Photo Tour of the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services Center

The Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) located in Kansas City, Kansas is a fully automated fulfillment center for the United States Postal Service. Operating in 300,000 square feet of space, 156 feet underground, it is sometimes referred as the 'The Cave.' That's because it is situated 3/4 mile into one and visitors have to take a bus to get to it!

According to a press release, SFS’s daily inventory of stamps ranges from 400 million to 600 million, with a fulfillment rate of 12,000 to 15,000 orders from around the world per day. Most of those orders have a turnaround time of just 24 – 36 hours.

Sales at the facility reached $468 million in 2009.

The SFS provides mint stock, First Day Covers, Digital Color Postmarks and many other collectibles. An onsite store is opened to meet the needs of local business customers and visitors to the facility. SFS fulfills orders from the www.usps.com website, 1-800-STAMP24, and from the USA Philatelic catalog.

Back in March, members (shown above) of the American Philatelic Society and Center toured the SFS.  

Click here for photos of their visit.