The service changes are targeted in areas with ZIP Code prefixes of 480, 483, 484, and 485, which include most of Detroit's northern suburbs and a large geographic area extending north beyond Flint and northeast into Michigan's Thumb region. Kelly Sigmon, manager of the service area known as the Southeast Michigan District, says the abbreviated retail service hours are merely a response to what has historically been a period of reduced customer traffic in Post Office lobbies. "Whether it's due to people with holiday travel plans, folks preparing for the big meal on Thursday, or the mega shopping day on Friday, Post Offices tend to have much lighter customer traffic immediately before and after Thanksgiving Day…particularly during the evening hours."
Sigmon pointed out that the change affects only those Post Offices whose normal weekday hours extend beyond 5:00 p.m. "Post Offices that normally close at 5:00 p.m. or earlier will adhere to their normal schedules," explained Sigmon.
Sigmon added that postal customers still have options even after the Post Office closes. "Many large Post Offices have self-service Automated Postal Centers – most with 24-hour access – where customers can purchase stamps, mail packages or ship letters and packages by Express or Priority Mail. They can pay with a debit or credit card; or they can visit one of our Contract Postal Units including most Meijer stores."
The Detroit Post Office (serving ZIP Codes beginning with 482) and metro-Detroit's southern and western locales (ZIP Codes beginning with 481 and 492) will maintain normal service schedules on Wednesday and Friday.
