Event: Postage increase Again! ....Result: No one even noticed!?

Question

Postage went up again by another 2 cents. Last time was only 3 yrs ago? I didn't hear one whimper of protest from anyone. My thought on this is that people were focused on the increasing price of gas.

What's the lowest price postage you recall for a first-class letter? I recall 1968 at 4 cents.

I personally don't see justification for going to 41 cents, legally, uncontested, without any competition (outside of Federal Express, Airborne, UPS & others who do a variation of mail distribution) to speak of. I've heard of the USPS stopping a little boy from distributing mail by bicycle in his hometown for cheaper rate.

Is the postage rate getting out of hand - in your opinion - or do you feel it is acceptable to raise every so many years - without vote by the American people?

Historically, I know the Pony Express took 7-10 days (did take 23-30 days before that). So, it is a finely tuned business now, we can not deny. But another rate increase?

060607 4:47

I gave my "thumbs up" to several really good & / or funny answers. Too hard to choose the best one, so I'm leaving it up to Y!A community. Good luck! 060707 3:32

Answer 1

I use e-mail...it's cheaper and faster.

I would support the US postal service, but they are killing us with postage prices.

Answer 2

Fare increases surprise no one with these fuel price increases. Everything goes up together. Fortunately, the labor market makes wages rise also eventually. This is why Fed Minimum wage is silly to pump up. In many areas, esp tourist areas, businesses can't get English speaking help less than $8-10.00/hour.
One problem post office has always had !) Rent their facilities at going rate. 2) Pay a nice salary in NY City so have to pay the same EVERYWHERE, even in areas where $20/hour plus is ridiculous for a stamp window clerk. Ordinary clerks receive $8/10/12 maybe if very lucky AND risk robberies usually not associated with Post offices since Jesse James stopped robbing mail trains.

Answer 3

Since President Bush has been in office the price of gasoline has tripled. That is the sole reason for this price increase. BTW President Bush appointed the postal rate commissioners who approved the rate increase. USPS stops little boy delivering mail on his bike? Sounds like an urban legend to me. Although is is illegal to place unstamped mail in a mailbox.

Answer 4

I hear you loud and clear. It is an outrage but what can we do? Just like gas..Do we all have to stay home? Got a theory on the stamps. I think most people have computers, credit card so maybe the postal service is using us as Guinea pigs. See who will pay their bills online. I just bought some new 41 cent stamps and it was a bitter pill to swallow. Money hungary forces are backing this increase to make us suffer.I don't trust credit cards and I admit I have one but don't use it unless there's a tight. Wish you all the luck to figure this one out and be willing to sit up and take notice.

Answer 5

I mailed 87 wedding invitations on March 9. By my wedding day, which was April 21st, ELEVEN invitations had never arrived. Eight of them were sent in the same city.

Additionally, my ex-husband is a mailman. I know what he gets paid for working 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It's ridiculous.

And now not only has the postage gone up based on weight, but it has gone up based on thickness, too! Anything bigger than 1/4" is considered parcel.

The entire thing is asinine. I do not mail anything unless etiquette dictates I do so. I pay all my bills online; communicate via e-mail/text message; etc.

Answer 6

I recently read that, for the first time ever, online bill paying exceeded paying bills by mail. I would think that with email, instant messaging, cell phones, and online bill paying, fewer and fewer people are using snail mail. With fewer people using it, you'd have fewer people complaining. It's the old "if a tree fell in the forest and nobody was there, would it make a sound?" situation.

Answer 7

People rarely use the mail for simple letters anymore... writing, bill paying... its all done online. Now... when they start trying to charge for *that*... *Then* you'll hear the outcry! Really, they're being foolish... the demand isn't great enough for them to be raising the price... I used to hand write... thought it was nicer... more personal, but when they kept raising the prices I stopped.

Military folk who have no other option have what they call MPS... its free, because it really has nothing to do with the USPS.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

3 cent stamp in 1950's.

Answer 10

lot of inflation happens in three years.