Put Your 2 Cents In: Stamp Prices Going Up

[quaoar]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001393846

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer
Published: November 01, 2005 4:25 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) A 2-cent boost in the price of a postage stamp was approved Tuesday by the independent Postal Rate Commission.

Under the recommendation, which now goes to the Postal Service's Board of Governors for final action, the cost of a first-class stamp will go from 37 cents to 39 cents and the postcard rate will rise a penny to 24 cents. The Postal Service requested the increase last April. It is expected to go into effect in January.

The increase is needed so the post office can make a $3.1 billion escrow payment required by Congress. A bill that would eliminate that payment and make other changes in postal operations was approved by the House but has not yet passed the Senate. The White House has expressed reservations about the bill.

The Postal Service had requested a 5.4 percent increase in all postage rates, but the rate commission altered some of the proposals. The matter now goes back to the Board of Governors, which can agree to the commission's changes or ask for reconsideration.

[Mithras61]

1. I rarely use USPS anymore...

Most of what I do that would normally require USPS is done online, with no additional overhead. I pay almost every bill I get electronically, and the few that I don't pay that way are payable by a local drop box. Almost the only thing I use USPS for anymore is for seasonal greeting cards (electronic cards just don't have the same impact).

[BlueJazz]

2. I guess my only gripe is: I wish the heck that the Postal Service..

..would raise the postage by 5 cents each time..
That way they wouldn't have to raise it every time you turn around....

I have no complaint about the Rates..I mean, Christ..for someone to pick up a letter, haul it 3000 miles away and only charge 39 cents is a hell-of-a bargain..

[calico1]

7. I always seem to manage to find a few stamps at the

old postage rate whenever they raise it a few months after. Just last month, after my checkbook cover tore, I dug out an old one and low and behold, in the pocket I had a whole book of stamps from when they were 34 cents. So I had to go get 3 cent stamps. I pay most of my bills online now. Hardly even use checks anymore. I will definitely make as many of my payments as I can electronically now.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

12. You, my friend.......

are a genius! I say that because your thoughts mirror mine almost word for word about postal rates. Yes, dropping a card in the mail in Seattle and having it arrive within 3 days in Miami for .37 cents is cheap at twice the price.......

:)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

14. Agreed.

You don't even have to take it to the post office. The mail guys will usually pick it up from my doorstep and three days later it's at the doorstep of someone at the other end of the country.
It's a great bargain (and they hardly ever shoot anyone anymore).

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. That figures...

because I recently bought a bunch of 3-cent stamps, anticipating the same increase they've used the last three times. :rofl:

[twaddler01]

4. round it in 5 cent incriments

for those who aren't so great with math! :rofl:

[DrDan]

5. 37 cents for door-to-door service

I have always considered this one of our last real bargains

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

8. I agree completely.

37 cents is pretty good for what we get. And I think what we get is pretty good anyways, even in the era of e-mail.

[TahitiNut]

20. Not in newer developments. They're "apartmentizing" single-family homes .

... and requiring postal stations - all boxes on a single pedestal. This has been required in new developments for at least 15 years.

[Blue Diadem]

28. No door service for my house or our town

We have to go to the post office to pick it up. For years the entrance door to the boxes was locked at 5:00pm weekdays making it impossible for people to even pick up their mail. Arrangements had to be made with neighbors to pick it up or it waited until Sat. They also charged everyone for their forced P.O. boxes until just a few years ago.

We aren't the only town this way. There are many towns who only have post office delivery.

[karlrschneider]

6. They should just charge a million dollars per stamp...

hell, they'd only have to sell a handful! :evilgrin:

[elfin]

9. I do most of my mail electronically

so do not begrudge the increase if it means keeping the excellent service (in my neighborhood at least) I switched to USPO from UPS several years ago and have been amazed at the quickness and economy of the delivery acorss country.

[arwalden]

10. Why Not Raise The JUNK MAIL Rate? Leave First Class Alone?

How about eliminating the bulk rate discounts for junk mail and flyers and ads... but still give non-profits a better rate?

Not only would this increase revenue, but it would also ELIMINATE a lot of junk mail that they have to handle now. More revenue, less work, win/win!

[Ian David]

13. Absolutely agreed!

It would force marketers to more carefully select who they send their junk to, for one thing.

I also wish they'd keep the rates in increments of $0.05 for first class mail.

[Angry Girl]

15. What rates do BILLS use? Raise that one.

[Raine]

27. Yes

all that junk mail is a waste of paper plus it is just adding to the landfills. :-(

[katty]

11. o pleese, I wld rather use carrier pidgeons

[damntexdem]

16. I can't afford to put in my two cents.

;-)

But I can remember when the cost of sending a first-class letter was three cents. As I recall, there were standard three-cent, Statue-of-Liberty stamps.

[Straight Shooter]

17. I'll pay more of my bills online. n/t

[BrightKnight]

24. Economies of scale

That is part of the reason for the price change. Most people don’t mail checks.

[Straight Shooter]

29. Isn't it ironic? They charge more, I look for a way out.

I decided to pay online because stamps, envelopes, and cost of checks are equal to at least 50 cents per check I write. If I can pay 10 bills online per month, which is an average number, that's $5.00 per month, $60 per year, equal to approximately the cost of the videos I rent. (Dollar night only.)

Got to save somewhere, and I've never been fond of the U.S.P.S. anyway.

[jody]

18. USPS is the best public service available to small and rural communities.

There are always changes that can be made to reduce costs but if Fedex, UPS, etc. were required to offer the same range of service as USPS, their rates would exceed those of USPS.

I'm not now nor have I ever been an employee of USPS but,
a :toast: to USPS and their employee's union!

[Sgent]

19. Seeing how the increasing cost

of feul affects them, I'm surprised its not larger.

That being said, the post office is a bargin. If they would make just a few changes (like gaurenteeing priority mail at two days), they would completely wipe out most UPS and Fedex business.

[Indy Lurker]

21. The only thing i put in the mail in my NetFlix

but I'm sure I'll be paying that 2 pennies in there somewhere.

[BrightKnight]

22. It is bad for direct mail politics.

I think that Democrats have the advantage we can get the message out.

[Endangered Specie]

23. ha, like they deserve that much.

:eyes:

[jody]

25. For those who complain about USPS, "Democracy isn't free"!. n/t

[Raine]

26. Make it 40 or 50 cents

than be done with it for 5 or 10 years. :think:

[BrightKnight]

30. Enhanced hybrid or alternative fuel local fleet

I would be willing to pay more to phase in an enhanced hybrid or alternative fuel local fleet.

I believe that UPS is using CNG now.

[MGKrebs]

31. There are some great looking stamps out there right now.