At last!! Finally made a "right" decision. Went to the PO Tuesday and debated whether or not to buy regular or forever. I seldom have to use a stamp anymore. Between online paying and auto payments for set payment amounts and emailing friends and family, I just don't use the USPS anymore. Bought two books of forever stamps. That should last me at least 5 years.

I think we would be foolish to buy anything except forever stamps. They used to replace the old stamps, but not anymore. I got stuck with most of a roll one year.

Yes. I saw they were selling the forever stamps at Costco. Must go back and stock up.

I just bought 100 Forever stamps, but I go through stamps quickly, so I should probably get more. If only I didn't have such a strong preference for commemoratives.........

All they *should* be selling is the "forever" stamps. It's a ripoff otherwise. They've been ripping us off "forever". We buy a first class stamp means we pre-paid for delivery of a first-class letter. Stamps should not expire or be penalized. There's the big hoopla about gift cards being penalized or expiring, but not on postage. And with my recent experiences and historical experiences with the post office, it wouldn't bother me much to see them close. I don't and won't use them much.

I picked up another book but it's not a big deal to me since I'm reimbursed by my employer since I use postage only for work these days. But I thought I'd save them a few cents as long as I was there. Seemed the right thing to do.

The post office may soon be handling junk mail only. Serves them right for letting junk mail go through cheaper than our mail. LOL

Gee.......am I the only person who thinks it's a bargain to pay someone 42¢ (or 44¢) to deliver a letter across the country for me?

Postage rates are the one consistant bargain this country has had since the day of the pony express. The only reason a letter is as cheap as it still is today is the uproar that would be raised by all the businesses in the country sending out statements once a month. As soon as everyone gets on board with emailed statements that will stop and the post office will be able to eliminate the need to subsidize our priviledge of mailing a letter across country for 44 cents.

I agree with Alisande... I think 44 cents is a bargain! I'll save my complaining about high prices for the cable and water companies.

I agree, there's a lot more to complain about than the stamps...But it is a shame when anything raises in price...
Of course I always say, stamps go up because my DD started working for the PO, but truthfully, she's been with them for 4 years, has her own post office, works 40 hours a week but considered part time and has no benefits and is still at her starting salary...But, she's thankful she has the job...

I agree and think that 44 cents will still be a bargain, and you don't see the Post Office going bankrupt because of high paid CEOs making bad choices. Maybe that's simplistic - but really - Chrysler!????

Maybe if the postal system wasn't doing "this" in the below link, our postage would not need to be raised.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/05/postal.service.relocation/

My friend Sue lives in Canada, and it cost her 98 cents to send a letter to me in NY. Forty-four cents is a bargain!

When I was little first class was 3¢

I've been stocking up on the forever stamps so I'll have enough for the Christmas card exchange.
thanks for the reminder