First-class domestic letters will remain 44 cents, and international letters will remain 98 cents, but letters to Mexico and Canada are going up to 80 cents, and the domestic postcard rate is being raised to 29 cents.
And I just bought all those Zazzle stamps at a 28-cent postcard denomination rate!
I can't parse through the USPS website to find their full info on this, but my information comes from Your Postal Blog, which I consider a pretty darn reliable source.
Update: Thanks to Eliza Ward for guiding me to the Official USPS source for this!
I am humbled. A Canadian blog reader shows me this. Thanks, Eliza!
Stinko :( I know it doesn't help much, but here in Canada the rates just increased by a few cents too (national by 2 cents to 59 cents, and US is now up four cents to $1.04, I believe, or maybe $1.03, but regardless, it's ridiculous, and we have no postcard rate, plus no Saturday service). I know it doesn't help you all that much to know USPS isn't as overpriced as Canada Post, just thought I'd whine.
ReplyDeleteP.S. For the sake of being useful, did a search and here are the new rates, from USPS: http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm
ReplyDeleteEliza, I saw that link too. I clicked four of them, hoping to find the postcard rate confirmation, and didn't get to it. So perhaps it is buried in there somewhere, but it's not readily apparent.
ReplyDeleteIt's in the First-Class Retail pdf: http://www.usps.com/prices/_pdf/april172011/First-Class%20Mail%20-%20Retail.pdf. I found the whole page rather confusing--as opposed to Canada Post who basically just said, "The rate's increasing to 59 cents in January. Deal with it." No pages and pages of charts!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS - officially updated above!
ReplyDeleteNp! And don't feel so humbled; I try to spend as little time in Canada and as much time in the US as possible, to the point that I'm known by Boston postal workers but not the local Canadian ones :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Eliza - and I just sent a letter to you, by the way, to Canada.
ReplyDeleteAwww man, and I have a ton of postcard stamps... I better start mailing! I guess they think that this effects the least amount of people, because it looks like the letter rate isn't changing at all, even if it's over 1oz.
ReplyDeleteurrrghhh I have a whole roll of postcard stamps and tons of the $.75 for my Canadian friends. Ah, well - guess I'll be buying $.01 and $.05 stamps soon - thanks for the update
ReplyDeleteWasn't there also talk about making all 1st class stamps "forever" stamps? That would be great when there is an increase.
ReplyDeleteZuzu, yes - all the first-class releases will be Forever stamps in 2011.
ReplyDeleteI am puzzled by these decisions. It seems like the additional revenue from a 1-cent rise in the postcard rate will be more than offset by the loss of revenue from forever stamps when the rates increase in the future. I think the move to forever stamps is a bad business decision, however convenient it may be.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I'll keep a look out for it! And that's also pretty neat about the Forever stamps!
ReplyDeleteI like the forever stamps are a bad move as well. People might be still using ones that they purchase when the price as 44 cents when the price is 75 cents or something. They'll probably end up losing more money.
ReplyDeleteI heard this is supposed to save them money because they'll no longer have to destroy their inventory of stamps with the old price on them when the rates are increased.
ReplyDeleteJP, what a ridiculous and untrue rumor you heard! The U.S. Postal service does NOT destroy their stamp inventory. In fact, they still sell some of them; there are 42-cent stamps on the online postal store of the US Postal service right now.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a waste to destroy old stamps but was sure I'd read that somewhere. Since I couldn't remember where I heard that rumor I searched and found this:
ReplyDelete********
USPS Announces All 2011 Commemoratives Will Be Forever Stamps
December 16, 2010 by Lu
Filed under: postal, postal news, stamps
Forever Stamp Program Expands To Give Customers Convenience and More Choices
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Now, we’re pleased to announce that the entire 2011 commemorative program will join the Forever ranks. This benefits the Postal Service as well as our customers. Rather than incur the expense of destroying unsold stamps after a rate change, we can internally adjust the value — keeping our stamps in circulation until they run out. ******
********from: http://www.postalreporternews.net/2010/12/16/usps-announces-all-2011-commemoratives-will-be-forever-stamps/ )
I also found more here: http://blog.uspsoig.gov/?p=2756
If this is true it's a waste because I'm sure they'd be able to sell all their old stamps to those of us that are anal about getting just the right stamp(s) on our envelopes. :D
JP - Well, color me shocked! I had no idea. I guess all the older stamps circulating were saved by collectors? Man. What a waste. Exactly right, because you and I would buy up the old stamps for sure!
ReplyDeleteUgh!!!I bet it won't be long until the first class domestic stamp will go up! ugh!!!!
ReplyDeleteKathy B.