Stamps! Price Increase!

Muppet81

Horrified at the increase in the price of stamps. :eek:

Just looking at my Christmas card list and doing a whittling down excercise in anticipation.

This year, will send absolutly minimum number but will ring people instead. On my BT plan I have inclusive calls both day and night so will set a day or so by in December for a long chat with friends I have not had contact with for some time. Much nicer than just sending and receiving a card now I think about it.

If I buy a big batch of 2nd class stamps now, I assume I will be able to use these in December as all they have on is 2nd and not the actual price? Anyone able to confirm this? If so will buy quite a lot before the price zooms up.

midnight_express

If you buy stamps marked first or second class now you can get them at the old price and use them after the price goes up. I have been doing this for years.

westcoastscot

I'm planning to do this too. I have a small (very) online craft presence which I shall now close - the postage, especially overseas, will be more than the product! It's a huge jump - I figure it will cost £3.30 just in postage to post a small item overseas! that's without packaging. I currently charge £1.90 to cover postage and packaging materials.

WCS

Apollonia

I just looked at RM's website and customers on low income will be able to buy stamps for xmas post at the current prices:

Our scheme for customers on low incomes

We will launch a Christmas scheme for people on low incomes to buy up to a total of 36 1st or 2nd Class Stamps in one purchase at 2011 prices – 46p for 1st Class and 36p for 2nd Class.
The scheme will launch on 6 November 2012 and will be in place until the last posting date before Christmas for 1st Class stamps.
People on pension credit and employment and support allowance (or incapacity benefit) are eligible for participation in the scheme.
Eligible customers will need to provide evidence that they are in receipt of benefits, (eg, the Annual Uprating letter or the Award Notice letter from the DWP). Stamps will be available for purchase from any of the 11,801 Post Office branches. Royal Mail will write to every UK household later in the year explaining the scheme and how it works.

http://www.royalmail.com/prices2012/personal

Is there a more appropriate section of MSE to post* this information?

*see what I did there? 'post' the information...

[Deleted User]

I bought loads (hundreds) as an investment, when they were 24p and second was (I think) 18p. They will last me forever and then I`ll leave them to my family in my will. I just add to the current value if I want to send a heavier packet eg if a stamp is now worth 36p and a packet costs 75p then I add use two and add 3p worth of stamps. I bought good scales when I was ebaying

They sell bulk stamps on the RM site

anguk

I'm going to buy a few few books of stamps, I don't post things very often and I've already got a couple of books in the house but it's worth buying a few more.

This is going to have a knock-on effect, the postage for anything bought online will go up too.

custardy

how many threads on the same subject.......

OrkneyStar

And of course anyone who genuinely needs a stamp or two in the next wee while will be stumped 'cos all the hoarders have bought them all. If you do decide to bulk buy, please be sensible, do it over a little while, and not all from one store, so everyone can get some (especially if they need them to use just now!).

custardy

OrkneyStar wrote: »

And of course anyone who genuinely needs a stamp or two in the next wee while will be stumped 'cos all the hoarders have bought them all. If you do decide to bulk buy, please be sensible, do it over a little while, and not all from one store, so everyone can get some (especially if they need them to use just now!).

if a PO runs out of stamps,they can still print the postage on the horizon system
there isnt an issue for someone needing one or two stamps

OrkneyStar

custardy wrote: »

if a PO runs out of stamps,they can still print the postage on the horizon system
there isnt an issue for someone needing one or two stamps

That reassures me a little. I actually do need to buy some stamps, normally get a book of 6 of each standard type, but sending less and less letters these days. I am hoping the little books don't run out (less stocks up here as rural location).

iQueen

Beware! The PO is due to be privatised in th next couple of years... no guarantee that the new owner will still allow 'old' stamps to be used!