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How Much Is A Stamp? Current Postage Rates 2020

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current postage rates 2020

There has been so much news about the United States Postal Service recently. However, in the midst of all that, the basics have been overlooked. For example, do you know current postage rates 2020?

If you’re about to send a letter, then that’s something that you need to know. Even if you have a bunch of stamps that you know are still good, you might need to know how much postage to use for alternative mail – such as a postcard or a heavier envelope.

Here, we’ve summed up all of the current postage rates 2020.


How Much Is A Stamp? Basic Current Postage Rates 2020.

First, we’ll look at the cost of stamps. If you’re sending a regular letter through the mail, then you’ll just need a regular first class stamp. But if you’re sending heavy mail, mail in unusual sizes, postcards, or international mail then there are different current postage rates for 2020 to take into consideration.

Cost of a First Class Stamp

A regular stamp is 55 cents.

When most people ask the question, “How much is a stamp?” they are usually wondering what the cost is of a first class stamp. After all, most people mail out basic letters. If you have a standard-sized, rectangular envelope, and you have only put a sheet or two of paper inside (up to one ounce in weight), then you’ll use a single stamp. The current postage rates in 2020 are 55 cents for these letters.

Additional Costs for Mailing Letters

It’s important to note that there are many things that can change the rate to mail your letter. For example, if you have a flat letter that is not the standard rectangular size, then you need to pay a different rate. The current postage rates in 2020 for square, oversized, or unusual letters are 70 cents if it’s one ounce or lighter in weight.

You also pay more for additional weight. The standard letter that takes a 55 cent stamp will cost more if it’s heavier.

  • At two ounces, you pay 70 cents.
  • At three ounces, you pay 85 cents.
  • At 3.5 ounces, you pay $1

Current Postage Rates 2020: Flat Envelopes

Additionally, you’ll pay more money for large flat envelopes. For example, if you stick your letter into a 9″ x 12″ yellow clasp envelope, you’ll pay more than if you fold it up and stick it into a standard sized envelope. 2020 postage rates for flat envelopes start at $1 for one ounce. They increase twenty cents per ounce up to $3.4o for a 13 ounce flat envelope.

How Much is A Postcard Stamp?

A postcard stamp is 35 cents.

It’s fun to send postcards to people. You might do this when you’re on vacation. However, it’s something that you can do to let people know that you’re thinking about them all throughout the year. And postcard stamps are less expensive than regular postage stamps. Therefore, if you send them often, you’ll save money by going this route.

Postcard stamps, assuming that you have a regular-sized postcard, are 35 cents. Note that they haven’t increased since 2015. Remember that if you have unusually large postcards, or postcards that are oddly shaped, then you might have to pay more than 35 cents.

How Much Is An International Stamp?

An international stamp is $1.20.

For those who need to send a letter out of the country, the postage for an international first class letter (up to 1 oz.) is $1.20. It is the same price to send a postcard. Therefore, when shipping short messages internationally, there is no cost savings to using a postcard instead of a regular letter.

Current Postage Rates 2020: Other Common Prices

Of course, flat letters and postcards aren’t the only things that people send through the mail. If you plan to ship gifts for the holidays, then you’ll want to know about the mailing prices for packages. Anytime that you ship something in a thick envelope or a box, the postage rates differ from the basic stamp prices.

Flat Rate Postage Prices

Usually, your best rate option is to choose a flat rate mailing envelope or box. These are available for free at your local post office. You choose the size that you need, then you pay the rate for that size. It doesn’t matter what weight your mailing. Current postage rates in 2020 for flat rate mail include:

  • 12.5″ x 9.5″ flat rate envelope: $7.75
  • 8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″ small flat rate box: $8.30
  • 14″ x 12″ x 3 1/2″ medium flat rate box: $15.05
  • 12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″ large flat rate box: $21.10

Other Postage Prices

There are many other shipping options when you mail things through the post office. You can find all current postage rates in 2020 at the USPS website. A few other common prices include:

  • Express Mail (starts at $26.35) for when you need to ship something quickly
  • Global Express Guaranteed (starts at $67.80) for when you need to ship something internationally quickly
  • Media Mail (starts at $2.80) for when you’re only shipping books

How to Save Money on Stamps

Every penny that you save adds up. Therefore, living frugally means saving money even on the little things, like stamps. Here are some of the most common ways that people save money on stamps:

  • Use Stamps.com. Note that you have to pay for this service. Therefore, the savings is only worth it if you ship a lot of items. If you have a business that ships regularly, though, then this can help you reduce your postage costs. You’ll save five cents on every first class letter that you send, reducing the 2020 postage rate from 55 cents to 50 cents. You’ll save more on bigger shipping costs.
  • Buy stamps using rewards credit cards. If you have a cash back credit card, then you get a percentage back for every dollar that you spend. Therefore, you reduce your postage costs slightly by using that credit card to pay for stamps. Of course, you have to make sure to pay off the card on time so you don’t pay added interest.
  • Shop using a cashback site. Ebates is a popular choice but of course there are many of them out there. This will give you a little bit back on your stamps purchase.
  • Buy Forever Stamps on eBay. Forever Stamps are good at the current postage rates in 2020. Moreover, they’re still good as first class stamps even if rates go up in the future. You can purchase these at a discount on Ebay. Usually, you’ll buy at least one whole roll at a time.
  • Ship smart. Make sure that you always weigh your mail carefully. Only pay what you have to in postage. Moreover, double-check box dimensions to make sure that you aren’t charged for oversized shipping unnecessarily. And make use of those flat rate shipping options, especially for heavy items.

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

Where Can I Buy Postage Stamps After Hours?

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Where Can I Buy Postage Stamps After Hours?

You need to mail a letter. Maybe it’s an about-to-be-due bill payment. Or perhaps it’s a birthday card that you want to be sure arrives on time. However, it’s late. The post office is closed. If you had a stamp then you could place it on the envelope, drop that in the mailbox, and it would go out first thing tomorrow. However, you don’t have a stamp. Therefore, you find yourself asking, “where can I buy postage stamps after hours?”

First, Know Your Post Office’s Hours

Before you rush to buy postage stamps somewhere else, double check to make sure that it’s too late to get them at your post office. Most locations are open until 5 pm on weekdays, 4 pm on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. However, that varies a lot from place to place. Some stay open until 5 or 6 on weekdays. Some close at 3 on Saturdays. If you don’t know your own location’s hours, then it’s time to check.

Check Other Places Where You Can Ship Mail

Also, remember that the post office isn’t the only place where you can ship items as well as buy stamps. If you have a local UPS store near you, then check there. They sell stamps at their locations. Moreover, they are generally open later than the regular post office. Most locations are open until 6 or 7 on weekdays. Some stay open even later.

FedEx stores are often open even later. Some of them are open until 10 pm on weekdays. And yes, FedEx does sell stamps. However, some of their stores are closed on both Sundays and Mondays.

If you’re asking, “where can I buy postage stamps after hours?” then start with these places. Not only do you get your stamps, but you can also send the mail at the same time. There’s no need to look for a post office box.

Grocery Stores Sell Stamps

If the post office or similar types of places are definitely closed, then you might want to get stamps at your grocery store. Many different grocery stores sell stamps. Even small local grocers with only one location sometimes sell stamps. Most of the large grocery stores have stamps available for sale at the cash register.

This is a great option because grocery stores are often open very late, even on Sundays. Some of them are even open 24 hours. Additionally, you can pick up any groceries you need while also buying your stamps.

Just a few of the grocery stores around the US that sell stamps include:

  • Albertsons
  • Bi-Lo
  • Fiesta Mart
  • Food4Less
  • Food City
  • Food Lion
  • Fry’s
  • Gelson’s
  • Giant Eagle
  • Hannaford’s
  • Kroger
  • Marc’s
  • Price Chopper
  • Publix
  • Ralph’s
  • Safeway
  • Shaw’s
  • Stater Bros.
  • Tom Thumb
  • Vons
  • Winco
  • Whole Foods

There are a few things to know about buying stamps at grocery stores. First of all, just because a store usually sells them doesn’t mean that they’ll have them available. You should always call your specific location to check first. Second, grocery stores usually only sell stamps in booklets. Therefore, you will need to purchase twenty stamps even if you only need a single stamp. The good thing is that then you’ll have 19 more so it will be along time before you’ll run out and have to ask again, “where can I buy postage stamps after hours?”

Head to Your Local Superstore

The only store more convenient than a grocery store is a superstore. You can usually get groceries there. You can also get clothing, household items, school supplies, toys, electronics, and so much more. If you have a Target or a Wal-Mart near you, then you are in luck. These stores generally do sell postage stamps.

Pharmacies and Convenience Stores Sell Stamps

Look at the corner of almost any intersection anywhere, and you’re likely to see either a pharmacy or a convenience store. Some corners have more than one of each. Therefore, you certainly shouldn’t overlook these options when you need to buy stamps after hours.

In terms of pharmacies, the big stores are CVS and Walgreens. Both of these locations typically sell stamps. As with grocery stores, you will usually have to buy a whole book of them. Just go right up to the cash register and ask the cashier if they sell stamps.

Likewise, you can get stamps from the cashier at most convenience stores. 7-11 and Circle K both usually sell stamps. These stores are open late if they close at all, so they provide a great solution to the last-minute after-hours need to buy a stamp. That said, whether or not a specific location has them on hand is always iffy. Again, it’s best to call first.

Buy Stamps at Office Supply Stores

Office supply stores might not immediately come to mind, but of course, it makes sense that they sell stamps. They also sell shipping supplies. Both Staples and Office Depot generally sell books of stamps. They’re open later than post offices, although hours will vary by location. Call ahead, ask if they sell stamps, and confirm how late the location is open.

How to Find Where I Can Buy Postage Stamps After Hours

If you’re not sure where to buy stamps after hours, head online for a search.

  • Go to the USPS website.
  • Under “quick tools,” select “find USPS locations.”
  • Under “location types” choose “post offices and approved postal providers.”
  • Click “refine search” and for the dropdown box select “alternate locations to buy stamps.”
  • Enter your zip code in the appropriate box.
  • Narrow down the miles radius to search.

This brings up a list of all of the places where you can buy stamps. It will even tell you if they only sell booklets. Sometimes, the results will surprise you. For example, Cole Hardware near me sells postage stamps.

Unfortunately, the hours of each store aren’t always listed. Therefore, you may need to bring up another webpage to locate the store’s phone number and call. Even if you’re familiar with the store, it’s smart to call and ask them if they currently have postage stamps available.

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What Is the Best Place to Buy Stamps Online?

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Best Place to Buy Stamps Online
Where is the best place to buy stamps online? I always head straight to the USPS website. After all, the post office is where I’ve always bought my postage stamps. Why wouldn’t I buy them from the post office online? However, maybe that’s not the best place to buy stamps online. Let’s explore all of the options.

Is the Post Office the Best Place to Buy Stamps Online?

It just seems really obvious that you would get your stamps at the post office. As we’ve moved to online shopping, I’ve been quick to just go to the post office’s website. Right there on the home page is the “quick tools” option. Under that is the easy option to “buy stamps.”

The main reason that I think this is the best place to buy stamps online is that it offers the most variety. If there are stamps available, this site is going to have them. You can filter your stamp options by:

  • Denomination as well as the total price
  • Number of stamps; by format (single, a book, a sheet, a roll, etc.) or by the actual quantity
  • “Product type” in case you want forever stamps, Over 55 cent stamps, etc.)
  • Mail service (first class, priority, etc.) and envelope type (such as postcard)
  • Theme (patriotic, wedding, holiday)
  • Issue year from 2004 until the present
  • Stamp shape; did you know that in addition to squares, there are vertical and horizontal rectangles and even circles?

It’s easy to browse. It’s easy to find any type of stamp you’re looking for.

In fact, you can even sign up for USPS stamp subscriptions. You select either a first stamp roll, a first stamp book, or a postcard roll of stamps. Then you select whether you want the delivery to come once or twice per month for either six months or twelve months. It’s such a great way to automate your stamp purchases if you use postage stamps regularly.

Print Your Own Stamps at Stamps.com

If we’re talking about the best place to buy stamps online then naturally Stamps.com comes to mind. After all, the name itself indicates that it’s an online resource specifically for stamps. However, you can’t just go to the site and buy stamps. You have to sign up for their service.

With Stamps.com, you pay a $17.99 per month fee. This fee allows you to get a digital scale for properly weighing your mail. You’ll also get some supplies for printing your own stamps at home. The reason people like this service is because they can do everything themselves at home then just send the mail out with the mail carrier when they arrive.

You also get a discount on postage. So, even though you pay a fee, you may offset your costs with your postage purchases. Overall, Stamps.com is only the best place to buy stamps online if:

  • You ship a lot of stuff regularly.
  • The convenience of printing postage and shipping from home is worth an added cost.

Buy Postage Stamps at Amazon

You can get everything at Amazon these days from the books they launched the site with to the popular $7000 tiny home that recently went viral and sold out. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Amazon may be the best place to buy stamps online.

A quick scan for postage stamps on Amazon brings up myriad options. You can filter those out to find stamps that you can get through Amazon Prime, “subscribe and save,” and using free shipping. If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, then it definitely makes sense to consider getting your stamps here. While they don’t have the broad range of designs that USPS.com offers, Amazon does offer different denominations and themes.

Buy Postage Stamps Online at Walmart

If you have ever wondered whether you can buy stamps at Walmart, the answer is yes. Have you ever wondered if you can also buy them through Walmart online? The answer is still a definitive yes.

Go to the Walmart website. Search for postage stamps. You’ll see a whole array of options open up in front of you. Most people end up purchasing either the book or roll of Forever Stamps. However, you can get different designs and different stamp denominations through Walmart as well. Do note that they sell sheets, books, and rolls online but you can’t get individual stamps.

The great thing about getting stamps through a site like Walmart or Amazon is that you can get the other things that you might need at the same time. For example, if you need stamps, then you might also need envelopes. Perhaps you will need tape to seal your package. Whatever it is, you can order it all in one stop which might make a site like Walmart the best place to buy stamps online.

Other Popular Places to Buy Stamps Online

There are also plenty of other places online that sell stamps. You can review the prices, but generally, they are comparable to one another. Most of them don’t sell single stamps but instead sell books or sheets. Some sell rolls or coils. Depending on how many stamps you need, you may have to shop around. With that in mind, here are some of the other places where you can easily buy stamps online:

  • eBay is a good place if you’re not in a rush and are willing to wait for a deal. Be sure to clarify that they are unused from the buyer before making your bid.
  • Office Max offers books and coils of Forever Stamps as well as books for postage stamps for sale online. Interestingly, many other office supply stores, such as Staples, do not sell stamps online.
  • Boxed.com is a great place to buy things in bulk online. They sell sets of 100 Forever Stamps.
  • Minted.com offers stamps that are custom designed by artists. They come in postcard (35 cent), 1 oz (55 cent), and  2 oz (70 cent) denominations. They are sold in books of twenty.

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Does 711 Sell Stamps?

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does 711 sell stamps

If you need to buy stamps then certainly you want to get them at the store closest to you. Therefore, you might find yourself asking, “does 711 sell stamps?” After all, 7-Eleven seems to be on every corner in some cities. You might already stop in there regularly to get coffee or snacks. If you’re already going to be there, then it would be great to save yourself a trip to the post office by getting your stamps there instead.

So, Does 711 Sell Stamps?

The short answer to this question is yes. Most 7-Eleven stores do sell stamps. If you are going to be at 7-Eleven anyway, then you might as well ask if they have stamps for sale. Chances are that they do. However, there is always some variation in the availability of stamps at stores like 7-Eleven. In other words, although the store will probably have stamps, they might not. Individual stores can vary. For example, they may sell out and not re-stock right away. Therefore, if you would have to make a special trip to your local 7-Eleven to get stamps then you might want to call ahead to confirm availability.

Which Stamps Does 711 Sell?

If you go to your local post office to buy stamps then you have a wide variety of different options. You can purchase stamps at the post office in many different denominations. Moreover, you can select from many different design styles and images for your stamps. If you go to 7-Eleven to buy your stamps then you don’t get as much selection. However, if you just need to mail some basic letters then 7-Eleven should have what you need.

Most 711 stores will sell two types of stamps. They will sell Forever stamps. They will also sell First Class stamps. The Forever stamps are used to mail first class letters. However, they never expire. Regular First Class stamps retain their denomination. For example, when it cost $0.49 to send a first-class letter, the first class stamp was worth $0.49. The Forever Stamp could also be used to send that letter. However, now that rates have increased to $0.52 for a first class letter, you would have to purchase an additional three cents in stamps to supplement the regular first-class stamp. In contrast, you could still use the Forever Stamp as is. Therefore, if you don’t send mail frequently, you might want to get the Forever Stamps instead of the first class stamps, despite the fact that their current value is exactly the same.

Most 7-Eleven stores only sell books of stamps. Therefore, you need to buy 20 stamps at a time when you purchase stamps at 7-Eleven. That said, some individual stores have been known to sell single stamps upon request. Therefore, if you only need one or two stamps, then it’s worth asking if you can purchase them singly rather than in booklets.

Where to Find Stamps at 711

If you’re at your local 7-Eleven to buy stamps then you might be wondering what aisle they are located in. Well, they aren’t in an aisle. Instead, they’re located up front with the cashier. Do any other 7-Eleven shopping first. Then head to the cashier to check out. When it’s your turn at the cashier, let them know that you’re interested in purchasing stamps. They typically have them right there in their register drawer so it’s quick and easy to make the purchase. Quick and easy is exactly what you want when you shop at a convenience store, right?

How to Find a 711 That Sells Stamps

If you already go to 7-Eleven regularly, then you can simply stop in to your local store and ask them if they sell stamps. If they don’t then they can probably tell you where the next closest store is that will have them. However, if they can’t tell you (or if you don’t already have a specific 7-Eleven location in mind) then you might want to do your research online first.

Of course, you can use your favorite GPS tool to locate the 7-Eleven closest to you. Then you can either take your chances or call in advance to find out if they have stamps for sale. Another great way to find the closest 7-Eleven to you is to use the store’s online Store Locator. You can go to the individual web page for each store, which will also tell you the three stores closest to that location. That way, if the first one you call doesn’t sell stamps, you can easily see which other locations might be able to help you out.

Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to work to use the USPS Store Locator to find 7-Eleven stores that sell stamps. Typically, you can use that tool along with the filter “alternate location to buy stamps” to find all stores that sell stamps in a given area. However, I searched several different locations and none brought up a 7-Eleven that sells stamps. I called a few 7-Eleven stores within those given areas; some (but not all) did sell stamps. Therefore, you should use 7-Eleven’s store locator and call in advance to make sure that they sell stamps.

What to Do if Your 711 Doesn’t Sell Stamps

If you have called a few 7-Eleven stores and they don’t sell stamps near you, then you might want to look at alternative options. This is where the USPS Store Locator will work to your benefit. You can find all of the local stores that sell stamps. Alternatively, you can filter by “alternate location to buy stamps” which will give you places similar to 7-Eleven that sell stamps. For example, one of my searches pulled up several nearby stores including CVS, Circle K, and Walgreens. If you want to go to a convenience store, then you might choose the Circle K from that list. The USPS Store Locator tool will tell you if the store only sells booklets.

Of course, you can always go to your local post office to buy stamps. They will always have exactly what you need. People sometimes try to avoid this option because of limited hours and long lines. However, if you plan ahead, then you can get exactly the postage that you require without any hassle.

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Does CVS Sell Stamps?

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does cvs sell stamps?

If you are out running errands then you might ask yourself, “does CVS sell stamps?” After all, if you don’t have to make a special trip to the post office to pick up stamps, then why would you? Save the time and gas or commute money and pick up the stamps where you already have to be for another errand.

Even if you don’t have to go to CVS, there might be one on your route or near where you live. If that’s the case, then it’s helpful to know if CVS sells stamps. That way, when you need them, you know where you can easily get them. So, does CVS sell stamps?

Learn About CVS

You probably already know what CVS is. It’s one of the largest, most popular pharmacy chains in the nation. There are stores all over the United States. In fact, in many cities, it can seem like there is a CVS on every corner.

People obviously go to CVS to buy medication, since it is a pharmacy. However, CVS also sells all variety of other items that you might purchase at any modern drugstore. If you’re looking for toothpaste, lip balm, toilet paper, or snacks, you can probably get them at CVS.

Does CVS Sell Stamps?

Yes, CVS does sell stamps. However, they do not sell single, loose stamps. They only sell books of stamps. Therefore, if you only need to get one stamp, then you probably want to make the extra trip to the post office for that. However, if you mail items frequently, then you can go ahead and easily pick up a book of stamps at CVS.

A book of stamps holds 20 stamps. These are First Class stamps, which are the stamps that you would use to send a regular envelope through the mail. These stamps are often called Forever stamps, meaning that you can always use them to send First Class mail, even if postage rates increase over time. Therefore, you may decide to buy a book of stamps even if you don’t send mail very frequently. After all, the stamps don’t go bad.

CVS Only Sells Certain Stamps

If you need a variety of stamps in different denominations, then you will want to go to a regular post office to get those. CVS only sells the First Class Forever stamps. For example, if you want to send out a bunch of postcards, then it would be better to get postcard stamps, which cost less than First Class stamps. CVS doesn’t sell postcard stamps.

Similarly, if you want to get postage stamps with different designs on them, then CVS won’t be much help. The post office sells a variety of different First Class stamps with designs that change out seasonally. You can always choose from different styles at the post office. However, CVS generally only carries the basic Forever stamp, which is usually a US flag or a similar generic symbol. If you want stamps designed with flowers, famous people, or other inspiring images, you’ll have to get those at the post office instead of at CVS.

Where Are Stamps Sold at CVS?

There you are at the CVS store. You’ve picked your medication up at the pharmacy. You’ve browsed through all of the aisles to pick up the everyday items that you need. Now you just need to get that book of stamps. Where are they?

You’ll need to go up to the cashier to get your stamps at CVS. When you get to the checkout counter, just ask the clerk working there for a book of stamps. They should have them at the ready. Most CVS stores keep their stamps in the cash register drawer so that cashiers can just open the drawer and pull out what you need.

How to Find a CVS that Sells Stamps

If you don’t regularly shop at CVS, then you might not know exactly where there’s one closest to you. Likewise, you could be traveling in an unfamiliar area and need to find a CVS nearby. Of course, you could always use Google Maps or another GPS to locate the CVS nearest to you. However, you might have better results if you use the Store Locator on the CVS website.

Alternatively, you can go to the Find Locations tool on the USPS website. Once there:

  • Select Post Offices and Approved Postal Providers under “location types.”
  • Press “refine search” to open a second drop-down menu.
  • Select “alternate location to buy stamps” in that drop down box.
  • Enter your city or zip code in the specified box.
  • Choose the radius to search; for example, select “within 20 miles” of your city.

This will give you a list of places to buy stamps, in order of their distance. Scan the list to find the CVS closest to you. It will actually tell you there that the store sells “stamp booklets only.” This list will also give you other nearby locations where you can buy stamps. For example, a quick search within 20 miles of zip code 94115 pulls up Walgreens, Whole Foods Market, Staples, and Safeway in addition to the CVS locations that sell stamps.

What to Do if Your CVS Doesn’t Have Stamps

You can almost always buy stamps at any CVS store. However, there’s always the chance that for some reason your local store won’t have them. They may have run out and not restocked yet. Alternatively, they may not carry them regularly. If you get to a CVS store that doesn’t have stamps, ask to speak to a manager or customer service representative. They can let you know about their policies for selling stamps. If they restock, they can tell you when that will happen. If they don’t carry them, they can tell you the closest store that might. You can always call your local CVS in advance to ask if they sell stamps so that you don’t waste a trip to a store that doesn’t have them in stock. That said, this is rarely a problem.

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6 Ways to Minimize Shipping Costs and Maximize Your Profits

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If you’re like me and you sell pretty much anything you don’t use anymore on eBay, then you do a lot of shipping. I hate to eat into my profit margin by paying for shipping supplies, though, so over the years I’ve found ways to minimize their cost. Whether you’re shipping things for your small business, online sales, or cross-country birthdays, these tips will help you keep your shipping costs as low as possible.

Purchase a digital scale to make sure you can weigh your items as accurately as possible. This way, you won’t overspend on postage and you won’t have orders returned to you for insufficient postage. Digital scales are expensive at office supply stores, but you can find a wide variety of scales at different price points on eBay.

Skip the post office: Who wants to waste time and gas money or deal with the hassle of going to the post office? The USPS will pick up your shipment from your door for free as long as you have at least one Priority or Express mail item in your shipment and no single package weighs more than 70 pounds. The only catch is that you have to schedule the pickup a day ahead of time. And if your mailman doesn’t care, you can even ignore the Priority/Express item rule.

Don’t buy stamps from Stamps.com: Stamps.com, an online service that allows you to print all classes of postage from your computer, can be a great service, but they charge a premium for pretty much everything. Just to use their basic service costs $15.99 a month, plus whatever postage fees you incur. One of the items they sell are their proprietary stamps (Net Stamps), with the idea that you can weigh your letter and only print exactly the amount of postage you need instead of, say, wasting an extra 41 cent stamp when you only need ten more cents of postage.

However, when you combine the Stamps.com monthly subscription fee with the fee of $3.99 for 125 stamp labels, you probably aren’t going to come out ahead. If you purchase a digital scale and a variety of stamp denominations, you can simply use the free USPS Postage Rate Calculator to avoid putting excessive postage on your mail. You can purchase stamps online from the USPS in denominations such as 1 cent, 10 cents, 1 dollar, and more.

Buy old stamps from eBay: If you want to save even more money on postage, you can buy older stamps in a hodgepodge of denominations from eBay. I haven’t done this myself yet, but I understand that you can save around 10% on stamps with this method. Plus, you’ll always have the right combination of stamps for your mail. To avoid headaches, keep in mind that items over 13 ounces that bear stamps (as opposed to a shipping label) cannot be placed in mailboxes or given to your mail carrier. They must be taken to a post office.

Use free online tools instead of paid subscription services: Instead of spending $15.99 a month on a subscription to Stamps.com, use the USPS’s Click ‘n’ Ship service to print Priority and Express mail postage. As long as you know the weight of your item, you can easily print a shipping label for it right from the USPS website with no fee.

Use PayPal for media mail and parcel post shipments: If you don’t want to pay for a Stamps.com subscription and you can only use USPS Click-n-Ship for Priority and Express mail, how do you cheaply and conveniently ship media mail and parcel post packages? If the item weighs less than 13 ounces, go ahead and put stamps on it. If your package weighs more than 13 ounces, ask a friend or relative with a PayPal account to send a penny to your PayPal account and mark the payment as being for “goods.” When you receive the payment, PayPal will take the penny for its service fee, but then you’ll be able to print a shipping label through your PayPal account. You don’t even have to use the name or address of the person who sent you the penny on your shipping label-you can change it online.

It can take a while to adjust to a different way of mailing things, but once you get used to it, I think you’ll agree with me that the savings in time and money are worth the effort.