Post Office Plays a Win-Win Game

There is no way the Postal Service operates in the red. I know firsthand. Early (last) Monday morning, the small post office in my hometown of San Juan Capistrano was closed, forcing me to mumble a few Navy words and travel to the Mission Viejo depot.

Upon arrival, I instantly know this office too is closed, the parking lot is mostly empty, save the full line of people who are waiting to purchase the three-cent stamps (which did not exist) to supplement the old 29er. One is forced to buy a five-cent stamp. Already the Postal Service is ahead of the game.

To hedge their bets, the machine is malfunctioning 50% of the time. My first nickel gives me a stamp, but the next nickel gave me a fraction of a stamp, and the next nickel the rest of that partial.

For $1 in change, I received 50 cents worth of stamps, as did the rest of the good folks in line. I don’t think even Las Vegas gives these odds.

Oh, by the way, I’m faxing this to you--I didn’t believe it was worth the extra cost of first class mail.

LARRY COLGAN

San Juan Capistrano