When Do You Think The Cost Of Postage Stamps Will Go Up Next ?

[atalanta]

Should I buy my Christmas card stamps soon ? I mean, the peel-off second-class ones which come in booklets without price printed on, so they will still be valid after the price goes up. Or will they ?

[237SJ]

Yes, they will still be valid

[marval]

That is what I shall do, I always use second class if I can.

[ducksie]

I think if you buy them like that, you still have to add the extra cost if they go up in price around Christmas, our postage stamps usually go up in price during April and any stamps bought prior to that have to have extra stamps printed to make up the new price (I'm in Rep of Ireland )

[ducksie]

wow, that's great they're still valid, we should take a leaf out of your book :)

[jourdain2]

I've got several old books of stamps (bought when I visited UK) which I still use. New idea (which also works) is using Mr J2's spare stamps from his collection. Some are 20 yrs old, but I can put them together to make the current price. :) I'd buy in advance if I were you - or visit a stamp-selling person for unfranked UK stamps - we've saved quite a lot of money!

[elliemay1]

No, ducksie. You don't have to add on if they go up

[ducksie]

I see that elliemay, it's brilliant, we have to, when I bought stamps for €9 and they went up 10c I had to buy 10x 10c stamps to make up the new price - all in a week

[Buenchico]

Stamps marked '1st' or '2nd' always remain valid for that class of postage, even if many years (or even decades) have passed since they were purchased. They can also be used as part-payment towards higher postage costs at whatever price applies to '1st' or '2nd' class services at the time that they're used.

[Mamyalynne]

There are also sites where you can buy stamps years (or even decades) old at reduced (though not by a great deal) price if you don't mind them celebrating something outdated.

Some are also the gummed ones of course.

[Georgiesmum]

The cost of postage stamps normally go up every year at the end of March.

[mikey4444]

Yes...good idea. Now that the Post Office has been hived off, we can expect price rises at frequent intervals.

[murraymints]

I buy in COSTCO ..pack of 12 x12 it works out a fair bit cheaper

[fiction-factory]

> Now that the Post Office has been hived off, we can expect price rises at frequent intervals.

I think you meant Royal Mail (Cosignia!), mikey- but yes as post volumes continue to fall I think we will find prices will rise at a rate equaal to or above inflation. For most people I think an extra 2p on a stamp works out at maybe 50p a year, but for those who still do lots of crosswords etc and quizzes by post and send lots of cards it can be a lot more

[mikey4444]

FF....yes, you are right....I am getting the Post Office and Royal Mail mixed up, but only the Tories could split them apart and privatise one !

We have had a few price rises recently, and this will only get worse.

[fiction-factory]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mail
The process started under the Labour governement really Mikey.

"After a change of government in 1997, the Labour administration decided to keep the Post Office state-owned but with more commercial freedom. This led to the Postal Services Act 2000, where the Post Office became a public limited company in which the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry owned 50,004 ordinary shares plus 1 special share, and the Treasury Solicitor held 1 ordinary share.[35] The company was renamed Consignia plc in 2001[36] and the new name was intended to show that the company did more than deliver mail; however, the change was very unpopular with both the public and employees. The Communication Workers Union boycotted the name, and the following year, it was announced that the company would be renamed Royal Mail Group plc."

In 2008 the recommendations in the Hooper Review led Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to seek to part privatise the company by selling a minority stake to a commercial partner. it was actually delayed though until Vince Cable took it forward

[roslyn251254]

what about these on ebay?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-2nd-Class-Stamps-Unfranked-Off-Paper-WITH-ORIGINAL-GUM-Easy-Peel-And-Stick-/131738848831?var=&hash=item1eac3f4e3f:m:mrtpxcr5G0kLagT5WehBgMA

[mikey4444]

If this ebay offer is genuine, then that is remarkable value for money, as each stamp will cost 56p in a Post Office, while these are only 30p....a saving of 26p !

Can anyone see any snag in this offer ?

[Old_Geezer]

I think that life's too short to worry about saving a few pence once a year at Xmas. That stated, I don't have thousands of friends/family to send cards to.

[mikey4444]

I use about 80-100 second class stamps every year, so I may very well take up this ebay offer.

[gulliver1]

IT's still Aug and summer where I live, not Xmas.