First Class stamps should not have a $-value

Every few years the USPS decides that it’s time to raise the prices on stamps by a few cents. This is expected, due to inflation, and it really shouldn’t be a big deal. Except that for months surrounding the change, you have to go get those stupid 3-cent stamps and put two stamps on everything you send. The lines are always longer at the Post Office because of this, finding stamps in the right denomination is a hassle, and, years later, when you can’t find any current stamps, you are stuck trying to figure out the most efficient use of 1 34-cent stamp from 1997, 2 13-cent postcard stamps from 1978, 17 4-cent stamps from the last changeover, and an Airmail stamp, which you think is worth around $1.70, but you’re not sure.

This needless waste and mental turmoil tends us all toward early graves, I’m convinced.

On the other hand, along with the 2-cent stamps sold during the changeover, there are stamps sold that just say “First Class” on them. I assume that they have those in reserve for the time they need to ramp up the printing presses to put Elmer Fudd (or whoever) on the stamps with a new value.

But why not just sell those stamps all the time?! Why not just sell “First Class” stamps at whatever the prevailing rate is? No need to change the printing plates every few years. No excessive advertising budget to alert the populace to the fact that stamps are now 4% more expensive. No hassle trying to collect 4 cents of postage due. No absurd(er) lines at the PO for adjustment stamps.

Obviously, they already have the stamps. They can put Elmer Fudd on them, too. I can’t be the first person who’s thought of this, can I? How has it never been implemented?

Good question - the British Post Office switched to ‘1st’ and ‘2nd’ denominations a few years ago, replacing the priced version, plus an ‘E’ stamp for letters within Europe.

They don’t want people going out and buying 5000 stamps before a price increase.

I agree with you in principle, but by ignoring the actual value of the stamp, they’d be opening it up to abuse.

Well, doing it the current way allows people who have bought stamps in advance to use them up, without losing any money. Also, the government gets to start collecting the higher rate from everybody as soon as it is implemented. Under your system, people could stockpile “First Class” stamps under the current rate and use those cheaper stamps to send mail, even after the rates had gone up.

Yes, people could stockpile stamps. But stamps don’t appreciate, and money has a time value. For every dollar that some fool spends buying stamps in bulk, the USPS can just buy some government bonds (or equally incredibly safe investment) that’ll appreciate faster, and still come out ahead. Anyone who wanted to stockpile stamps under the current system could do so when the changeover comes. All you have to do is hold onto them for a decade and they’ll be worth… not quite as much as you paid for them.

And there won’t be a big buying spree before a price increase because
[ol]
[li]Increases can be much smaller. Since you don’t have to change printing plates, you can just start selling stamps for $0.01 more on an arbitrary day[/li][li]Increases need not be publicized. Since the increase doesn’t involve a huge hassle for everyone, you don’t need to alert them to it months in advance.[/li][li]Hi Opal![/li][/ol]

There was an OpEd piece in the NYTimes the other day suggesting what I think you’re suggesting; that first class stamps be forever valid for first class postage. The article said this is already done in Britain and about 30 other countries.

On the one hand, I am encouraged that ideas such as mine could get published in the NY Times. On the other, I’m somewhat dismayed that my idea was not clearly stated enough for you to be sure ;).

Here’s a link to the NYTimes OpEd piece I mentioned (registration required). It’s by Ruth Goldway, who is on the Postal Rate Commission. I think it’s a good idea. I’m going to need stamps, but since a postal rate increase is coming soon, I’m going to wait to avoid having to deal with the one- or two-cent make up stamps.