One of the largest pharmacy and convenience store chains anywhere in the world, Walgreens has more than 8000+ locations across the country. Each and every day millions of people do at least a little bit of their shopping at Walgreens. They pick up their prescriptions and their medications, they get their hands on “everyday essentials”, and they almost always pickup a drink or a candy bar before they check out, too. What you might not know, though, is that a lot of people also go to Walgreens on the hunt for stamps. But are these people looking for stamps able to check this off of their shopping list while at Walgreens or do they have to go somewhere else like the post office to get this taken care of? Let’s dig a little deeper and find out right now!
Does Walgreens Sell Stamps?
Right out of the gate you’ll be happy to know that Walgreens does in fact carry stamps – First Class Forever postage for USPS envelopes and packages – in all of their retail locations. Yes, you are reading that correctly. You are going to be able to find stamps to mail your envelopes, to get your checks in the mail to cover bills, and to send letters or small packages to people all over the country, too. Best of all, all of the purchases of stamps that you make at Walgreens are going to be counted towards your Walgreens Balance Rewards account points. This means that not only are you going to be able to buy your stamps from Walgreens, but it also means that you are actually going to be able to earn reward points by doing so – certainly something that you wouldn’t be able to do if you were buying stamps from the post office directly. Not bad, right?
What Kind of Stamps Can I Buy at Walgreens?
As we highlighted a moment ago, the kinds of stamps that you are going to find available for sale at Walgreens are the First Class Forever stamps from the United States Postal Service. These are the classic American flag stamps, stamps with postage that never expires and stamps that guarantee you are able to move a piece of mail through the first-class system with USPS with just a single stamp attached.
Unfortunately, as of right now you are going to be able to find any of the specialty stamps available at Walgreens the way you might have found them at your local post office. This means you’re going to have to go somewhere else to get your hands on seasonal stamps (Thanksgiving, and Christmas stamps are always popular, but so are Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day stamps) as well as other specialty stamps like the federal duck stamps. All you are going to be able to buy over-the-counter at Walgreens are First-Class Forever stamps!
How Much Are Stamps at Walgreens?
Another little wrinkle to buying stamps from Walgreens directly is that you won’t be able to buy single stamps or a handful of stamps, but instead will have to purchase an entire stamp booklet. This means that you are ponying up the full price for 20 First Class Forever stamps from the USPS, which works out to $11.60 (as of early 2022). It would be nice if it was possible to purchase different quantities of stamps directly from the folks at Walgreens, but that’s just not something that they offer right now. Not as a general rule, anyway.
Certain locations are going to be willing to “break down” these books and sell you a few stamps if you ask the manager directly and they give the green light. There are a number of reviews online talking about this specifically, but it seems to be more of a hit or miss kind of policy than something companywide.
The good news is, though, that you won’t have to pay any extra to get your hands on stamps from the folks at Walgreens. The price of these First Class Forever stamps is exactly what you would pay if you were buying them directly from the post office in your community. On the other hand, it means that you’re not going to be able to get your hands on the stamps at a discount, either. Still, if your Walgreens is closer – or if you find yourself regularly shopping at Walgreens – than your local post office it’s a much more convenient solution to be sure.
Are These Stamps Legitimate? The Same from the USPS?
You definitely don’t have to worry about buying counterfeit, fake, or phony stamps directly from the folks at Walgreens, either. The stamps that are available for sale from this major retailer are exactly the same as the stamps that you would get from the USPS employees you purchase them from at the post office. They come from the same place, they come from the same source, and they are absolutely identical in every single way. These aren’t fake, they aren’t “old”, and they are going to do the exact same job that stamps from the post office will – cover your postage so that you can get your mail to its ultimate destination.
As we highlighted a moment ago, though, it’s important to really remember that these are First Class Forever stamps. This is postage that covers first-class envelopes and packages only. You’re not going to be able to use the stamps for any of the premium mail services available from the USPS right now. Keep that in mind if you’re hoping to visit Walgreens to get your postage taken care of but are looking to send bigger packages, flat rate envelopes, or something other than first-class mail.
Can I Buy Stamps Online from Walgreens?
As of right now, early 2022, you are not going to be able to purchase stamps online from Walgreens.com directly. You may be able to find these stamps online, even on the official Walgreens.com website, but those stamps are not available or eligible for delivery to your address.
Though stamps are going to be eligible for “in-store pickup only”, giving you the opportunity to order though stamps online to guarantee that they are there when you go to pick up your online or in person. Some people find this process a timesaver, really appreciating the fact that they can square away all of their Walgreens shopping while they are at home. There’s a lot of convenience in placing your order, driving Walgreens, and knowing that someone is going to be getting everything ready for you by the time that you arrive. Other folks, though, like to go down to Walgreens to order stamps and sort of browse around to see if there is anything else they need to scoop up. Either approach works!
Where Do They Keep the Stamps in the Store?
Most of the time (but not always) stamps are going to be found in the office supplies or stationary section of your local Walgreens retail outlet. If you are on the hunt for stamps, try and look for the section of the store that sells envelopes, paper, cards, pens, and things of that nature. This is generally where you are going to find these First Class Forever stamps.
Remember that they come in booklet form, too! If you are looking for individual stamps you might glance over these First Class Forever stamp booklets completely. Plenty of folks do! Sometimes, though, Walgreens will keep the stamps that they make available for sale either behind the cash register counters or somewhere up front near those registers. First you’ll want to have a look around the stationery and office supply section of the store. Just confirm that the stamps aren’t there before you go up to the front desk. If you’re not able to find the stamps that you are looking for near the registers it’s not a bad idea to ask the employees for help. They’ll usually be able to point you in the right direction, track down your stamps for you, or get a hold of a manager to let you know where the stamps are, too. You won’t have to hunt very hard to find stamps at Walgreens, that’s for sure.
Can I Mail Envelopes and Packages Directly from Walgreens?
While Walgreens does sell First Class Forever stamps that you can use for postage with the United States Postal Service they are not themselves a shipping partner or a postal operation. You probably aren’t going to be able to hand your addressed and stamped envelopes to employees at Walgreens and have them handle dropping your letters off in the mailbox for you!
At the same time, the overwhelming majority of Walgreens operations in the country usually have a USPS “dropbox” on the property – usually out front near the main entrance or the parking lot – or somewhere close by. If you want to mail your envelopes as soon as you by your stamps from Walgreens ask the employees or the manager there if they know where the closest USPS dropbox is. They’ll almost always be able to point you in the right direction. In some circumstances, though, you’re going to have to go to the post office directly to get your mail in the USPS system. You’ll either have to do that or stick your envelopes in your mailbox at home and wait for your mail carrier to handle the pickup for you.
How Do I Find My Nearest Walgreens Location?
One of the most useful things about the Walgreens.com website is that it includes a whole host of tools to help you find your nearest Walgreens location. Because there are so many Walgreens in the country (more than 8000, as we mentioned earlier) 75% of the US population has a Walgreens somewhere within a five-mile radius. That’s not bad! The Walgreens.com website is going to point you to the closest location, letting you know exactly where that Walgreens is so that you can buy your stamps in person.
Of course, you could also use Google (or any other online mapping tool) to help you figure out where your closest Walgreens retail outlet is. Google Maps is fantastic for this. Just search for “Walgreens” in Google Maps (the mobile app for Android and iOS mobile devices), click the location that you want to visit, and then hit the “Directions” button on the app. You’ll be given step-by-step, turn by turn directions to get you from your current location to that Walgreens location as quickly as possible – directions broken down by your specific mode of transportation, too. Use these tools to find out how to walk, how to drive, or how to take public transportation to the closest Walgreens in your area. This makes finding the perfect place to buy stamps about as easy as can be!
US Global Mail – The Ultimate Modern Mailbox Solution
Of course, if you want to forward mail to yourself (or any other address on the planet for the most part) – including envelopes and packages – at up to 80% off of retail prices you might want to consider modernizing your mailbox with US Global Mail. The premier Virtual Mailbox service for more than 20 years now, US Global Mail offers a number of benefits and advantages that traditional mailbox and PO Box services can’t.
We are talking about a permanent physical street address you can use no matter how often you move in the future, and address that allows for acceptance of packages from all of the major shipping companies – including FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS. On top of that, you get full mail scanning and digital updates about all of the packages that you have purchased, too. As soonest something comes to your mailbox you’ll get an instant alert, a photograph of the envelope or package, and the option to have it forwarded to you or held for pickup. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! To learn more about everything that US Global Mail has to offer visit their website or contact customer service for more details today.
