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It being a nice afternoon, I wanted to walk a bit at lunchtime, so I went to the nearest post office and bought ten one-cent stamps from a vending machine. (There's not much you can get out of a machine for a dime anymore.) They're nice stamps, with a Tiffany lamp on them.
When my officemate came back from his lunch, I mentioned having bought one-cent stamps. He asked why. I explained that I had some 39-¢ stamps and didn't want to waste them.
It transpired that he didn't know the postage rates had gone up, and in fact had mailed a bank deposit a few days ago with a 39-cent stamp. In case anyone else didn't know and is affected: the one-ounce rate for U.S. mail is now 41 cents. The second-ounce (and thereafter) rate is now 21 cents an ounce. (Yes, that's a reduction: if you have a two-ounce letter, and a 39 and 23 sitting around from the previous rates, you're fine.) There are also some odd new rules about package and envelope size and shape: if it's something other than a standard-shaped letter or card, check at www.usps.gov for details.
Belated correction: The second-ounce rate is actually 17 cents, as I discovered when I asked a postal clerk for 21-cent stamps. I now have ten of the new second-ounce stamps. (Anyone who put 39+23 on a two-ounce letter will have gotten it through okay, and there's something to be said for using up those old 23-cent stamps.)
When my officemate came back from his lunch, I mentioned having bought one-cent stamps. He asked why. I explained that I had some 39-¢ stamps and didn't want to waste them.
It transpired that he didn't know the postage rates had gone up, and in fact had mailed a bank deposit a few days ago with a 39-cent stamp. In case anyone else didn't know and is affected: the one-ounce rate for U.S. mail is now 41 cents. The second-ounce (and thereafter) rate is now 21 cents an ounce. (Yes, that's a reduction: if you have a two-ounce letter, and a 39 and 23 sitting around from the previous rates, you're fine.) There are also some odd new rules about package and envelope size and shape: if it's something other than a standard-shaped letter or card, check at www.usps.gov for details.
Belated correction: The second-ounce rate is actually 17 cents, as I discovered when I asked a postal clerk for 21-cent stamps. I now have ten of the new second-ounce stamps. (Anyone who put 39+23 on a two-ounce letter will have gotten it through okay, and there's something to be said for using up those old 23-cent stamps.)