Most advice about counterfeit postage is vague — "be careful", "use trusted sellers". Here is a number instead.
Below about $0.60 a stamp, it is almost certainly fake. Genuine surplus comes from overstock and business liquidations, and that supply cannot be sold much below that without losing money. A seller offering less is not a better buyer than everyone else in the market.
One small business owner bought at 40% off from a site that looked entirely professional. The packages came back and the customers were left confused about why.
Why bulk buying now makes sense anyway
A Forever stamp is 78¢ as of July 2025, and the USPS has confirmed no increase before July 2026. Stamps bought at that rate cover a First-Class letter whenever you send it, whatever the price has become.
So there are two separate things happening, and it is worth keeping them apart: buying ahead saves money reliably, and buying cheap is where the risk lives. You want the first without the second.
Best deals on Forever stamps
Four red flags
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under $0.60 per stamp | Almost always counterfeit |
| Generic packaging, no official banding | Not distributed through USPS channels |
| No business address or phone number | Nobody to hold responsible |
| A "liquidation" or "closeout" story | Frequently the cover story for counterfeit sales |
The last one deserves a note, because genuine surplus does come from liquidations. The difference is that a real seller can tell you which liquidation and show you an invoice; a fake one offers the narrative without the paperwork.
Consequences of using counterfeit postage go beyond returned mail — the Postal Inspection Service treats creating, distributing and using it as an enforcement matter, and publishes guidance on current schemes.
Three ways to buy in bulk safely
Official store. Rolls of 100 and themed sheets directly from the USPS. Full price, no ambiguity. The right answer when the mailing matters more than the margin.
Established retailers. Warehouse clubs, large chains and national pharmacy chains sell at face value with easy returns. Convenient, and effectively zero risk.
Verified surplus dealers. Modest markdowns — around $0.65 a stamp — from sellers sourcing through authorized distribution. This is the genuine savings lane, and the one worth checking credentials on once, properly, before you buy repeatedly.
Four habits for bulk buyers
- Buy before the next adjustment window. Rate changes have tended to land mid-year.
- Store them properly. Heat and humidity ruin adhesive. Sealed container, interior room, away from windows.
- Track monthly usage. Buy to a forecast rather than to a budget, so you are not holding stamps you will not send.
- Treat resale platforms as seller-by-seller. Not off limits, but the platform is not the vendor — the individual account is.
One stationery shop owner sending over 500 cards each December buys rolls in October. It costs nothing extra and removes the entire November problem.
Where to buy
The USPS official store, or a verified surplus channel such as Forever Stamp Center in the 10–25% band.
The short version
Buy early, not cheap. Anything under 60 cents a stamp is fake regardless of the story attached, and a real seller can always show you where the stock came from.
More on buying Forever stamps
- 👉 An Encounter Caused by International Stamps
- 👉 The Hours You Lose Standing in Line for Stamps
- 👉 Denominated Stamps Save Pennies and Cost Hours
Retired USPS mailroom supervisor with 30 years of service in Chicago. He now contributes columns on Forever Stamps, sharing trusted advice on spotting counterfeit risks and finding reliable discount deals for everyday mailers.
