'Forever' stamp is a marketing ploy
Posted: May 14, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern
The post office is playing Santa Claus, or so you'd think, given the public relations hoo-ha about the so-called "Forever" stamp. The name is government-speak for 41-cent stamps the U.S. Postal Service says can be used forever – even if stamp prices go up.
Raise your hand if you think postage won't be going up in the next decade. I thought so.
Now before you get all excited about the "Forever" stamp, this new concept in postage stamp sales, beware the method to the madness.
You might wonder why the new stamp is 41 cents when first class, 1 oz. postage is 39 cents. Well, it was. But as of today, May 14, the same date you can start using the "Forever" stamp, the U.S. Postal Service hits us with another rate increase for classes of mail and services.
You don't think the post office is sugarcoating the rate increase with the bargain "Forever" stamp, do you? I thought so.
(Column continues below)
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I have no doubt the old post office is trying to assuage the usual uproar about rate increases by offering the new stamp. Anyone who's paid any attention at all knows charges keep going up every couple of years.
In the last 20 years, stamp prices have risen 86 percent. There have been 15 rate increases since 1970. Yet we're constantly told the postal system loses money and needs more. It's the typical lament of all bureaucratic agencies from schools to government as a whole: "we need more money," but never "this is how we'll improve services."
Postal increases are bad enough for individual mailings, but the hikes in all services and classes of mail mean higher costs for businesses will be passed on to consumers. Bottom line, the average guy gets a double whammy.
Does that surprise you? I thought so.
I just finished the last of my 37-cent stamps and the 2-cent stamps I'd bought to meet the last raise to 39 cents. Now that I'm barely into the roll of 39-cent stamps, the rate is jacked up to 41 cents, and I need more 2-cent stamps!
What about the decision to buy "Forever" stamps? It might be a good idea if you can project how many you'll need in the next few years and can afford to fork over that money now. But there's a catch.
You knew that, didn't you? I thought so.
"Forever" stamps cost 41 cents each, only as long as first class postage is 41 cents an ounce. The next time rates go up, the forever price goes up too. You can still use the "Forever" stamps you've already purchased without additional postage, but if you buy more after other rate hikes, you'll pay the higher rate.
Slick, isn't it? "Forever" stamp is a bit misleading if you don't think it through, and many people won't. Only in a bureaucracy does forever not really mean forever.
Ostensibly, the stamp will always look the same, a liberty bell and the word "Forever," regardless of price. This should drive stamp collectors crazy; they like to have specimens of every stamp. If there's no difference between the 41-cent "Forever" stamp and the future 43, 45, 50 or whatever-cent stamp, what will they do?
The price today is the lowest it will ever be, so if you can buy lots and lots and LOTS of "Forever" stamps, you'll be set for decades. Fill the safe deposit box; put the stamps in your will! Your grandkids will love you! Lawyers decide who gets the stamps in a divorce.
And we know we can trust the government not to change the rules in the future. Don't we? I thought so.
The post office says it has printed billions of "Forever" stamps and will print as many as needed. "Forever" is touted as an inflation-proof stamp. Maybe, but it's also a way to collect millions of dollars for stamps that won't be used for years. While the infusion of extra cash would be a windfall, it could decrease future stamp sales. No doubt, that's been anticipated so to balance it, there are price increases of other services. In addition, postage prices will vary depending on envelope size and even thickness – larger or thicker envelopes will cost more. That's new.
Remember penny postcards? They go from 24 to 26 cents. Priority, Express, and Parcel Post and other rates are up.
Does it surprise you the Postal Service has said nothing about improving service? I thought so.
I'd gladly pay the higher price if service were improved but frankly, the post office doesn't even admit service is bad. And too often it is. I've had horrendous postal problems for years. Nothing changes but the face of my local postmaster. The excuses stay the same – blaming the machines, never stupid people mistakes – but no apologies.
The postal service had customer complaint forms. I sent them in regularly but they disappeared into a black hole. Then one day, the forms were discontinued. Apparently I wasn't the only person with mail problems but instead of solving them, the post office played ostrich and eliminated the method of reporting bad service.
For me, it's a litany of errors: damaged goods, missed mail deadlines, mishandled certified and guaranteed delivery letters, lost incoming and outgoing mail and misdelivered mail. In one case, a check addressed to me was put in another patron's vacation-hold mail and was finally delivered to me four months later. And now, it seems postal employees lack the ability to properly put mail on vacation hold!
Complainants receive acknowledgment of errors, but that's all. We learn what caused errors, but who did it, or what would be done to correct it? Who knows?
Ultimately, there was no apology for inconvenience or problems caused. I asked if anyone was sorry about the mess and was told, "Oh, yes." Nothing more. It seems that "I'm sorry" isn't in the postal service training manual. Apparently they don't see themselves as providing a service for customers, but they think we should be grateful for them.
Postal increases should parallel service improvements. They don't. Instead we get a marketing ploy about "inflation-proof" stamps to cover and perpetuate a rotting, union-dominated, politically correct, diversity infested, top-heavy bureaucracy.
It really is time for a change – and you can take that to the post office!
Posted: May 14, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern
The post office is playing Santa Claus, or so you'd think, given the public relations hoo-ha about the so-called "Forever" stamp. The name is government-speak for 41-cent stamps the U.S. Postal Service says can be used forever – even if stamp prices go up.
Raise your hand if you think postage won't be going up in the next decade. I thought so.
Now before you get all excited about the "Forever" stamp, this new concept in postage stamp sales, beware the method to the madness.
You might wonder why the new stamp is 41 cents when first class, 1 oz. postage is 39 cents. Well, it was. But as of today, May 14, the same date you can start using the "Forever" stamp, the U.S. Postal Service hits us with another rate increase for classes of mail and services.
You don't think the post office is sugarcoating the rate increase with the bargain "Forever" stamp, do you? I thought so.
(Column continues below)
adsonar_placementId=1270202;adsonar_pid=663759;adsonar_ps=1451068;adsonar_zw=300;adsonar_zh=250;adsonar_jv="ads.adsonar.com";
I have no doubt the old post office is trying to assuage the usual uproar about rate increases by offering the new stamp. Anyone who's paid any attention at all knows charges keep going up every couple of years.
In the last 20 years, stamp prices have risen 86 percent. There have been 15 rate increases since 1970. Yet we're constantly told the postal system loses money and needs more. It's the typical lament of all bureaucratic agencies from schools to government as a whole: "we need more money," but never "this is how we'll improve services."
Postal increases are bad enough for individual mailings, but the hikes in all services and classes of mail mean higher costs for businesses will be passed on to consumers. Bottom line, the average guy gets a double whammy.
Does that surprise you? I thought so.
I just finished the last of my 37-cent stamps and the 2-cent stamps I'd bought to meet the last raise to 39 cents. Now that I'm barely into the roll of 39-cent stamps, the rate is jacked up to 41 cents, and I need more 2-cent stamps!
What about the decision to buy "Forever" stamps? It might be a good idea if you can project how many you'll need in the next few years and can afford to fork over that money now. But there's a catch.
You knew that, didn't you? I thought so.
"Forever" stamps cost 41 cents each, only as long as first class postage is 41 cents an ounce. The next time rates go up, the forever price goes up too. You can still use the "Forever" stamps you've already purchased without additional postage, but if you buy more after other rate hikes, you'll pay the higher rate.
Slick, isn't it? "Forever" stamp is a bit misleading if you don't think it through, and many people won't. Only in a bureaucracy does forever not really mean forever.
Ostensibly, the stamp will always look the same, a liberty bell and the word "Forever," regardless of price. This should drive stamp collectors crazy; they like to have specimens of every stamp. If there's no difference between the 41-cent "Forever" stamp and the future 43, 45, 50 or whatever-cent stamp, what will they do?
The price today is the lowest it will ever be, so if you can buy lots and lots and LOTS of "Forever" stamps, you'll be set for decades. Fill the safe deposit box; put the stamps in your will! Your grandkids will love you! Lawyers decide who gets the stamps in a divorce.
And we know we can trust the government not to change the rules in the future. Don't we? I thought so.
The post office says it has printed billions of "Forever" stamps and will print as many as needed. "Forever" is touted as an inflation-proof stamp. Maybe, but it's also a way to collect millions of dollars for stamps that won't be used for years. While the infusion of extra cash would be a windfall, it could decrease future stamp sales. No doubt, that's been anticipated so to balance it, there are price increases of other services. In addition, postage prices will vary depending on envelope size and even thickness – larger or thicker envelopes will cost more. That's new.
Remember penny postcards? They go from 24 to 26 cents. Priority, Express, and Parcel Post and other rates are up.
Does it surprise you the Postal Service has said nothing about improving service? I thought so.
I'd gladly pay the higher price if service were improved but frankly, the post office doesn't even admit service is bad. And too often it is. I've had horrendous postal problems for years. Nothing changes but the face of my local postmaster. The excuses stay the same – blaming the machines, never stupid people mistakes – but no apologies.
The postal service had customer complaint forms. I sent them in regularly but they disappeared into a black hole. Then one day, the forms were discontinued. Apparently I wasn't the only person with mail problems but instead of solving them, the post office played ostrich and eliminated the method of reporting bad service.
For me, it's a litany of errors: damaged goods, missed mail deadlines, mishandled certified and guaranteed delivery letters, lost incoming and outgoing mail and misdelivered mail. In one case, a check addressed to me was put in another patron's vacation-hold mail and was finally delivered to me four months later. And now, it seems postal employees lack the ability to properly put mail on vacation hold!
Complainants receive acknowledgment of errors, but that's all. We learn what caused errors, but who did it, or what would be done to correct it? Who knows?
Ultimately, there was no apology for inconvenience or problems caused. I asked if anyone was sorry about the mess and was told, "Oh, yes." Nothing more. It seems that "I'm sorry" isn't in the postal service training manual. Apparently they don't see themselves as providing a service for customers, but they think we should be grateful for them.
Postal increases should parallel service improvements. They don't. Instead we get a marketing ploy about "inflation-proof" stamps to cover and perpetuate a rotting, union-dominated, politically correct, diversity infested, top-heavy bureaucracy.
It really is time for a change – and you can take that to the post office!
1 comment:
i disagree... I think it is a ploy my big business to get cut rates for the future, while they buy huge chunks of "forever stamps" the rest of us will suffer
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