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Postal Rates Set to Go Up on May 14 »
Posted by: TechnologyExpert 2 years, 7 months agoThe cost of mailing a letter will go up on May 14, but you'll be able to lock in that price - no matter how rates rise in the future - by buying the new "forever" stamp. The post office governing board agreed Monday to accept the new 41-cent rate for first class mail recommended in February by the independent Postal Regulatory Commission.
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TechnologyExpert
I am Editor-in-Chief at Alice Hill's RealTechNews (http://www.realtechnews.com). I also have my own blog (Tech-Ex) at http://TechnologyExpert.Blogspot.com. Finally ...
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Comments: 67
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TechnologyExpert
March 19, 2007, 5:14 p.m.I will definitely buy some forever stamps, as I hate having to buy two cent or one cent stamps every time they change the rate.
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pismo
March 20, 2007, 9:27 a.m.This is just BS. Eveytime they do it, more people go to online bill paying and auto-withdraw. I bet they eventually go through with taxing the internet because people are going to quit using the federal mail system.
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evelyna
March 20, 2007, 9:31 a.m.Old people still use the mail system. I think the cost of postage is very expensive. If you buy online it is about 1/3 the cost of the product.
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Rhino
March 20, 2007, 9:50 a.m.I agree this is a big load of BS. But they have you by the ba---, you need the system and they know you have to use it so they'll charge whatever they please. I am one of the many who have turned to online Bill Pay as well as bank account Auto withdrawls and believe me I'll be using them a lot more. It stands to reason if it begins with US (Postal Service)---it's US (you & I) who will pay. I'd love to see a "real" breakdown of just where all the money goes-or to who.
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Iamsmartandyouarenot
March 20, 2007, 10:37 a.m.Well, considering the amount of equiptment that it takes to move the mail (both vehicles and the sorting machines), plus the training of the maintenance personnel (Google NCED), not to mention the fuel for the vehicles and energy to heat and cool the buildings that house all this stuff and you might get an idea.
Oh and the USPS moves 40% of ALL of worlds mail in this system just rememeber that, ok?
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WCFIELDS
March 20, 2007, 10:37 a.m."The postal governors asked the regulatory commission to reconsider some of its proposals, saying the suggested price for sending things like catalogs was too high."
Big Business has apparently bought off the "postal governors". I literally get hundreds of catalogs each year that I don't want. These things are a waste.
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WCFIELDS
March 20, 2007, 10:55 a.m.We've been getting ripped off for years. Presently you can buy sheets of old stamps from stamp dealers for less than face value. These are stamps were SOLD as first class stamps but not HONORED as such by the Postal service.
If you have the time. Buy some sheets. Glue the stamps on one at a time til you have the present day fee. Makes your letter look really rare and colorful!
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Amok77
March 20, 2007, 11:03 a.m.Oh well, I remember when soda pop went from five to six cents. Really irritated me cause it ruined a dime...no longer could get 2 sodas for a dime. No more fifteen cent hamburgers at McDonalds in San Berndino...whats this world coming to? :)
Some call it progress, I call it more money worth less. Soon we will be like germany during WWII, you can wallpaper your bathroom cheaper with it. Whaaaaa!!!
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Amok77
March 20, 2007, 11:03 a.m.Oh well, I remember when soda pop went from five to six cents. Really irritated me cause it ruined a dime...no longer could get 2 sodas for a dime. No more fifteen cent hamburgers at McDonalds in San Berndino...whats this world coming to? :)
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Webreader
March 20, 2007, 11:13 a.m.If there were no stamp collectors out there, the rates would be even higher. The USPS sells paper (stamps) for just the cost of printing and merchandising. Millions of dollars worth of stamps (any of which could be legally used, regardless of age for postage at the value printed on the stamp) are out there obliging the Postal Service to provide service, but they haven't had to yet. Granted we send less and less personal mail (letters and bill payments) and this results in more convenience and less $ cost (stamps, checks, late payment fees due to slow mail) but I still object to the Postal Service's lack of consideration for the individual mailer. Creditors bar code their bill mailings and get a lower postal rate, but the return envelopes enclosed for payment, also bar coded, arent eligible for the lower rate! The USPS actually promised to consider that at one point. Why not now?
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elll
March 20, 2007, 11:14 a.m.I don't know....I really don't see this being a big deal. I know it's hard when EVERYTHING goes up in price, but I don't see this increase having as much of an impact to the pocket book. (and I have to wonder if the government is making such a profit off of it)
The only time I cringe at buying stamps is at Christmas. But it's worth it!! Getting a letter from a loved one in the mail means so much! There's no sentimental value to an "e-card"
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mbkijb
March 20, 2007, 11:15 a.m.Someone's wheels were turning with these forever stamps..... smart idea. Buy them now and save them for 15 years from now.....when sending a card or envelope will be $1.50 or so..... makes perfect sense to me!!!!!
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HMMace
March 20, 2007, 11:16 a.m.Why don't we just make all postal workers millionairs, and be done with it..
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tkyrchncs
March 20, 2007, 11:29 a.m.What an investment! Just buy a few sheets of stamps now and your grandchildren will be as rich as you would be if your grandfather had bought a few shares of IBM!
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ryan601
March 20, 2007, 12:32 p.m.From the USPS website:
"It is the Postal Service's mandate under law to break even over time. Since the Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operations and relies solely on the sale of postal products and services to cover operating costs, price adjustments are necessary to respond to changes in the cost of doing business. By law, each class of mail must cover its costs, plus a portion of the institutional, or overhead, costs of the Postal Service."
Since the USPS is the only federal agency that is self sufficient (i.e. not funded by tax dollars) I have to say, I don't really mind paying more for stamps if it means that I don't have to pay more taxes.
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NelsonR
March 20, 2007, 1:05 p.m.Folks they are losing money for what you are right now doing. The internet, online banking and faxes has reduced traffic. With expanded payment transactions by the internet consumers the U.S. postal service will continue to demand increases, when less patronage increases over time.
I fail to get mail any times anyways, so I could care less about them. They are inefficent and costly. I can depend on UPS and FEDEX, not them.
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moushmoushi
March 20, 2007, 1:54 p.m.ouuuuuuuu
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS. THEY JUST ADDED THE 2 CENTS. i HATE IT. i CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY MORE. i BETER HAND MY LETTERS WITH MY BIKE. YEAH ,I WILL RIDE MY BIKE AND HAND MY LETTERS.
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pongping
March 20, 2007, 1:55 p.m.If there is indeed some concerted effort on the part of the Bushists and those who wield the real power behind them, HOPE is a big part of their strategy. They are trying to buy time, hoping that what science tells us is happening is just an aberration. What they seem to lack, and not just in the sense of global warming, is any sense of history. Their stratety cannot win.
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ballbuster2
March 20, 2007, 2:31 p.m.i agree with most of the postings here, this increase is total BS!! they use the same lame excuses "better service, new equipment, more employee's and on an on" the truth is, like all gov dept's, it's just plain old fashion dysfunction at it's very best. he**! i live 160 miles from tucson,az and on an average it takes 8-12 day's for my mail to get to me from tucson or phoenix, if i am lucky! sh** when i was in vietnam during the late 1960's i recieved mail from indiana in a week, what the he** as happened???
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workingal
March 20, 2007, 2:38 p.m.Use of the internet has much to blame for the reason we have higher prices, and less jobs.
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lleteff
March 20, 2007, 2:43 p.m.The fact is that most "regular people" are now using on-line bill pay, e-mail and/or fax (if they are feeling old fashioned). It is mostly junk mail distributors and utility companies and lenders that use snail mail, yet they still get reduced rates. I agree that costs have increased and the USPS should recoup some of those costs through higher rates; however, they should even out the costs to bulk mailers before hitting Joe Average with another increase. The "forever stamp" is great for someone organized. I personally would stick them somewhere and forget where, so I guess I will be stuck with whatever USPS decides to charge!
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disney91david
March 20, 2007, 2:50 p.m.Who is benefiting all the increses the Postmaster a course, and the postal worker
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jen0s
March 20, 2007, 3:20 p.m.It might be nice hear from the local postal worker on this subject.
My father-in-law is a postal worker and very dedicated one at that. Now I do admit he does well financially but you should take in consideration all the work it takes to deliver mail. He has been bitten on several occasions and suffers from a bad knee and shoulder. I myself don't believe in this forever stamp. Who is really going to buy 10 years worth of stamps? I my self will buy about 100 dollars worth, which will lock me in for now. But when I run out in a year and half I won't be able to buy more. So I'll be stuck buying more at the new price. (Whatever it will be) and at that point they will introduce a new forever stamp at the new price. And again I would buy about $100 worth. And the cycles continuous. It sounds like a plan to get people to spend now. Maybe hoping people will miss place them?
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jen0s
March 20, 2007, 3:25 p.m.I fail to get mail any times anyways, so I could care less about them. They are inefficent and costly. I can depend on UPS and FEDEX, not them.
UPS AND FEDEX use the mail service to deliver some of their packages.
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belikemike
March 20, 2007, 3:33 p.m.I for one don't like to see it go up either, but has anyone looked at the gas prices lately, last I checked the mail trucks ran of of fuel. I am sure they offer insurance to their employees, and those rates went up as well. i think we need to look at thing in perspective.
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