How much would you pay for a stamp...

[The Mayor]

The Post Office recently asked for a two cent increase on the cost of a postage stamp and were denied...they are now appealing that decision...which got me to thinking, is 46 cents too much to pay for a stamp


Think about it...you drop an envelope in a mailbox...someone comes and picks it up and then delivers it anywhere in the USA for 46 cents (44 cents at this time)...is that not the best bargain out there

 

[taylor3297]

The US still has the cheapest postal rates in the world. I am fine with the rate change if it gets approved. I am so thankful we have such a good postal system in comparison to other countries.

 

[momof1princess]

i wouldn't mind 46 cents. when you think about it as you described it, OP, it really is a great deal. i need to learn to pay bills online, and save a few stamps, but i haven't gotten into it yet.

 

[Swank]

What's a stamp?

 

[beck0321]

Since we hardly ever use stamps, doesn't matter to me...

 

[crispychicky]

The Post Office recently asked for a two cent increase on the cost of a postage stamp and were denied...they are now appealing that decision...which got me to thinking, is 46 cents too much to pay for a stamp


Think about it...you drop an envelope in a mailbox...someone comes and picks it up and then delivers it anywhere in the USA for 46 cents (44 cents at this time)...is that not the best bargain out there

email's cheaper (free)! It's been months since I last used a stamp.
But, I hear what you're saying. It really is a good deal if you think about it.

 

[beck0321]

What's a stamp?

 

[FireDancer]

44 cents isn't bad but the zero cent stamp for delivery of my email or electronic payment anywhere in the world in seconds (at most) is a much better deal.

 

[HOGFAN]

up to 49 cents. I think once it hits 50 cents, psychologically people will use them even less than they do now..

 

[pilotwife_02]

Since we hardly ever use stamps, doesn't matter to me...

MTE! I think the only time I use stamps is to send cards to people. Although I do find is funny that it costs me more to mail my Christmas cards then it does to print them.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would pay a dollar a stamp no problem- I use a book a year to mail things other than christmas cards...everything else is done online- email, online banking etc...no need to use a lot of stamps.

 

[bicker]

The rate should be increased to eliminate all forms of government subsidy for postal service, including the exemptions from certain state and local taxes and licensing requirements for the USPS' competitive products operations. These subsidies are worth between $39 million and $117 million a year, according to Federal Trade Commission.

That's not simply a matter of dividing the value of the subsidies by the number of pieces of mail and adding that to the postage rate, because increasing the postage rate will necessarily decrease the number of pieces of mail. So the rate increase would need to be grossed-up to address that.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think it would feel "normal" to me up to 55 cents. After that, I'd probably think twice about whether I really needed to mail something.

 

[BunsenH]

I think that the bulk mail rates should be increased to equal the regular rate. Maybe that would cut down on junk mail.

 

[kimblebee]

Technically, email isn't free. You do pay a monthly bill for internet, right?

Up here, a domestic stamp is 57 cents, a US stamp is $1 and an international stamp is $1.70

 

[bicker]

I've seen dozens of analyses of how much email costs versus regular mail, and in every single one of them email costs a lot less per piece than paper mail.

 

[Maridw]

The US still has the cheapest postal rates in the world. I am fine with the rate change if it gets approved. I am so thankful we have such a good postal system in comparison to other countries.

My mom has always said this. For those that complain about the cost of postage, they need to put themselves in their mail carrier's shoes for a day. I used to deliver mail and it is not an easy job (especially for someone fresh out of high school). I did it for two years and really loved it.

 

[PatsGirl]

With no offense to Maridw I wouldn't mind paying more for stamps (which I rarely use) if I knew someone was handling the finances of USPS better. I cannot rationalize the pay structure for postal workers. I have several friends who work for the post office who make more $$ than my friends who hold Masters degrees, in some cases more than double. The benefits are crazy compared to the real world too.

One huge benefit for an acquaintance that I know was taking a lateral position move to another part of the country for no change in pay status. He left a post office in CT/suburbs of NYC and moved his family to Idaho and makes the same hourly rate. He sold his $600K home and moved into a much nicer home for $225K. Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy for him and his family but shouldn't pay be subjected to cost of living analysis when moving? I have another friend in Western Mass that works nearly 80 hours a week, with 40 of that being at overtime pay With unemployment rates at an all time high, are you kidding me?

Should postal workers make more than those in jobs that require an education? Should they be allowed unlimited overtime? Should they be able to move somewhere that the col is only 25% of where they currently live and stay at the same pay scale?

 

[tvguy]

I don't see how United Parcel and FedEx can charge less and be profitable, while the U.S. Post office isn't.

I have friends that live 9 miles from "civilization",and UPS and FedEx don't even flinch at driving all the way out there to deliver a parcel that they charged $5 to deliver. Yet the U.S. Post office is talking about making the 500 residents out there come pick up their mail at the post office and end home delivery.

 

[redlight]

I'd pay 50 cents or even more.