Bye bye source of dollar coins

My local post office posted a sign on the stamp machines today - they will be removed on or before September 30.

The sign suggests buying stamps on the internet, but that's credit card country.

Oh well.

 

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I'm confused. Why not just buy them at the post office counter. My post office never had any machines for stamps. We just walk up to the counter and say how many.

 

Walking up to the counter in our post office could take 45 minutes or more at certain times of the day. It's a very busy place. I get my stamps at the grocery store.

 

People still buy stamps? I always buy the first class stamps that don't expire because sometimes it takes me two or three years to deplete a book of them. I just rarely mail anything.
Guy~

 

The title to this thread is "bye bye source of dollar coins". Which I would assume the machine was giving out.


stainless

 

Iam from a small town so we just walk up and buy them also. I couldn't imagine spending 45 minutes in line waiting for stamps...

 

The Post Office is cutting jobs. By eliminating the stamp machines they also eliminate the clerks job that would restock the machines. The same goes for the window service. The Post Office has been eliminating the window clerks jobs for some time. The higher ups hope that you will get tired of waiting in long lines at the Post Office and use other alternatives like the web or the mom and pop postal stores.

Lou

 

Yes stainless you're correct. If you would put in a 20 dollar bill in the stamp machine for a book of stamps you would get Susan B. Anthony and presidents dollars in change.

Lou

 

Yep - the post office I use did it earlier this year. And going to the counter does not help - I asked for any dollar coins and they had a total of 1 between the two of them. At least the parking garage I use down at the local coin shop still spits out dollar coins. I always use it and get 3 of them for change from a 5.

 

So that's why when I go to my local post office the clerks ALWAYS ask a thousand up-sale questions which make for long lines! :desk: Finally had one of them say I'm sorry but we're evaluated randomly and must ask these questions...even though I had already told him I didn't need this, this, & this, trying to get in and out quickly without all the questions. Everyone is worried about loosing their jobs.

Asking for a "book" of stamps at the grocery store check out line is easier if you know you need it ahead of time.

 

They took my machines away in may. But I think it was time. The machine started to short me a dollar or two every few transactions.

IT was also the only vending machine that was able to take cents. Which did help clean out the change in my car. Still trying to find a machine that will take halves.

 

The change machines at my job still give out the dollar coins. Put in a 5 and get 4 dollar coins and 4 quarters. I haven't tried a 20 yet.

 

Lost the stamp machines about a year ago. Use to get Susan B's in change. I am in San Francisco and the USPS lines are almost non-existent @my neighborhood station. The two banks I patronize have lots of dollar coins/halves/$2bills. I use the coins for pub.transportion. You can also get stamps from bank ATM machines, which I rarely use.

 

OHHH. I thought this was the USPS web site.

I suppose the original thing was to acquire those baby dollar coins you go to the post office and buy stamps.

 

I'm looking for a machine that gives out a $5 bill when you insert 4 of those baby dollars. Actually the machines around me seldom give out anything and you don't get your money back either.

 

While it is true that the PO is eleminating jobs, as I understand it, the reason for them eleminating these machines is that the company that makes them is no longer making replacement parts for them so the post office is phasing them out. It started about 2 or so years ago.

 

It seems like this logic may help their competitor's business grow. Our post office has the automated teller where you can weigh packages, print your own labels, and buy stamps. Hopefully these smaller offices go to this alternative, rather than eliminate services altogether.And yes, these do give dollar coins back in change too.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't it easier to just order a box from the mint? They sell for face value with free shipping. That seems much easier than going to the post office and dealing with a machine.

BTW our post office got rid of their machines too. The replaced it with the automated machine mentioned earlier that takes Credit Cards.

 

You could get the occasional Susie B's and sac. Also it was nice to have a easy supply with out having to commit to $250 box.

 

Back in 2007 when the President dollars began coming out (and the Mint was charged with doing eveything possible to encourage their circulation) the Post office announced they were beginning a three year phase out of the stamp machines, the one of the single largest source of supply for the circulation of the dollar coins.