Last year, the U.S. Postal Service lost $2.8 billion. One reason: Most Americans have cut down on mailings and use e-mail instead. So, to increase revenue, the USPS is raising their prices a bit.
As of May 11, it will cost you 2¢ more—44¢ instead of 42¢—to mail a letter (or a document, photos, etc.) weighing one ounce or less. Not a big deal, unless you do a lot of mailing. But there are four things you should know:
1. Until the rate increase takes effect, you can buy “Forever” postage stamps for 42¢ in booklets of 20 and—because they don’t show a price—continue to use them (for mail to U.S. destinations only) after May 11 without adding a 2¢ stamp.
2. Don’t use an envelope larger than 6-1/8” high by x 11-1/2” wide, or it will cost you twice as much. (See #4 below.) If your stuff won’t fit in a regular #10 (“business size”) envelope, a 6” x 9” is a good choice. You can fold 8.5” x 11” sheets once to fit.
3. If your envelope weighs more than 1 ounce, don’t assume—like countless others—that every additional ounce requires another First Class stamp. Not so! The cost for each additional ounce remains at just 17¢. Therefore, it will cost you 61¢ (not 88¢) for 2 ounces, 78¢ for 3 ounces, and 95¢ for 3.5 ounces. If your envelope weighs more than 3.5 ounces, brace yourself, because...
4. You’ll be charged the “Large Envelopes (Flats)” rate—88¢ for the first ounce plus 17¢ for each additional ounce—if your envelope weighs over 3.5 ounces or is larger than 6-1/8” x 11-1/2”. If you don’t affix enough postage, your mail will be returned to you or delivered with postage due,
For all the new rates and other details, visit www.usps.com.
