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First-Class Mail is Forever Altered

The US Postal Service has introduced the "forever" stamp. This special stamp, good for any first-class letter weighing up to one ounce, is valid forever, no matter how much postal rates increase. That means consumers can purchase these special stamps at today's rate and use them for years to come, even if postal prices double or triple. And, while there are definitely better places to invest your money in the long term, the forever stamp offers consumers protection against rate hikes and the annoyance of having to purchase one- and two-cent stamps whenever prices do increase.

In 1968, first-class stamps were six cents. Since then, the price has risen 14 times, including the May 2007 increase to 41 cents. This past December, a new law was passed linking postal rates to the consumer price index, which could cause rates to increase annually. The forever stamp, an idea adopted in Europe years ago, features the Liberty Bell, which hasn't appeared on a US stamp in over 30 years.

Posted by John Caylor- Post Falls, ID Mortgages on 04/21/2007 08:09 AM

Comments (5)

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5 Comments on First-Class Mail is Forever Altered

John--Good information! I intend to invest in a few of these new stamps after the rates increase. I wonder about the people asking for them now though...Why use the 39 cent stamps while you can?? Maybe they are just planning ahead. Hmmm...

04/21/2007 08:27 AM

by Teri Eckholm, Realtor® Anoka County MN (Keller Williams Premier Realty)

John, thanks for the history of the first class stamp. Linda Davis had a post recently about how she uses the postage increase to her advantage with a unique mailing to her best clients. As this is the last year that it can be used, I'm planning on taking advantage of it.

04/21/2007 08:29 AM

by Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic (EWM Realtors)

Thanks for that, off to the post office I go.

04/21/2007 09:35 AM

by Jeff LeBlanc (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

I never knew it was linked to the index. Nice to know. I better buy a bunch of stamps.

04/21/2007 09:36 AM

by Dave Cheatham (INC Financial )

This is a wonderful service, It is actually not at todays rates, it is .02 cents more than todays rates until the next increase then it will go up also. What I have been doing is buying one book of regular stamps and then putting a book of forever stamps in a drawer. To hopefully use later when the increase actually does go up to .43 cents and they save me money.

04/22/2007 12:26 AM

by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Washington Co, Beaverton Oregon) (Kastings & Associates, Beaverton Oregon Real Estate)

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