Forever Stamp Saves Postage Costs, But Doesn't Deliver Enough Savings

The US Postal Service's latest brilliant gimmick is the "Forever Stamp". The stamp allows people and companies using first class mail to purchase the stamp at current postage rates and use the stamp for future mailing, even if rates rise.Saving money is great, but even if you send a lot of first class mail, you didn't miss out on many savings now that first class postage is 42 cents instead of 41 cents.

Consumers rushing to buy Forever Stamps this weekend -- especially those who bought 100 or more -- saved 1 penny per stamp at current rates. That's one dollar in savings for a cash outlay of $41. Smart shoppers know not to stock up on bulk sales items because the price is increasing.

Remember too that these stamps are called "live postage". That means they're not available in a postage meter and have to be peeled off and placed on an envelope.

Is that worth a price break of less than 3%? We don't think so either. Just stock up on some 1 cent stamps when you go to the post office if you have the old 41 cents stamps around.

Yes, a penny saved is a penny earned. But spending $41 to buy 100 stamps and save $1 is not worth the effort.

Labels: postage, save

posted by George Bounacos at 5/12/2008 10:50:00 AM |