topic Are you kidding me??? That's just ridiculous!!!! I know... in Community Chat

ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Puppy Lips — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:55:15 GMT

Starting on July 14, 2024, first class forever stamps will go from .68 to .73.

That is a big increase. I do still pay some things by mailing a check. But I think I am going to try to do more online. I was willing to support our postal services to a point, but 73 cents is just too much. The higher they raise the prices, the more people will pay online. Catch 22 for them. I am sure the other rates may go up as well.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

TheMemphisVette — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:01:56 GMT

i still have some forever stamps i bought 3 or 4 rate hikes ago.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

fthunt — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:08:59 GMT

I pay bills 50/50, some on line & some mail. Just bought $300 of forever stamps from USPS website.............on line. LOL

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Mz iMac — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:10:56 GMT

@Puppy Lips I haven't purchased (1st class) stamps since 2017 the year I purchased my "new" car. The Forever stamps were 49¢. I bought $100.00 worth.I still have enough to last a few more Forever stamp increases. That is the one advantage of "FOREVER" stamps.

I still snail mail all my bill payments & I am also a letter writer as well as a "card" sender. So, I make good use of stamps.

Another year I don't have to care about a FOREVER stamp increase.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Jo1313 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:23:16 GMT

I pay most of my bills by credit card..Really only 1 check to mail for the most part..

Mail service here is worse than ever..I get mail 3 times a week tops and my mailbox is stuffed. So I know they aren't coming everyday.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

GinaV24 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:24:03 GMT

@Puppy Lips I pay almost everything online. I understand that inflation has hit the postal service too especially for fuel costs but $0.73 per stamp well that's out for me.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

cheriere — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:34:37 GMT

My dad still insists on paying bills by check. He'll sure hate to hear this news. Knowing him though, he'll just drive around town dropping checks off to various companies lol. He won't pay anything online and trusts giving no one his bank information.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

sunshine45 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:35:58 GMT

WOW......that is a big jump!

i wonder if the flat rate box rate is going up also?

i do still use stamps often......i usually go through 2- 3 books a month.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

fthunt — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:04:40 GMT

@cheriere Hear this often but.....when Dad drops those checks off....check

gives his bank (routing number) and his account number.

Can understand he not trusting internet...but a stamp is cheaper than gas! LOL

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

cheriere — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:15:52 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
@cheriere Hear this often but.....when Dad drops those checks off....check
gives his bank (routing number) and his account number.

Can understand he not trusting internet...but a stamp is cheaper than gas! LOL

I totally agree...but try convincing him that lol.

Plus, I think he likes just driving out and about sometimes.😃🌸

Not long before he retired, he accidentally left his checkbook in his desk drawer during the day once. Somehow, one of his employees got in and took a check. He's Mr. Eagle Eyes whenever it comes to going over his bank statements.

The employee was fired and he was so mad he did file charges. However, on the day of court, he dropped the charges so long as the guy paid him back. Mom and I only found out about this accidentally through the DA who we were friends with. He just assumed dad had told us lol.

I guess he's getting more kind in his old age because I can recall when this never would've happened. He extended a similar courtesy to my ex dealing with something in court that could've really gotten him into trouble.

It's funny for me to see ways he's changed through the years.💝🌸

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

RetRN — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:25:00 GMT

I recently found my old high school report cards that were mailed to our homes. The postage was 5 cents. Made me LOL.

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Mom2Dogs — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:40:37 GMT

@fthunt I still buy stamps...is the price the same at the USPS website as you would pay at the post office?

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Shelbelle — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:06:44 GMT

I have not mailed checks for the most part in the last 35 years, but I do still send some greeting cards. You can set up an auto pay plan with most banks where your bills can be deducted automatically.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Puppy Lips — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:09:12 GMT

@Jo1313 wrote:
I pay most of my bills by credit card..Really only 1 check to mail for the most part..
Mail service here is worse than ever..I get mail 3 times a week tops and my mailbox is stuffed. So I know they aren't coming everyday.

@Jo1313 I think that is what I may do - put them all on a credit card. Getting the reward points on my credit card will be an added perk for doing it this way.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

Puppy Lips — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:14:35 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
I have not mailed checks for the most part in the last 35 years, but I do still send some greeting cards. You can set up an auto pay plan with most banks where your bills can be deducted automatically.

@Shelbelle See - that is what I don't trust. I know it is rare, but I have heard of mistakes happening and the company takes out way more than you owe. Then you could be overdrawn. I think I would rather pay by credit card than letting the companies have access to my accounts. I am wondering though if the companies charge a credit card fee for being paid this way.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

on the bay — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:20:08 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@fthunt I still buy stamps...is the price the same at the USPS website as you would pay at the post office?

@Mom2Dogs ,

I just ordered 6 books (I still send cards and have a big family) and there was a handling charge of $2.35 for ordering online.

And thanks so much @Puppy Lips,

For mentioning this!

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

alliswell — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:21:33 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
Starting on July 14, 2024, first class forever stamps will go from .68 to .73.

That is a big increase. I do still pay some things by mailing a check. But I think I am going to try to do more online. I was willing to support our postal services to a point, but 73 cents is just too much. The higher they raise the prices, the more people will pay online. Catch 22 for them. I am sure the other rates may go up as well.

@Puppy Lips Thank you for letting us know. I am a birthday, holiday, and get well card sender and write letters too, and I enjoy beautiful stamps and choosing appropriae stamps.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

ScrapHappy — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:22:44 GMT

Our post office is a mess and the distrubution center that is new is even worse. Our local news station has been during special reposrts on it for some time now. I got to give them credit for staying on it. So many complaints: people not getting their tax forms, bills not reaching their destination so bills are over due etc. I received a bill from the dentist from October 2023 2 weeks ago. Last I heard, our senator said he will be hearing from the post master general soon, I think in a month. We will probably be paying all our bills on line soon. We do a few now. If it's something important, I mail via USPS or Fed Ex.

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

1Snickers — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:20:23 GMT

@ScrapHappy Our mail in VA is the worst in the whole nation. I only mail a few checks, most come directly from my bank account.
When my son lost a credit card it was one the payments were being deducted from automatically. What a mess ! He had to call them all, etc.

🏦 💵 💳

Re: ANOTHER POSTAGE RATE HIKE

geezerette — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:23:54 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
@Shelbelle wrote:
I have not mailed checks for the most part in the last 35 years, but I do still send some greeting cards. You can set up an auto pay plan with most banks where your bills can be deducted automatically.
@Shelbelle See - that is what I don't trust. I know it is rare, but I have heard of mistakes happening and the company takes out way more than you owe. Then you could be overdrawn. I think I would rather pay by credit card than letting the companies have access to my accounts. I am wondering though if the companies charge a credit card fee for being paid this way.

@Puppy Lips

Some of mine do. It just depends on the business. And when they do charge a fee it's much more than just the cost of a stamp.

And some of the companies I have to pay only will accept payment directly from your bank account. They also charge a fee for that unless you're set up for automatic withdrawals.