NICHOLASVILLE, KY — The U.S. Postal Service will stop selling stamps out of vending machines at Post Offices and other retail locations in the Kentuckiana District by phasing out the units. The vending machine removals began in 2008 and will be completed in 2010.

There are approximately 125 vending machines in 95 offices across the district. The decision to remove the machines was based on several factors:

• Breakdowns of the aging machines are increasing and repair parts are no longer available.
• Vending stamp sales are declining, service costs are increasing and some machines are generating less revenue than the cost of their overhead.
• While many customers prefer the convenience of paying with a credit or debit card, the vending machines accept cash only. Retrofitting the machines to accept credit cards is not feasible.

The stamps vending machines are between seven and 20 years old, and all the machines will eventually be recycled.

Although it is not the case at every office or location, some machines had fewer than three customers per month.

A notice was posted on machines, at least 30 days in advance of removal, listing nearby Postal Offices and other locations where customers can buy stamps.

Today, Postal customers have a wide range of quick, easy and convenient ways to buy postage stamps, including online at www.usps.com, by phone, by fax, by filling out a Stamp by Mail order form available from letter carriers and Post Offices, at commercial retail establishments, through banking and credit union ATMs, and at Automated Postal Centers. Stamps can also be obtained from your rural carrier, if you are on a rural delivery route.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.