Are 'forever' stamps the next big thing?

Unless your personal communications have migrated completely into the electronic realm of telephone, e-mail and instant messaging, you're in for some bad news, and some, well, good news if the U.S. Postal Service is to be believed.

First class postage increases to 41 cents on May 14, something that, while we may not like it, we can understand. One look at gasoline prices, which are climbing to $2.70 a gallon and beyond, and we can understand why the physical cost of carrying the mail is increasing.

But a month earlier than the price rise, April 12, the USPS is rolling out a new "forever" stamp, emblazoned with a Liberty Bell and the word, naturally enough, "forever."

That means you shouldn't be afraid to stock up on stamps because, trust them, the stamps will be good for mailing a one-ounce first class letter any time in the future, regardless of price changes.

"Who said nothing lasts forever?" remarked Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer John E. Potter, upon unveiling the image at the National Postal Forum earlier this week. "The Forever stamp is a consumer innovation guaranteed to deliver unprecedented convenience and value to our customers. It's good forever."

So should we rush out and invest in hundreds of the new stamps, in hopes of cashing in when this or the next postal hike takes place?

We tend to think the USPS?is jumping on the same bandwagon as retailers who push prepaid gift cards -- accepting payment for goods and services not yet delivered.

One can only imagine the amount of interest that can be collected by big stores or entities like the Postal Service from the cash brought in in advance.

Not that issuing collectors' stamps doesn't already pursue the same angle.

And, as in unused change on gift cards, or stamps lost or ruined in the washing machine, what's to guarantee any services or products are actually delivered?

Yes, the forever stamp will avoid the inconvenience of adding a penny or two to obsolete first-class stamps.

But until you actually need to mail something -- and those occasions are becoming more and more rare -- there are a lot better places to park your cash than in postage.