Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Antibubba on April 30, 2007, 09:57:36 PM

Title: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Antibubba on April 30, 2007, 09:57:36 PM

No, the USPS website won't tell me--they just present a bewildering array of .39, .41, and .02 stamps, and go on about the rate change, with absolutely no mention of the date of such change!!! 

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: mtnbkr on May 01, 2007, 01:58:05 AM

The stamps we have here at the house say .39.  I haven't heard of any rate change since the last one a year or two ago.

Chris

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Brian Williams on May 01, 2007, 02:22:30 AM

Until the 14th 39¢, then 41¢

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: mtnbkr on May 01, 2007, 02:37:17 AM

That's the first I've heard of this rate hike.

Chris

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: K Frame on May 01, 2007, 03:17:54 AM

You and me both. I guess I need to mail some things.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Sindawe on May 01, 2007, 03:24:17 AM

So now I guess I'll need two 2 cent stamps to go along with the 37 cent stamps I've still not completely used.

Freaking Post Office, ever increasing rates for ever diminishing services.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: robear on May 01, 2007, 04:25:38 AM

This time, the USPS is selling "forever" stamps, that will not have any denomination printed on them.    This way, you can use them to mail a letter even if there is another rate hike, without needing any extra postage to make up the difference.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Ben on May 01, 2007, 05:44:50 AM

Yet another rate hike (news to me), and they're still hiring the handicapped. My neighbors and I spend more time exchanging mail misplaced in each other's boxes than we do reading it.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Gewehr98 on May 01, 2007, 11:40:57 AM

Since I got my disability rating, I've been thinking about switching over to the USPS.  Where do you live, Ben? 

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Sindawe on May 01, 2007, 11:47:45 AM

Quote

My neighbors and I spend more time exchanging mail misplaced in each other's boxes than we do reading it.

Same here.  Darned annoying.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: K Frame on May 01, 2007, 11:59:17 AM

My mail guy is pretty good.

More and more, though, I'm having my billing statements and other regular mail sent electronically. I also pay virtually everything electronically.

I sent out more stamped envelopes at Christmas time than I do the entire rest of the year.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Car Knocker on May 01, 2007, 02:16:43 PM

I'm at the point where I only need one stamp a month.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Ben on May 01, 2007, 03:02:19 PM

Quote

Since I got my disability rating, I've been thinking about switching over to the USPS.  Where do you live, Ben?

No way dude -- you'd swipe all my Shotgun News issues.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Gewehr98 on May 01, 2007, 04:42:27 PM

Quote

No way dude -- you'd swipe all my Shotgun News issues.

Damn.  No Gun List or Dillon Blue Press?   

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Ben on May 01, 2007, 05:03:22 PM

I've got a deal with Mike Dillon to deliver my Blue Press in a plain brown wrapper.... 

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Gewehr98 on May 01, 2007, 06:09:22 PM

Man, you just take all the fun out of mail delivery, don't you? 

My Dillon Blue Press catalogs were always opened every month, even when Dillon used the tape on three sides.  I figured the mailman wanted to see more of the cover girl...

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: armchair warrior on May 01, 2007, 06:47:42 PM

I bought some stamps with the American flag on them
a coupla 2 or 3 years ago.Theres no price on them.
I just keep using them,no problems yet.
Been a couple of price increases in between.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Fjolnirsson on May 01, 2007, 08:54:47 PM

I live in a smallish city, about 8700 people. I've lived in the same house for two and a half years, with the same mail carrier every day. Also, our mail carrier used to take belly dance lessons from my wife. We regularly get mail for people who don't live here, including the people we bought the house from, whom our carrier knows, and is friends with!. We've told our carrier, told the post office and still we get mail for other people.
Oh, well.

I wish they'd just raise the price of a stamp to an even dollar. Then maybe we could go a year or two without an increase, and maybe they could put a little something in the water to make the employees less surly at the counter.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: thebaldguy on May 02, 2007, 03:12:14 PM

Quote from: BenW on May 01, 2007, 04:44:50 AM

Yet another rate hike (news to me), and they're still hiring the handicapped. My neighbors and I spend more time exchanging mail misplaced in each other's boxes than we do reading it.

Our neighborhood has had delivery problems for decades. We've misssed mail for everything from wedding invitations to credit card statements. I used to call and complain, but it never did any good. Turned out I was talking to some idiots at the counter, who never informed the local Postmaster General about delivery issues. I even sent emails to the postal service who never replied. My girlfriend finally got a hold of the local Postmaster General, who apologized and gave us his number.

Delivery still sucks. I know a guy who works at the post office. He says it's almost impossible to get fired.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Silver Bullet on May 02, 2007, 08:41:29 PM

I can send six sheets of paper in an envelope to anybody in the U.S., say 3000 miles away, in less than a week's time, with over 99% reliability (I'm estimating), for 41 cents.

If it cost me a dollar I'd still consider it a bargain.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: roo_ster on May 03, 2007, 08:56:08 AM

Our postman has been the same guy for the 5 years at this residence.  A good fellow, likes dogs and a gunny like us.

That said, I use the USPS so infrequently I would not miss it were it gone. Bills (incoming & outgoing) via the 'net and almost everyone i know has net access make the USPS superfluous.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Manedwolf on May 04, 2007, 04:55:37 AM

Quote from: Silver Bullet on May 02, 2007, 07:41:29 PM

I can send six sheets of paper in an envelope to anybody in the U.S., say 3000 miles away, in less than a week's time, with over 99% reliability (I'm estimating), for 41 cents.

If it cost me a dollar I'd still consider it a bargain.

emailed Acrobat PDF of the same, one click, other side of the world in a few seconds, cost in pennies.

I can't even remember the last time I "mailed" anything in an envelope. Or bought a stamp.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: mtnbkr on May 04, 2007, 07:25:33 AM

Quote from: Manedwolf on May 04, 2007, 03:55:37 AM

emailed Acrobat PDF of the same, one click, other side of the world in a few seconds, cost in pennies.
I can't even remember the last time I "mailed" anything in an envelope. Or bought a stamp.

That's nice if the person on the other end can accept an electronic copy.  Many can't for a variety of reasons. 

Chris

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Silver Bullet on May 04, 2007, 08:12:39 AM

Quote

emailed Acrobat PDF of the same, one click, other side of the world in a few seconds, cost in pennies.

I can't even remember the last time I "mailed" anything in an envelope. Or bought a stamp.

Good point.

Sometimes, though, I want to send something that can't be emailed, such as a five dollar bill to a niece for her birthday.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: K Frame on May 04, 2007, 08:23:57 AM

Quote from: Silver Bullet on May 04, 2007, 07:12:39 AM

Quote

emailed Acrobat PDF of the same, one click, other side of the world in a few seconds, cost in pennies.

I can't even remember the last time I "mailed" anything in an envelope. Or bought a stamp.

Good point.

Sometimes, though, I want to send something that can't be emailed, such as a five dollar bill to a niece for her birthday.

Scan it and send her the image.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Manedwolf on May 04, 2007, 09:15:05 AM

Quote from: Silver Bullet on May 04, 2007, 07:12:39 AM

Quote

emailed Acrobat PDF of the same, one click, other side of the world in a few seconds, cost in pennies.

I can't even remember the last time I "mailed" anything in an envelope. Or bought a stamp.

Good point.

Sometimes, though, I want to send something that can't be emailed, such as a five dollar bill to a niece for her birthday.

Click-and-send giftcard for her favorite store, or a Visa Debit Card in that amount. Or just iTunes credits, they get an email notification.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: mtnbkr on May 04, 2007, 09:29:18 AM

Quote from: Manedwolf

they get an email notification

Not.Everyone.Is.Wired. 

Chris

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Manedwolf on May 04, 2007, 09:44:39 AM

Quote from: mtnbkr on May 04, 2007, 08:29:18 AM

Quote from: Manedwolf

they get an email notification

Not.Everyone.Is.Wired. 

Chris

I know. I just appreciate the convenience.

I also don't have time to stand in a line only open during working hours, to wait for a slow-moving unfireable civil servant to sell me stamps because the lowest-bidder stamp machine in the lobby is broken.

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: Silver Bullet on May 04, 2007, 09:52:55 AM

Quote

Click-and-send giftcard for her favorite store, or a Visa Debit Card in that amount. Or just iTunes credits, they get an email notification.

As mtnbkr pointed out, that assumes the other party is plugged in.

But, even then, sometimes it's nicer to get something more personal.  Maybe I want to send a birthday card with a handwritten note.  Maybe I want to send a nephew a baseball card or a collector coin. 

You ever receive a scanned image of a 1898 silver dollar ?  Not the same thing as getting the genuine article.  You can tell the difference when you lay them side by side.  The scanned image is a lot flatter.   

Title: Re: What is the @!#!& cost of a First Class stamp?
Post by: slzy on May 05, 2007, 02:54:38 PM

go to postal reporter or postal employee network,the people that work there are far more scathing than the general public.