MCB Camp Pendleton

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Military, Oceanside post office personnel aim to attract more customers to Del Mar location

17 May 2007 | Cpl. Ben Eberle Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Base postal officials met May 7 with the Oceanside postmaster to brainstorm ways of attracting more customers to the Del Mar Post Office.

The meeting was deemed a success and is viewed as indicative of the strong working relationship Camp Pendleton has with the United States Postal Service, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Don L. McCarty, director, Consolidated Post Office, Camp Pendleton.

Informing Camp Pendleton’s population of the services provided by the Del Mar facility is the next step, and McCarty said this is essential to keeping the office open.

“It’s a ‘use it or lose it’ proposition,” said McCarty, a 44-year-old from Omaha, Neb. “We’ve been trying … to get the word out, and if we keep the customers coming in, it’s easier to justify keeping our original hours and services.”

Expanding the facility’s services might help. Officials agreed to begin serving money orders and passports at the Del Mar site. The effective date for these services has not yet been determined.

Camp Pendleton has six military and three fully operational civilian post offices, but the Del Mar office is the only facility in the highly populated area of base, serving several thousand service members and their families. The next closest civilian facility is in Chappo (22 Area), more than eight miles away.

Base officials have erected a highly visible road sign on A Street in Camp Del Mar to attract more customers, but it’s up to Camp Pendleton’s residents to keep the branch open.

“Just use it,” said Larry Dowell, window clerk, Camp Del Mar Post Office. “Be aware that we’re here. The availability of (this branch) is important.”

“For anyone who lives in Del Mar housing or either of the other two housing areas across the street, that post office is easy-access and even within walking distance,” McCarty said.

Another topic of discussion was the planned relocation of the post office in November 2007. “We’ll aim to put it in a better location for foot traffic,” McCarty said.

He added that constructive dialogue between Camp Pendleton officials and those with the United States Postal Service has been instrumental.

“Sometimes you make business decisions based on money, and sometimes you make decisions based on the customer,” McCarty said. “Either way, it’s a good working relationship we have with USPS.”

This strong relationship is paving the way for significant improvements.

Camp Pendleton’s postal units have increased the same-day distribution of incoming mail to the units aboard the base from 30 to 95 percent within the last month, which means Marines are receiving their mail in a more timely fashion.

McCarty said the Chappo post office can generate passports faster than off-base facilities.

“From helping us reduce our transit times by nearly one day to increasing the amount of mail sorted by automation … it’s been a really positive and supportive situation (with USPS),” McCarty said.

Military, Oceanside post office personnel aim to attract more customers to Del Mar location

17 May 2007 | Cpl. Ben Eberle Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Base postal officials met May 7 with the Oceanside postmaster to brainstorm ways of attracting more customers to the Del Mar Post Office.

The meeting was deemed a success and is viewed as indicative of the strong working relationship Camp Pendleton has with the United States Postal Service, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Don L. McCarty, director, Consolidated Post Office, Camp Pendleton.

Informing Camp Pendleton’s population of the services provided by the Del Mar facility is the next step, and McCarty said this is essential to keeping the office open.

“It’s a ‘use it or lose it’ proposition,” said McCarty, a 44-year-old from Omaha, Neb. “We’ve been trying … to get the word out, and if we keep the customers coming in, it’s easier to justify keeping our original hours and services.”

Expanding the facility’s services might help. Officials agreed to begin serving money orders and passports at the Del Mar site. The effective date for these services has not yet been determined.

Camp Pendleton has six military and three fully operational civilian post offices, but the Del Mar office is the only facility in the highly populated area of base, serving several thousand service members and their families. The next closest civilian facility is in Chappo (22 Area), more than eight miles away.

Base officials have erected a highly visible road sign on A Street in Camp Del Mar to attract more customers, but it’s up to Camp Pendleton’s residents to keep the branch open.

“Just use it,” said Larry Dowell, window clerk, Camp Del Mar Post Office. “Be aware that we’re here. The availability of (this branch) is important.”

“For anyone who lives in Del Mar housing or either of the other two housing areas across the street, that post office is easy-access and even within walking distance,” McCarty said.

Another topic of discussion was the planned relocation of the post office in November 2007. “We’ll aim to put it in a better location for foot traffic,” McCarty said.

He added that constructive dialogue between Camp Pendleton officials and those with the United States Postal Service has been instrumental.

“Sometimes you make business decisions based on money, and sometimes you make decisions based on the customer,” McCarty said. “Either way, it’s a good working relationship we have with USPS.”

This strong relationship is paving the way for significant improvements.

Camp Pendleton’s postal units have increased the same-day distribution of incoming mail to the units aboard the base from 30 to 95 percent within the last month, which means Marines are receiving their mail in a more timely fashion.

McCarty said the Chappo post office can generate passports faster than off-base facilities.

“From helping us reduce our transit times by nearly one day to increasing the amount of mail sorted by automation … it’s been a really positive and supportive situation (with USPS),” McCarty said.