East end store stops postal service

To the surprise of many, especially east end residents, the availability of postal products and services at Churchill Plaza’s Stamp & Win came to an end at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

The store itself, which sells other products such as lottery tickets, gifts and cards, will remain open, its new business hours being 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. 

A Canada Post mailbox is still available outside the store for letter drop off, and Canada Post will still pick up mail from that box at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m Monday to Friday.

“We knew it was going to happen but we didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did, there was no notice…it was an order from Canada Post head office.  I’m sure they have another setup that they’re probably working on, setting up somewhere else,” said Stamp & Win’s manager, speaking to SooToday late Monday afternoon.

A call from SooToday to Canada Post in Ottawa was not returned.

A Canada Post notice, posted on Stamp & Win’s door, informs customers “personal contact items” (such as parcels and other items) are still available for pickup at Canada Post’s main Sault Ste. Marie post office at 451 Queen Street East.

“Continued access to the full range of products and services is available at alternate locations in the area,” the notice reads.

Those alternate locations, apart from the main office at 451 Queen Street East, are the Station Mall Drug Mart Postal Outlet at 293 Bay Street, Stamping Grounds at 275 Second Line West and Canadian Tire’s Postal Outlet at 200 McNabb Street.

“This is an inconvenience to go downtown,” said a surprised Gilliane Laframboise, who had arrived at Stamp & Win late Monday afternoon to pick up a parcel she was expecting.

“If you live in the east end of town it’s an inconvenience to go all the way downtown,” agreed Jeff Maville.

“It’s not that bad of a drive to go downtown, but still, everything’s right here (at Churchill Plaza), like the grocery store and other businesses,” Maville said.

“I’m surprised and very disappointed, this was the closest post office to my house, so I used it regularly…this does inconvenience me,” said Raquel Lehto.