MASON CITY, Iowa—The U.S. Postal Service’s Automated Postal Centers (APCs) were introduced in select Post Offices several years ago, and have found an enthusiastic following among mailers who like the speed, ease and convenience that the APC provides. “We refer to it as the ‘ATM of the Post Office’,” said Mason City Postmaster Scott Pardoe. “The APC is already popular among our local eBay shippers, and they’re proving to be especially convenient during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season,” he added.

The APC, which is located in the Mason City Post Office, at 211 N Delaware Ave., provides quick, easy, and convenient access to postal services. Just as an ATM is a virtual stand-alone bank, the APC is a virtual stand-alone Post Office. But unlike the ATM, there’s no transaction fee. And with its easy access, customers can avoid the lines at the window counter.

APCs provide access to postal services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Transactions may be conducted in English or Spanish. Using a credit or debit card, postal customers can ship holiday packages weighing up to 70 pounds.

In addition to having a built-in electronic scale, the APC allows customers to calculate and obtain postage in any amount for Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Parcel Post. APCs also provide mailing information, including a convenient ZIP Code lookup feature.

“We know our customers’ time is important,” said Pardoe, “especially during the holiday rush. The convenience that the APC provides will make mailing this season much easier.”

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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.