Postal Stamp Question

[alison]

I have a roll of First Class stamps that I bought at Costco. It takes me forever to go through them, and with the rate change on May 12, I'm wondering what to do with them.

It doesn't say 41 cents on them anywhere, but that was the rate at which I purchased them. So, do I put a 1 cent stamp on them?

Or will these stamps be worthless come May 12?

I'm on the USPS website, but don't see anything about old first class stamps. The picture on the new first class ones will be different.

Sigh...

Thanks!

Re: Postal Stamp Question

no - first class stamps will still be worth what you paid for them. just add the necessary postage. the USPS knows even though it doesn't have the $ printed on them.

[madeintaiwan]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

Alison, are they the Forever stamps with the liberty bell on them? I am pretty sure they stay the same regardless of the rate change.

ETA: Here is the USPS link to the Forever Stamp
https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... &langId=-1

http://www.usps.com/prices/

Yes as long as they are the Forever Liberty Stamps, they remain good regardless of rate increases.

[alison]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

no - first class stamps will still be worth what you paid for them. just add the necessary postage. the USPS knows even though it doesn't have the $ printed on them.

Thanks Jenn. You're right... I actually should have been more thorough in my USPS search. I came up with this: http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... &langId=-1


You see, I was getting a little panicky here, with this huge ol' coil of old stamps.

[alison]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

Alison, are they the Forever stamps with the liberty bell on them? I am pretty sure they stay the same regardless of the rate change.

ETA: Here is the USPS link to the Forever Stamp
https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... &langId=-1

No, the ones I have are with the American flag (on a pole) with a tan background.

That Forever Stamp thing irks me. What's the point? To make people think they're getting a good deal?

[madeintaiwan]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

The Breast Cancer Stamps are good too. I always buy those.

[poky]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

That Forever Stamp thing irks me. What's the point? To make people think they're getting a good deal?

Nah, the point is just so you don't have to do what you're going to have to do, and buy penny stamps and put more than one stamp on a letter. And if you use a lot of stamps, and you buy a bunch of forever stamps just before the rate change, you're saving a little bit of money.

I use stamps very infrequently, also, and I won't get anything but forever stamps any more, just because it saves the hassle of wondering how much a stamp is worth when I do go to send something.

[poky]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

Yes, my understanding is that every May there will be rate changes at the Post Office.

The people this *really* messes with are small online businesses that have to modify their shipping rates and shipping calculators every year, now. The standard first-class letter rate will probably go up 1-2 cents per year, but some of the other rates can change much more drastically. I have a couple friends complaining about this annoyance.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

I have so many random stamps-- and it bugs me that they don't put the value of them on a lot of stamps. :huh: I'm tempted to just let my kids use them as stickers. That's what ends up happening to my stamps anyway, lots of the time.

[Vishenka69]

Re: Postal Stamp Question

I didn't even know there was a Forever stamp, better ask for it next time. Mine plainly say 41c but at least there's only 4 of them. Good thing I have a couple of things to mail out this week. Thanks for the heads up. I wonder if these annual increases will make eBay more expensive.