US Postal Service's new Automated Postal Centers

Some folks have a hard time getting to the post office when it's open. When you do get there, there's nothing worse than standing in a long line. <br/><br/>The News on 6's Rick Wells found

Wednesday, September 15th 2004, 10:16 am

By: News On 6

Some folks have a hard time getting to the post office when it's open. When you do get there, there's nothing worse than standing in a long line.

The News on 6's Rick Wells found something new to make your mailing life a little bit easier.

Itâ€™s a free standing, touch-screen post office, that's always open. Phillip Reese with the US Postal Service: "Most people can catch right on and use it easily." He says it's like an ATM, those are pretty much second nature to us by now.

You can mail letters; do express mail, priority mail and even packages. If you mail something you shouldn't, the machine takes and stores your picture and of course it has your account number. But for most routine postal business you can avoid a wait and use the APC.

Reese: "Why would you want to wait in line in there for 10 minutes or longer, .when you can come out here and get it done that quick." And you know the thing never takes a lunch break. Reese: "that's right, never does.â€

The Automated Postal Centers are just in the busiest post offices right now, but are being tested in Wal-Marts, Kinkoâ€™s, and at least one college student union. If those tests are successful, you may be able to do postal business anywhere there's a machine.