Happy Postage Increase Day (observed)!

messydesk · January 23, 2017 6:29AM

coindeuce · January 23, 2017 11:56AM

I love to plaster parcels with discount unused stamps. Now the clerks are gonna see a lot more surface area covered.
Man, do they ever get flustered when they have to count 20 - 30 - 40 stamps.

MonsterCoinz · January 23, 2017 12:11PM

Did they increase? How about flat rate boxes?
I did notice that the $2.60 padded mailer increased by $0.01 ..

coindeuce · January 23, 2017 12:19PM

Parcel packaging rates for the most part. 1st class letter size reverted back from 47 cents to 49 cents, which is where it was at in 2016 on a prior rate increase before the USPS had to lower it based on a legal technicality.
Ferinstance, the padded Priority Flat Rate envelope went from $6.80 to $7.20. A 6% increase.
Small Flat Rate Box = $7.15
Medium Flat Rate Box = $13.60
pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c073

golden · January 23, 2017 12:42PM

Sell the whole thing to private enterprise.

MWallace · January 23, 2017 1:16PM

Actually the increase was yesterday, January 22nd.

1630Boston · January 23, 2017 1:37PM

Stamps went up 2 cents, I bought some last week at BJ's.
FWIW.....Bj's actually sells stamps at a price less than the post office, not much less but it is less.

MWallace · January 23, 2017 1:52PM

@1630Boston said:
Stamps went up 2 cents, I bought some last week at BJ's.
FWIW.....Bj's actually sells stamps at a price less than the post office, not much less but it is less.

Costco does too. They don't get them cheaper, they are a loss leader.

messydesk · January 23, 2017 2:11PM

@MWallace said:
Actually the increase was yesterday, January 22nd.

Well, you can't mail anything on Sunday, which is why I added "(observed)."

AmazonX · January 23, 2017 2:22PM

I'm wearing my Postage Increase Day day shirt and I have my Postage Increase Day flag flying. Anyone going to any good PID parties tonight?

thebeav · January 23, 2017 2:53PM

@coindeuce said:
Parcel packaging rates for the most part.
Ferinstance, the padded Priority Flat Rate envelope went from $6.80 to $7.20. A 6% increase.
Small Flat Rate Box = $7.15
Medium Flat Rate Box = $13.60
pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c073

That's incredible. The only thing the public is ever aware of is the first class stamp. They just see a two cent increase and think that there is nothing to be concerned with. Remember when a one ounce package mailed with a first class stamp? A little less than than the 2.67 rate today. Yes, but we're losing money......

1630Boston · January 23, 2017 3:05PM

Loss leaders are ok.

Bochiman · January 23, 2017 3:24PM

@golden said:
Sell the whole thing to private enterprise.

Likely pay more.
I find USPS cheaper, sometimes MUCH cheaper, than UPS or FedEx in most cases. AND, the USPS is open on Saturdays for me, if I need to go for some reason...like to pick up a package...and there are more places to go for USPS.

brg5658 · January 23, 2017 3:29PM

@golden said:
Sell the whole thing to private enterprise.

Great idea, if you want to pay twice what you pay now.

BStrauss3 · January 23, 2017 4:09PM

The USPS IS a private enterprise. They don't get one red cent from USG.

However, unlike normal companies, Congress gets to meddle and they have to get permission to raise prices.

They are being forced to fully fund the pension plan which was woefully underfunded (whether that's because the benefits are absurdly high as a legacy of USG ownership is left for another thread).

And the law forces them to deliver to every address in the US for the same rate.

So while I really don't love them, I do realize it sucks to be USPS.

MWallace · January 24, 2017 1:33AM

@messydesk said:

@MWallace said:
Actually the increase was yesterday, January 22nd.

Well, you can't mail anything on Sunday, which is why I added "(observed)."

But you can buy postage on Sunday. Particularly online.

ajaan · January 24, 2017 4:00AM

@coindeuce said:
I love to plaster parcels with discount unused stamps. Now the clerks are gonna see a lot more surface area covered.
Man, do they ever get flustered when they have to count 20 - 30 - 40 stamps.

I do this all the time. My local Post Office counter people trust me when I tell them the amount of postage I have on the packages. Only once did I have someone new actually add up all the stamps. I buy unused stamps at 60% face value.

logger7 · January 24, 2017 4:06AM

Still they are running deficits with those whopping pensions.

keets · January 24, 2017 5:22AM

everything that BStrauss3 said.

I find all the whining about a few cent increase petty and consider the USPS service one of the best bargains in the world. now, flame away.

ricko · January 24, 2017 5:34AM

The USPS is harnessed with a legacy of typically poor (isn't it always?) Federal management, and continues to suffer. It is still a good service overall - although, I am, as of yesterday, having a rare problem. A package was said to be delivered (USPS email) and it was not. Two call so far......"We are checking...our GPS says it was delivered close by, but we have not found it yet."..... While I am not yet in panic mode... I am concerned. Cheers, RickO

thebeav · January 24, 2017 5:44AM

@keets said:
everything that BStrauss3 said.

I find all the whining about a few cent increase petty and consider the USPS service one of the best bargains in the world. now, flame away.

That was my point in my previous post. The public sees the 2 cent increase for a stamp, while flat rate boxes, insurance, registration, etc......The services that WE use, go up by 6 percent. I know I'm not alone when I can't make 6 percent a year on my investments. Five years ago, when a 'package' became a separate class of mail, the price increase was 400 % !!! No one cried, but I had to eat that increase everyday.
Sure, a first class stamp is a bargain for a reliable service, but for those that ship stuff, price increases are always nasty and underhanded.

derryb · January 24, 2017 8:03AM

USPS is not as private as you think

TwoSides2aCoin · January 25, 2017 7:49AM

The cost of doing business.

TwoSides2aCoin · January 25, 2017 7:50AM

The cost of doing business never goes down.

oih82w8 · January 25, 2017 7:33PM

@coindeuce said:
I love to plaster parcels with discount unused stamps. Now the clerks are gonna see a lot more surface area covered.
Man, do they ever get flustered when they have to count 20 - 30 - 40 stamps.

I have had a few sellers use thier older stamps and almost totally cover both sides of the padded envelope. Sometimes the USPS does not even cancel them...so I recycle them.

TopographicOceans · January 25, 2017 10:54PM

American postal rates are a bargain compared to the rest of the world.

Everyone under 30 should be buying tons of Forever Stamps. You'll make a fortune in 20 years when a postage stamp is over $1.

Elcontador · January 25, 2017 11:10PM

People in the many little towns and villages in Alaska would not get any mail if it wasn't for the U.S. Post Office.

MWallace · January 26, 2017 2:45AM

@logger7 said:
Still they are running deficits with those whopping pensions.

Not exactly true!! The Post Office is required by law to Pre-Pay retirement benefits by the tune of Billions of dollars a year. The ONLY business required to do so. Without this they would be in the black, instead they are constantly in the red. The best analogy I've seen on this would be if your credit card company said to you, "We estimate that you will charge $500,000 on your credit card during your lifetime. Please send payment immediately." Google it for many articles on the subject.

messydesk · January 26, 2017 11:50AM

@TopographicOceans said:
American postal rates are a bargain compared to the rest of the world.

I'm not sure this is entirely true when dealing with shipping packages, especially internationally.

Rob85635 · January 26, 2017 6:55PM

@TopographicOceans said:
American postal rates are a bargain compared to the rest of the world.

Everyone under 30 should be buying tons of Forever Stamps. You'll make a fortune in 20 years when a postage stamp is over $1.

If things keep going like they are investing in stamps may make for a better alternative to a basic savings account or CD.

Happy Postage Increase Day (observed)!

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