Where To Buy Stamps For Business Mail
While it may no longer be as effective as it was before, mail advertising remains one of the viable options for a marketing strategy for several reasons. One, you can target customers situated in a specific region. Two, your competitors are most likely relying on online marketing, so using mail as a medium for advertising would set you apart and give your brand a unique image.
Of course, much like most marketing strategies, preparations are necessary if you want to use mail advertising. These include the design software, printer, and postage stamps.
Design software is relatively easy to come by. Pretty much any program capable of creating simple designs should do. Printers are also fairly accessible in the market. But in the case of postage stamps, you may struggle to find a reliable supplier since it’s not exactly the most in-demand product nowadays. On that note, below are six places to buy stamps for business mail:
- USPS.com
Most postage stamps within the United States originate from one source: the United States Postal Service, also known as the USPS. Normally, if one wants to buy postage stamps, they’d have to get it through this agency by going to the nearest local post office. The good news is that they already have an official website, meaning you can complete your transactions online.
The USPS.com is a website that has the same offerings as their physical post offices, maybe even more. There, you can even filter postage stamps according to shape, theme, or denomination.
This feature is particularly useful if you’re specifically looking for business mail stamps. Once you complete your order, it should arrive quickly. After all, shipping is the USPS’ specialty.
Pros:
- You can choose from a more diverse catalog
- The website is accessible as long as you have a stable internet connection
- The delivery speed is impressively fast
Cons:
- There may be hidden fees
USPS.com also offers loyalty programs, so apart from providing an overall excellent service, you’ll also benefit from regularly buying business mail postage from their website.
- Local Post Office
Of course, if you’re not fond of visiting their website for any reason at all, you always have the option to visit their local post office. Normally, you’d get in line in the customer service queue, but if your purpose is only to get stamps, it should be possible to accomplish your goal using the electronic self-service kiosk. Take note not all local post offices have a kiosk.
Regardless, if they do, getting stamps should be a lot easier, although you won’t be able to buy specialty stamps, but that shouldn’t be a problem since you only need stamps for business mails.
Pros:
- You don’t have to wait for the delivery of the stamps
- There won’t be any hidden fee if you get them personally
Cons:
- You need to get in line if you want to buy specialty stamps
Take note that post offices open and close at certain times of the day, so you may have to check the status of your local post office before your visit to avoid wasting your time.
- Retailers
Contrary to common belief, postage stamps are sold in places other than the local post office. The prices may vary, but they are viable options nonetheless. You can also find it here:
- Pharmacies
- Gas stations
- Office supply stores
- Grocery stores
- Hypermarkets
Rather than visiting every store you can find and asking if they sell stamps, you can use USPS’s PO locator instead. By entering your location and selecting ‘National Retailer’ on the Location Types field, you can find several places that offer postage stamps, like Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco. Take note that the options and prices may vary according to the store.
For pharmacies, the price should be the same as with post offices, and you can get them by asking the cashier to add stamps to your order. The same goes for grocery stores like Walmart.
You can also get stamps from gas stations, but they often don’t offer many options, and not all gas stations sell stamps, so finding postage stamps for business mails this way might be difficult. Office supplies stores, on the other hand, are most certainly going to offer mailing supplies, although it’s not guaranteed if they have the specific type you’re looking for.
Pros:
- You don’t have to bend your schedule to buy stamps
- Postage stamps are also affected by discounts
- You may stumble upon a sale on postage stamps
Cons:
- There are limited options to choose from
If you intend on taking advantage of this option, you can start by creating a list of places that you often pass by that offer stamps. That way, you can get stamps on the way.
- Digital Marketplaces
If you can’t be bothered to get out of your office, you can buy stamps online instead. Much like physical stores, you’ll find numerous digital marketplaces that sell these products online.
Some examples of such marketplaces include Stamps.com and eBay. The best part about this option is that some digital stores allow you to print postage stamps directly from your computer. While it may be a bit more expensive, it’s often worth the extra price considering how you no longer need to wait for the delivery. Moreover, you can customize the stamps this way.
Pros:
- You can print postage stamps via digital marketplaces
- You don’t have to get out of your office
Cons:
- There may be hidden fees
- Delivery times may vary
Seeing as how online retailers differ in delivery speed and fees, it might be best to buy from several digital marketplaces and choose the one that has the best service.
- Bank ATMs/Tellers
Certain banks sell stamps through their tellers or ATMs. Individuals also call these ATMs stamp vending machines. Again, you don’t have to go to every bank to ask if they sell stamps.
Instead, you can visit the bank’s website and search whether a particular branch offers postage stamps. Note that their stamps may be relatively more expensive since there may be a markup.
Pros:
- Buying stamps is easy
- The options are a bit more diverse than in other places
Cons:
- Stamps may be more expensive due to markup
Closing Thoughts
Many people think that postage stamps only come from the USPS or their local post offices. But seeing as how you’ve reached the end of this article, you should now realize that there are various places offering postage stamps for your business mail. Of course, they may not be the most in-demand product right now, but it also means you’re likely to find sales and discounts for postage stamps.