Price of stamps set to increase in January

[nds76]

You might want to consider sending out those January bills a little earlier this month. Starting January 8, new postal rates take effect.

The price of nearly everything is going up, including stamps. Instead of 37 cents to mail a letter, it will now cost 39 cents.

It's the first increase since 2002. The post office is selling two cent stamps for those who need them.

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4301758

[SHANIANUTS!]

..the postal service is getting close to the cost of a call from one of those antique pay phones..;)

[Troll]

Thanks for the info.

[Dale]

I think it's because hardly anyone uses the mail for sending letters... that's what e-mail's for. ;)

[SHANIANUTS!]

...I thought everyone now communicates via cell phones...

[nds76]

I don't own a cell phone and I don't plan to. I don't wanna be contacted wherever I go.

David

[Mizery1]

Also alot of people pay bills via internet.

[aFinn]

Instead of 37 cents to mail a letter, it will now cost 39 cents.
It's the first increase since 2002.Wow, you guys are lucky, 2 cent raise after 3 years. Here the postal rates are ridiculous, 0.65 € for a simple letter or card. With today's exchange rate it comes to 0,76 USD.

[Annette]

Here the price rises every year. 4,75kr for a letter...that's about the same in UDS as Marika posted.

[UllaCountryGal]

39 cents, wow that seem very cheap to me. But here the stamp-price is about 2 dollars.

[SHANIANUTS!]

..are your postal services privatized like here in the states?

[UllaCountryGal]

well there is only one postal service, I think its state owned

[nds76]

Stamps keep going up and the service doesn't get any better. I don't like those long lines at the post office.

David

[orry]

Everything seems to be going up in price. What,s new.

[Troll]

Stamp prices to go up Monday

WASHINGTON - It will cost a bit more to mail letters and parcels starting Monday. A first-class letter will go up 2 cents to 41 cents.

But there is also some good news — folks will be able to buy "forever" stamps that remain valid regardless of any future increase.

While the new rates take effect Monday, most post offices are closed on Sunday so officials say items dropped in a box that won't be collected until Monday should have the higher postage on them.

On the other hand, when rates change the agency usually allows a little leeway, and it doesn't plan a rash of returns for insufficient postage.

Postmaster General John Potter has said that even with the higher prices the agency expects a deficit this year as it struggles to compete in a swiftly changing communications market.

For most people, the first-class rate has the greatest impact, covering cards and letters.

While the first-class rate will rise from 39 cents to 41 cents for the first ounce, people sending heavier letters — such as wedding invitations — will see a reduction in the price. That's because each additional ounce will cost just 17 cents, down from the current 24 cents. That means a two-ounce letter will cost 58 cents to mail, compared with 63 cents now.

Also expected to be attractive to many people is the forever stamp.

The first forever stamps are selling for 41 cents apiece, but they won't have a price printed on them and they will remain valid for sending a letter regardless of any future increases.

While a forever stamp will always be valid for mailing a latter, that doesn't mean the price won't go up. If rates were to increase to 45 cents, for example, that's what a forever stamp would sell for. But stamps already purchased at a lower cost could still be used without adding extra postage.

International rates are also going up.

Letters to Canada and Mexico will rise to 69 cents and to most other countries to 90 cents. Other international services are being redesigned to more closely resemble domestic rates, and the charges will vary by country.

Prices based on size and shape are also included in the new domestic rates. For example, while a first-class regular envelope is 41 cents for the first ounce, the charge will be 90 cents for the first ounce of a large envelope and $1.13 for the first ounce of a first-class parcel. For all three each additional ounce is 17 cents.

When the new prices go into effect the fundraising stamp for Breast Cancer will increase to 55 cents. It is valid for first-class postage with the excess charge used to support research into breast cancer.

Postage rates last went up in January 2006.

Details of the new rates are available at http://www.usps.com or 1-800-275-8777.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070511/ap_on_go_ot/postal_rates

[Steve F]

Yep, I will have to get a few 2 cent one until I get it done.:p

Steve

[SevenUp!]

In Canada they have come out with something they call a Permanent stamp. They don't put the price on the stamp anymore, just a "P." When you buy them from a retailer, you pay the going rate at the time (currently 52 cents plus tax here for domestic stamps). If they happen to go up in price before you use them, the post office still honours them when they do get used. They're attempting to get rid of the need for penny stamps....remains to be seen if it'll work, but it is a good idea.