The recent dramatic rise in gas prices forced the Columbia post office to close its drive-thru feature this spring.

Post office staff closed the drive-thru, at which customers could mail parcels and purchase stamps from a postal clerk, in late April. It had been in operation at the Oak Hall Lane facility for eight years.

"Every time gas goes up a penny, it goes up for the postal service $8 million annually," said Freda Sauter, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service. "The drive-thru at the Columbia post office was not being utilized. ... The cost of operating staffing for the drive-thru, it was just not in line with our costs."

However, some residents this week expressed disappointment in the closure.

David Phinn, 44, of Columbia, said he used the drive-thru as "a matter of convenience."

"Like a drive-thru restaurant, you can stay in the comfort of your car, drive up and purchase stamps, mail packages," he said. "Everything you can do in the post office you could do at the drive-thru."

Donna Hayman, 56, of Columbia agreed.

"I found it convenient and always used it," she said. "It seems that customer satisfaction should have dictated to keep it open."

Despite the inconvenience to some, other customers didn't notice the closing.

"I never used it. It was extremely slow," said Edwards Holliday, 44, of Columbia.

And for Jackie Mccoy, 54, of Columbia, the drive-thru seemed to perpetuate the problem that closed it.

"People wasted a lot of gas waiting in line," said Mccoy, who said she never used the drive-thru. "People need exercise."

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user comments (1)

user bbfeagin says...

I was very disappointed in the closing of the drive-thru. I have two small children and do a lot of business on ebay. I have had to endure the inconvenience of pulling out our large double-stoller from the trunk and standing in long lines with whiny children. I always was gas-concious in the drive-thru by turning of my motor while waiting. It just upped my stress level a bit more.

Posted 4:01 PM, 06.14.08

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