Where to Buy Stamps for Less
Fewer people are sending items by mail these days, opting instead for online bill pay, email and social media. But some prefer the traditional feel of mailing cards, bills or letters, or trust the postal service more than the internet with their correspondence.
If you use a lot of stamps, the cost can quickly add up. As of July 2024, U.S. First-Class Mail Forever stamps cost 73 cents each — up five cents from last year’s price of 68 cents. The great thing about Forever stamps is they don’t list a value on the stamps themselves, so you can stock up and still use them even if the cost of Forever stamps increase.
But you can get postage stamps for cheaper than face value if you know where to look. Here are a few options to get you started.
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Where to Buy Stamps at Discounted Prices
Before you start shopping for discounted stamps, it’s important to think critically about the deal you’re getting. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the sale of counterfeit stamps is up.
“Is a substantial discount of up to 50% off an order of United States Forever Stamps too good to pass up?” the article asks. Yes, keep scrolling.
USPIS reports that counterfeit Forever stamps are typically sold in bulk with a hefty discount, such as 20 to 50% off. If you see a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is. That’s why buying stamps from a random seller on eBay might not be the best decision.
But despite the presence of counterfeit stamps, it’s still possible to get a discount on postage stamps; you just need to be vigilant and research the seller to make sure they’re legit before parting with your money.
Check Stamp Dealers for Discounted Postage
Stamp collecting is a big business. Dealers make a lot of their money buying and selling stamps from collectors, but they also sell mint stamps at a lower cost than their worth.
Stamp collectors often buy unique stamps when they come out, thinking they may become valuable someday. But often, they don’t grow in value, and the collector may sell stamps to a dealer at a discount. The dealer then sells these stamps to you, the consumer, at a low cost.
Buying stamps this way might mean you have to use several stamps of random value to get to the 66 cents required for regular postage, but it can save you money (and make for a unique envelope to the recipient of your mail).
Look for Deals on Amazon
At first glance, postage stamps on Amazon seem to sell for the same price as at USPS, and in some cases, they are more expensive. But if you have patience, you may be able to find good deals on stamps on Amazon.
You’re not guaranteed to find cheap stamps on Amazon, but if you can find them it might be worthwhile — especially if you have an Amazon credit card that earns you points on your purchases.
One caveat about buying stamps on Amazon: Make sure you only buy directly from Amazon or from a legitimate seller, as there may be some third-party sellers that list counterfeit stamps for super-cheap. If the listing looks suspicious or too good to be true, there’s probably a good reason for that.
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Sign Up for a Stamps.com Account
If you listen to podcasts, chances are you’ve heard of Stamps.com in an ad. They usually offer a free trial period that includes freebies like postage, so you can try out the service before paying for a subscription.
As of September 2024, Stamps.com offers First Class (i.e. Forever) stamps for 69 cents each, saving you 4 cents.
Membership is $19.99 per month (plus applicable taxes), including a free 5-pound digital postal scale when you sign up, plus the four-week trial that includes $5 in free postage. You can cancel anytime, as there are no long-term contracts. If you do a lot of mailing and shipping, a subscription should pay off in the long run.
Check Out BuyDiscountStamps.com
Another online option is BuyDiscountStamps.com. You can get a lot of stamps for an average of 10% to 15% off face value.
BuyDiscountStamps.com advertises no taxes and free shipping on all orders. However, there is a $500 minimum order, which helps the site keep its prices low. That’s a bit much if you’re just stocking up on stamps for yourself, but you can always see if some friends want to go in with you to reach the minimum and likely never need to buy stamps again!
Buy Stamps Directly From the Post Office
For smaller orders of stamps, buying directly from the United States Postal Service can be a good option. USPS also offers various stamp designs, whereas buying them elsewhere usually limits you to the traditional American flag design.
USPS makes stamps in many different designs to celebrate holidays, public figures, seasons and more.
Buying postage stamps directly from the post office means you will pay the going rate for a Forever stamp, but it gives you more options than any other seller and supports the government enterprise.
How Much Is a Book of Stamps?
A full-cost book of 20 Forever stamps costs $11.60 (58 cents each). The cost will rise to $12 a book (60 cents each) July 10. However, a Forever stamp will always cover a standard first-class letter even after the cost rises. Resellers offer lower prices, but beware of counterfeits.
Buy Stamps at Other Retailers
The post office is the most obvious place to buy stamps, but it can be inconvenient. You can find postage stamps at full retail price at several different types of retailers that you probably frequent often, saving you the additional trip even if it doesn’t save you money. Generally, anywhere that sells mailing supplies will also sell stamps.
Office retail suppliers such as OfficeMax and Staples usually sell stamps at retail prices. In addition to office supply stores, you can buy stamps at the gas station, the UPS store, chain stores like Target and Walmart, pharmacies and grocery stores. Another good option is a wholesale store like Costco or Sam’s Club. In September 2024, Costco was selling a roll of 100 Forever stamps for $72.75, which works out at just less than the 73 cent retail price.
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How to Save Even More
Rebates and rewards are two more ways to save money on postage stamps.
Check Rebate Sites
For additional savings, check rebate sites to find the best cash-back deal when buying discount stamps. Those amounts vary from day to day.
Once you find the best rebate site, search for Forever Stamps on your chosen site (such as Amazon or Walmart) to earn your rewards.
At 5% cashback on a $72 coil of stamps from USPS, you’ll save an extra $3.60.
Use a Rewards Credit Card
This is one of the best deal-stacking tips. With a cash-back credit card, you get money just for purchasing things you would buy anyway.
If your card offers 1% cash back, you’ll save an extra 72 cents on that coil of 100 Forever stamps being sold for $72. It may not seem like a huge savings, but every little counts, right?
You might not think to look for rewards and discounts on items like this, but think about the money — and hassle — you can save! How much first-class mail do you send each month?
One hundred stamps could go pretty far — you could be set up for months!
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Ohio-based Catherine Hiles is a British writer and editor living and working in the U.S. She has a degree in communications from the University of Chester in the U.K. and writes about finance, cars, pet ownership and parenting.
