Postage rate breaks for banks, churches; increases for the rest of us!

[Tanuki]

I don't mind paying my fair share for the cost of postage, but it irks me when the rate for regular mail is going up again, but at the same time major rate reductions are in store for banks, churches, and some others!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_bi_ge/postal_rates;_ylt=AnWIO8SpoOV6AwR5HGfpZzJH2ocA

Proposed rate changes include:

.......
• Express Mail, 8 ounces, $16.25, up from $14.40.

• Parcel post, 5 pounds, $5.67, up from $4.36.

..........

• Bank statement, 3 ounces, 58.4 cents, down from 73.9 cents.

..........

• Church bulletin, 12.7 cents, down from 18.9 cents.

[Ilsa]

1. Magazine rates went up, though. Which means our subscription

prices will rise eventually.

[louis-t]

2. Funny how MSM isn't reporting the decrease in postage for some.

Heard the report this morning on CNN, no mention of bank rates going down.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. Why Wouldn't You Just Buy The Forever Stamp?

If it's going to be the same price, 41 cents, as the other stamp, why not buy the Forever stamp, since it will always be good, and you won't be subject to an increase down the road if you end up with extras?

I'm not quite sure I understand why you wouldn't get that stamp, and the post office would have a liability down the road with unused "forever" stamps cutting into future revenues from rate increases.

[wuushew]

7. maybe they figure there will be fewer printing costs

no need for one cent stamps either, with inflation and transportation costs you have to figure they end up costing more then they are worth.

I think the forever stamp is a great idea.

[ruiner4u]

8. yeah it seems like a nice idea...

but really, are you going to estimate how many first class letters your going to send for the rest of your life, and then fork over a tidy sum to the Post Office to get a brick of stamps that you will have to keep track of until your 80something?

Im only over doing it in my scenario because the postal commission is under doing it..

Will we always be able to buy a 'forever' stamp, or is this a limited time only thing?

It seems like a really nice gesture from the postal commission, but in the long run it just doesn't matter.. everyone will buy a few books of em, feel like they are getting a bargain, and then forget...

some books will be used, some wont.. and email will eventually surpass snail mail, and EFT's will surpass checks.. To me, this 'forever' stamp idea is a sign that the post office realizes that one day it will no longer be able to keep up electronic technology and its doing everything it can to survive...

but hey, thats my little oll think'n... And I did NOT vote for a UFO forum...:)

[ruiner4u]

4. Bank statement, 3 ounces, 58.4 cents, down from 73.9 cents. Goodie!!!

Maybe the banks will pass the savings onto us and lower ATM fees!.. Right...



The thing that irks me is the: Library mail, 2 pounds, presorted, $1.88, up from $1.78.

[TahitiNut]

5. 30% increase for parcel post, 21% decrease for bank, 33% decrease for churches

It's interesting that the greatest INCREASE is Parcel Post - creating a less competitive market pricing force for the ONE service which is most privatized. (Merry Christmas, corporate America. Fuck you, consumers.)


Here're the percentages ...
• Church bulletin -32.8%
• Bank statement -21.0%
• Nonprofit mail -3.5%
• Department store bill 0.5%
• Library mail 5.6%
• Advertising 8.9%
• Advertising 10.4%
• Certified Mail 10.4%
• Money orders up to $500 10.5%
• Weekly newsmagazine 11.4%
• Express Mail 12.8%
• Priority Mail 13.6%
• Small nonprofit magazine 14.5%
• National newspaper 15.9%
• Household magazine 16.3%
• Parcel post 30.0%

[sarcasmo]

6. Pay all of your bills online or in person.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. Hey - those guys didn't give votes and billions to the Bush campagin for nothing....

payback, payback, payback.