Wow. Local post office now charges to postmark mail at the counter.

[aceO07]

I went to drop off my taxes today and thought I'd get it postmarked. I was told that to get it postmarked at the counter, it costs ~$1.30 per letter. I guess the postal service is really in need of money. They used to do it for free all the other years I've ask. Being cheap, the letters went into the mail bin instead.

Also, that location was not going to stay open extra hours today for tax day. (NYC)

edit: unconfirmed if no 'extra hours' today meant location open to public or workers staying later.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I went to drop off my taxes today and thought I'd get it postmarked. I was told that to get it postmarked at the counter, it costs ~$1.30 per letter. I guess the postal service is really in need of money. They used to do it for free all the other years I've ask. Being cheap, the letters went into the mail bin instead.

Also, that location was not going to stay open extra hours today for tax day.(NYC)

I thought only the mail post office by MSG stood open late today?

 

[meltdown75]

go postal

 

[Ns1]

Pardon the obvious, but don't all letters get postmarked when they go out?

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Pardon the obvious, but don't all letters get postmarked when they go out?

Yeah I'm not sure what the OP is talking about either...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I went to drop off my taxes today and thought I'd get it postmarked. I was told that to get it postmarked at the counter, it costs ~$1.30 per letter. I guess the postal service is really in need of money. They used to do it for free all the other years I've ask. Being cheap, the letters went into the mail bin instead.

Also, that location was not going to stay open extra hours today for tax day. (NYC)

Is that how much the postage was?

 

[darkxshade]

There are mail slots inside the post office that gets postmarked same day as long as the mail is inserted before a certain deadline.

Was there stamps already affixed to the package? Maybe you can get around it if you didn't, that way you're actually at the counter to pay for postage vs getting it postmarked.

I can understand why they're doing it, the lines can get quite long but it's mostly due to people who doesn't know how to mail a package and ask 20 questions at the counter.

 

[xanis]

The letter gets postmarked when it's mailed... that's not an extra service.

No idea what the OP is talking about.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Ns1
Pardon the obvious, but don't all letters get postmarked when they go out?

Yeah I'm not sure what the OP is talking about either...

I just like to get it postmarked so I know that's when they receive it instead of when it may be handled again out of their pile of outgoing mail.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
There are mail slots inside the post office that gets postmarked same day as long as the mail is inserted before a certain deadline.

Was there stamps already affixed to the package? Maybe you can get around it if you didn't, that way you're actually at the counter to pay for postage vs getting it postmarked.

I can understand why they're doing it, the lines can get quite long but it's mostly due to people who doesn't know how to mail a package and ask 20 questions at the counter.

It's not guaranteed it will get postmarked the same day. The only way to ensure postmark is to haven them stamp it at the counter.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: aceO07
I went to drop off my taxes today and thought I'd get it postmarked. I was told that to get it postmarked at the counter, it costs ~$1.30 per letter. I guess the postal service is really in need of money. They used to do it for free all the other years I've ask. Being cheap, the letters went into the mail bin instead.

Also, that location was not going to stay open extra hours today for tax day.(NYC)

I thought only the mail post office by MSG stood open late today?

I just overheard one of the workers saying that they weren't doing extra hours today since they didn't want to pay overtime. I don't know if it means the location won't be open later or if the workers won't be staying later after it closes. This location is 23rd and Lex.

 

[gorcorps]

This isn't a very hard concept guys... The OP wanted to get his letter postmarked just to be on the safe side since taxes MUST be postmarked by today. By just tossing it in the bin you run a risk of that bin not being emptied and sent out on time. But now they charge an extra $1.30 to get it postmarked immediately at the counter, which is what he's talking about.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: aceO07

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Ns1
Pardon the obvious, but don't all letters get postmarked when they go out?

Yeah I'm not sure what the OP is talking about either...

I just like to get it postmarked so I know that's when they receive it instead of when it may be handled again out of their pile of outgoing mail.

Did you already have postage on the letter?

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Did you already have postage on the letter?

Yup already put stamps on it. Just wanted to get it postmarked. I guess if the trick was to buy stamps and then get it postmarked afterwards for free, I'd try that next time.

 

[Pepsei]

to do it free, just mail it at the counter, they'll stamp it right there...

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
to do it free, just mail it at the counter, they'll stamp it right there...

If you mean 'mail' as in hand it to them to mail out, then nope that didn't work. I was told they charged for postmarking and if I didn't want to pay for this service I had go drop it into their mail slot instead. They didn't want to handle my letter unless I payed the fee.

If you mean 'mail' as in pay for postage at counter, I didn't try that today.

 

[IEC]

Next time you should save paper, time, and get electronic receipt by doing it online.

 

[summit]

i went in this morning and had to have three rebates postmarked. cost = $0.00.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Sounds like the post office worker didn't know you already had postage on there and the $1.30 was the postage it would have cost to mail it out w/ no stamps on it already.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner
Next time you should save paper, time, and get electronic receipt by doing it online.

Unfortunately it would have cost me even more money to do taxes online.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five
Sounds like the post office worker didn't know you already had postage on there and the $1.30 was the postage it would have cost to mail it out w/ no stamps on it already.

I wish it was true. I'm very certain she meant the service of postmarking it. She knew it was for taxes, so she saw my letter and the address and most likely the usa flag stamp on it.

Even reminded me that it needed to be postmarked today and asked if I owed taxes...

 

[DayLaPaul]

Are you talking about a certificate of mailing or just a postmark? Certificates have always cost money where I'm from.

 

[amdskip]

That postal worker doesn't know what he/she is talking about.

 

[Miramonti]

On tax day, if you get it there before closing, its a near guarantee it will be postmarked in time.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
This isn't a very hard concept guys... The OP wanted to get his letter postmarked just to be on the safe side since taxes MUST be postmarked by today. By just tossing it in the bin you run a risk of that bin not being emptied and sent out on time. But now they charge an extra $1.30 to get it postmarked immediately at the counter, which is what he's talking about.

Or you could just do your fucking taxes before the day they're due?