USPS News

[michael78651]

The September 3, 2012, issue of Linn's is just full of great news from the USPS:

- potential (and probable) rate increase in early 2013 (January most likely)

- new issue announcements will now be made no more than 90 days prior to issue date

- unannounced stamps to be issued in 2012: $1, $2, $5 and $10 denomination in November of crappy looking "Waves of Color" series (What? There are no notable USA subjects to put on the stamps?) When is the last time you saw a $2, $5 or $10 denomination stamp on anything in the mail? I didn't mention the $1 as those do get used, however, I don't believe there are any postal rates/fees that are in those exact amounts, so people will have little use for those stamps. Fleecing collectors on this one. We are the ones who will have to bail out the USPS it seems.

[tim47924]

Thumbs down on the "waves of color." Might as well be bar codes.
At first glance, I thought they were stamps commemorating denominations of the Euro.

It's a waste... I would have found pictures of four lesser-known landmarks to put on these lesser-used stamps.

[youpiao]

What were they thinking?????



Tedski

[khj]

What were they thinking?????



Tedski

What makes you think that they think?

k

[michael78651]

Oh, they were probably thinking at how many thousands of those stamps collectors will buy and since the denominations are not useful how the stamps won't get used. Cha ching

[boppolis]

Ugh, whenever I see you make a topic with this basic subject line, my first thought is always "crap, what NEXT?"

I've assumed that #1 is a GIVEN, seeing as how there's no denominations anymore they can raise rates EVERY year without sticker waste.

#2 is highly annoying. I've disliked how short of notice they've BEEN doing in recent years, now they're going LESS?

As for the hi-face stamps, I got one of the Washington-Jackson $5 stamps on a package just a couple months ago, though it is pretty rare. I guess I'd best go buy another block, since if they're coming out with a NEW $5 stamp (after 17 years) the W-J stamp will likely go off sale pretty soon. This will also be the USA's first $10 stamp too.

As for the LOOK of these new ones, I don't consider them any worse than the rest of the garbage they've been putting out since stickers replaced stamps. That Wash-Jackson stamp was the LAST decent issue (I think?), so I never expect anything better than a cartoonish depiction regardless (except Duck stamps).



An aside, while I'm venting;
This "forever-stamp" nonsense has served to KILL my USA collecting interest. Not only am I going to delete stickers now, I decided to cut my US collection back to before they got so exceptionally stupid about stamp issues, so am ending my US collection at 1990 (except Duck stamps).

[ltchjvjr]

I often think if there is a U.S. Postage Stamp Collector on the evaluation committee that chooses/advises on new stamps? Doesn't appear to be so. Haven't seen the color wave stamps yet but being a singles & plate block collector , this is going to get expensive. Me personally, I have never liked the computer generated artwork on many of today's issues - but I am an old foggy - LOL.

Rate increases doesn't affect the First Class Forever issues, but rate increases normally affect the Additional Ounce Stamp, Bulk & Non-Profit Rates, along with the Airmail & Express stamps. A whole new series of these stamps always follows a rate increase.Oh well!!!

Thanks for reading.

/s/ Harry

[michael78651]

There are a couple stamp collectors at least of the USPS Stamp Advisory Committee. Janet Klug (former APS President) is one. They only act in an advisory capacity. It is the USPS Board of Governors who approve which stamps get issued.

[tooler101]

"Cha Ching" only if you buy them. One reason my U.S. collection stopped at 1994.

Oh, they were probably thinking at how many thousands of those stamps collectors will buy and since the denominations are not useful how the stamps won't get used. Cha ching

[michael78651]

I will get them. I'll keep one of each, sell a couple and use the rest for postage.

[larsdog]

I don't see this as a fundamental game-changer or even a major shift.

Stamps are not produced for your convenience. You have to adapt or terminate your collections at a specific date. That's always and option, and we all terminate our collections when we terminate, unless someone takes over, so there is no problem with saying "no more" to Farleys, or self-adhesives, or whatever else may piss you off. You are in charge of what you collect.

I just hope they don't farm the high value stamps out to three vendors so I have to get three different copies of essentially the same stamp. That's OK and understandable for workhorse stamps, but for the high value issues there is no legitimate business reason.