Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 15 comments | Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Postage to increase May 11
Published Saturday, April 18, 2009
On Monday, May 11, the price of a first class stamp will rise 2 cents to 44 cents.
A perfect storm of increased operational costs, increases in the Consumer Price Index and a declining volume of mail and shipping has led the United States Postal Service to this most recent increase.
“Our expenses have increased and our volume has decreased. That’s a bad combination and led to a need to increase postage,” service spokesperson Josh Breckinridge said.
There are many factors leading to the decline in mail volume. In addition to the advent of e-mail, the recent economic downturn has led to the postal service’s biggest customer sector cutting back on mail campaigns.
“The financial industry,” Breckinridge said when asked who was the biggest customer base for the postal service. “With the credit markets in the shape they are in, no one is sending out the number of credit card offers or loan offers like they once did.”
Breckinridge also added the volume has been heavily affected by the number of consumers using online banking to both organize and pay their monthly bills.
“Many customers now receive their bills online and pay their bills online,” Breckinridge said. “In that case, there are two first class stamps we’ve lost.”
But, Breckinridge said the postal service is once again encouraging customers to purchase “Forever Stamps” to ease the impact of the upcoming rate increase.
The Forever Stamp allows customers to purchase as many stamps as they would like for the current rate of 42 cents. These stamps will regain their first class postage value no matter what the rate increases to in the future.
According to a postal service flyer, a Forever Stamp is “good for mailing a one-ounce First-Class letter anytime in the future, regardless of price changes. No additional postage needed.”
The service does not place on limit on the number of Forever Stamps that can be purchased, but they must be purchased before May 11 in order to hold the current 42-cent value.
The stamps are available at any post office.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, when things get tough, make the consumer pay for it. You will find that the more you raise stamp costs, the less people will use them.
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish there was a nonprofit rate. I never send out enough to qualify for a bulk rate but I do a LOT of mailing out trying to find descendants of cemetery interees to help with the work.
Posted by reaowner (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cost to mail a standard "letter" to Atlanta, Georgia = $0.42
Cost to take it yourself = 5-6 hours of your time (approx. round trip) + at least a tank of gas + fighting with Atlanta traffic.
I know...they shouldn't up the price just because of my logic. It's all about "change you're stuck with" and a weak dollar.
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reaowner - actually it has nothing to do with "change you can believe in" I read an article about a month ago in another newspaper that said the postal services were almost broke. That's not something that happened just since January 21st you know.
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on April 20, 2009 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1 e-mail to East Bodunk, Tazmania ... "FREE"
Posted by lilin32 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know its all the World Wide Webs fault. Less and less people need to buy a stamp because they can just do it over the internet now a days!
Posted by reaowner (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations...
I'm on the bandwagon though with blaming everything on the current administration. Where have you been the past few months?
Posted by kittycreek (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure am glad I stocked up on those "Forever" Stamps!
It's amazing...every thing was so "perfect" until O'bama was elected. Everyting is ALL HIS FAULT! He's EVIL!! He wants to ruin your life!
Get real, people.
Posted by janicestarlingharris (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why have people decided to start paying bills online?..Let's see my local post office closes on my lunch time..uh oh can't go and buy stamps at that time..and uh oh again there closed when I get off work..and another uh oh it is probably a Holiday of some sort or it might be Saturday!
They have so many PAID holiday's that the rest of us working people don't get??????????????
Posted by psychologistdmp (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder what the federal government's response would be to the American people bankrupting the postal service? I think I foresee dollar signs.....
Posted by nannyof4 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Think about it though, all the email and paying bills online are not free, unless someone knows of a way to get free internet, I don't, please let me know. How many actually write letters now? Not me, as long as I have a phone. So a few stamps a month to keep all the federal employees working and getting all the paid holidays, I say go for it. After all, what is two more pennies in a broken society? When is the government going to wise up and realize we don't have 2 more pennies. Can we file bankruptcy on taxes? Just my opinion.
Posted by IamJimIam (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep rising that stamp cost. The more you raise the rate, the more I get online and send my stuff. Baffoons!
Posted by powerlineman (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fed-ex says they can run it more efficent let them try it for awhile
Posted by espivey (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Part of the problem with the Postal Service started a lonnnnggg time ago when they started paying their employees such unbelievable salaries. Those people make big bucks for sorting mail.
Posted by justme2009 (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The new 44 cent stamp is not a bargain. Paying bills on a computer is a bargain. Spending money on stamps is for idiots. Need to send a thank you card to someone? Pick up your phone and call, but don't waste a stamp because you really want to thank the person now instead of 3 days later. The US postal service is in decline financially and will be privatized before long I suspect.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)