[SJDXA] Postage bargains

[BobSchenck]

SJDXA members,
We just saw a report that postage rates MIGHT go up in August from .55 to .58
As a QSL Manager, I discovered a while ago that you can often purchase “forever stamps” on EBay for less than what the Post Office charges. I keep a supply on hand at all times. Every once in awhile I check back with EBay to see what deals are there. Over the past couple years, I found it fairly easy to get 100 forever stamps for around $40 with free shipping or what amounts to about 40 cents each. 
I just went to EBay and found NUMEROUS listings for fresh rolls of 100 forever stamps from previous years (the ones I bought are a 2018 issue stamp) selling for around $28 - $29 each with FREE SHIPPING. Now, keep in mind that EBay considers these collectibles and charges sales tax. But even though, that still brings the final cost to under $30/100 (30 cents each). Domestic mail would currently save you 25 cents for every mailing. 
For international mail, the current cost is $1.20 for up to one ounce. So, use two domestic forever stamps plus 10 cents postage and you got it. Ultimate cost is about 70 cents saving you 50 cents each for overseas mail. 10 cent postage stamps (or 5 cent stamps) are available at the post office or on USPS.COM...  Maybe even on EBAY but I have not looked.
As a matter of fact, on EBAY there are a few deals on the domestic forever stamp rolls that are giving a “buy one get second at 10% off”.  What a deal!
I just bought myself 500 stamps (5 rolls). Total cost was $146.89 altogether which is 29.4 cents each....   :-)

I realize that for paying bills, and other things we are not using postage all that much any more. But everyone still occasionally sends things in the mail,  and us hams still should be occasionally sending QSL cards.

Anyhow, if you are interested in saving money on postage for the foreseeable future, just go to EBay and search for “forever stamps 100” and poke around. Remember, a forever stamp is forever... and will trump any future postage rate increases. 


73
Bob Schenck, N2OO 
Sent from my Apple portable radio device