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How to Buy First Class Stamps

Stamps are functional as well as collector's items. Your local post office can offer you a wide selection, ranging from regular to commemorative, as single orders or in booklets. You can also purchase them online, in the convenience of your home, from the USPS website. If you wish to purchase online, you must register for an account.

Instructions

- 1
  Visit the website for the United States Postal Service. Select "Buy Stamps &Shop" from the top of the page and click the "Stamps" link at the top of the following page.
- 2
  Click the "First Class" link or graphic on the next page. Browse through the pages of available stamps. You can choose to buy a single stamp, a block of four or 10 stamps or booklets of 20 stamps.
- 3
  Click "Buy" next to the stamp you want. This takes you to a page with more details for the stamp. Enter the number of stamps, blocks or booklets you wish to purchase in the "Quantity" field and click "Update totals." Click the "Checkout" button. This action takes you to a page where you can create an account on the website.
- 4
  Click the "Sign up" button under "New Users." Enter a username, select a password and provide a password hint that you can use to remember your password later, if necessary. Click "Continue."
- 5
  Choose "Personal" or "Business" for your account's profile type and click "Continue." Enter your contact information on the following page and click the "Continue" button.
- 6
  Review the information your provided on the "User Profile Summary" page and click the "Continue" button. Read and agree to the "Privacy Act" on the following page.
- 7
  Click the "Shopping Cart" link at the top of the page. The information on the right side of the link shows the cost of the items in your shopping.
- 8
  Click "Checkout," then click "Continue." Enter your payment details on the following page. Click "Continue" to review your order and complete your purchase.
- 9
  Purchase stamps from your local post office. If you do not have access to the Internet, you can find the same selection of stamps at the neighborhood branch. Pay for your order with cash, check, credit card or debit card.
- 10
  If it's inconvenient to go to the post office, many groceries and drugstores also sell stamps. Usually they do not add a premium to the cost, charging the same as the post office, considering selling stamps a service to their customers. More often than not the selection is limited to the most common first-class stamp currently offered by the USPS.

Stamp Collecting