… Mail trucks taking a holiday rest (Sunday after Epiphany) …
A few years ago when going through my dad’s study, I found a lot of stamps that were still good for use. Not knowing what to do with them, I decided to join Postcrossing and send them out into the World; which is what they were made for in the first place.
By now I have used up most of the leftover stamps of higher value, so I’ve started buying some new ones again as well. Because if I use only old low value stamps on the international cards, that leaves no room to actually write anything!
Last year, our international postage rate was SEK 13,00 (2x the domestic postage). However, when flickering through the latest newsletter from PostNord (the Swedish postal service) around New Year, I noticed that one of the new stamps to be issued in January had the eyebrow-raising value of SEK 19:50 - i.e. 3x the domestic postage (and equaling ~ $2,13 or £1,73). On closer investigation, I found that this is actually our new minimum international postage rate from 1st January.
This is not something that seems to have been noted at all by our newspapers or TV, though. Even when googling it now, besides on PostNord’s own website, I only find it mentioned on philatelist sites.
As upset as I am about the sneaky postage increase, I have to say I quite like the stamp. (I have a Dala horse just like that on top of one of my bookcases too.) Here it is for those of you who won’t be getting one on an actual card because no one can afford to send it to you:
(PS to my regular snail mail correspondents: Don’t worry.
You’ll still be hearing from me now and then…)
OOPS this post is like reading in a foreign language.. LOL you know how I am about snail mail.. it doesn't exist for me. it is rather sneaky to not tell you of the hike in price. I don't know what a stamp cost here in USA..
ReplyDeleteHaha Sandra, yes I know. I guess I might get a bit more sympathy from fellow postcrossers perhaps... ;)
Deleteper ms google, a stamp here is 49 cents. don't know what that is in your currency but it is almost half a dollar and they used to be 4 cents
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cute stamp. You scared me for a minute!
ReplyDeleteSorry, Ginny ;)
DeleteIt costs me $2.50 every time I send my daughter a card or letter in Japan and you don't even want to know what a package costs. I've gotten to where I pay most of my bills online because I think postage is too high.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I've been spoiled over the past few years because of all those inherited stamps and not having to buy many :)
DeleteNice shot! I had no idea the postage had gone up so much.
ReplyDeleteNo, they've kept very quiet about it!
DeletePostage from Germany to other countries is stacked in "zones": the further away from Europe you are, the higher the fee. Inside Germany, they increase postage every two years or so, while train faires increase every year. Our incomes don't, though!
ReplyDeleteI now want a Dalarna horse more than ever :-)
Meike, our postage to other countries used to be graded that way too, but now it's the same. The minimum postage also covers weight up to 50g (in the past it was 20g). So people sending heavier mail might not have all that much to complain about. It's rather hard on us who like postcard exchange, though!
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