NO CASH at Post Office Vending Machines
New vending machines will accept credit cards, not cash…
Citing the high cost of vending machine maintenance, the U.S. Postal Service will be eliminating thousands of vending machines that accept coins to purchase stamps and will replace them with new automated machines that accept credit or debit cards instead. The U.S. Postal Service plans to eliminate its 23,000 vending machines by 2010. Postal Service spokesman Ron Perry said, “We’re going out with the old and coming in with the new.”
The new machines which will be stationed at post offices, grocery stores and other locations - will only accept credit or debit cards with a minimum purchase of $1. The Postal Service will benefit from the move; especially when consumers use the new machines to buy two $.41 stamps - with an additional charge of $.18 to meet the minimum.
The change has already begun in Colorado Springs where 9 of 12 area post offices have the new automated postal center machines available 24 hours a day. “A few of the old postage stamp vending machines remain in area post offices,” Perry said. But by September, all the old machines will be completely removed. “Eventually, all post offices will have the new automated vending machines,” he added. Customers who would like to use cash - will still be able to purchase stamps at the counter during regular business hours.
