Community Corner

USPS Won't Close Offices, Will Conduct Studies First

The service will study 3,700 physical offices to determine what type of brick and mortar presence is needed nationwide.

The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it will be studying 3,700 post offices to determine the need for physical locations. USPS currently has nearly 32,000 offices nationwide.

Although the USPS did not release the timeline for the study, it said with more people using Web applications and smart phones to shop, pay bills and communicate, it needs to re-evaluate. 

“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drugstores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a press release. “Our customers' habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”

The USPS refers to third-party retailers, such as local grocery stores or drugstores, as "Village Post Offices." It says if these locations offer access to postal services, they may be a successful alternative to a traditional post office.

“The Postal Service of the future will be smaller, leaner and more competitive and it will continue to drive commerce, serve communities and deliver value,” Donahoe added.

Sentiments supporting a more streamlined postal service were echoed by Palisadians.

"Growing up with the post office on La Cruz, [it] was always an easy place to go," commented Krista on a Patch article posted Tuesday. "With the PO on Sunset, I would go to Malibu or Santa Monica before I would go to the Palisades, simply because of the lines and madness. No parking, no space ... and I have waited 30 minutes in line for someone to have to go to La Cruz to get the stamps I needed … I say move it or close it, no difference to me."

"I agree, it's a huge distraction on Sunset," said Stephanie, a Patch reader, in response to Krista's comment. "Once again, it's atoms versus electrons. I pay my bills online."

Of the 3,700 post offices to be studied a few are in the West Los Angeles area.

West LA post offices to be studied:

Find out what's happening in Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Office         City           Zipcode         Eastgate Beverly Hills 90211 Veterans Administration Los Angeles 90073 Westside Pavilion Los Angeles 90064 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Finan. Los Angeles 90008 Hollywood Pavilion Los Angeles 90028 Alla Vista
Los Angeles
90066

For a complete list of the post offices USPS will be studying in California, click here.

For a complete list of the post offices USPS will be studying nationwide, click here.

Find out what's happening in Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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