March 2009

Last call for 42-cent chiropractic stamp

The United States Postal Service has announced that it will raise first class postage rates from 42-cents to 44-cents in May.

With that hike will also come an increase in the cost for the customized chiropractic postage stamp labels designed and issued by the World Chiropractic Alliance.

Although the WCA absorbed previous postage increases, it may not be able to do so once the prices jump again, said Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA founder and CEO.

A sheet of twenty 42-cent postage labels continues to sell for just $19.99, with discounts for purchases of more than 10 sheets – despite the actual increase in stamp denomination, which took effect last year, and increased production and shipping charges by the authorized custom stamp vendor.

"We'll have to re-evaluate our pricing structure," said Dr. Rondberg. "Our intention has never been to make a large profit from these stamps, but we can't afford to lose money on their sale."

The stamp vendor has not yet announced its new prices and there is a possibility that the WCA will discontinue the stamp sales altogether if the charges increase too much.

For years, the World Chiropractic Alliance worked hard to convince the US Postal Service that chiropractic was worthy of being featured on a postage stamp. Despite generating widespread support throughout the profession, as well as from members of Congress, the request for a stamp honoring BJ Palmer and chiropractic was repeatedly denied.

When the Postal Service authorized a handful of companies to issue postage labels, called PC Postage, the WCA jumped at the chance to commemorate and promote chiropractic in this eye-catching manner. The design, boldly bearing the word "Chiropractic," an artistic representation of a spine, and the phrase "for the Health of it!" are legitimate US first-class postage labels that can be used to mail any letter or package, just like a stamp. To keep the labels completely "politics free," the WCA does not print its name anywhere on the stamp or the sheet.

To produce the postage label, available in sheets of 20, the WCA contracted with an industry leader and US Postal Service-approved PC postage vendor. The company has produced more than 40 million custom postage labels for companies and individuals. Each carries a bar code read by the Postal Service.

The positive impact of an image or message on a postage stamp is so great that thousands of design requests are submitted each year to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. Other health care professions frequently have been honored on postage stamps and members of each profession are normally urged to use the stamps for their own mail.

While supplies last, the price of the chiropractic postage stamps remains $19.99 per sheet (20 stamps).

If ordering 11-25 sheets, the price drops to $18.99 and for orders of more than 25 sheets, the price is just $17.99 per sheet.

A flat shipping and handling charge of $5 per order is added. Postage labels can be mailed to US addresses only.

When supplies run out, credit card orders will be refunded and checks returned.

To confirm availability, or to order stamps, visit www.worldchiropracticalliance.org. If ordering by mail, send check to: World Chiropractic Alliance, 2950 N. Dobson Rd., Suite 3, Chandler, AZ 85224 (see page 34 for a mail-in order form).