Forever Stamp is Forever!

Not that this is new news but have you considered purchasing the USPS “Forever Stamp“?

According to USPS.com, the Forever Stamp has been on sale for over a year now (the first time this went on sale was April 2007) and since the launch the inception of the new “priceless” stamp, the sales of the stamp has surged over 6 billion. This is over 2 billion dollars in postage sold (not including the recent $0.01 increase in May 12, 2008).

The Forever Stamp can be used to mail any one-ounce letter and they are sold at the cost of existing first-class mail but can be used anytime. These stamps can be used “regardless of when the stamps are purchased or used and not matter how prices may change in the future” according to USPS: Forever Stamp Fact Sheets. (the Forever Stamp is only sold as the Liberty Bell)

Commonly called “snail mail” opposed to the instantly sent “e-mail”, first-class mail is still widely used and the most common form of mail in the United States. The Forever Stamp is quite a versatile stamp that makes it easier for everyone to “forget” about the cost of a postage stamp and simply have there mail delivered. Since 2000, there have been six rate increases from $0.33 to $0.42 that has taken effect on May 12, 2008. Previously, the average time between rate changes has been two to three years, however since 2000 there is an average of 1.5 years per rate change.

Largely due to the cost of fuel, the rate changes are usually nominal. However, with more options making themselves available to the consumer the decision to raise the first-class postage rate tends to boil down to covering costs and providing excellent services.