Oh where, Oh where is the Post Office???

[ladila2]

Absolutely ridiculous, one old broken down Post Office for the entire Villages. I'm from an area in New York where Post Offices are found with area populations of a few hundred residents. I realize that this situation is somewhat ludicrous, however, with well over 80,000 residents, and growing everyday, another one or even two Post Offices would be nice.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Lots of post offices in the area - plenty to pick-and-choose from depending on where you live. Here's a recent thread on the topic:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/local-post-office-49719/

Bill :)

[paulandjean]

Maybe thats why they are closing so many post offices. You say in New York areas with a few hundred have Post Offices.Not sure anyone else only go handful of times per year. Fine with me.

[RichieB]

Absolutely ridiculous, one old broken down Post Office for the entire Villages. I'm from an area in New York where Post Offices are found with area populations of a few hundred residents. I realize that this situation is somewhat ludicrous, however, with well over 80,000 residents, and growing everyday, another one or even two Post Offices would be nice.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for IMPROVEMENTS with the Post Office, but rather CUTS in service. With my own local post office, we have already seen a cut from 2 clerks to 1, and just that has created a negative impact. A couple of weeks ago, I was on a seemingly short line at the desk, while one person spent a good 15 minutes arguing with the clerk about some issue with her PO box service, while the line just kept getting longer.

I have a feeling that things are not going to get better.

[ncr2482]

I drove my Sweetbay's yesterday (Tuesday) and the mobile post office truck was back in the parking lot. Last week news was spreading on TOTV the truck was no longer present. FYI- in the past the truck hours have been 10 -2 on Tuesday's and Thursdays. You can purchases stamps, money orders and ship packages small enough to fit through the opening. It is very convenient. Another choice is the Oxford Post office off 301.

[gnuhaus]

Absolutely ridiculous, one old broken down Post Office for the entire Villages. I'm from an area in New York where Post Offices are found with area populations of a few hundred residents. I realize that this situation is somewhat ludicrous, however, with well over 80,000 residents, and growing everyday, another one or even two Post Offices would be nice.

Depending on your location, not sure how far this is from you ... we use the Oxford post office on 301... just around the corner from 466 (west side, just past Walmart, etc.).

If you use prepaid postal labels that you can buy/print online, be sure you don't use the 32162 zip code, as the zip would have to be Oxford's as the 'from' destination for scanning.

I'm told here's also a newer one in Lady Lakes. Doubt the US Postal budget has extra funding at this point, but certainly agree that at least one more in the future would be great!

[Bogie Shooter]

Absolutely ridiculous, one old broken down Post Office for the entire Villages. I'm from an area in New York where Post Offices are found with area populations of a few hundred residents. I realize that this situation is somewhat ludicrous, however, with well over 80,000 residents, and growing everyday, another one or even two Post Offices would be nice.


Here are the PO's in the area......................not really absolutely ridiculous.

850 TEAGUE TRL
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-99980.

23 LAGRANDE BLVD
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-1344 32159 1344
1***144

3974 COUNTY ROAD 201
OXFORD, FL 34484-2801

104 W MILLER ST
FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731-9998

[skip0358]

Here are the PO's in the area......................not really absolutely ridiculous.

850 TEAGUE TRL
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-99980.

23 LAGRANDE BLVD
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-1344 32159 1344
1***144

3974 COUNTY ROAD 201
OXFORD, FL 34484-2801

104 W MILLER ST
FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731-9998

Lets not foget the Wildwood Post Office
301 S/o 466a They're really quite good there

[JimJoe]

Absolutely ridiculous, one old broken down Post Office for the entire Villages. I'm from an area in New York where Post Offices are found with area populations of a few hundred residents. I realize that this situation is somewhat ludicrous, however, with well over 80,000 residents, and growing everyday, another one or even two Post Offices would be nice.

The Post office is bankrupt.. billions in debt.. they either have to reduce services, reduce costs (wages), or raise prices, and probably all three. E communication is destroying their "business model".
JJ

[RichieB]

The Post office is bankrupt.. billions in debt.. they either have to reduce services, reduce costs (wages), or raise prices, and probably all three. E communication is destroying their "business model".
JJ

Correct on all counts, IMO.

Last thing I heard was 50 cent first class postage at the next increase.

[Xavier]

Here are the PO's in the area......................not really absolutely ridiculous.

850 TEAGUE TRL
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-99980.

23 LAGRANDE BLVD
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-1344 32159 1344
1***144

3974 COUNTY ROAD 201
OXFORD, FL 34484-2801

104 W MILLER ST
FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731-9998

For those who live in The Villages in Marion County, don't forget the Post Office off Route 301 in Summerfield.

Xavier

[JimJoe]

Correct on all counts, IMO.

Last thing I heard was 50 cent first class postage at the next increase.

Yep... 50 cents and fewer customers.. going downhill and picking up speed.
JJ

[ilovetv]

The southern half of TV really does not have a post office....for 45,000+ residents here, and when I drive to Fruitland Park, Oxford or Lady Lake P.O.'s, it's always the same thing: lines out the door that do not move because there is one worker (Oxford) and people stand up there and have conversations, making others wait.....OR they stand in line only to hand the worker their daily outgoing mail because they don't use the drop box!

We only go to the P.O. when we need to weigh a package and get its postage, or if we have something that needs to go out that day, not the next and all other mail pickups are done (too early) for the day.

Everywhere else in the country, the post offices have Automated Postal Centers (APC) in the lobby, to alleviate the lines to the counter. Almost everything postal can be done at the machine, using a debit or credit card.

But none of the post offices have this here......they make you stand in long lines just to weigh a package and get its postage, or to buy Priority postage so you can send it that day, not the next!

This is what an APC looks like:
http://blogs-images.forbes.com/adamhartung/files/2011/12/300px-APC_77598_Webster_Texas.jpg

What Can an APC do?

As an ATM is virtually a stand-alone bank, an Automated Postal Center is virtually a stand-alone Post Office�:

APCs can do most of the transactions normally handled at the retail window APCs provide extensive mailing information along with ZIP Code lookup.

Using debit and credit cards, APCs enable customers to weigh and mail letters and parcels.

APCs dispense dollar bill sized sheets of 18 self-adhesive First-Class Mail stamps

They also dispense postage strips in any amount for mailing Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Parcel Post items.

What is an APC not able to do?

An Automated Postal Center cannot handle face-to-face transactions such as mailing items to other countries, since the majority of these items require customs forms and the contents are subject to host country restrictions. Examples of other services requiring face-to-face transactions include:
Registered Mail service
Insurance over $5,000.00 (Requires Registered Mail Service)
Money orders
Passports
Retail and Philatelic purchases

How an Automated Postal Center Works

The APC uses a touch screen and numeric keypad for customers to select products and services and receive postal information.

For the visually impaired, there is a headphone jack to enable you to listen to service options and large touch-screen buttons to select service options and obtain information.

Just follow the prompts on the touch screen from start to finish.

APCs accept both credit and debit cards:

When using credit cards you can pay for all items at checkout - just like in a grocery store. Banking restrictions related to debit cards require that each purchase is conducted on a pay as you go basis.

What are the advantages of an APC?

They help provide service quicker during busy periods and provide customers with unassisted access to the most frequently requested postal products and services.

In many locations, APCs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Making services available when customers want to do business with the Postal Service� improves customer service.

http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view%28%29=c[c_usps0809122]&varset%28source%29=sourceType:embedded#Capabilitie s

When I wrote an email to USPS telling them of the need for the APC's here, they basically said that in our area, "people wouldn't use them". Translation: "old people" prefer to go to the window and talk to the worker, and they wouldn't use debit or credit cards at an APC".

Maybe if we all write and tell them we're in the modern age of computers and debit cards, they'd install them.

[zcaveman]

Here are the PO's in the area......................not really absolutely ridiculous.

850 TEAGUE TRL
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-99980.

23 LAGRANDE BLVD
LADY LAKE, FL 32159-1344 32159 1344
1***144

3974 COUNTY ROAD 201
OXFORD, FL 34484-2801

104 W MILLER ST
FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731-9998

I live in Marion county. Let's not forget the one in Weirsdale

13595 SE Highway 42
Weirsdale, Fl 32195

[Happinow]

I am a little worried about not having a full service PO near by Sanibel. We mail a lot and I can't imagine wasting my time standing in line with one postal worker on duty to mail a package. I can see myself getting a little, or a lot, irritated.:swear:

Where I currently live, there are 2, full service post offices to choose from. One less than a mile away and the other about 3 miles away. I know the postal service is going down hill but I think the lack of service is going to make a few people angry.....how can I get angry with a name of "Happinow"?

[RichieB]

I am a little worried about not having a full service PO near by Sanibel. We mail a lot and I can't imagine wasting my time standing in line with one postal worker on duty to mail a package. I can see myself getting a little, or a lot, irritated.:swear:



You might want to look into mailing packages via The UPS Store. I have one near where I currently live, and they are very competitive. I believe that someone mentioned, in another thread, that there is a store near TV.

Try looking at TheUPSStore.com

[REDCART]

I am a little worried about not having a full service PO near by Sanibel. We mail a lot and I can't imagine wasting my time standing in line with one postal worker on duty to mail a package. I can see myself getting a little, or a lot, irritated.:swear:

Where I currently live, there are 2, full service post offices to choose from. One less than a mile away and the other about 3 miles away. I know the postal service is going down hill but I think the lack of service is going to make a few people angry.....how can I get angry with a name of "Happinow"?

104 W MILLER ST (aka 466A)
FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731-9998

We've been to Oxford, Lady Lake, and Fruitland PK and they all appear to be full service.

[BogeyBoy]

We have Villages Pack and Ship here in TV.

I used them once. And only once.

Yes, they were convenient.

After I shipped my package I started to think that perhaps they overcharged me because it was so expensive.

So I looked up the rates online.

Convinced that they had made a honest error I called them. I got a very rude response, "we are just an agent and can charge whatever we want". (This was shipped via UPS.) I can't remember the exact upcharge but it was outrageous enough that I vowed never to return.

I now know the location of the "real" UPS and Fedex offices although I do prefer to use the Postal Service. I prepare my shipping documents and pay postage at USPS.com and then just drop off the packages.

[skyguy79]

There is a third choice for us that live near 466a. Safe Ship at Colony Plaza. It states on their website "No Up Charges on US Mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL Worldwide, Special Courier, Greyhound GPX, Truck, Ship, or Air Delivery." SafeShip.com (http://www.safeshipstores.com/villagespacknship.htm)

[Bogie Shooter]

I am a little worried about not having a full service PO near by Sanibel. We mail a lot and I can't imagine wasting my time standing in line with one postal worker on duty to mail a package. I can see myself getting a little, or a lot, irritated.:swear:

Where I currently live, there are 2, full service post offices to choose from. One less than a mile away and the other about 3 miles away. I know the postal service is going down hill but I think the lack of service is going to make a few people angry.....how can I get angry with a name of "Happinow"?

We have all had to leave something behind, good restaurants, mechanic, health club, etc. Don't get all up tight because your post office is not next door.

[BogeyBoy]

There is a third choice for us that live near 466a. Safe Ship at Colony Plaza. It states on their website "No Up Charges on US Mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL Worldwide, Special Courier, Greyhound GPX, Truck, Ship, or Air Delivery." SafeShip.com (http://www.safeshipstores.com/villagespacknship.htm)

Good to know, thanks.

[under55]

Another vote for Safe Ship in Colony. They are just like having our own Post Office.

[ilovetv]

Another vote for Safe Ship in Colony. They are just like having our own Post Office.

Very good to know this. When Pack & Ship was there in Colony, it was Highway Robbery the way they charged, just to ship some small item UPS.....plus they were extremely rude when I asked if there was a less expensive way to send something. No wonder they closed.

[pooh]

If you have a small scale, a kitchen type one, you can do much of your postal stuff online. You can print out postage, for priority or express mail....all you need is the size of the package and the weight. Even though you can't actually print postage for first class mail, you'll be able to find out the charges and once you know that, you can affix your own stamps to the package. Stamps are easily bought at the grocery store, here and in other parts of the country. It's not so horrible to do this stuff yourself. As a matter of fact, there are discounts in postage for priority mail when you do it online.

When is the last time any of us actually went INTO a bank? It's just the way it is now.

[drdodge]

there is a post office about 3 miles east on 466a. This is very close to Sannibel
drd

[skyc6]

Happi--There is a good post office in Wildwood that is a couple of doors down from the Ace hardware. very convenient.