All first-class postage to be ‘forever’ stamps

By Associated Press
Posted Dec. 28, 2010 at 2:33 p.m.

Beginning in January, all new postage stamps good for 1 ounce of first-class mail will be marked as “forever.”

The U.S. Postal Service is doing away with issuing first-class stamps with denominations.

A Postal Service official tells The Associated Press that the move is designed to help customers who have struggled to match 1- and 2-cent stamps with first-class stamps after postal rates have changed. The official requested anonymity to discuss a policy that hasn’t been announced formally.

The official said that Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe plans to announce the new policy Jan. 14.

The Forever Stamp, first issued in April 2007, is designed for use regardless of changes in postage.

A first-class stamp is now 44 cents, but the Postal Service hopes to raise the price next year.

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22 comments:

  1. Wayne Dec. 28, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Well, it’s about time! I have first-class stamps from many years and really have a tough time adding enough postage to be able to use them.

  2. Liz Dec. 28, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Well Wayne those old stamps will still need added postage in order to be used. Only the new ones will be forever…that’s how I understand it anyway.

  3. Phil Dec. 28, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    This only makes sense. It probably cost more to print the 1 or 2 cent stamps and then the logistics of getting them to the customers. It’s probably more cost effective just to make them “forever” stamps.

  4. George Dec. 28, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    Its about time. Stop wasting paper/ink on 1 and 2 cent stamps. Use it to print more “Forever” and other stamps like the regular .44 cent and $1.00 stamps.

  5. mdee Dec. 28, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    What’s the difference? We can only afford one at a time anyway.

  6. Alex Dec. 28, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    Liz, no Wayne is right. If you buy a book of stamps at 44 cents each, and 5 years from now postage is 50 cents each, you can still use those 44 cent stamps if you still have them.

  7. Pelly Dec. 28, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of raising the price?

    I bought a book of Forever stamps in August an I still have most of them. Most bills are paid on line.

  8. Anthony C Dec. 28, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    Postage stamps? What are these “postage stamps” that you speak of?

  9. Peggy S Dec. 28, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Yes, there are those of us who like snail mail and don’t pay online. What will happen to the “fun” stamps with whimsy and historical figures and celebrity? Will we be left with liberty bells and flags? Like someone said, the denomination stamps don’t lose value or expire so what’s the deal? Suck it up people and buy some 1 or 2 centers and move on!

  10. lana Dec. 28, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    Pelly wrote: “I bought a book of Forever stamps in August an I still have most of them. Most bills are paid on line.”

    Pelly that is why they call them “Forever stamps” You are going to be stuck with them “forever”

  11. Met_Man Dec. 28, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    If the post office improved their efficiency, increasing the postal rates could be prevented.

  12. Norm Dec. 28, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    “Pelly Today at 4:47 pm
    Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of raising the price?”

    The price increases would only apply to NEW Forever Stamps bought AFTER the price increase. So, yes, price increases would apply when you buy NEW stamps….duh.

  13. Montemalone Dec. 28, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    Finally!
    I bought a cool antique silver holder for a roll of stamps on ebay. Rolls are 100 stamps, and I use very few. Now I can buy a roll and know they’ll last as long as I do.

  14. Chris Anderson Dec. 28, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    Uh. Does anyone at the Chicago Tribune perform research? The United States Postal Service made this policy official on December 16 (page 101 of the Postal Bulletin) and confirmed it with their 2011 Commemorative Stamp Program Preview yesterday. Sloppy reporting Chicago Tribune.

  15. Peter Hadjis Dec. 28, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    How about international rates and their corresponding stamps?

  16. NRB Dec. 29, 2010 at 12:28 a.m.

    Forever refers to how long they are going to be asking for rate increases.

  17. jaik Dec. 29, 2010 at 12:45 a.m.

    for the Reagan stamp that means forever burning in a lake of fire.

  18. Joe D Dec. 29, 2010 at 12:49 a.m.

    I was about to write something witty and funny. Then I looked at the comment above.

  19. terry Dec. 29, 2010 at 6:38 a.m.

    Some really inane comments here on this rather inane story and so I thought I would send the following your way:

    I live in Maine and I have friends in California and if I want to send them as letter via snail-mail it costs me the envelope the letter which ain’t too much, and then 44 whole cents. If you have to find more than one stamp to make the total postage – we ALL have to make sacrifices.

    What’s not to like? Lighten up folks.

  20. Patrick Dec. 29, 2010 at 6:49 a.m.

    O.K. Fine. As long as they put Keith Richards’ image on it :)

  21. 007 Dec. 29, 2010 at 8:08 a.m.

    LOL, they probably got tired of having to cancel my postage with 4-5 stamps on it. I still have some 32-cent stamps and they don’t have a 12-cent stamp I can use to add to the postage so I have to put 3, 4-cent stamps or 4, 3-cent stamps on in addition.

    jaik, I hear he’s saving a spot for you next to him. Better hope you’re wrong. >:-D

  22. Lyndia Dec. 30, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    I do not care a about that. I just wish the postal system was a good at delivering mail than the announcement that they will no longer be printing one cent stamps.