Steve, do you see the postage stamp as eventually going the way of the 8-track tape deck, cassette tapes, etc.?   I'm not asking for an inside scoop from a postal employee, I'm just wondering what you, the individual think.

All the options for purchasing postage are great...but in the back of my mind I can't help but wonder asa automation increases will the post office start eliminating jobs?  You know, go the Wal-Mart route and put in lots of self-check out lanes and reduce number of employees (or change their status from full-time to part-time so benefits don't have to be offered).

I've been on the receiving end of corporate downsizing and hate to think of others possibly having to face the same.

This new regulation is just another pointless anti-terrorism rule that will have no effect whatsoever on anything other than consumer relations. How much did the Anthrax letters that closed down the postal system for weeks weigh? Well under thirteen ounces, I'll bet. And I suppose they also think that terrorists that spent years training pilots and positioning operatives won't go through the trouble of getting and Indecia account?

And the harrasment of postal customers over one cent stamps? More pointless bullying tactics meant to give the illusion that they actually have control over the system.

Or mayby I'm just bitter, being a former postal worker myself.

Any APC I've used takes credit/debit cards only.

According to the USPS site, they also take EBT cards http://www.usps.com/alternateaccess/selfserve.htm Who knew?

Seems like with the new rules they might look into retro-fitting them to accept cash like the soda machines do. I know cash is not as traceable as a CC, but they could sync up the security camera on the APC to the transaction info. Just my blue-sky wish.

I don't know that ALL stamps will go away. The PO still processes an awful lot of letters.

Thank you Mary for your answer. 

Wendy

Sorry, I did miss that.  To tie it into Mary's wish, I doubt they will ever take cash because that would by pass the security of being able to match transaction/face/credit card to a particular transaction but who knows?  They generally don't share their plans with us until after they have shared them with the press.

Alita

The stamp will always be with us for several reasons, at least for a ways beyond the forseeable future.  Not everyone has access to electronic means or even credit cards.  Also, we have to look at some things on a world wide basis, not just local or national.

A comment on Scott's post.

We've already discussed how this started with the Unabomber and to the best of my knowledge has nothing to do with international terroisim.  It's aimed more at the local nuts I would think but I went into some detail on this already and don't have the time or desire to repeat all of that.  As one who has to handel letters and packages I'll accept a lot of deterents.

Scott is obviously bitter towards the PO.  I have no idea what his experiance was and why he is a former employee but he does bring up a valid point although I feel it doesn't apply to this situation. 

The PO can be a very demanding employer to work for.  It can also be extreme in its unreasonableness towards employees.  Especially if you work in mail processing as I did when I first hired in.  The work is at nights with split days off and they do control your life in many ways.  Need a night off for a family event or a very good personal reason?  Forget it.  I've seen them expect people to come to work after their kid's graduations and I've seen them try to talk employees into delaying needed medical proceedures because they would be short handed and a supervior's "numbers" would look bad.  Planning a wedding (your own or your childs)?  The first approval you need is from the PO to make sure they will let you off for it. 

I've also seen small town Postmasters so bad and disliked by their communities that petitions have been raised, town consuls and mayors have complained to upper management, but nothing will be done as long as their "numbers" are good.  The employees working under these people are under the thumb of dictators in their own little fiefdoms who refuse to follow labor agreements and the employees are afraid to bring in the union because the union can't be there all the time to protect them from dishonest PMs who will do anything to get rid of them if they stir up to much trouble. 

I better stop here or I could go on all night on this subject including my own experiances but that's not the purpose of this forum and I'm sure the rest of you  don't want to read it all.  The reason I've addressed it at all is to point out that there is some merit to what Scott says but in general it applies more to employees then the public and has nothing to do with the 13oz rule or other security measures.

I have asked this question before because so many people buy the wrong denomintion and then went to trade it in.  You can't trade stamps in.  However, they don't have to tell me.  I phrase the question in such a way to let them know that I just want to make sure they are buying the correct ones.  I don't care if you want to wallpaper your house with them - LOL.  Could you come to my office and do that though?  I would love the sale!

Have to make a comment on the ANTHRAX incidents closing down the USPS for weeks.  It closed down certain Processing Centers because the equipment had to be decontaminated.  The poster complaining about this sounds like they would have preferred the employees and possibly customers be exposed to anthrax.  The whole postal service did not shut down.  I think I would remember getting WEEKS off.  I know my wallet would have remembered - LOL

And Barbara, two USPS employees died from the Washington, DC anthrax incidents.

 I just wanted to mention I live in a somewhat small town but we have a really nice post office. All the workers I have to dealt with are friendly and/or polite. There are almost never really long lines.  ( I have had really rural had drive 10 miles to get here and city PO's). I really like this one I have now. :)