[Dx-qsl] US SASE postage increase

Fri, 22 Mar 2002 16:21:19 -0500

The international rates are handled as a seperate issue from the =
domestic rates.  When they jumped from 60=A2 to 80=A2, that was =
independent of the domestic rates. =20

Frankly, the USPS is an odd corporation where the rules of economics do =
not apply.  Any other company on the planet suffering from a reduction =
in sales and volume would have to cut back.  Not the USPS.  When demand =
is up they have to raise rates to cover the increased load which is how =
it is supposed to work.  However, when demand is down, as it is now, =
they have to raise rates to cover the shortfall!  Imagine if the =
automakers or appliance manufactures could jack up prices because sales =
were down; none of this zero percent financing or other incentives to =
get you to buy.  Basic economics just does not work here.

Personally, I am caring less and less about the rate increases.  Other =
than QSL cards, I do not really use the US mail to send things any more. =
 All bills and credit cards are paid electronically or in person.  I =
write one check a month now to my cable ISP and I drop that off at one =
of their drop boxes on the way to my office because they do not have =
electronic payment.  I use email or FAX for 99% of my correspondence and =
order things online or over the telephone.  The more they keep raising =
their rates, the bigger my incentive to find ways not to use them.  Once =
electronic QSL's become a reality I suppose I will do more of that and =
only opt for a card for the truly interesting and/or rare contacts.

73,
Robert, N2JTX

--
Robert G. Schaffrath
+1.516.759.4314
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.schaffrath.net

----------
From: 	Steven Wheatley KU9C[SMTP:[email protected]]
Reply To: 	[email protected]
Sent: 	Friday, March 22, 2002 3:56 PM
To: 	dx qsl; DX Reflector - SUBMIT; [email protected]
Subject: 	[Dx-qsl] US SASE postage increase

Folks, it appears we're heading for a 37 cent first class stamp in the =
near future, likely by June 30'th from what I've read, for domestic =
mail.  Thus, remember this as you send in SASEs, as given the time lag =
to getting cards out,  etc, one you send today could easily require an =
extra 3 cents to return to you.

Also, has ANYONE HEARD of a corresponding foreign postage increase from =
the 80 cents (60 cents Canada/Mexico) that is in place currently?   =
While I don't seen anything definitive, it's clear that a lot of the =
postage rates are going up.  I've got a query into the USPS...but if =
anyone gets a heads up, please let us (and ME!) know!

73
Steve

---------------------------=20
Steve Wheatley KU9C=20
PO Box 5953=20
Parsippany NJ  07054-6953=20
U.S.A.=20

email:  [email protected]=20
http://www.ku9c.com/

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