Editing United States Postal Service (section)

=== Paying postage ===
Postage can be paid via:<ref>[http://www.usps.com/all/postagepayoptions/welcome.htm USPS.com]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723224356/http://www.usps.com/all/postagepayoptions/welcome.htm |date=July 23, 2011}}. USPS.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>
* Stamps purchased online at usps.com, at a post office, from a stamp vending machine or "Automated Postal Center" which can also handle packages, or from a third party (such as a grocery store)
* [[Precancel|Pre-cancelled stamps]] for bulk mailings<ref>[http://www.usps.com/send/postagepermitimprintsandmeters/precancelledstamps.htm USPS.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701060911/http://www.usps.com/send/postagepermitimprintsandmeters/precancelledstamps.htm |date=July 1, 2011}}. USPS.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>
* Postal meter
* Prepaid envelope
* Shipping label purchased online and printed by the customer on standard paper (e.g., with [[Click-N-Ship]], or via a third-party such as [[PayPal]] or [[Amazon.com|Amazon shipping]])

All unused [[U.S. postage stamps]] issued since 1861 are still valid as postage at their indicated value. [[Non-denominated postage|Non-denominated stamps]] and those with values denominated by a letter are "valid at the original prices of issue".<ref>{{cite web |title=Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service |url=https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/dmmtoc.pdf |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=18 February 2025 |date=9 January 2025}}</ref> Additionally, ''Forever Stamps'' have been sold since 2007, which will always be valid for First-Class Mail up to {{convert|1|oz|g}}, regardless of rate changes.<ref>[http://www.usps.com/prices/ New Prices Coming May 12, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804055646/http://www.usps.com/prices/ |date=August 4, 2015}}. Usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> In 2011, all first-class one ounce stamps, except for those sold in select coil sizes, "became forever stamps".<ref>{{cite web |title=Forever Stamp Fact Sheet |url=https://about.usps.com/news/fact-sheets/forever-stamp-facts.htm |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref>

The cost of mailing a {{convert|1|oz|abbr=on}} First-Class letter increased to 73 cents on July 14, 2024.<ref name="Notice 123" /><ref name="cbs-73">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Kate |title=Stamp prices poised to rise again, for the 2nd time this year  |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-prices-increase-forever-stamp-2024/ |website=CBS News |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003234410/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-prices-increase-forever-stamp-2024/ |archive-date=3 October 2024 |date=10 April 2024}}</ref>

==== Postage meters ====
{{Main|Postage meter}}
A postage meter is a mechanical device used to create and apply physical evidence of postage (or franking) to mailed matter. Postage meters are regulated by a country's postal authority; for example, in the United States, the United States Postal Service specifies the rules for the creation, support, and use of postage meters. A postage meter imprints an amount of postage, functioning as a postage stamp, a cancellation and a dated postmark all in one. The meter stamp serves as proof of payment and eliminates the need for adhesive stamps.

==== PC Postage ====
In addition to using standard stamps, postage can now be printed in the form of an electronic stamp, or e-stamp, from a personal computer using a system called [[Information Based Indicia]]. This online PC Postage method relies upon application software on the customer's computer contacting a postal security device at the office of the postal service.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Henk C. A. |last=van Tilborg |year=2005 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of cryptography and security |title=Electronic Postage |publisher=Springer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-9Zj-e-HDsC&pg=PA177 |isbn=978-0-387-23473-1 |access-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035351/https://books.google.com/books?id=m-9Zj-e-HDsC&pg=PA177 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>