Huge increase in the price of stamps expected.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....l-customers-told.html

Will the stocking up on stamps prove to be a wise investment, especially if one owns a shop that sells stamps?

[boxtops]

I wondered when they'd announce this April's price rise - thanks AOG, I'll go out and buy stamps marked 1st or 2nd soon, to cover us for the rest of the year including Christmas!

Mind you, so few people use the Royal Mail now - we hardly ever send routine letters any more, all bill payment etc is done on line, and now that people can have electronic signatures, we can scan documents and send them by email.

It's a shocking increase - if 2nd is going up to 55p, and 1st is 46p at the moment, I bet 1st will go up to about 65p.

[Ann]

Disgraceful - the government should step in and disallow this! If its to be believed - what do you think? Bet its just scaremongering to sell more stamps!

[boxtops]

It'll go up by some amount, ann - I don't think it's scaremongering, if they wanted us to spend more they'd spring it on us in April, when we have no choice.

If you buy stamps with 1st or 2nd on, now, you can use them way into the future, no matter how much the price for each service increases to.

[boxtops]

I need stamps for work, too, I'll get some in soon!

[Zacs-Master]

Privatise the post office. Long oVerdue! I remember when the post used to arrive before lunch time

[rov1100]

Last year we spent a lot of time delivering our Xmas cards by hand. The price of stamps have far exceeded inflation in recent years and they are pricing themselves out of business.

Maybe its preparation for when it goes privatised and the likes of TNT take over the deliveries. Gawd help us if this happens as no delivery will be under a pound.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Last year we spent a lot of time delivering our Xmas cards by hand. ///

All your friends and relatives live close by Rov? :0)

When you look at it one way, 46p for sending a letter or card to the other end of the country, is quite reasonable.

I wouldn't like to volunteer to take it for that price.

But having said that, in the days of Queen Vic. it only cost One Penny.

[rov1100]

I would say that 2/3rds of our cards are given within a 2 mile radius. This is mainly because the other half belongs to clubs where they see each other regularly.

[spudqueen]

Zacs-master - privatising the Post Office wouldn't get you your post any sooner - that's delivered by Royal Mail - not the same thing.

[ladybirder]

I shall buy a shed load from Costco next time I'm in there. They sell them slightly below the counter price elsewhere but I can't remember by how much.

[boxtops]

I didn't realise some shops sell at a discount - how do they do that? I've always believe the price of a stamp is the price of a stamp. That's interesting!

[emmie]

all that will happen is people will stop sending mail, it will hit business hardest, though of course they may decide to take their business elsewhere, lose lose for the post office.

[LordSnooty]

Will this price rise put an end to a lot of people sending in crosswords.

[maggiebee]

Think my local post office stocks up on stamps. At Christmas went in to buy 2nd class stamps for cards and asked for the religious ones. When I got home I discovered they were last year's design. Was charged the current rate though.

[Jemisa]

I'll be stocking up, Tesco do books of stamps now so with every Grocery order on line I'll order a book of stamps. I'll get my points with them too.

jem

[Mamyalynne]

Sadly not Jem...



** Sorry you can't collect points on tobacco or tobacco related products, lottery, stamps, prescription medicines, infant formulae milk, Tesco Gift Cards, saving stamps, Esso fuel, in store concessions, Paypoint payments or for purchases of some Tesco Bank products.

[boxtops]

ah, but they will, maggie - the PO have to charge the going rate, whereas if you buy them know, it doesn't matter how much the postage rate is next Christmas, you can still use yours marked 1st or 2nd.

[cathfromsaron]

will do! x

[seadogg]

Some people may economise on the cards, resulting in stuff hardly worth displaying (or is it the thought that counts?).

[ladybirder]

boxy I have just had a fruitless rummage through some old Costco receipts to try and find out the Costco discount on stamps. I think it works out at only about a halfpenny a stamp and you have to buy a load. They do 1st and 2nd class but I buy them as I know I will use them sooner or later and I don't know anywhere else that discounts them.