Print Postage Online

Since it’s beginnings, the US postal service has been dedicated to getting the mail there on time. The motto of the US postal service shows this by boasting that no matter what the situation, your mail will be delivered on time. But, like all needed services, the delivery of mail in the US comes with a price. Just what did it cost to mail a letter almost 2 centuries ago, and what does it cost today?

For almost 100 years, it costed US citizens about 3 cents to mail a letter. This rate was established in 1863, and continued until 1958. US citizens experienced a slight drop in postal rates to 2 cents in 1885 and 1919, but on average the cost was 3 cents. There was a slight increase during war times.

In 1958 the hikes began, as US postal rates went to 4 cents. Then, in 1963, there was an increase in postage to 5 cents. This is also the same time that the US postal service began using the zip code. This helped mail delivery be even faster by making sorting the mail an easier process.

Since 1963 the rate to mail a letter in the US has seen a steady increase.

1963- 5 cents
1968- 6 cents
1971- 8 cents
1974- 10 cents
1975- 13 cents
1978- 15 cents
1981- 18 cents (March 22)
1981- 20 cents (November 1)
1985- 22 cents
1988- 25 cents
1991- 29 cents
1995- 32 cents
1999- 33 cents
2001- 34 cents
2002- 37 cents
2006- 39 cents
2007- 41 cents
2008- 42 cents

The US postal service is a reliable way to send your mail. They offer everything from standard delivery to overnight delivery with an additional fee. The US postal service also prints worthy causes on their stamps, with proceeds going to help different charities. Even with the steady increase in the cost of postage stamps, it still isn’t a bad price to pay for a service that you know that you can rely on.

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When most people address their business mail, party invitations, or tax returns, they don’t consider the History of the United States Zip Code System or Zoning Improvement Plan system. 

Prior to 1963 there were no ZIP codes. Mail was primarily moved around by train to all major railroad hubs. There were more than 10,000 trains carrying mail at all hours of the day around the country.

In the years leading up to 1963, casual, personal correspondence was being outstripped by an increasing volume of business mail do to the exploding industry overtaking the United States. 

The older system was not able to keep up with the increasing volume of mail. It also did not take advantage of trucks and airplanes that could be used for shipping. In June 1962, a Presidential Advisory Board, made a study of the Post Office’s problems and made several recommendations including the development of a coding system.

The post office experimented with several coding systems before finally arriving at the ZIP Code system which was implemented by Postmaster General John A. Gronouski on July 1, 1963.

The zones were created to take maximum advantage not only of train routes but also airplane and truck shipping routes. The first digit in the ZIP Code designated a large geographical area of the United States, starting with zero for the Northeast to nine for the far West. The next two digits more closely referenced population centers. The last two digits indicate specific post offices or in the case of larger cities, more specific zones. 

In 1983, the United States Postal Service began promoting the use of a additional 4 digit suffix code separated from the ZIP Code by a hyphen referred to as the ZIP+4 code, to refer to even more specific geographic areas. 

Although, there were many other modernization issues that the post office had to work through in the years following the ZIP Code implementation, it remains one of the single most important advances in the postal system.

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Stamps.com provides may advantages for small business owners

Have you ever had an idea about how to make a higher profit, but no one would listen to you? For several years now there has been a growing trend toward Small Business ownership. As your own boss, you can try out those ideas. You can be the one who sets the limits on how much time you spend working and how much income you earn.

Many people really are living their dreams. They are the successful small business owners. There is so much involved in developing and growing a small business. Presenting ideas and selling company products is a very time consuming task. Success or failure will be determined by using good tools in your business. Stamps.com is one of those tools for the aggressive business owner.

What is Stamps.com?

Stamps.com was developed in conjunction with The United States Postal Service. Stamps.com provides many advantages for small business owners, by providing the option to print official postage from an office computer. Innovative software imports delivery addresses, allows you to edit and print postage directly from your PC software. It gives you the advantage of weighing your mail, and it calculates your postage charges. You are also able to check postage expense and even print reports for tax and expense records.

Easy and convenient

Who couldn’t enjoy the convenience of never trying to make it to the Post Office before it closes? You have stamps as close as your PC. With Stamps.com you never had to worry about running out of stamps at an inconvenient time.

Stamps.com is easy on the small business budget

Advertising and marketing is a big part of any small business. Every business owner knows what it is to approach the end of the week or the month and face the fund shortage scenario. Stamps.com has special offers that add up to a good savings at the end of the year.

Easy shopping for cost wise stamps
People are shopping on line more than ever. We purchase clothes, appliances, artwork and the list goes on. Well, now you can add Stamps.com to that list of conveniences. What better time to do that then now, with the constant increases in gas prices? It is as simple pointing and clicking on options. When you establish your account, you are then ready to point, click and receive. Just print your postage and the amount will be taken from your account with no surcharge and no more overpaying. You get all of this for a very reasonable monthly fee.

Upscale your business appearance

Electronic postage allows you to personalize your mail by adding company logo or digital photos to your stamps. Upload a photo that best portrays what your business is all about and print it directly to every piece of mail that leaves your office.

How does Stamps.com help small business owners

Stamps.com gives that important document the important look it deserves .

No more over paying or running out of stamps at midnight.

Electronic stamps that are U.S Postal approved, and can be personalized to add a professional look to your business correspondence.

Stamps.com lessons the impact of the current credit and gasoline crisis on small business owners by cutting out on trips to the Post Office.

Electronic stamps offers top of the line software that allows editing, the time saving convenience of importing addresses and is user friendly.

Stamps.com gives the busy owners and employees extra time to build and grow the business. It is like having a Post Office that is as close as the office computer.

The way we do business has changed considerably. In our work world of “wear your pajamas to work, while tending the baby playing nearby,” it just makes sense to take advantage of printing your stamps from your PC.

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