A Trip to The Post Office

Let me say first that I have not been to the Post Office in several years. I have a personal mail box at a private postal service, Postal Pal, which has excellent service. Yet, somehow, in this age of direct payments, I found myself in need of one stamp the other day.

I was close to the Post Office on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. I last visited there more than ten years ago; you know, back when they still had stamp machines that took cash. As I pulled in, I noticed the lot was almost full, except for the three handicap spaces up front. Three? No matter, all I needed was the one stamp, I'd pop in and out in no time.

Upon entering the lobby, I spied the new fangled, postage machine, with fully functioning side scale. After waiting for the golden-ager ahead of me to complete his business, I stepped up and began touching the touch screen. Oh, by the way, it doesn't dispense stamps, it prints out the amount like a postage meter.

After the mini-ordeal of five or six screens to buy a stamp, the last screen said insert credit card. Great! I don't carry a wallet. I just leave my license, cards, etc in my car's console until I need them. So, back outside to get a credit card, back by the three, still vacant, handicapped spots, back by the twenty people still waiting for the next available USPS clerk, back inside to wait behind the three people who were once waiting behind me at the postage machine.

Now that I know that I need to bring a credit card to buy a forty-four cent stamp I probably won't be back, but I do love that postage dispenser. Just one thought for the highly efficient folks in postal blue.... Why don't you put up a couple of signs that say, 'No Cash, Credit Only'!