Starting Monday, the United States Postal Service wants to get your two cents’ worth.
Postal rates are going up by two cents on Monday to a total of 41 cents. The hike comes just 16 months after the last two-cent increase in January 2006.
The new stamps are on sale at the post office. Most other rates are going up as well, although the rate for a two-ounce letter actually fell slightly, from 63 cents to 58 cents.
So far, the new rate has generated more questions than complaints at the Emporia post office.
“The only thing I’ve been getting is a trillion phone calls about when it is,” said Dana Roemer, customer services supervisor.
For those wanting to guard against the next hike, the post office is also selling the new “Forever” stamps for 41 cents. Once purchased, they remain good for a one-ounce letter no matter what the rate rises to.
The Postal Service has also raised the rates for its Breast Cancer Research stamp to 55 cents. The stamp has raised more than $53 million to fight the disease since 1998.
In addition, the Postal Service has collapsed its eight international services into four: Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Mail International. For details, go on the Web to www.usps.com/ratecase.