The US Congress allowed to the USPS in 2014 to surcharge the first class
stamps by 4.3 percent to collect $4.6 billion. This amount will be reached
on April 10, 2016. After this date the price of mailing one ounce letter
will drop from 49 cents to 47 cents. It is for the first time in nearly 97 years that the price of a stamp is set to go down.

"Removing the surcharge and reducing our prices is an irrational outcome considering the Postal Service's precarious financial condition," said Postmaster General Megan Brennan in a prepared statement.

She said nothing about the so-called "forever" stamps found in the hands of
the USPS customers, that should somehow protect them against postal rate increases. But after the April 10 the customers will be able to buy these stamps cheaper than they paid for them. We see again and again that nothing
is forever.

Victor Manta, PWO

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The US Congress allowed to the USPS in 2014 to surcharge the first class >stamps by 4.3 percent to collect $4.6 billion. This amount will be reached >on April 10, 2016. After this date the price of mailing one ounce letter
will drop from 49 cents to 47 cents. It is for the first time in nearly 97 >years that the price of a stamp is set to go down.

Which really doesn't affect most individual postal users are they
buy the 20 stamp 'panes. It also doean't affect business and volume
users as they get discounted rates!

Those who bought before the 'increase' still mailed at the 47¢ rate
as the stamps are 'Forever'. I'm still using the first 'Forever'
bought at 42¢ !!!

"Removing the surcharge and reducing our prices is an irrational outcome >considering the Postal Service's precarious financial condition," said >Postmaster General Megan Brennan in a prepared statement.

Well ... IF the service was quality, one wouldn't mind the charges.
However when it takes three WEEKS after entry into the US for a
-=tracked=- letter from the UK to be delivered ...
However, when it takes 5 or six days for a US mailed letter from San
Francisco to Seattle's 'rural delivery' ...
However, when mail from San Francisco, intended for Seattle area is
sent to New York City for 'processing' ...

We see again and again that nothing
is forever.

Most individual users 'stocked up' before each rate change!

Gardening Shakespeare ... Mulch ado about Nutting!

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"Sir F.A. Rien" wrote in message news:lhtnfbtg7iml3ql78hhcatogt2qptgetnk@4ax.com...

The US Congress allowed to the USPS in 2014 to surcharge the first class >>stamps by 4.3 percent to collect $4.6 billion.

Those who bought before the 'increase' still mailed at the 47¢ rate

as the stamps are 'Forever'.

And those who bought at 49 cents will pay soon 49 cents instead of 47 cents, which is apparently the point you missed.

"Removing the surcharge and reducing our prices is an irrational outcome >>considering the Postal Service's precarious financial condition," said >>Postmaster General Megan Brennan in a prepared statement.

Well ... IF the service was quality, one wouldn't mind the charges.
However when it takes three WEEKS after entry into the US for a
-=tracked=- letter from the UK to be delivered ...

This is another subject. Maybe you open a new thread on it, because it seems interesting.

We see again and again that nothing is forever.

Most individual users 'stocked up' before each rate change!

Yep, and this time they will lose some money, continuing to pay for a fund
that officially will be filled up very soon.

Gardening Shakespeare ... Mulch ado about Nutting!

Well, not "mulch" indeed, just $4.6 billion more from the pockets of USPS customers, money that obviously couldn't prevent the USPS abysmal financial fall (see above the Postmaster's statement).

Victor Manta, PWO

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org/
Art on Stamps: http://artonstamps.org/
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And those who bought at 49 cents will pay soon 49 cents instead of 47 cents, >which is apparently the point you missed.

NO ... I did NOT miss that ripoff!

Well ... IF the service was quality, one wouldn't mind the charges.
However when it takes three WEEKS after entry into the US for a
-=tracked=- letter from the UK to be delivered ...

This is another subject. Maybe you open a new thread on it, because it seems >interesting.

Whatever ... the USPS 'service' has been a rate of deline faster
than their rates go up. Perhaps as the rate has 'dropped', we might
get better service? [when Pigs FLY!]

Most individual users 'stocked up' before each rate change!

Yep, and this time they will lose some money, continuing to pay for a fund >that officially will be filled up very soon.

That's why I [and others] do NOT STOCK UP until the fortnight before
an announced rate INCREASE!

Gardening Shakespeare ... Mulch ado about Nutting!

Well, not "mulch" indeed, just $4.6 billion more from the pockets of USPS >customers, money that obviously couldn't prevent the USPS abysmal financial >fall (see above the Postmaster's statement).

Said 'fail' all due to congress and their idiotic squabbling and
idea that the PO should be a PAYING commercial concern!

Hell, IF even CONGRESS, The Presidunce and other bireaucracies
would PAY FOR THEIR MAIL, then the PO -=would=- be on a sound
footing.

The Pollies think that the PO is still a gummint operation, until it
comes to funding, then they lay it off onto the small users!

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"Sir F.A. Rien" wrote in message news:fk6tfb5es3sn0uenc2aj3o0ao2htfncb3i@4ax.com...

<<
Said 'fail' all due to congress and their idiotic squabbling and
idea that the PO should be a PAYING commercial concern!

Hell, IF even CONGRESS, The Presidunce and other bireaucracies
would PAY FOR THEIR MAIL, then the PO -=would=- be on a sound
footing.

The Pollies think that the PO is still a gummint operation, until it
comes to funding, then they lay it off onto the small users!

Robert Shapiro — former Treasury undersecretary and chairman of the economic consultancy Sonecon — points out in a new analysis, American taxpayers subsidize the USPS at a rate that surpasses the costs associated with any Congressional mandate. He estimates that, all told (! - VM), the subsidies
and legal monopolies that Congress bestows upon the post office is worth $18 billion annually.

http://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/

Victor Manta, PWO

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org/
Art on Stamps: http://artonstamps.org/
Romania by Stamps: http://marci-postale.com/
Communism on Stamps: http://reds-on.postalstamps.biz/
Spanish North Africa: http://www.sna-on.postalstamps.biz/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Robert Shapiro — former Treasury undersecretary and chairman of the economic >consultancy Sonecon — points out in a new analysis, American taxpayers >subsidize the USPS at a rate that surpasses the costs associated with any >Congressional mandate. He estimates that, all told (! - VM), the subsidies >and legal monopolies that Congress bestows upon the post office is worth $18 >billion annually.

The key wording here is "subsidies and legal monopolies". One can
make any amount viable concerning the 'value' of restricting
competition!

I see that the lye burial press is making the most of his
'estimates' and never will check real world facts - that would
require WORK [not to mention usage of the little grey cells!]!

The USPS has not directly received taxpayer-dollars since the early
1980s with the exception of subsidies for costs associated with the
disabled, overseas voters and the FREE mailing privileges granted
themselves by the gummint pollies and agencies. the latter has never
been reimbursed at 'fair market' costs!

Whatever ... the USPS is one of the few government agencies
explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. As such it
is NOT a 'profit' centre, but one of the mandated services of the
government.

Remember government should exist to do for the people that which
they CAN NOT do for themselves.

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