Now you can pay your post office box rental fee on the APC!!. Customers visiting the Summerville Post Office can now experience the Postal Service's version of the ATM while delivering quick, easy, and convenient access to postal services.

"APCs - Automated Postal Centers® - provide easy access to postal products and services just as ATMs provide easy access to banking services," said Postmaster Tom Latto. "To customers, one is a self-service bank, while the other is a self-service Post Office. Unlike many ATMs, APCs don't add transaction fees."

Tom explained that the Summerville Post Office, as one of the nation's 2,500 busiest, was selected to receive an APC in an effort to expand customer access to postal services beyond traditional retail hours.

"Beyond expanding customer access, the APC enables our customers to conduct business with us at their convenience."

Using credit and debit cards, the APC enables customers to:

* Buy the same self-adhesive stamps that are provided through ATMs.
* Weigh, calculate and purchase postage in any amount for items weighing up to 70 lbs.
* Send items via Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, First-Class Mail®, and Parcel Post® services.
* Look up ZIP Codes and obtain Postal Service mailing information.
* Obtain Express Mail, Certified Mail, and Return Receipts.
* Purchase Delivery Confirmation service.
* Obtain a receipt.
* Pay PO Box Rental Fees for existing box customers

The APC is just 4' high by 3' wide. It is located in the 24 hour access lobby next to a convenient collection box that accepts packages up to 12"H × 14"D × 20"W.

The APCs will help free retail associates to assist customers with face- to-face transactions such as mailing packages to international locations, using Registered Mail service, and purchasing postal money orders. Passport applications will continue to be accepted in person.

Tom said the decision to first place APCs in Post Office lobbies follows the strategy of the banking industry. "Interestingly, many banking customers, intimidated by the new ATM technology, still gravitated to teller lines. Banks eased fears by placing staff in lobbies to assist customers with initial transactions. We're following the same scenario by having Postal Service employees assist our customers whenever possible. Just stop in and ask us, we'll go out and show you how simple it is!"

Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors, and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 141 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products, and services. With annual revenues of more than $68.5 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers 46 percent of the world's mail volume - some 202 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year - and serves seven million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.