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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 13, 2007

Got your new stamps? You need them tomorrow

By Bridget Carey
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The Forever Stamp costs 41 cents, the new first-class letter rate. But once you buy it, it's not affected by future increases.

U.S. Postal Service via AP

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MIAMI — The United States Postal Service wants your two cents.

Well, two more of your cents.

Postage rates increase tomorrow (even for that letter you drop in the mailbox today for pickup tomorrow), and that includes stamps rising to 41 cents for a first-class letter.

But that's not all that's changing. Prices for priority and express mail are also increasing, as are fees for services such as delivery confirmation.

"Everything is going up, what else is new? Orange juice is going up, gas is up," said Erin Brophy-Pijuan as she waited in line at the USPS South Florida Processing and Distribution Center in Pembroke Pines. She said she didn't realize the postage increase starts tomorrow, but noted that it'll likely affect mail at her job.

"It's going to push us to do a lot more e-billing," said Brophy-Pijuan, who works at her brother's customs brokerage in Miami.

She said she'll probably stock up on some Forever Stamps for personal use. The Forever Stamp costs 41 cents but can be used, well, forever — even if the price of postage goes up.

And go up it will, said Charles Guy, former director of the postal service's Office of Economic and Strategic Planning.

"The postal service has a history of doing this, just raising rates," Guy said. "It's the easy way out."

The rate increase is intended to help curb losses. Earlier this month, the postal service reported a $925 million net loss for the second quarter of its fiscal year. It also reported a 0.6 percent decrease in mail volume and a $1.6 billion rise in expenses.

Guy said this trend will continue unless one of two things changes: Either postal workers must be paid less or the number of employees must be cut. Neither will happen until management has an incentive to tackle the problem, he said.

Controlling how often postage rates increase is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which ties such increases to the inflation rate.

But to stock up on Forever Stamps and other postage, you don't have to visit the post office.

Not many people realize they can order stamps by mail by contacting your mail carrier or calling (800) STAMP-24, said Debbie Fetterly, a Florida spokeswoman for the USPS. Stamps are also available at some retailers and can be ordered at www.usps.com.

Labeling services firm DYMO hopes to profit off the change through its Web service, DYMO Stamps. Postage can be ordered from DYMO online and printed using its label makers. Miguel Ortiz, marketing director for DYMO Stamps, said small businesses will "choose convenience versus going to the post office."

Not all changes have to do with prices — some international mailing services are changing names. Global Express Mail service will be called Express Mail International, and Airmail Letter Post will now be First-Class Mail International. There will also be Priority Mail International, in which all domestic Priority Mail packaging can be used for international shipments.

Pembroke Pines resident Susan Tabin visits the post office about twice a month to send mail to family members.

Two books of 39-cent stamps sit at her home, now needing two-cent stamps to go with them. As for buying Forever Stamps to avoid that problem in the future: "Sounds like a good idea to me."