INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The U.S. Postal Service released a list of nearly 3,700 post offices nationwide to be reviewed for potential closure. No post offices in Indian River County are on that list.
Nearly three-dozen post offices in Florida are on that list and will undergo a review for possible closure. Those offices are in towns that include Melbourne Beach, Cocoa, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Tampa, among others.
As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the U.S. Postal Service to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices – the largest retail network in the country – diminishes.
“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. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”
With 32,000 postal retail offices and more than 70,000 third-party retailers selling postage stamps and providing expanded access to other postal products and services, customers today have about 100,000 locations across the nation where they can do business with the Postal Service.
“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.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.