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A contract postal unit is a postal counter inside another business, like a drugstore or shipping shop, run by that store's staff under contract with the postal service. It sells stamps and accepts letters and packages, but it is not a full post office: services are narrower and hours follow the store's schedule.
The everyday ones. You can buy stamps and stamped envelopes, weigh and mail letters, and drop off parcels that are already labeled. Most units sell basic packaging supplies, and some handle money orders. If your errand is "I need to get this letter or box into the mail stream today," a contract unit usually covers it. The idea is old: the postal service has long partnered with private shops to put a counter where people already shop, and you will find these units inside drugstores, grocery stores, office-supply shops, and independent shipping stores.
Quite a few things are post-office-only. Contract units generally do not rent PO boxes, do not accept passport applications, and do not take bulk or business mailings. Some special services, like certain registered or insured transactions, are only available at a real post office, and policies vary from one unit to another. The rule of thumb: if the errand is routine, the contract unit is fine; if it is unusual, call first or go to the actual post office. You also cannot pick up held mail there or file the kinds of service requests that need a postal clerk with system access.
Three giveaways. First, the signage: a contract unit is identified as a contract postal unit, not a post office, and it sits inside a larger store. Second, the people: the clerks are the store's employees, not federal postal employees, so they wear the store's uniform or name badge rather than a postal uniform. Third, the hours: the counter keeps the store's hours, which is often a perk, since drugstores and grocery stores stay open later and on weekends when the post office is closed.
Canada Post does the same thing with retail postal outlets. Many sit inside pharmacies, grocery stores, and convenience stores, and a large share are operated by the store itself rather than by Canada Post staff. The pattern matches the US version closely: stamps, parcel drop-off, and basic mailing services are available, while anything specialized belongs at a corporate post office. If you are in Canada and see a postal counter inside a Shoppers-style drugstore, you are looking at the same concept under a different name.
| Factor | Contract postal unit | Real post office |
|---|---|---|
| Staff | Store employees under contract | Postal service employees |
| Hours | Follows the store, often evenings and weekends | Standard post office hours |
| Stamps and parcel drop-off | Yes | Yes |
| PO boxes, passports, bulk mail | Generally no | Yes |
| Special services | Some, varies by location | Full range |
For a simple stamp purchase or a parcel drop-off after hours, the contract unit wins on convenience. For anything that needs a postal employee's system access, the post office is the safer bet.
If the errand is just getting a letter sent, you can skip the counter entirely. Ready to mail it? Send your letter with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is printed and mailed.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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