any 1/2 Cent US stamps down here.

[kstatefan40]

Ryan, if you have an address down there, would you like me to mail you some? I wouldn't mind going to grab some and mailing them down there to you...

[rspassey]

Originally Posted by kstatefan40 Ryan, if you have an address down there, would you like me to mail you some? I wouldn't mind going to grab some and mailing them down there to you...

Thanks for the offer, but I check with my Dad and he said he can get some from work in a couple of days. Thanks again, I appreciate the offer.

[kstatefan40]

No problem!