Stamp Prices

[JF85]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47331801

The price of stamps is due to rise on 25 March, but the price of second class mail is capped until 1 April.

I haven't seen a stamp machine for years, and many people will stock up in advance anyway because the design will not change and old stamps will still be valid.

Why not delay the price rise for a week? What am I missing?

[EDDIE51]

Stamp machines were phased out when the monopoly on selling stamps was removed from 'The Post Office'. It was decided they were not nessesary once any shop could sell stamps.

[Mamyalynne]

Action for Children will benefit, so that's good.

[jno]

old first and second class stamps will be valid, but ones with prices on won't, I presume.

[Deskdiary]

Other than the occasional birthday card, do people still put letters in postboxes?

Serious question.

This isn't an exaggeration to make a point - I honestly cannot remember the last time I posted a letter. Since the advent of email I reckon it's probably a good 20 years since I posted a business letter (which probably coincided with the last time I picked-up a dictaphone!)

[Mamyalynne]

People certainly do , I post 20+ items most months.

[Mamyalynne]

Glad this isn't my local Postbox ;-)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-24047306

[woofgang]

some of my investments require signed documents occasionally so I post those...apart from that, birthday and christmas cards, I have got a couple of friends with whom I exchange letters, not emails.

[MWG14]

So do we, frequently.

[Barmaid]

So presumably if I stock up now the 70 or so invitations I have to send out I can send at today's prices rather than post 25 March prices?

[Mamyalynne]

For stamps that display '1st Class' or '2nd Class' - yes.

[Barmaid]

Useful to know, Mamy, thank you! I shall go and buy my stock in the next week or so. I think it is going to cost me more to post the invitations than it is to actually produce them!!!!!!!!!

I can remember when a first class stamp cost a few pence and you actually had it delivered the next day. I had a letter posted to me last October, first class, properly addressed. It turned up in January!!!!!

[Mamyalynne]

It is good to know yes, I use a lot of stamps so purchase in quite large amounts from a company that sells older issues at a slightly reduced price.

Have to be careful though, some unscrupulous outfits sell on washed and regummed stamps that the system spots.

[Barmaid]

I didnt know you could do that!!!

Off to google.........

[Peter Pedant]

fourteen bob to post a letter !
my eyes bulged out like tom in Tom n Jerry

[EDDIE51]

1st and 2nd class stamps marked with just the class 1st ,2nd. Are permanently valid at what ever the appropriate cost is at the time. A 1st class stamp bought today will still be valid for 1st class post 20 or even 100 years from now. One good reason for buying 1st or 2nd Class stamps rather than buying by price.

[Mamyalynne]

//A 1st class stamp bought today will still be valid for 1st class post 20 or even 100 years from now. //

Correct, until or unless they change the rules.

[Barmaid]

Lol, in which case I may have the answer. When my father in law died Mr BM inherited a huge stamp collection (of no value whatsoever). I may just use all the stamps marked "first".........

[EDDIE51]

^ To do that they would have to start printing an 'issued on date ' on stamps! It would cost a fortune ,every stamp would have to be redesigned.

[Mamyalynne]

Eddie, I'm not arguing - simply saying I am not as confident as you are in predicting what will happen in 20 or 100 years hence.

[Georgiesmum]

I use a large amount of stamps all the time, for my postal quizzes, letters abroad and for birthday cards etc for friends and family.
I jokingly said last week that if i ever moved house, it wouldnt matter what the house was like as long as it had a post box outside!!!!