Check the post office locations near you at www.usps.com and you might find a sub-contracted post office that you didn't even know was there.  For years I had always went to the regular post office near my office.  A couple months ago someone asked me if the post office had moved.  So, the next time I needed to go to the post office I decided to check the USPS website just to be sure they hadn't moved, or to get the new address.  Lo and behold, what do I find but that there is a sub-contracted post office that is much closer.  I've been going there ever since.  I've never had to stand in line behind more than one person or for more than a couple minutes.  And, at sub-contracted post office locations there is no upcharge on the postage like there is at those mailbox kind of places that ship for you. 

We have one of those "subcontract" PO's that just opened near me.  What's the deal with them?  Do they offer all of the same services?  It seems so strange?  Why would anyone open one?  How do they make money?

I don't know how they make their money.  Maybe on the supplies they sell or maybe on the "other things" you buy from whatever their main business is while you are there.  I've never really looked to see how much they are charging for envelopes, padded mailers, etc., but maybe they are marked up.  I'm also not sure if they offer ALL the services (maybe Steve knows), but they sell postage and they are happy to take my PBS envelope with stamps on it.

Just make sure it is an actual sub contracted facility.  They will be located in and part of another store of some type such as a Hallmark store, grocery stores, etc.  There are other stores such as PakMail, UPS stores, etc. that are not contracted and charge more for the services.  That's how they make their money.

A contract station makes money from it in two ways.  One is it attracts more customers to their store.  The other is they actually get paid by the PO to do it.  I have no idea how much or how it works but for the PO it is cheaper then leasing a building and paying employees to staff it.