The cost of first class postage goes up to 39 cents as of Sunday, Jan 8. I bought a roll of 100 stamps at Costco yesterday while I was there - $38.75. Saving a quarter isn't a big deal, but it was convenient and saved a trip to the post office.

I wouldn't have known - I so rarely mail letters.

Almost every communication is email now and my bills are all done with online banking.

When I do use the post office it is usually to send a package or a certified letter (like for a rebate) in which case they apply the correct postage.

I've thought about mailing out some letters though just so I can order some of those neat new stamps that you can design yourself with your own picture.

Ya know, couldn't they just make it an even 40 cents and make life a lot simpler?

My wife went to the local post office to mail a package and a fistfight almost broke out because they ran out of 2 cent stamps when some people stood in line for 40 minutes to get them.

BTW I hope that some of the extra revenue goes to re-do the USPS website. what a nightmare to navigate and use the print your own shipping label feature.

I tried to buy some $.02 stamps online the other day and again today and there were none available. There are no $.01 or $.04 available either.

I use stamps so rarely and only have 10 or so at the $.37 rate so I should be able to wait until the rush dies down.

DM

I would like to see it go up more. I know folks that work for the USPS and would love for their conditions to improve.

It's a government (well, quasi-government) operation...
They could raise postage to $2 a stamp and $40 for Priority flat rate envelope, and the postal workers wouldn't get squat.
The USPS would get a new central headquarters building, the USPS would sponsor a $200 Million study at a university to see if those blue shorts damage a workers self esteem at all, and they'd spend another $100 Million researching the emotional impact of the USPS logo...

And the nice lady at the bulk-mail window where I mail a monthly newsletter would STILL be overworked, underpaid, and required to be running back and forth between the bulk-mail window in the back of the P.O., and helping man the counter in front.

It's no wonder where we got the expression "Go Postal".

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

PaulF- it is funny you mention the nice lady at the post office...

I don't go to the post office too much anymore but the past few times the staff has been VERY VERY nice. Incredibly nice. And I have found this to be the case at three different post offices.

For work, most things I send go Priority Mail so ordering supplies online, having them delivered for free, paying for and printing postage online and scheduling a driver pickup makes going to the post office a thing of the past for me, but it is nice to know if I do go, it won't be torture.

DM

Don't feel too sorry for those postal workers, they have an excellent health insurance and good retirement benefits... better than mine by a long shot.

They do work hard though, and most are very pleasant to the customer, better than most retail stores.

They other day I saw an inspector following a mail carrier around with a clipboard. They carrier was busy being very careful to walk around all the shrubs and stay on the sidewalk at each house, musta taken him twice as long that day to complete his route. The inspector just looked incredibly bored. What a waste of money.

Our post office workers have all become good friends over the years - I'm in there every day, since we get mail at a PO Box.

The biggest problem is that since it is a small town, the PO is a social gathering place - and the line doesn't move very quickly - since everyone imparts interesting tidbits to the clerks - who then distribute them widely!

Half of the POs around here dont even have AC and it gets over 100˚ often in the summer.

But I still think that the first class stamp is one of the best bargains in the world. For under 40¢ you can get someone to CARRY something for you for 3000 miles and get it there in a few days.

hat if I gave you an envelope and said, "I'll give you $5 to take this to Nebraska for me" - they'd look at you like you were insane. Maybe they'll take it across town for you...

The only better bargain is long distance telephone - actually SPEAKING to that someone in real time for pennies a minute.

Two things modern folks take for granted.