# Stamp vending machines- \*What\* profit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2000, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838 "2000-06-19T08:27:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/1 "2000-06-19T08:27:16Z")
In one of the Straight Dope books (forgive me, I forget which one), there was a question regarding to whom the profit from those stamp vending machines goes. The answer was (basically) whoever owns the machine. This might be a stupid question, but, um, what profit? There’s no price markup (15 33-cent stamps=$4.95). Is there some deal where if you buy stamps in bulk, they’re cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/2 "2000-06-19T09:19:52Z")
If you know the secret handshake, you can get stamps for only a quarter. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/3 "2000-06-19T09:24:23Z")
Hmmm. When did you last wash your hands? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/4 "2000-06-19T09:46:05Z")
In most 7-11 stores, there is a stamp machine that will dispense 1 33 cent stamp for 50 cents. Also, most Mailbox ETC. type places no longer sell stamps at face value. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/5 "2000-06-19T09:58:12Z")
Really? 😕 The only stamp machines I see don’t sell stamps individually, unless they’re the $1.00 type. Thanks for the reply. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/6 "2000-06-19T11:22:08Z")
Here’s the column, just for reference. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_354a.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_354a.html) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/7 "2000-06-19T12:53:00Z")
The Postal Service has its own stamp vending machines (in their lobbies and sometimes on locations outside the post offices themselves – there’s one in a local mall, for instance). When you buy from one of them, you get the stamps at face value, since all the money goes to the USPS. Their usually the size of a soda machine with a USPS logo at the top. Other machines are owned by private vendors and usually charge a markup. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/8 "2000-06-19T13:14:52Z")
The small white and blue boxes on a pole you see in pharmacies and 7/11s are privately owned - those are the ones that charge a bit more for stamps and operate at a profit. The Post Office (generally) operates the larger snack-like vending machines. (No, the machine is not snack-like, but it looks like the type that normally sells Hostess-goodness). These don’t operate at a profit, and typically only sell books of stamps. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/9 "2000-06-19T13:49:04Z")
Safeway used to charge a markup (IIRC, $6.75 for 20 33-cent stamps). But outcry caused them to now charge only face value. Good PR is more valuable than 15 cents’ profit. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/10 "2000-06-19T14:24:44Z")
so the do not make a profit on them? so what? Stores routinely sell some articles at a loss just to attract cutomers. Compared to taht, selling at zero loss seems like a good deal. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-vending-machines-what-profit/22838/11 "2000-06-19T20:11:18Z")
The Post Office did, at one time anyway, provide stamps at a small dicount to retailers. Now if we could just convince the mint to do the same …