TL;DR
A writer cataloged Amazon Prime items priced below the U.S. first-class stamp rate of $0.78 (as of 2025) and used Amazon's free shipping plus a free gift note to send cheap physical items instead of postcards. The idea is presented as a low-cost, attention-grabbing alternative to mailing a letter.
What happened
The author searched Amazon Prime for products priced under $0.78 and assembled a running list of inexpensive items that ship free. The sample list includes everyday objects — a rivet for $0.18, single pieces of fruit like a lime for $0.25, single-serve food packets and pantry items (ranging from $0.42 to $0.70), small craft paints, and an 8 oz tomato sauce for $0.70. The post highlights that buyers can add a complimentary gift note and that deliveries typically arrive in one to two days under Prime service. The writer frames this as an alternative to sending a postcard: instead of paying postage, you can send a tangible, inexpensive object that may amuse or surprise the recipient. The author also recounts a 2023 anecdote in which sending $1 cans of beans to relatives sparked ongoing group-chat exchanges and prompted others to send quirky items to each other.
Why it matters
- It reframes the cost-benefit of small physical gifts versus traditional postage for casual sending.
- Low-priced, free-shipping retail items can be used to create memorable, physical touchpoints between people.
- The practice highlights quirks in online retail pricing and shipping that some users can exploit for social or novelty purposes.
- It raises practical questions about how e-commerce platforms and postal pricing interact for micro‑shipments.
Key facts
- According to the post, a U.S. letter stamp costs $0.78 as of 2025.
- The author located multiple Amazon Prime items priced below $0.78 with free shipping.
- Sample items and listed prices include: a Volkswagen rivet for $0.18, a lime for $0.25, Kool-Aid packet for $0.42, and an 8 oz tomato sauce for $0.70.
- Other listed bargains: Maruchan ramen $0.47, a russet potato $0.56, and a Yoplait yogurt cup at $0.77.
- The author says you can add a free gift note to shipments and that delivery typically takes one to two days on Prime.
- The page notes prices were updated 18 minutes before the snapshot shown.
- In 2023, the author sent $1 cans of beans to family members and says it led to an extended, playful group-chat exchange and further item exchanges among relatives.
- The site disclaims any affiliation or endorsement by Amazon.
What to watch next
- Whether Amazon changes listing, pricing, or shipping rules that would limit the availability of single items priced below postage — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether mailers or recipients react to this practice at scale in ways that affect seller or carrier policies — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether postage rates or postal rules are revised in response to patterns of very-low-cost, free-shipping micro‑shipments — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Postal arbitrage: Using a price or service discrepancy between retailers and postal services to send items more cheaply or efficiently than standard postage.
- Amazon Prime: A subscription service offered by Amazon that typically includes benefits such as free shipping on eligible items and faster delivery windows.
- Free shipping: A retail shipping option where the seller covers the delivery cost, often presented to consumers as no additional fee at checkout.
- Gift note: A short message that can be included with an online order, sometimes offered at no extra cost by retailers to designate a purchase as a gift.
- First-class stamp: A postage stamp used in the United States to mail standard letters and cards.
Reader FAQ
What is the technique described in the post?
Buying very low‑priced Amazon Prime items that cost less than a $0.78 U.S. stamp (as of 2025) and sending them with a free gift note instead of a postcard.
Are there examples of items and prices?
Yes. The post lists items such as a $0.18 rivet, $0.25 lime, $0.47 ramen, and a $0.70 8 oz tomato sauce.
How long do these shipments take?
The author says such Prime deliveries arrive in one or two days.
Is this practice endorsed by Amazon?
The site explicitly states it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon.
Are there legal or policy issues with doing this?
not confirmed in the source
Postal Arbitrage As of 2025, a stamp for a letter costs $0.78 in the United States. Amazon Prime sells items for less than that… with free shipping! Why send a…
Sources
- Postal Arbitrage
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service Warns Consumers About …
- No, the USPS is not selling discount stamps
- Forever Stamps, have you bought 3rd Party?
Related posts
- Anker expands into whole-home backup market with large Solix E10 battery system
- LLVM: The bad parts — maintainers outline pain points and fixes
- When ‘Computers’ Were People: A Short History of Human Calculators