The United States Postal Service is looking at possibly closing the small Midway branch in Kent on Pacific Highway South.
Officials will study 3,700 retail offices across the nation to determine customer needs and whether to keep the branches open, according to a July 26 U.S. Postal Service media release.
The Midway office is in a storefront at 23418 Pacific Highway S., just south of Kent-Des Moines Road. A decision on closures could be made in the next few months with the first offices to be closed early next year.
Customer’s habits have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business, according to the Postal Service.
“More and more of them are choosing to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phone and at their shopping destinations,” according to the release. “And that means the need for us to maintain nearly 32,000 retail offices has diminished.
“So we are taking the next step in right-sizing our retail network by studying approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs. As part of this study, we are introducing a retail-replacement option –– Village Post Offices –– as an option for affected communities.”
Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.
“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24-7,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. But the Postal Service is facing a potential $8 billion deficit this year as mail volume declines, according to the Christian Science Monitor. The paper also reported that the Postal Service has maxed out on a $15 billion loan from the US Treasury.
For more information, go to www.usps.com.
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