The race is on for 41-cent Forever Stamps

By KATIE SEMINARA

Rates may rise again in 2009, a postal official says.

The 41-cent Forever Stamp is forever no more starting Monday.

Similar to the price increases for many necessities, postage will take its turn with prices set to change Monday.

Stamps for first-class mail will increase from 41 cents to 42 cents.

Ernest Shipley, Youngstown supervisor of customer service support, said the U.S. Postal Service will do a pricing evaluation every year as a result of new laws — which means at this time next year mailers could see another jump in postage costs.

Shipley said it is possible that people will look toward other options such as using e-mail more frequently or setting up online accounts to pay their bills. But the postal service is taking measures to accommodate those customers who visit their Web site.

“Initiatives were taken with online postage for Express Mail and Priority Mail so people can receive Web discounts,” Shipley said.

Mailers can also save money by purchasing the last bundles of Forever Stamps, which can be used even after the increase Monday. “Each station was advised to get as many Forever Stamps as possible,” said Shipley.

Jocelyn Buxmen, 51, of Poland already bought a couple rolls of the Forever Stamps before they run out. “We are lucky it only went up a cent with the way everything else is,” she said.

Other specialty stamps, such as the Breast Cancer Awareness stamps, also will still be usable after Monday.

Post offices should have 1-cent stamps in stock to stick with any 41-cent stamps mailers may have left over. A new 62-cent stamp designated for square greeting cards will be available shortly after the increase goes into effect.

Mike Luteran, 55, of Hubbard said the price change will not influence his use of regular mail. “It’s not like the price increase of gas,” he said.

But Cari Fanta, 48, of Poland said she’s “looking into paying my bills online because there is no charge.”

Other price changes include 27 cents for postcards and $1 for large envelopes for first-class mail.

kseminara@vindy.com