The receiving record for 2nd class postage is simply not good enough, a lot of mail goes missing. There is no way of proving it of course, but I suspect it is given very low priority, hence the bad service.

If you are sending something that stands a chance of getting to it's destination on time, then 1st class is how it should go. The other alternatives include electronic mail [email] and texting

It is I'm afraid just another cost that increases. The PO have given it their thoughts and added to the cost!

Brian

I send everything first class. The difference in cost is negligible. It's still cheap at the price.

John

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That's a bargain. Here in France it's 81p second class and 97p first class at the current exchange rate.

Russell

Last time they put the price up I went and bought a big batch 1st and 2nd. Still valid after the increase, but for a 1p increase it's probably not worth the hassle

How does that work in the UK? Are stamps actually printed with a price or are they (as here, Canada) simply generic stamps with no price on them that, once purchased, are valid for all time regardless of future increases?

(Just "local" stamps of course).

Our club stopped sending out membership cards by mail a few years ago because it was quite a high proportion of the membership fee. A few people still send and SAE but most pick them up at the meetings. Then last year we gave up out printed monthly magazine as the postage was half the cost.