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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (322564)	9/3/2009 9:59:08 PM
From: goldworldnet	1 Recommendation Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793854

Why use a vending machine when you can hire somebody? Post office removing traditional stamp machines By the end of September, all traditional stamp vending machines will be pulled. By ANDRES A. NAVARRO - The Orange County Register - Wednesday, August 12, 2009 ocregister.com The U.S. Postal Service will remove by September all traditional stamp vending machines in Orange County as well as the rest of the United States. Since 2007, the vending machines have been gradually removed because of the rising cost of maintenance and the equipment is obsolete, said postal spokesman Richard Maher. "People are using less stamps these days," he said. "People pay their bills online more, and they don't have the (same) need for stamps." At first, some machines were removed and their parts used to repair other vending machines; much of the equipment is no longer produced. Now, all machines will be pulled because they aren't profitable enough, Maher said. It is unclear how many stamp vending machines have been removed in Orange County so far. But there are 34 machines left in the 67 local post offices. In the past, there was a minimum revenue requirement of $360 per month in order to stay in service. The USPS is not replacing the stamp machines with newer ones. Instead, people will have to buy stamps during business hours at postal windows or through other alternatives such as at usps.com, by phone, at some ATM machines, in grocery stores, and at newer, automated postal centers available around the clock at certain U.S. Postal Service centers. "It doesn't make sense to me why they're taking those out," said Greg Letts, 57, outside the an Anaheim post office on Ball Road. "I understand there are other ways of getting stamps, but what happens when the tellers are too busy and you need a stamp?" The Postal Service first began using stamp vending machines in 1908. The ones they are pulling out of service are as old as a half-century; materials from the vending machines will be recycled as much as possible. "Taking the stamp machines isn't really going to affect me much," said Adam Cruz, 44. "Every time I go to the post office, I go up to the window when I need something." In Orange County, there are 19 computerized, automated postal centers that are much more elaborate machines than the standard vending ones on their way out. The centers allow customers to search for zip codes, buy postage and weigh and mail packages. * * *