Will there be a stamp increase in price this year ?

MSE_Molly_G

Hi all. We've published a story on the latest stamp price increase: Royal Mail to raise price of stamps on 7 April – here's Martin Lewis' tip to beat the increase. Thanks!

s71hj

Is there a best way to buy stamps over and above buying early. Eg using something like a Blue Light card to buy a supermarket gift card that comes at a discount eg 3.5% at Morrisons. Also can use Topcashback earnings at a value uplift  eg Tesco 5%. Any other ideas out there to shave a bit more off?

Spoonie_Turtle

s71hj said:

Is there a best way to buy stamps over and above buying early. Eg using something like a Blue Light card to buy a supermarket gift card that comes at a discount eg 3.5% at Morrisons. Also can use Topcashback earnings at a value uplift  eg Tesco 5%. Any other ideas out there to shave a bit more off?

Costco used to have them at 5% below normal price.  It's been a while for us so I can't say whether they still do.

RFW

MSE_Molly_G said:

Hi all. We've published a story on the latest stamp price increase: Royal Mail to raise price of stamps on 7 April – here's Martin Lewis' tip to beat the increase. Thanks!

I rarely disagree with Martin and he's far more informed on economic matters than I am. I do struggle to see how "stocking up" on first class stamps is a great money saving tip. If they're currently £1.65 and you use 50 stamps at Christmas you'll be spending £82.50 instead of £85 at Christmas time.

AstonSmith

RFW said:

I rarely disagree with Martin and he's far more informed on economic matters than I am. I do struggle to see how "stocking up" on first class stamps is a great money saving tip. If they're currently £1.65 and you use 50 stamps at Christmas you'll be spending £82.50 instead of £85 at Christmas time.

Indeed although it might be worth getting a book or two of Large Letter 1st Class stamps as they save 55p each

s71hj

AstonSmith said:

RFW said:

I rarely disagree with Martin and he's far more informed on economic matters than I am. I do struggle to see how "stocking up" on first class stamps is a great money saving tip. If they're currently £1.65 and you use 50 stamps at Christmas you'll be spending £82.50 instead of £85 at Christmas time.

Indeed although it might be worth getting a book or two of Large Letter 1st Class stamps as they save 55p each

They went up last October as well so if we're talking about Christmas, between now and then there may be a 2nd price increase.

soolin

I always used to bulk buy my stamps but be careful as you could end up like me with over £1000 of stamps that are unlikely to ever be used. 

In the 'old days' before delivery confirmation was usual on standard mail, I sent all my parcels with stamps , I knew exactly what stamps I needed in what combination to use as many 'fixed price' ones as I could to shave a few pence here and there. Then when delivery confirmation became standard on parcels I only used stamps on LLs and never went back due to the price difference between using stamps and buying labels. . Then when delivery confirmation started on LLs via ebay postage I even stopped using them in 90% of the cases.

Just before the new 14 day hold scheme came in I did start to use my LL stamps for LLs up to 100g but have stopped that again now. I am overwhelmed with stamps, I have box loads of them, half are picture stamps with 1st or 2nd on them, half the new barcoded ones. I will never get to use them all, so it was really a false economy.

RFW

soolin said:

Just before the new 14 day hold scheme came in I did start to use my LL stamps for LLs up to 100g but have stopped that again now. I am overwhelmed with stamps, I have box loads of them, half are picture stamps with 1st or 2nd on them, half the new barcoded ones. I will never get to use them all, so it was really a false economy.

There are some big increases but it does look like a false economy. I use an RM account and also Amazon postage (which is often substantially less than my RM account) so it's hard for me to keep up with the general public prices.

I know there are some discounts from some marketplaces and with the jump in 1st Class LL it looks like some of the cheaper couriers will have a better deal, although I'm not sure of their delivery guarantees compared to RM.

On a more positive note I have found RM's delivery to have been really good these last couple of months, minimal problems and speedy delivery, even on 48s.

NBLondon

soolin said:

 I have box loads of them, half are picture stamps with 1st or 2nd on them, 

You might be able to sell those - either on eBay as job lots or to a dealer.  You'll take a hit - but if you know you'll never use them all up it's better than nothing.

soolin

NBLondon said:

soolin said:

 I have box loads of them, half are picture stamps with 1st or 2nd on them, 

You might be able to sell those - either on eBay as job lots or to a dealer.  You'll take a hit - but if you know you'll never use them all up it's better than nothing.

The hit would be massive , most seem to go at around 50 -60% of face value, plus I'd have to pay ebay fees and postage. I'm currently giving them away to friends and family every time I hear someone is about to send out invites, or still sends Christmas cards. At least it stops F and F paying for stamps while I have this stash, although I suspect I'll never reach the end of them.