Going postal during the holidays

U.S. Post Office customer Mike Touchet, left, uses the new Automated Postal Center to mail a package at the Enterprise Post Office with Susan Rice, right, Retail Specialist for the Alabama District of the USPS, showing a step-by-step method of how to mail packages, buy stamps or even pay a post office box with the APC.

By Carole Brand
Published: December 05, 2008

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The United States Post Office is making it convenient for customers to mail packages for the holidays, purchase stamps, pay for a post office box and search for zip codes without having to stand in line.

USPS Retail Specialist for the Alabama District and a postmaster near Anniston, Susan Rice visited a few days with the Enterprise Post Office to endorse the new Automated Postal Center.

“The APC is open 24 hours for customers to come in and mail packages and even weight their packages,” she said. “The center will print out the correct amount and the APC has a place to put the package in the mail.”

Customer Mike Touchet said he uses the APC frequently.

“It’s great because it’s open 24 hours even after the post office is closed, and it’s easy. It takes you step by step. You can come in on your own schedule and mail anything or get stamps.”

Rice said anyone can use the APC who has a major credit card or debit card.

“It won’t take cash, only a credit or debit card,” she said. “Almost 2,500 post offices across the country now have these ATM-like machines.”
“Since the holiday season is really near, people can mail from the APC or people need to watch the deadlines so that their packages, especially to APO boxes to U.S. troops, get there in time for Christmas,” Rice said.

Express Mail delivery is still available by Christmas to most overseas military locations if mailed by Dec. 18.

As for holiday deadlines within the United States by regular mail with holiday cards, letters and packages going to U.S. destinations, the deadline is Dec. 20 for delivery by Christmas.

Rice said for overseas packages, the U.S. Post Office has two flat rate boxes available.

“The smaller flat rate box is $9.80 to mail up to 70 pounds and we have a little larger flat rate box to mail for a little more than $10,” she said. “We’re giving the overseas military mailing a $2 discount on the flat rate boxes and this is the prices reflected for mailing on those two type of flat rate boxes.”

For more information on the APC or holiday mailing, call 1-800-ASK-USPS or access usps.com.