You did not have the stand in a short line at the USPS option. That is usually what I do. If I am really in a hurry, my bank ATM sells them with only a small mark-up.

I usually buy stamps at the Automated Postal Center thingy, unless I have other business at the counter. I assume they are not phasing those out?

No cash required, no change to fool with.

USPS also sells stamps-by-mail for no additional mark-up or fees. Turnaround time is generally three business days. All letter carriers and post offices should have the forms.

UPS, FedEx

Not quite as cost effective as the USPS.
With the USPS a business can mail 200 marketing pieces, notices, fwup letters, etc. for around $80. If using FedEx I'm pretty sure it would be $1,000 or more.

E-mail is not quite as personal as a letter, IMO.

I was shipping a package at the post office on Weisgarber one day a few years ago and heard roosters crowing. I asked the clerk and was told they had roosters in the back that had been ordered by mail and were awaiting pickup.

As for the vending machines, before they started accepting pennies, I would always end up with a bunch of one cent stamps that I never used. Oh and as long as there is Ebay the post office will never be phased out.

I remember when you could buy stamps from the carrier. Now that was service. it was wonderful because our carrier was also the father of one of my school mates. Community for sure. These days the carrier is not allowed to sell you stamps.

I sometimes buy at the grocery store, but like Carole I prefer picking my stamps because I hate those damned flags. I've accepted the liberty bells when there's no other choice (except the flag). But give me quilts or flowers or baseball or weird architecture. None of which are in the machines.

I only know of two people who buy stamps online, both do it to get the personalized stamps. One has stamps that feature the artwork of another person. The other has stamps that feature her dog.

pgs

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

I like to choose which stamps I buy. Many stamps are boring and overly patriotic with flags and liberty bells etc. I prefer artwork, pretty nature-oriented stamps, or meaningful ones celebrating things or people I appreciate. I'm not sure about this, but I think the machines have fewer choices. There aren't long lines at the North Knox post office on Broadway very often and the people there are very nice. I don't know why, but going to the post office has always been kind of a community thing for me. I like the interaction. Long lines really bug me though. I usually leave if I see there are more than a few people.

Why are they phasing out vending machines?

bizgrrl, you must not frequent the Cedar Bluff branch in the afternoon.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

I always buy them at the counter (Cedar Bluff and Alcoa) and rarely ever encounter long lines.

customer service at grocery stores.