New US Postal Rates

[MikeDingas]

Well, most everyone in the US knows postal rates have increased. What you might not know is the postal service now has something call Shape Based Pricing. Mailling letters and packages is a bit more complicated. If you want to know how this may affect you, check out this site:

http://www.usps.com/prices/prices_shape.htm

[Randy]

Did the PO just go up on the first ounce or did they also increase the rate on the "additional" ounces as well? I don't remember what the second ounce used to cost??

Thanks

[Minnesota scroller]

Originally Posted by Randy

Did the PO just go up on the first ounce or did they also increase the rate on the "additional" ounces as well? I don't remember what the second ounce used to cost??

Thanks

Must be just the first ounce. I was at the post office today and asked if the 24c stamp was still valid and they said yes.

[Randy]

The "additional" FC ounces are only 17¢ so the information you have apparently does not apply to my question.

[Pop]

Our Post Office is very small being out in the country as we are so I had a minute or so to talk with the Post Master (if it's a lady does she become a Post Mistress?). Anyway, my biggest concern was what would happen when we start mailing out the wedding notices/invitations for my son's upcoming vows. Per her explanation the biggest factor when mailing out first class (normal mail) is whether or not the envelpoe and insert is flexible. If the folks at the post office determine that your letter/card/ect. is not flexible enough for the mechanical sorters and has to be done by hand, it becomes a 'package'. She didn't seem to have a concern for the size of the envelpoe as much as the whole 'package'. After reading the explanation available on the US postal website, I was more confused than ever. It doesn't even look like a 'flat rate' package cost is reasonable anymore. Might be cheaper in some case to bite the bullet, pay for the gas and charge a delivery fee for some items that are local (within 25 miles).

[Minnesota scroller]

Originally Posted by Randy

The "additional" FC ounces are only 17¢ so the information you have apparently does not apply to my question.

Randy, where are you from? For the last year I've had to put on extra 24c stamps for the second and third ounce for the paperwork I mail out. Has my local PO been ripping me off? This is strange. I'll have to bring that up at the next visit to my loca PO.

[Mick Walker]

The old rate was 24¢ for the second ounce on a letter that was over an ounce, it is now 17¢ for the next ounce. The old rate was 63¢ for a letter that was over an ounce, it is now 58¢. With the price of fuel I am surprised that the rates did not go higher. You can also now buy the "forever stamp". Buy lots of them now they are only 41¢. You can mail a letter and use the new stamp no matter how high the price goes, but when postage goes up again so will the "forever stamp". Confusing isn't it? Buy lots of stamps, they help my pension.

[CanadianScroller]

The rates are still very reasonable.
Here in Canada a standard letter is 52 cents next step is .93

We have the forever stamps here too.

Now if I am sending to the States the basic letter costs me .93.
Parcels are quite expensive and I have found it cheaper for me to drive to the States and mail them from there.

[Randy]

Thanks, Mick. So for that "limited" class of mail the rate has actually gone DOWN!!!

[earlinjax]

Mike, you asked the wrong question: Is the 24 cent stamp still valid -- Sure but you don't need that much. What complicates things is that I got some stamps earlier this week and asked for .17 -- said they won't be out until the 20th. Didn't they know it was coming?

Earl