Post Office vending machines bite the dust

Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
.... Oh well, game over.

wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.

I noticed the APC - Automated Postal Centers that they had in the post
office and touted heavily for about a year also bit the dust. It is as
though they figured out they were either losing money on them, or that
people did not like them in the first place. I used one only once, to mixed
results. My biggest gripe was that it was cashless, you had to use a credit
or debit card, and I am not into that.

scottishmoney wrote:
wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.

I noticed the APC - Automated Postal Centers that they had in the post
office and touted heavily for about a year also bit the dust. It is as
though they figured out they were either losing money on them, or that
people did not like them in the first place. I used one only once, to mixed
results. My biggest gripe was that it was cashless, you had to use a credit
or debit card, and I am not into that.

Around here it seems like those USPS stamp vending machines have all migrated
into the local grocery store/Wal*Mart lobbies and malls. Those still use $1
coins for change making.

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

wrote:
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.



I picked up a 1981-D SBA in a stamp machine. I'll miss them when they go.

wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.


I must admit, I have a local post office that was recently selected as a 5
star PO by the bigwigs in the PO, and in my opinion they earned it. I would
rather stand in a line and deal with a friendly postal clerk that knows more
than some stupid machine and is infinately more helpful. But I think our
local PO might be the exception to the rule. Same in the grocery store, I
hate those U-Scan things, they are so persnickety and fail often requiring a
clerk to come and reset it. It is easier and more personal to stand in a
line and talk to a cashier.

"scottishmoney" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.


I must admit, I have a local post office that was recently selected as a 5
star PO by the bigwigs in the PO, and in my opinion they earned it. I
would rather stand in a line and deal with a friendly postal clerk that
knows more than some stupid machine and is infinately more helpful. But I
think our local PO might be the exception to the rule. Same in the
grocery store, I hate those U-Scan things, they are so persnickety and
fail often requiring a clerk to come and reset it. It is easier and more
personal to stand in a line and talk to a cashier.

This old fart agrees 100%. A few minutes in line and a brief conversation
with a pleasant clerk. Who's time is so valuable that those few minutes
would be a turnoff? Maybe the ones who value the precious seconds they
believe they'll save by keeping a clerk from having to count out dollar
bills versus dollar coins. I'm all for dealing with people I know at the
stores I know every time, and I don't have to worry about some machine
dumping a pocketful of dollar coins on me.

Bruce

"brocksmith" wrote in message
.. .
A few minutes in line and a brief conversation
with a pleasant clerk.

I use the machines. Long lines and loud talking, wise cracking, rude
"know
it all" clerks who try to find something wrong with every package laid in
front of them are a good reason to minimize interaction with clerks at our
local post office.



I guess I'm lucky then to have four pleasant PO clerks to deal with. I've
seen people waiting in line at those do-it-yourself package mailing machines
as I walk in, and the same people are often still waiting as I walk out.
And I'm also lucky enough, being retired, to be able to stop at the PO
during the day when there are no long lines.

Bruce

In article , "Bruce Remick" wrote:

"scottishmoney" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.


I must admit, I have a local post office that was recently selected as a 5
star PO by the bigwigs in the PO, and in my opinion they earned it. I
would rather stand in a line and deal with a friendly postal clerk that
knows more than some stupid machine and is infinately more helpful. But I
think our local PO might be the exception to the rule. Same in the
grocery store, I hate those U-Scan things, they are so persnickety and
fail often requiring a clerk to come and reset it. It is easier and more
personal to stand in a line and talk to a cashier.

This old fart agrees 100%. A few minutes in line and a brief conversation
with a pleasant clerk. Who's time is so valuable that those few minutes
would be a turnoff? Maybe the ones who value the precious seconds they
believe they'll save by keeping a clerk from having to count out dollar
bills versus dollar coins. I'm all for dealing with people I know at the
stores I know every time, and I don't have to worry about some machine
dumping a pocketful of dollar coins on me.

Bruce



i'll take electrons over a squallmart "clerk" anytime.

wrote in message
m...
In article , "Bruce Remick"
wrote:

"scottishmoney" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.


I must admit, I have a local post office that was recently selected as a
5
star PO by the bigwigs in the PO, and in my opinion they earned it. I
would rather stand in a line and deal with a friendly postal clerk that
knows more than some stupid machine and is infinately more helpful. But
I
think our local PO might be the exception to the rule. Same in the
grocery store, I hate those U-Scan things, they are so persnickety and
fail often requiring a clerk to come and reset it. It is easier and
more
personal to stand in a line and talk to a cashier.

This old fart agrees 100%. A few minutes in line and a brief conversation
with a pleasant clerk. Who's time is so valuable that those few minutes
would be a turnoff? Maybe the ones who value the precious seconds they
believe they'll save by keeping a clerk from having to count out dollar
bills versus dollar coins. I'm all for dealing with people I know at
the
stores I know every time, and I don't have to worry about some machine
dumping a pocketful of dollar coins on me.

Bruce



i'll take electrons over a squallmart "clerk" anytime.

Can you tell us with a straight face that you can use one of those
self-checkout aisles without swearing? 8)

James

wrote in message
m...
In article , "Bruce Remick"
wrote:

"scottishmoney" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
...
Someone in this forum mentioned a while back that you could get the
Presidential Dollar coins in change from Post Office stamp vending
machines. Seemed to me like a fun way to collect the coins as part of
an actual business transaction, since they really aren't circulating
at all otherwise. And so I happily collected last years' Presidential
coins this way.

Well, it looks as though that isn't going to work for too much longer:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/se...s-stamped-out/

In fact, they've already removed the machine from my usual Post Office
... Oh well, game over.


I must admit, I have a local post office that was recently selected as a
5
star PO by the bigwigs in the PO, and in my opinion they earned it. I
would rather stand in a line and deal with a friendly postal clerk that
knows more than some stupid machine and is infinately more helpful. But
I
think our local PO might be the exception to the rule. Same in the
grocery store, I hate those U-Scan things, they are so persnickety and
fail often requiring a clerk to come and reset it. It is easier and
more
personal to stand in a line and talk to a cashier.

This old fart agrees 100%. A few minutes in line and a brief conversation
with a pleasant clerk. Who's time is so valuable that those few minutes
would be a turnoff? Maybe the ones who value the precious seconds they
believe they'll save by keeping a clerk from having to count out dollar
bills versus dollar coins. I'm all for dealing with people I know at
the
stores I know every time, and I don't have to worry about some machine
dumping a pocketful of dollar coins on me.

Bruce



i'll take electrons over a squallmart "clerk" anytime.

I have no problems with the store clerks around here. You must live in the
wrong place. I do notice that in places like Home Depot that have the
self-checkout aisles, there are more confused-looking people with carts of
2x4's and Sakrete than at a Giuliani rally. I also noticed that members of
the staff standing or working nearby seem to avoid making eye contact with
the do-it-themself fumblers so they won't have to go over and explain or fix
things for the umpteenth time. Meanwhile, I have checked out through the
regular line with a howdy and thank you from the clerk.