Comments on: Stamp Prices: Looking Back Over Time http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:21:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Dividend growth investor http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115508 Dividend growth investor Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:26:00 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115508 I think that a stock that's related to stamps in some way is PBI. As for stamps, maybe accumulating "the forever stamp" might not be a bad idea. I think that a stock that’s related to stamps in some way is PBI.
As for stamps, maybe accumulating “the forever stamp” might not be a bad idea.

]]> By: Dana http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115485 Dana Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:37:46 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115485 Oh Lawdy. The Constitution spells out that the federal government is responsible for post offices and post roads. Why is it that the small-government nuts continually rail against things the Constitution ALLOWS the government to do? Government's required to ensure equal rights for every citizen (14th Amendment)? "Oh, that amendment was FORCED on the South to ratify!" Government's allowed to run the post office? "Let's pretend that part of the Constitution doesn't exist." Are you for the Constitution or aren't you? I know everybody goes on and on about the superiority of FedEx and UPS (hey gee, lookie that, the ONLY realm in which the USPS has a "monopoly" is with first-class mail! Everything else is also delivered by private carriers!), but you know what? I don't think I should have to pay out the nose for package delivery. I also don't think I should have to pay for a carrier to pick up my parcels. With FedEx and UPS I can't avoid either. As for the bank thing... *sigh* I have yet to see a paper statement from a bank that is on "special paper" or "has security signs added to it." It's just paper, and I can just as easily print up my bank statements from what I find online, and if the bank manages to make my money disappear anyway, it's my own fault if I'm not keeping an eye on my account. In the old pre-Internet days I could be forgiven for not constantly calling up to ask for my balance but these days I have online access and therefore no excuse. As for the postage hike... *sigh* Well, I guess they have to compete with email. Oh Lawdy. The Constitution spells out that the federal government is responsible for post offices and post roads. Why is it that the small-government nuts continually rail against things the Constitution ALLOWS the government to do? Government’s required to ensure equal rights for every citizen (14th Amendment)? “Oh, that amendment was FORCED on the South to ratify!” Government’s allowed to run the post office? “Let’s pretend that part of the Constitution doesn’t exist.” Are you for the Constitution or aren’t you?

I know everybody goes on and on about the superiority of FedEx and UPS (hey gee, lookie that, the ONLY realm in which the USPS has a “monopoly” is with first-class mail! Everything else is also delivered by private carriers!), but you know what? I don’t think I should have to pay out the nose for package delivery. I also don’t think I should have to pay for a carrier to pick up my parcels. With FedEx and UPS I can’t avoid either.

As for the bank thing… *sigh* I have yet to see a paper statement from a bank that is on “special paper” or “has security signs added to it.” It’s just paper, and I can just as easily print up my bank statements from what I find online, and if the bank manages to make my money disappear anyway, it’s my own fault if I’m not keeping an eye on my account. In the old pre-Internet days I could be forgiven for not constantly calling up to ask for my balance but these days I have online access and therefore no excuse.

As for the postage hike… *sigh* Well, I guess they have to compete with email.

]]> By: Nick http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115370 Nick Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:30:51 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115370 The chart of the min wage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:History_of_US_federal_minimum_wage_increases.svg The chart of the min wage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.....reases.svg

]]> By: Nick http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115365 Nick Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:38:54 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115365 I’m interested to see chart of the minimum income for the same period, especially from mid 50s up to now and compare it. Increase is close to 9 times over 50 years time period and the way it goes it may jump over 10 times which is 1000%. USPS is government monopoly, there no way of getting that data TOC. The other thing that concerns me is that lately many banks and CC issuers push for “paperless statements”. I like trees and my first thought was that, that would be great idea yet…. On second thought, I start asking myself when did the bankers started to care about the trees more then me. And something clicked. Every statement is a legal document. That is why they have been printed on special paper and sometimes security signs are added. Now imagine if you have no paper and something happened to the banks database. Would it be in the banks interest to disclose that event happening? (NO). Can you prove what did you had in your account? (Maybe). Now here is interesting example of what happened and how that could impact you. http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=134056 I’ll stick to my paper statements. PS, I'm sorry that the second part is not on the subject yet is related some how. I found it interesting to share. I’m interested to see chart of the minimum income for the same period, especially from mid 50s up to now and compare it. Increase is close to 9 times over 50 years time period and the way it goes it may jump over 10 times which is 1000%.

USPS is government monopoly, there no way of getting that data TOC.

The other thing that concerns me is that lately many banks and CC issuers push for “paperless statements”. I like trees and my first thought was that, that would be great idea yet…. On second thought, I start asking myself when did the bankers started to care about the trees more then me. And something clicked. Every statement is a legal document. That is why they have been printed on special paper and sometimes security signs are added. Now imagine if you have no paper and something happened to the banks database. Would it be in the banks interest to disclose that event happening? (NO). Can you prove what did you had in your account? (Maybe). Now here is interesting example of what happened and how that could impact you.

http://www.darkreading.com/doc....._id=134056

I’ll stick to my paper statements.

PS, I’m sorry that the second part is not on the subject yet is related some how. I found it interesting to share.

]]> By: That One Caveman http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115364 That One Caveman Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:07:48 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115364 I'd be interested to see an analysis of costs of delivering a 1-ounce piece of mail over that same period. My guess is that the cost per unit has dropped dramatically given the added efficiencies of the automatic sorting machines, delivery vehicles and delivery methods. That would mean that, while the overall cost of postage has remained relatively constant, the "profit" per piece of mail has increased. I know that data would be hard, if not impossible, to access and compile, but it would make for an interesting comparison. I’d be interested to see an analysis of costs of delivering a 1-ounce piece of mail over that same period. My guess is that the cost per unit has dropped dramatically given the added efficiencies of the automatic sorting machines, delivery vehicles and delivery methods. That would mean that, while the overall cost of postage has remained relatively constant, the “profit” per piece of mail has increased.

I know that data would be hard, if not impossible, to access and compile, but it would make for an interesting comparison.

]]> By: geo http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115358 geo Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:36:33 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115358 OK, I love charts and graphs, and I could not wait, so I whipped up an inflation corrected postage chart and slapped it on my little blog, with a link back to you. Feel free to roll your own if you wish. <a href="http://correctedwisdom.com/2008/02/14/usps-price-increases-no-big-deal-since-1971">link</a> OK, I love charts and graphs, and I could not wait, so I whipped up an inflation corrected postage chart and slapped it on my little blog, with a link back to you. Feel free to roll your own if you wish.

link

]]> By: geo http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/comment-page-1/#comment-115357 geo Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:15:31 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/14/stamp-prices-looking-back-over-time/#comment-115357 You ARE whipping up a graph corrected for constant 2008 dollars even as we speak, right? ;) You ARE whipping up a graph corrected for constant 2008 dollars even as we speak, right? ;)

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