The U.S. Post Office is seeing a rising number of customers place orders online. “In these days we get a lot of business online, people get stamps” ordered via credit card for delivery, and businesses and others can pay the postage and download shipping labels directly from the www.USPS.com website.Mailed payments such as for bills have “dwindled dramatically, up to 15 percent last year,” as more and more people opt for online bill payment. In turn, those businesses expecting payment offer the option of customers being billed online, cutting down even more on the flow of mail.In addition, Maher said the sharp downturn in the economy in general impacted mail, as flyers, advertising and solicitations - such as for credit cards - also decreased.“I come here at about the same time every day,” and Julian Cortez of Santa Paula said Wednesday the schedule change would not impact him. “I could mail from home,” Cortez admitted, “but I like the walk.”
Santa Paula branch of U.S. Post Office to shorten hours
June 19, 2009
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula’s branch of the U.S. Post Office will be adhering to a new schedule starting next week, the result of a foot traffic survey and the overall decline in mail usage.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula’s branch of the U.S. Post Office will be adhering to a new schedule starting next week, the result of a foot traffic survey and the overall decline in mail usage. According to corporate spokesman Richard Maher, a change in operational schedule at many retail facilities is being implemented although some are seeing a boost in hours.The new hours at the South Mill Street Post Office will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will remain the same. The new weekday schedule reflects half-hour cuts at the beginning and end of the weekday, when Maher said foot traffic was shown to be lightest.“All transactions are logged in the computers tell us how many customers we have. We can pull that date,” noted Maher, “and see when customers are using the facility.” Hours of optimum and lowest use are calculated, and “In this case traffic is light in the first half-hour and the last half-hour, and we’re adjusting it to how customers are using the facility.”
