Berkley Post Office Will Stay Open

Patrons of the in Berkley can breathe a sigh of relief: The location is not among those the agency announced Tuesday it is considering for closure.

However, retail offices in Ferndale and Detroit are among the approximately 3,700 locations that are being evaluated by the U.S. Postal Service.

"As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smartphones 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," the U.S. Postal Service said in a press release Tuesday.

The Postal Service is considering shutting some offices and shifting to a Village Post Office model that would integrate some services and products, such as stamps and flat-rate packaging, into places such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other retailers.

“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,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said. “Our customers' habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”

That doesn't necessarily hold true for patrons of the Berkley post office, who let out a collective howl of protest Tuesday on the Berkley Patch Facebook page over the idea it might close, leaving 13 comments before noon.

• "I'm going today, and I probably go once a month or so for stamps. Despite the long-ish lines and wait times, I like the sense of community there is inside the Berkley PO," wrote Conny Coon. "... I have absolutely no problem with increased postage rates. It's still amazing to me that just a few quarters will take my handwritten card and deliver it across the country in just a few days. That is amazing service, really. And similar to many other retailers and services that are feeling the negative effects of technology (i.e. Borders, Blockbuster), so is the USPS, which needs to downsize to accommodate less demand.
• "Like all other departments within our government, SOS, city offices, they have had to down size and continue to deal with rising costs. Their number one cost is gas--trying budgeting for that expense???? They are also very protected by a union, which much like any other industry with union labors, there are some who are "protected" who don't pull their weight. However, I look at the 2 mail carriers I have here in Berkley. They are beyond friendly; they treat my mail with care; they know me and my family personally," wrote Libby Turpin.

However, some Facebook commenters cited decreasing demand, poor service and rising postal rates as justifications for the impending closures.

"The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations," according to a press release.

A post office that had been located inside was closed during a previous wave of downsizing.