[50mhz] Postal rates

[Bill W5WVO]

Hi Pete,

Well, who ever said the US Gubmint ever made sense?  :-)  Anyway, here is what 
the USPS website says about the Forever Stamp:

"In 2007, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Forever stamp, which will 
always be valid as First-Class postage on standard envelopes weighing one 
ounce or less, regardless of any subsequent increases in the First-Class 
rate."

The key word here is what "First Class" means in post-speak. As far as I've 
been able to figure out by context, studying their various web pages, "First 
Class" refers specifically to letter mail originating from and mailed to 
addresses within the United States and possessions. Mail services to foreign 
destinations are referred to as "Air Mail" and other terms, but the term 
"First Class" is not used with relation to any of these services.

It's also interesting to note that the Forever Stamp can only be used within 
the US by itself. It can't be used in conjunction with other stamps to make up 
postage for items weighing more than an ounce. This gives further support to 
the idea that it can't be used to make up multi-stamp international postage, 
either.

On a related note, non-denominated First Class stamps from the past with a 
letter designation on them DO retain their original value, which can be read 
from a chart on the USPS website. The chart does not include the Forever 
stamp, however.

In short, I think Bud is right. You'd think they would actually answer this 
rather obvious question on their FAQ page, but hey, who are we to question the 
US Gubmint anyways?

Bill / W5WVO


Peter Markavage wrote:
> I'm curious. The "forever" stamp on May 14 will have a postage value
> of $.41. The "forever" stamp can't have any value printed on it,
> since its value is determined by whatever the current 1 oz postage
> charge is. I can buy 10,000 "forever" stamps today at the current
> rate of $.41 each. If, 5 years from now, the 1 oz rate jumps to $.45,
> I can still use my "forever" stamps (if I still have them) that I
> bought for $.41 each. As far as not using them to mail something
> outside the U.S., I don't understand that. The total postal charge
> for a mailing (domestic and international) is determined at the U. S.
> post office. Who would care, outside the U.S. what the postage charge
> is for a mailing. I pay the USPS through the postage to get my mail
> deliverd inside and outside the U. S. Whether the stamp has a printed
> value on it makes no sense to me.
>
> Pete, wa2cwa
>
> On Sat, 12 May 2007 15:55:13 -0400 mweisbergs at juno.com writes:
>> Just a reminder to 6m paper-chasers that beginning Monday, 14 May,
>> the
>> airmail rates to VE & XE will be 69¢ and to the rest of the world
>> will be
>> 90¢. IRCs will be $2, making the "mint stamp" method of QSLing even
>> more
>> attractive. Tho I haven't seen them, if the "forever" stamp has no
>> value
>> printed on it, it cannot be used to make up postage to mail anything
>> out
>> of the US.
>>
>> I also expect the postal rise to result in higher rates for the
>> ARRL
>> Outgoing Bureau as well as an increase in buying postal credits from
>> your
>> respective incoming bureau.
>>
>> Bud K2YOF
>> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB0STN
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