[rstrahan]

I see lots of small post offices located in towns of 500 or less, within a few miles of post offices in larger towns. The post office can be replaced by contracting with the local store, etc, generating income rather than costing income.

[trebb]

The post office can be replaced by contracting with the local store, etc, generating income rather than costing income.

But...but...but...going back to efficient and sensible methods, like the old General Store as a focal point for a community, would be "going backwards". Can't have them pesky, old-time, common sense methodologies/philosophies creeping into the "modern world again.

[cripplecreek]

I see lots of small post offices located in towns of 500 or less, within a few miles of post offices in larger towns. The post office can be replaced by contracting with the local store, etc, generating income rather than costing income.

Actually that's a far more workable solution in the bigger towns. The nearest "city" near me has about 30,000 people 5 overstaffed post offices and door to door delivery to every home in the city.

My little town has one post office, no door to door delivery, and shares a rural carrier with 3 other post offices. The only store in town has been open a total of about 3 years of the last 15.

[Bitsy]

see lots of small post offices located in towns of 500 or less, within a few miles of post offices in larger towns. The post office can be replaced by contracting with the local store, etc, generating income rather than costing income.

I lived in a very small town approx. 20 miles from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Our post office was run by a woman out of her dry goods store. My parents had no problem with that. Oh, and the only switchboard/telephone operator in town was also the town’s beautician who gave me the most horrific first and last perm of my life!

[Roccus]

The post office can be replaced by contracting with the local store, etc, generating income rather than costing income.

I can remember one such "Post Office" in a local Rexall Drug Store...in New York City.

[FlyVet]

Exactly. There is a cards/gifts store near my home. They have a mail counter. Any way you want it, USPS, UPS, or Fedex. It must be a secret, because there's never a line.

If I go to the Post Office, there will be a line out the door, 2 or 3 people working the counter, and 5 more in the background, milling about, seemingly doing nothing. No multitasking allowed, it's not in the contract. Plenty of room for streamlining.