Where are all the stamp machines!!??
@fluffnflowers (1594)
United States
July 19, 2008 5:06pm CST
Today, I wanted to pick up some $1 stamps so that I could mail a letter to my friend overseas without plastering the envelope with smaller stamps.
Well, we went to the little post office down the road and they're taking out the machines! It's the only post office left in the area that still has their machine, but it won't shortly. This post office only has someone in it until noon, so I was unable to buy stamps there and had to drive across town to get them.
Why are they taking out the machines? Standing in a long line at the post office for thirty minutes to get stamps is infuriating. I don't go to the grocery store very often and they never have anything but 'letter' stamps, so that's not really an easy option, either! And usps.com charges a $1 handling fee if you order them off of the website.
Are they trying to inconvenience people so that they have to pay the extra fees online? Are they not making enough money off of stamp machines? Or are they trying to convert everyone over to the printable postage machines? Why are they doing this? What's your theory? 
2 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
19 Jul 08
They are converting over to a new system that has been in place around here for about 6 months or so. It is a system that does everything - include weight large packages - so the post office is open 24-7 for any service.
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
20 Jul 08
Those APCs really stink, though! 
Not only do you have to drive to the post office to use them, but you're limited to domestic mail or international mail not requiring a customs tag. There's just something about not being able to get stamps when the APC labels are too large to fit on the envelope that's completely impractical.
Not only do you have to drive to the post office to use them, but you're limited to domestic mail or international mail not requiring a customs tag. There's just something about not being able to get stamps when the APC labels are too large to fit on the envelope that's completely impractical.@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
20 Jul 08
Unless you need stamps right now this second, you can always order them online or print all our enevlopes out using the USPS website.
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I usually order them, but it's a $1 charge for buying them online. I do print most of my postage online (I love it for larger things!), but I wish they'd allow first class letter rates, rather than just first class package. It looks like they're moving to change things on that, though.
@momalisa65 (1971)
• United States
20 Jul 08
I never bought stamps from a machine before. I get them from the service desk at the grocery store.
We also have a pharmacy nearby that has a mini post office in the back. I get them there too.
Awhile ago I remember seeing a stamp machine in a Walmart. But I don't know if it's still there or not.
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
3 Aug 08
Oooh! Lucky you. They've removed all of the stamp machines, and our stores don't have anything other than .42 stamps. I'll have to check out WalMart and see if they have a machine, in case I need to do a midnight stamp run!
