I checked on the US Post Office site, and they ain’t telling. I just addressed and stamped my New Year’s cards and realized, oh, crap, what if stamp rates go up before I mail them?
You have until January 8th, so go stamp crazy before then.
What I found interesting when I checked up on this just now is that this isn’t being done so the USPS can keep it’s profits up, but rather to fulfill a Federally mandate escrow account with $3.1 billion, which congress will determine the use for at a later date.
I wonder what Congress plans to do with the $3.1bn? Since it’s an escrow count I’d assume it has to be something to do with the USPS itself.
Whew, thanks! I can wait till the second week of December before sending my New Year’s cards, then.
(I even Googled “stamps go up to 39 cents” with no luck!)
I’ve got an almost full roll of stamps, probably worth $30.00 or more. I’m wondering if I can return these to the post office and get cash, or credit toward the new higher priced ones? I’d prefer the cash as I rarely use stamps anymore. Anybody out there work for USPS?
Postage stamps are like currency and have a face value. They will be good for all eternity (for their face value). You have combine them with small value stamps (1 or 2 cent stamps) to mail a letter after the cutoff date though. You can pay more if you want. Just stick two of the old ones on a letter and the USPS will the thrilled to deliver it.
Just buy a bunch of the stamps that just say “First Class”. Then you are gold no matter what they raise the price to.
Whenever postge rates go up, post offices get supplies of the stamps needed to make up the difference. The last time postage went up in the US, from 34c to 37c, you could buy as many 3c stamps as you wanted. This time, count on them issuing plenty of 2c stamps.
Um, they don’t SELL such stamps on a regular basis. Duh.
On occasion, they have printed up such stamps when the lead time between a postage increase determination and the implementation date is so short that new stamps with the proper denomination can’t be supplied. In such cases, the design on the “First Class” stamps changes so that you can’t use the ones you bought at 27 cents per to pay for 39 cent postage.
Not certain but I think the UK is one of the few countries that sells stamps marked 1st or 2nd class on a regular basis
Note that the USPS used to make non-denominated stamps for transition periods. Using letters on the stamp from “A” thru “H”. They no longer use such stamps for transitions. But the old stamps are still good for their original rate. I.e., you cannot use an old “A” stamp to send first class mail (without adding more postage).
Looks like the USPS is studying it too.
You can’t sell them back to USPS, but there are no restrictions on reselling them to anyone else.
As has been posted already… just amend your stamp with another one, and you are golden.
A Jack Benny fan club wants the USPS to put out a commemorative Benny stamp. They already did one in 1991 (with an Al Hirchfeld caricature), but then again, Benny never claimed he was twenty-nine.
That’s what I was afraid of, anyone need about 85 stamps? Make me an offer.
Except in news release #05-097. 
Selected Rate Changes
Current New
First-Class Letter (1 oz.) 37¢ 39¢
First-Class Letter (2 oz.) 60¢ 63¢
Postcard 23¢ 24¢
Priority Mail (1 lb.) $3.85 $4.05
Express Mail (1/2 lb) $13.65 $14.40
Express Mail (2 lb) $17.85 $18.80
Yeah, I invested in several books of .34 stamps about a week before they announced the .37 stamp–and about two months before I switched over to handling most of my bill paying by computer. If I send out a LOT of Christmas cards, I think I’ll get rid of the last of my .34/.03 pairs just in time for the $.39 stamps, otherwise folks are going to start getting three stamps on every envelope I mail.