By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Tue, May 13 2008
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Stamp vending machines have been disappearing from some local post offices — but they haven’t been stolen.
United States Postal Service officials have decided to remove the machines from post offices and other retail locations in the Kentuckiana District gradually over the next two years.
The machines have already been removed from post offices in Bronston and Nancy. A machine in Burnside is set to be removed later this month.
Those that are being removed are “cash only” vending machines. According to the USPS, the machines range from seven to 20 years in age.
The USPS cites increasing repair costs, declining vending machine sales, and an increased use of credit and debit cards as reasons for the removals.
“Vending stamp sales are declining,” a USPS news release says.
“Some machines are generating less revenue than the cost of their overhead. ... Although it is not the case at every office or location, some machines had fewer than three customers per month.”
In Pulaski County, the removals of the machines are bringing mixed reactions.
Roetta Vaught, postmaster of the Bronston Post Office, says her customers have been relatively unaffected by the missing machines.
“A few customers have noticed that they’re gone, but nobody has complained about it,” she said.
“I think people were kind of trending that way anyway. ... Things are changing.”
Vaught said customers can now purchase stamps online at www.usps.com — and stamps can also be obtained by filling out “Stamps by Mail” order forms, which are available in several locations. The USPS says stamps may also be ordered by phone and by fax. Stamps can also be obtained by rural delivery route customers from rural mail carriers.
At the Nancy Post Office, last week’s removal of the machines was met with a different reaction.
Nancy Postmaster Dan Wells says vending machines there were used regularly.
“Especially in this size community, our vending machines brought in quite a bit of revenue,” Wells said.
Wells has been advising his customers to order their postage through the mail or online. He also suggests that they try looking in some of the larger post offices for vending machines.
“It’s my understanding that all the vending machines are being removed, but that the larger post offices will be the last ones to have them removed,” Wells said.
“This wasn’t our decision. It was a decision made at a higher level,” he added.
Carol Ann Lovell, postmaster at the Burnside Post Office, also said customers had still been using her vending machine — until Wednesday.
“Mine tore up,” she said, although she added that it was set to be removed soon anyway.
Breakdowns of the aging machines have been a factor in the decision to remove them.
“Repair parts are no longer available,” the USPS says.
No other post offices in Pulaski County are expected to lose their vending machines this month. Information was not available concerning whether or when others would be removed in the future.
Notices must be posted on machines at least 30 days in advance of their removal, the USPS says. The notices must also list nearby post offices and other locations where customers can purchase stamps.
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