November 19, 2004
Albany-- You're about to see longer lines at post offices. But, this year, 'Tis the season to make things go quicker. There's a new automated machine, where you can do everything yourself without standing with the crowd.
We live in a fast paced world, always on the go. But, if you stop to think about it, it's now faster to do almost everything. "You don't have to wait. You come up here do what you need to do and go," said Customer Maggie Cannady.
Cannady doesn't mind the do-it-yourself society. With credit card in hand, in seconds she bought stamps from the new Automated Postal Center, without saying a word to anyone and no lines.
She says it's just another way, "To make it easier."
The only one in Albany is at the Lafayette Plaza post Office on Meredyth Drive. The machine weights your package, and you drop your mail in the deposit box, day or night.
"Some people are a little intimidated because it's a computer," said Distribution Clerk Linda Erickson. But touchscreen computers are already everywhere, from gas pumps to voting machines.
But with the holiday rush ahead, there will be free training on the new postal machine, "Until Christmas. After Christmas I'll no longer be here to help the customers with it."
Maggie is a returning customer. "Very fast, I was a little worried, but it got there." So, as you scramble around this holiday season, think of all the technology that's helping to hurry you along.
By the end of the year, there will be 2,500 Automated Postal Centers nationwide. Right now, there are only 14 in the South Georgia district.
posted at 2:55PM by dave.miller@walb.com
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