> The weird thing is that the USPS made a
> lot of press out of the forever stamp, and the one-cent
> rateincreasefor the first first-class ounce, but they
> do not say jill about the totally weird changes for multiounce
> first-class mailings. You have to dig into their website to
> find it -- yet it is the most radical change they've come
> up with in memory.
>
> Steve

With the new rates effective today most rates have gone up but,
believe it or not, the rate for the second and subsequent ounce of a
first class letter has been reduced.

Specifically, the rate for the second and subsequent ounce of first
call mail has been reduced from 24 cents to 17 cents. This means that
if you had been in the habit affixing two 39 cents stamps to two-
ounce letters under the old rates that would have only required 63
cents (.39 + .24) postage, you were only throwing away 15 cents (.78-.
63 = .15).

With the new rates however, you will be throwing away more money. The
new rate for the second and subsequent ounce of first call mail is now
17 cents. This means that if you affix two 41 cent stamps to two ounce
letters that require only 58 cents (.41+ .17) postage, you will now
be throwing away 24 cents (.82-.58 = .24) for each of those letters.

In addition to the new Forever Stamp, the post office will be issuing
a 17- cent Big Horn Sheep stamp May 21 for the second and subsequent
ounces of first class mail. It will pay you to buy some of these. And,
if you were smart enough to be using the 24-cent stamps under the old
rates for the second and subsequent ounce of first class mail, you can
now use these leftovers 24-cent stamps with the new 17 cent stamp for
your 41 cent total. Additionally, It is not prudent to stock up on
the Forever Stamps at this time. You will want to do this just prior
to the next postal increase.

Mark Z.