HARTFORD — With six days left until Christmas, Saturday mailers across the Connecticut Valley will find 42 extra outlets, contracted exclusively with the Postal Service, to provide stamps, packaging and shipping services.

Many sites will offer postal operations on both Saturday and Sunday. In total, they will provide more than 557 hours of access to postal services in this final weekend before Christmas.

“These are the busiest days of the season for our neighbors. We are delighted to help you save a few minutes by offering hours of easy access in our contracted offices,” explained Connecticut Valley District Manager, acting, Kimberly J. Peters.

In addition to providing convenient hours in locations where shoppers conduct other errands, the Connecticut Valley’s 44 contracted sites expand access to postal products on weekends when regular post offices are closed. Each site provides a designated area clearly marked for postal operations, with trained employees providing services.

According to postal retail sources, sharing space and resources help retailers and USPS create a "win-win" situation. For retail businesses, the postal contract often allows the owners to make use of underused space while providing an additional service that brings more customers into the facility.

The Postal Service reaches more customers, at more hours, while avoiding the costs of running a full-service post office. And neighborhoods gain service in familiar settings, postal officials explain.

The Postal Service’s Connecticut Valley District includes 332 post offices and 91 stations and branches throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Local post offices will be open regular business hours this weekend.

BACKGROUND:

Where are the Contract Postal Units in Western Massachusetts? (listed in ZIP Code order)

What is a Contract Postal Unit?

A Contract Postal Unit (CPU) is a Post Office that is located inside a retail establishment and operated by the retailer’s employees. CPUs provide postal services to remote, under-served, and seasonal locations where traditional post offices are not available or are overburdened.

A Contract Postal Unit can be supplier-owned or supplier-leased site operated by the supplier. It is operated under contract to the Postal Service to provide postal services to the public. 

Do I pay extra if I buy stamps or mail a package?

A Contract Postal Unit sells postal services, such as stamps or postage for packages, at face value. You do not pay a surcharge or extra fee for mailing services at a Contract Postal Unit.

How many Contract Units are there?

According to the Postal Service’s 2009 Annual Report, there are more than 3,800 Contracted Postal Units and Community Post Offices around the nation.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.