Post office proximity

[rubytue]

Somewhat random, but I need to run to the post office, and it’s not a quick errand. There is no post office for my zip code, we share with Brooklyn (MD). And there was one across the drawbridge ~5 mins away (different zip code, see also drawbridge), but it had a fire 18 months ago and hasn’t reopened. So, I don’t think I can make it to the post office and back on my official 30 min lunch 🥴

given the PO funding situation, I’m guessing we’ll never get the close one back. 

How close are you to a post office?

[TR]

At home, a couple miles, 7 minute drive. Here in Red Lodge there’s one in town and we happen to be close to town so again it’s only about 5 min away.

[wildrice]

It appears we have 3 within 2 miles of my house, and there is a little convenience store within walking distance that does basic stuff - they pick up mail, and I think you can send packages there too. Do you have anything like that nearby?

I loved when I lived in Iowa, the grocery store had postal services. I almost never went to the actual post office. Though I think I've probably set foot in a post office less than 5 times since I've lived in Maryland, either. I rarely mail anything other than greeting cards or random bills so I just use a mailbox or mail them from work.

[icedcoffee]

MD here. We have 10 locations within 6.2 miles. The closest is less than a mile/5 minute drive.

Although when I needed a passport I had to go to one a little further than that.

[cattledogkisses]

We live within walking distance of our post office now, but I grew up in a town that didn’t have a post office at all, which is weird according to everyone I tell that to. We just went to the post office in the neighboring town.

[redheadbaker]

I can walk to ours -- it's a little less than half a mile away.

[nsl]

There's one inside the grocery store maybe a mile west of us, and a freestanding one going east up the same busy road, maybe 2 miles away.

Thinking about where I've lived in Maryland, Texas, and Georgia, there's always been a freestanding post office within a 10 minute drive from where I lived.

[arielroux]

I have one about 1 mile from my house, but oddly, it's not the post office for my zip code. I actually have no idea where the post office for my zip code is located.

[mysteriouswife]

We have one main PO and several shipping stores. The stores will ship from all services.

[rubytue]

Jun 22, 2020 9:15:48 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

We have one main PO and several shipping stores. The stores will ship from all services.

Oooo. I do have a ups store really close. But... I hesitate to use it to ship usps, least I be supporting privatization.

[jackie011]

Jun 22, 2020 9:11:48 GMT -5 wildrice said:

It appears we have 3 within 2 miles of my house, and there is a little convenience store within walking distance that does basic stuff - they pick up mail, and I think you can send packages there too. Do you have anything like that nearby?

I loved when I lived in Iowa, the grocery store had postal services. I almost never went to the actual post office. Though I think I've probably set foot in a post office less than 5 times since I've lived in Maryland, either. I rarely mail anything other than greeting cards or random bills so I just use a mailbox or mail them from work.

HyVee? I’m so spoiled by this and do not understand why this isn’t more common in other towns. In addition to the grocery store full service counter, we also have a PO less than a mile from our house.

[susquehanna]

I used to live within walking distance of 2 post offices. 

Then, the post office that was closest to my house closed. So, now I only live within walking distance of one post office. This post office is about five blocks from my house. It's the "main" post office for my city. (It might actually be the only post office in my city right now. I'm not sure.)

[wildrice]

Jun 22, 2020 9:20:04 GMT -5 jackie011 said:

Jun 22, 2020 9:11:48 GMT -5 wildrice said:

It appears we have 3 within 2 miles of my house, and there is a little convenience store within walking distance that does basic stuff - they pick up mail, and I think you can send packages there too. Do you have anything like that nearby?

I loved when I lived in Iowa, the grocery store had postal services. I almost never went to the actual post office. Though I think I've probably set foot in a post office less than 5 times since I've lived in Maryland, either. I rarely mail anything other than greeting cards or random bills so I just use a mailbox or mail them from work.

HyVee? I’m so spoiled by this and do not understand why this isn’t more common in other towns. In addition to the grocery store full service counter, we also have a PO less than a mile from our house.

Yes! That was my primary post office for years, it was SO nice not to have to make an extra trip. I miss that store. 

[mbcdefg]

About 500 feet. I’m from a very densely populated area.

I think there are two offices in my current town - 12 square miles, about 46,000 people. My hometown is 11 square miles with 63,000 people and has three post offices, I think.

[mmmomof2]

I thought every town had a post office? We have one a few miles away - city of around 50K.

I looked it up and every city I've ever lived in has had a post office, but I guess some cities have multiple zip codes depending on population and each one might not have it's own post office.

[VillainV]

The closest are about 20-25 minutes away from where we live, but are actually fairly close to where I work. Not exactly on the way, but usually easy enough to get to during lunch or whatever.

[ssmjlm]

It's a 5 minute drive. It serves I think the entire southern part of my county. I'm in VA.

My parents, in MD, had a local store with a post office inside, but the owners sold it and retired and now everyone has to drive to the neighboring town/zip code post office.

But if you get certified mail, you have to drive into downtown to that post office to pick up.

[okla]

About half a mile, easy walk through residential to get there, too. I’ve been walking to it to mail things for work while I’ve been working from home.

[outnumbered]

Jun 22, 2020 9:36:06 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

I thought every town had a post office? We have one a few miles away - city of around 50K.

I looked it up and every city I've ever lived in has had a post office, but I guess some cities have multiple zip codes depending on population and each one might not have it's own post office.

I grew up in a small town in NH a little over one hour from Boston.  We did not have a post office.  We had to drive to another town.  There is still no post office there.  I am sure there are numerous towns across the country that have no post office.

[One Girl In All The World]

MD here too. We have an old PO that is small but generally pretty busy. It’s maybe a mile- mile and a half from my house.

[sunshine608]

I'm in a semi rual/suburban county in GA. There are two within a 10-minute drive . Not very walkable.

[winecat]

The closest is about a bit less than a mile and a half. There are 4-5 within 2-3 miles.

[CloudBee]

We don't have one near us, either. Our city has one and it's in the center of downtown, with just a couple street spots out front. It's tiny, outdated, and a nightmare to go to. If I "have" to use a post office I process my order online, visit another town, or do whatever I can to ship using Fedex or UPS so I can go to Staples/Kinkos.

There's a village within our town that has a small PO in their downtown area, but it's a good 15 minutes from my home.

Right down the street from me there's a "carriers annex" which isn't open to the public. You can ring a bell at the back door and drop off a pre-paid package, but you can't do anything else. IMO that location should be open to the public. It's huge, has a great parking lot, is right on a main road without too much traffic, and is a stand alone building. When it was built I was excited we were getting a PO near us. It looks just like the new more modern POs. But no, it's just for carriers to gather their daily mail.

I don't know why my city doesn't have a convenient PO with a parking lot. Boggles my mind.

[basilosaurus]

Jun 22, 2020 9:36:06 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

I thought every town had a post office? We have one a few miles away - city of around 50K.

I looked it up and every city I've ever lived in has had a post office, but I guess some cities have multiple zip codes depending on population and each one might not have it's own post office.

I can't even imagine a city with only 1 zip code. That's an entirely foreign concept to me. The smallest (American) city/ metro I've lived in was about 300k.

My last 2, probably 3, US locations I could walk to. I can't remember the others off the top of my head but never a far drive.

[Deleted]

Looks like there are several within 5mi of my house. My local PO is less than 5 min away. There are several stores in the vicinity that sell stamps like CVS and Staples as well.

[cattledogkisses]

Jun 22, 2020 9:43:53 GMT -5 outnumbered said:

Jun 22, 2020 9:36:06 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

I thought every town had a post office? We have one a few miles away - city of around 50K.

I looked it up and every city I've ever lived in has had a post office, but I guess some cities have multiple zip codes depending on population and each one might not have it's own post office.

I grew up in a small town in NH a little over one hour from Boston.  We did not have a post office.  We had to drive to another town.  There is still no post office there.  I am sure there are numerous towns across the country that have no post office.

I also grew up in a small town in NH a little over an hour from Boston with no post office and now I’m really curious but don’t want to be creepy, lol. 

[erbear]

5 minute walk. But I live in a major city.

[rubytue]

Ok, so it’s apparently 35 minutes round trip, with two people in front of me in line.

[firedancer10288]

I’m also in MD. My zip code doesn’t have its own post office, but there are 3 within 10-15 minutes of my house.

[penguingrrl]

I have 4 within 3 miles of me. My town’s is about 1/4 mile from my house, but it’s a small one that’s now run by the next town over. Then the three towns surrounding me each one as well. Our towns are tiny where I am (my town is 2.5 square miles and has just under 6,000 residents), but each has its own zip code and post office.