One Week from Postage Increase
May 12th, the cost of a first class stamp will go from 41¢ to 42¢.
Buying a Forever Stamp isn't going to save you a lot of cash in any way, shape or form, unless perhaps you are really sending a lot of mail, then it might save you more than a few pennies every year.
What a Forever Stamp is going to get you, however, is ease of use. No more worry about penny stamps, no more worry about whether or not the first class stamp you have is the correct amount any longer
(when was that last price increase?), no more worry about anything regarding stamps and mail, which is good, because who really wants to think about that stuff. You just stick it on, let it go,
and forget about it.
That, to me, is the benefit of the Forever Stamp - the fact that one you buy them, you don't have to think about stamp prices ever again.
New Prices Coming May 12, 2008
On May 12 we will adjust prices for mailing services — First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Special Services.
The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
A First-Class Mail stamp will be 42¢. Customers can continue to use the Forever Stamps that they purchased prior to May 12 at 41¢, even after the price change.
We will have 5 billion Forever Stamps in stock to meet increased demand before the price change. Forever Stamps are widely available through Post Offices, Contract Postal Units,
consignment locations, Automated Postage Centers, vending, and at The Postal Store®. We also will have a 62¢ stamp available shortly after May 12 for 1-ounce nonmachinable First-Class Mail
letters, such as square greeting cards.
Pricing highlights:
No change in the First-Class Mail single-piece additional-ounce price.
Lower additional-ounce price for presorted First-Class Mail letters.
Lower pound price for Standard Mail saturation and high-density flats.
Shape-based pricing for First-Class Mail International letters, flats, and parcels.
First-Class Mail International price groups expand from five to nine groups.
Heard around town: Forever Stamp a hit prior to price increase
The cost to mail a first-class letter will rise a penny, to 42 cents, on May 12. But not if you stock up on the Forever Stamp.
Last year the Post Office debuted the Forever Stamp, which is purchased at the current first-class rate, but is valid even after price increases.
Who cares about a few pennies? It appears millions of people. Since the stamp was introduced in April 2007, sales have totaled $2.3 billion. Yesterday in Amesbury, Post Office workers were recommending them over regular stamps for those buying in bulk.
Nationwide, sales of the Forever Stamp jumped by $95 million after plans for higher stamp prices were announced last month.
Until then, the special Forever Stamp will continue to sell for 41 cents and after the rate increase it will still be valid for postage without the need for any extra stamps.
The Postal Service said yesterday that it sold $275 million in Forever Stamps last month, up sharply from sales of $179 million in January.
