US Postal Rate Decrease Plus Reminder About Buying Stamps Online

In case you missed it, the US Postal Service has lowered the rate for mailing just about everything. Obviously, this means that it will cost less to buy certain stamps, which is a good thing, but it also means that stamps you paid more for are worth less now than they were on April 9th.

What it meant to me, however, was that all of the "forever-type" stamps - those without a denomination printed on them - had to be relabeled in my album so I didn't accidentally put too little postage on a letter and cause it to be returned or its recipient to pay postage due. This is going to be more relevant to people who combine postage to make up rates, like I enjoy doing. One envelope that I prepared over the weekend - with three Forever stamps on it - needed an extra 6¢ to make up for the change. (I had the new rate correct, but neglected to account for the change in the stamps' value.)

Anything with a denomination or face value (FV) printed on it will not be affected. A 10¢ stamp is still a 10¢ stamp. But anything that has "Forever" or a purpose on it has changed: Here is what was in my album that needed to be re-labeled, with the image I had in parenthesis. Check the USPS site for additional information.

• Forever stamps were 49¢ and are now 47¢. 
• The stamp for an additional ounce (or special handling fee (like for a square envelope)) was 22¢ & is now 21¢ (penguin).
• Postcard stamps were 35¢ and are now 34¢ (coastal birds).
• The stamp for square/non-machinable envelopes was 71¢ and is now 68¢ (yellow butterfly).
• The 3-oz. letter stamp was 93¢ and is now 89¢ (Flannery O'Conner).
• Global/International stamps were $1.20 and are now $1.15 (moon).

Buying Stamps Online?

I also wanted to throw out a caution to anyone who buys, or is thinking about buying, stamps on sites like eBay: Check the USPS site before you buy anywhere else! I am constantly seeing stamps that are still available in the USPS online shop being sold on eBay for 2 or more times their FV. A sheet of 1¢ stamps, for example, is a whopping 20¢ through the post office, but people are selling them for a couple of bucks. Why pay $2.50 for a $1 stamp or $4 for a $2 one? (The USPS also sells stamps on eBay, but for their actual face value, plus shipping.)