Forever Stamps

Postal Rates Change Monday

admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:36:39 +0000

With less than a week before the 1-cent price hike in stamps starting on May 12, 2008, the U.S. Postal Service is reporting brisk sales of the Forever Stamp, with sales topping 60 million stamps a day. A First-Class Mail stamp will cost 42-cents starting Monday, but customers can continue to use the Forever Stamps that they purchased prior to May 12 at 41-cents, even after the price change.

Select pricing highlights:

	No change in the First-Class Mail single-piece additional-ounce price.
	Lower additional-ounce price for presorted First-Class Mail letters.
	Lower pound price for Standard Mail saturation and high-density flats.
	Shape-based pricing for First-Class Mail International letters, flats, and parcels.
	First-Class Mail International price groups expand from five to nine groups.

Select prices:


	First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.)		$0.42

	First-Class Mail letter (2 oz.)		$0.59

	Postcard		$0.27

	First-Class Mail large envelope (2 oz.)		$1.00

	Certified Mail		$2.70

	First-Class Mail International to Canada and Mexico (1 oz.)		$0.72

	First-Class Mail International to all other countries (1 oz.)		$0.94

Review all price changes.

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Buy Now or Forever Hold Your Stamps

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:40:02 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a postal rate increase just two weeks away, Americans are buying 30 million Forever stamps a day.

The cost of sending a first-class letter will rise a penny to 42 cents on May 12, but the Forever stamps — currently selling for 41 cents — will remain valid for full postage after the increase.

Read the full AP Article

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Forever Stamps Sales up $85 Million

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:12:02 +0000

March 12, 2008

From NPR Morning Edition:

“It’s may now be viewed as snail mail, but the U.S. Postal Service has managed to hit on a winning strategy for selling stamps: Announce an increase in price, then offer a “Forever Stamp” that never goes up. Since its introduction last year, Americans have found the stamp such a bargain they’ve snapped up $2.3 billion worth, including $95 million since the Postal Service announced stamps are going up again.”

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Stamp Price Increases Announced

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:37:12 +0000

The cost of a first-class stamp will rise to 42 cents starting May 12, the U.S. Postal Service said Monday.

The price of the Forever stamp will go up at the same time, meaning those stamps can still be purchased for 41 cents but will remain good for first-class postage after the rate increase takes effect.

The post office has sold 5 billion Forever stamps since they were introduced last April and plans to have an additional 5 billion in stock to meet the expected demand before the May price change, the agency said.

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Word of the Year

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:22:53 +0000

Forever Stamps did not win the “Word of the Year” honors from the American Dialect Society, however it did make the the list of new words for 2007, and it showed up on a few of those ubiquitous Top Stories of 2007 lists.

Though one can’t help but think the perpetually redeemable qualities of a Forever Stamp have inspired a host of infinitely good deals:

“Forever Willows,” a Washington based retreat package that guarantees guests four one-night stays at almost any time in the future.

Garden State Parkway tokens can no longer be purchased, but they will be infinitely accepted, until each one is eventually melted down by the NJHA.

More states are enacting laws which make it illegal for Gift Cards to expire or charge maintenance fees.

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Holiday Stamps

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:01:10 +0000

For this year’s holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service has issued a series called Holiday Knits, featuring four stamps of what they are calling “classic Christmas-time imagery designed and machine knitted by nationally known illustrator Nancy Stahl: There is a dignified stag; a snow-dappled evergreen tree; a perky snowman sporting a top hat; and a whimsical teddy bear.”

The jury remains out on how popular these stamps are, but one could always use a Forever Stamp, insuring your Christmas card will be delivered, even 90 years later at no extra expense.

Buy them here

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FAQ: When Will the Next Forever Stamp Rate Increase be Announced?

admin — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 04:25:19 +0000

Under the new guidelines signed into law by President Bush last December, we may see the next round of postal increases by June 30, 2008. Under the new law, annual increases annual increases are allowed and will be tied to the Consumer Price Index, with rules to be determined by the Postal Regulatory Commission. Before the end of the year, we should have more information on the timing of the next rate case and the date of next year’s postal rates will be in effect.

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Forever Stamp Politics

admin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:11:40 +0000

Click on image for link to full-size image. (Not an affiliate of ForeverStamps.com)

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Forever Stamps: Convenience or Investment?

admin — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:57:19 +0000

There has been a lot of speculation regarding the purchasing motives behind the consumers of Forever Stamps. Are there actually investors hoarding these stamps in hermetically sealed containers, waiting for guaranteed returns down the road? Or are these stamps being consumed in the normal course of business, being bought as a convenience, a hedge against future postal increases? Below are some of the best web articles examining the investment angle of Forever Stamps.

Newsweek: An Investment You Can’t Lick

March 19, 2007 issue - Ok. you’re sitting around dealing with big Financial Questions. Where’s the stock market going? Will your 401(k) be fat enough for you to retire on caviar rather than cat food? How are you going to pay your kids’ college tuition? Forget all that small stuff. Your new Big Economic Challenge for 2007 comes down to this: should you speculate in U.S. postage stamps?

Click here to read the full story.

Forever stamp designed for convenience not saving money

Sometimes hard facts defy even the most seemingly common sensical ideas. Take, for instance, the newly introduced Forever stamp, which will always be good for first-class postage regardless of how high postage rates go. Buying 1 cent stamps to bring old stamps up to the current rate will soon be just a faint, quaint memory.

Click here to read the full story.

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Stamp Machine Stamp-Out

admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:18:00 +0000

The Postal Service is phasing out 22,933 stamp vending machines nationwide. Notices are appearing in post offices all over the country: “THIS VENDING MACHINE WILL BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE.”
Image by Crow River Trading Company, All Rights Reserved

In a program already underway and slated to end in 2010, the USPS will be removing thousands of automated stamp machines in a move that stems partially because the machines are facing stiff competition from online sources, and because many machines cost the Postal Service too much to maintain. You can now buy stamps at thousands of locations, including grocery stores and ATMs, online, or print your own stamps from home and even have them delivered to you by calling 1-800-STAMP24.

Forever Stamp sales are still strong, but it’s obvious the USPS is feeling the crunch from an era where you are more likely to send an email or pay your bill online than reach for a stamp.

Postal News

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Purple Heart Stamp on Sale

admin — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:03:52 +0000

“The United States Postal Service marked the 75th anniversary of the Purple Heart medal with the dedication of the new Purple Heart stamp at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007. It is the third time the stamp has been issued.

During the ceremony two wounded soldiers — Army Sergeant Robert Evans and Private First Class Marcus Labadie — were awarded Purple Hearts by General Colin Powell (Retired).”

A bill has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate calling for legislation to reissue the Purple Heart Stamp as a Forever Stamp. You can check the latest action taken on these bills from Congress here.

View the USPS Stamp Event Report

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Art of Disney Magic Stamps Now Available

admin — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:13:21 +0000

On August 16, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled four new Art of Disney Magic stamps at an official dedication ceremony at Walt Disney World Resort. This is the fourth line in the Art of Disney Magic series to be issued. This year’s commemorative set includes Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Dumbo and Timothy Mouse and Genie and Aladdin.

Purchase them here

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