Thursday, October 8, 2009

The cost of a stamp always seems to be going up. When a KAKE viewer recently tried to buy a book of stamps at a local convenience store, she received some sticker shock.

“Is it legal for stores to sell stamps for more than their face value?” Good question.

The current cost of a basic first class postage stamp is 44 cents. But our viewer was charged 55 cents per stamp.

The answer is yes, a business can sell U.S. postage for profit. The post office sells stamps at face value to everyone, as do many stores in town. And the postal service acknowledges the practice of businesses charging more for stamps and says it has no control over the pricing policies of private entrepreneurs.

It’s always a good idea to ask about the price of stamps before you buy if you make your purchases at places other than the post office.

Send your good questions to news@kake.com