New Postage Rates Monday

[Luv2Roam]

:sick: They sound horrible. And I think they are going to make me change my pin trading and exchange ways.
Regular stamp postage is going up to 41 cents. In addition, Priority, Express, and what we pin people call LBE's (little bubble/brown envelopes) are going significantly. Priority mail will be charged by weight, distance and dimensions.
One trader was told at his post office that what we use to pay 52 - 63 cents to mail will now be double in cost. (With the new rates, an envelope more than 1/4" thick will cost double or triple from today's rates.)

A few more cents is one thing. But the new rates may very well change my way of mailing from here out. I will be cutting back, me thinks.

pirate:

[mommytotwo]

Thank you for that info.
I wonder if there is somewhere where we can get all the new postal rate :confused3 .

[PixieDust32]

:scared1:

[Meriweather]

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

[Luv2Roam]

Exchanges are fun. But it doesn't make a lot of sense to me to do a $5 exchange when it could potentionally cost $9+ to mail. :confused3

It will be interesting what people report back from their post office trips with the new rates.

If mailing Priority, it would save quite a bit to print labels at home. (Which I have not done yet.)
Delivery Confirmation by Electronic is free. Otherwise it is 65 cents. ($.75 first class mail now. Electronic on first class is $.18.)

First-Class® letters $0.41 (first ounce)
$0.17 (each additional ounce)

First-Class® Large Envelopes $0.80 (first ounce)
$0.17 (each additional ounce)

First-Class® Packages $1.13 (first ounce)
$0.17 (each additional ounce)

Priority Mail® Flat Rate Boxes $8.95
Priority Mail® Flat Rate Envelopes $4.60


Mailing packages has been a hassle anyway just because anything over a pound HAD to go through a postal clerk and not just dropped off with the correct postage affixed.
If really mailing a lot, now may be the time to start setting up a mailing system at home, electronically.

So far I think the greatest impact I will see is the LBEs I mail for pins. I will just be much more selective...... ;)

[Meriweather]

I have printed my labels for quite a while now and I always mail priority, so have also been using the carrier pickup all the time. It is great.
I agree about paying so much postage for a $5 exchange. I usually still just fill a flat rate box full and most of the exchanges I host are now $10-15.
We'll see what happens. Exchanges have been slower since the new board. I wonder if the new postage will effect that even more.