EL PASO, Texas -- El Pasoans are starting to notice the postage stamp vending machines are gone and said they are being inconvenienced.

Last year, the U.S postal service decided to begin to phase out the vending machines.

Like most people, Janna Duran's time is precious. But she said lately her trips to the Post Office are getting longer. The reason is because she used to buy her stamps at the vending machine, but the U.S Postal Service has phased it out.

"It's very convenient to have the vending machines up front. You don't have to stand in line and watch the hours. You just come and go," said Duran.

Duran said now she sees more and more people are waiting in line to buy stamps.

"With all the shortcomings now a days, it's a toss up. Do you want a machine to keep replacing people? I don't know?" said Pete Pellicotte from East El Paso.

As KFOX reported, the U.S Postal Service cited several reasons for phasing out the machines. They say vending stamp sales are declining, service costs are increasing and some machines are generating less revenue than the cost of their overhead. Many customers prefer the convenience of paying with a credit or debit card and the vending machines accept cash only.

Some post offices like the one of Remcon Cicle have an automated stamp machine that takes cards, but not all Post Offices are equipped with them and customers will have to wait in line.

"I send my wife over when it's time to wait in line," said Pellicotte.

Stamps may be purchased online at The Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; by phone; by fax; by filling out a Stamp by Mail order form available from letter carriers and Post Offices; at commercial retail establishments; through banking and credit union ATMs; and at Automated Postal Centers.

Stamps can also be obtained from your rural carrier, if you are on a rural delivery route.

Customers can call the Postal Service’s toll-free number 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) or the TTY number 877-TTY-2HLP (877-889-2457) for help with their postal questions.