Nondenominated postage

[cjsmith]

I don't mail physical letters very often. I don't buy stamps often, either, and I rarely know off the top of my head what the US postal rate is for a first-class letter. When the stamps themselves don't in any way indicate what they're worth, and I have an eclectic assortment probably dating back to the mid-eighties, that adds an extra dimension of fun.

This page is very useful.

Comments

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

I hate when stamps don't have their price on them, especially when the price for first class changes so often. Grr.

Thanks for the link.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

No kidding. Who thought UP such an approach?

Reminds me of a quote in a science fiction book. I really love this quote. Main character is in a mine shaft, dangerous flood is occurring, water is rising, and he learns that the emergency pumps have an automatic cutoff if the pressure they're pumping against gets too high. Naturally, the pumps all quit. His reaction: "I could eat a handful of iron filings and puke a better emergency pump than that!"

I think of that quote any time I see a system with a big flaw.

(And you're welcome!)

[harpwolf.livejournal.com]

They do that because, in order to have enough, they need to start printing the stamps for the new rate before they are done haggling with various politicos over what the new rate is going to be. They do that just a little too much, though, in my opinion.

Ugh... I hate having collections of old stamps lying around. I just finished purging ALL old stamps out of my collection. I only kept my collectible faves, 20 cent Streetcar stamps or 33 cent Ayn Rand stamps.

eBay selling keeps me on top of postal rates. First Class 37 cents. Each add'l ounce 23 cents. Postcard 23 cents. Yay -- for once the postcard and second-ounce rate are the same! Hopefully that'll stay that way in the future.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

They do that because, in order to have enough, they need to start printing the stamps for the new rate before they are done haggling with various politicos over what the new rate is going to be.

Well, obviously. But this is a solution that creates its own problems... for people who don't have a direct say in how it's done. Unfortunately, I can't go to a competing post office who does it better. Grrr!

I, too, favor purging old stamps. I just found another stash, though. Heh, another minor item for the To Do List!