Submitted by Ray Egan.
Whoever heard of a post office that doesn’t have any stamps? It’s not just that the Steilacoom Post Office hasn’t had any Christmas-themed stamps for two weeks: on December 19th there were no stamps of any kind for sale. None. Zero. And it isn’t the first time.
If I have my history correct, the US Postal system has been in the postage stamp selling business ever since Benjamin Franklin was directed to create it in 1775. Or was.
I suppose that we ought to be grateful that it’s only stamps we Steilacoom customers don’t get, we have communities that don’t even have a post office anymore. Or is this the Postal System’s way of inflicting death by a thousand cuts: first the stamps, then…
Who uses stamps? The demand for them has to have really dropped off since everything is done electronically these days.
not everything. Can you mail a Christmas card electronically? Or send gifts to loved ones in another state?
USPS Informed Delivery
You can subscribe and purchase stamps.
The Steilacoom Post Office is more annex than full service facility, and so it lacks the retail support of Lakewood or Tacoma post offices. However, since Steilacoom hasn’t had much of an inventory of stamps for years, I’ve adopted the easy and convenient alternative, which is buying stamps from the USPS website. It’s also a great way to avoid standing in line to mail packages, as their “Click n Ship” service is very user friendly. You can use USPS Flat Rate boxes/envelopes, or your own, and the mail carrier will even pick up your stuff from your office or home.
Thank you for the thoughtful suggestions, Mr Hall. Unfortunately I’m a creature of habit, having been able to buy stamps, mail packages, greet old friends, make new friends, get friendly service, etc. at Steilacoom’s Post Office for most of the past half century. But, yes, you’re probably pointing the way we’ll all be eventually going. Darn it.
I empathize with you, Ray, having been a Steilacoom Post Office box holder for 40 years!
Most government employees are heathens haha
Thanks for the tips about online ordering stamps and using “Click and Ship.” Recently ordered stamps online for the first time. It was easy. Had a huge selection of designs. Enjoy the small town vibe of the Steilacoom Post Office. Waits are shorter, people are friendlier and the service is great.
I have noticed a major decrease of Christmas cards in the mail this year, much more than when we had pandemic.
I agree, much is done electronically now, however, I also know the USPS is “disgruntled”, over-worked, under-staffed, Yada, Yada, Yada.
It seems too elaborate for them to purposely keep postage stamps unavailable at this notoriously busy time of the year, but, it also would make everything within normal work perimeters for them?
Hmmm. Shutting down stamps at Christmas time to prevent over- mailing of Christmas cards????
It’s not just Steilacoom, either. It’s every USPS location.
Stamps still can be purchased at your grocery stores; the cashiers keep them in their tills for customers to purchase along with their groceries.
Whatever the reason, it’s sad that family traditions and yearly updates, newsletters and photos have to suffer.
I enjoy receiving my cards. It is another sign of depressing progress, I guess.
Feliz Navidad.
Hey Ray,
A great reminder to not vote for politicians that would let the government take over our healthcare.
Tim
It’s not just the Steilacoom PO that was out of Christmas stamps. I went to the University Place/Fircrest PO six weeks ago for Christmas stamps and they were completely out and I had to settle for floral stamps!!! So-o-o disappointed in USPS!
The postal department has been trying to get rid of the Steilacoom Post Office for years.
There was a time they did everything. I used to take my kindergarten class, walking down from Cherrydale to make a tour, mailing our Mother’s Day cards, stamping them ourselves and watching them place our cards in the mailman’s box to sort and bring them to their homes. They don’t do even that. If you mail something here to someone in Steilacoom, it now goes to Lakewood. Sorted there and then delivered back here in Steilacoom!
They don’t care that we were the first town!
The big issue is DeJoy, the postal head who was put in charge by TRUMP. He eliminated sorting old sorting machines without replacing them, and other such things to dismantle the service.
EVERYONE should read this: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/15/usps-job-layoff-mail-service-delay-louis-dejoy
Louis De Joy made his megamillions in a truck delivery company, which he sold for $615 millions. He may be okay running a private business, but he obviously could not care less about public service. Last year, I mailed a letter in Delaware to the Philadelphia address. A 40-mile delivery took a week! Taking office during the Trump administration, DeJoy eliminated overtime, banning late or additional trips; got rid of many high-speed mail sorting machines, slowing first-class delivery; removed many street-side mail boxes; cut post office hours, etc.
How about when it’s time to vote? Will we receive our ballots on time? During the recent election some ballots were late getting to the Pierce County Elections office because the mail wasn’t being picked up at drop boxes. The 2023 election year for WA state had one of the lowest vote returns on record but during a presidential election year, such as 2024, it’s expected to be much busier. I hope that the USPS will be able to return ballots in a timely manner.