Money saver: Buy stamps in France online at La Poste and print at home
An announcement by La Poste about price changes from January 1, 2022, means that next year the saving from printing at home will be 3%
Since 2011, the price of a red stamp in France has nearly doubled from €0.60
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First-class red and second class green stamps for use within France are cheaper if bought online and printed at home rather than purchased at the post office.
The current price for red stamps with promise of delivery within 24 hours is €1.28 for a letter up to 20g. If you buy this online and print it at home, it is €1.24.
The difference is more noticeable – 31 centimes – at the maximum 3kg weight.
Green stamps take up to two days to deliver in France, with La Poste claiming their carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions are 30% lower than a red stamp.
The letter can be a maximum 3cm thick, 60cm long and 3kg in weight.
The current price is €1.08 for a letter weighing up to 20g but €1.05 online.
To order stamps, click Imprimez vos timbres.
You choose the design and type of stamp before paying and printing on stickered printer paper or ordinary white paper. If the latter, use glue to fix it to the envelope – sticky tape can sometimes block the QR code. You can buy and print out a set of 12 stamps.
La Poste says prices overall will increase on average by 4.7% next year.
The post office price for green stamps on letters up to 20g will go up 8 centimes to €1.16, and red stamps 15 centimes to €1.43.
The same weight international letter, valid the world over including the EU, will cost €1.65 instead of €1.50.
Since 2011, the price of a red stamp has nearly doubled from €0.60.
Prices, which are regulated by the Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques, des postes et de la distribution de la presse (Arcep), go up every year.
La Poste says this means it can continue to provide a universal service as postal volumes decrease.
One way to avoid the price rise is to stock up in advance. Stamps are not price-marked, so one bought today will still be valid this time next year.
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