The TCU post office made changes over the summer to its mailing and shipping services to accommodate the increasing amount of packages.

Glen Hulme, manager of the TCU post office, said in 2008 the number of packages were about 38,000. Last year the number increased to about 107,000.

Hulme said the student mailboxes were replaced by high density shelves and now uses mail carousels with folders to store mail for students.

Now, students have to go to the front window to receive their mail.

“Students still have the same box number that they had before, but we just put their mail in the folders,” Hulme said. “We send an email to let them know they got mail, so they can come down and get it.”

Some TCU students said they do not like the new changes due to longer lines and wait times.

Lawrence Kajura, a sophomore economics major, said it was simpler when there were mailboxes.

“It was much easier to walk in with a key, go to your box, open it and check,” Kajura sad. “Now, I have to wait in line and be attended to.”

Sydney Wilson, a sophomore neuroscience major, said the line makes it inconvenient to get mail or a package when someone has limited time.

In order to accommodate the longer lines, the TCU post office has increased its staff.

“We try to keep five people up at the window all day long,” Hulme said. “Two of the windows are dedicated to mail pickup and the other three have all services where they can sell postage or send a package.”

Students now can use their student I.D. to purchase postal items and ship packages instead of cash only.

Pick-up hours have also been extended to accommodate students with the new changes.

“We expanded our pickup hours in the afternoonfrom 4:30 to 6,” Hulme said. “On Saturday, we used to close at 11 a.m. and now we stay open until 2 in the afternoon.”

Hulme said the biggest impact the post office faces is the tremendous growth in online shopping.

“[Housing and Residence Life] are predicting an 8.2 percent increase every year for the next five years of online shipping,” Hulme said. “Last year, we had a 25 percent increase.”

Amazon Prime Now, along with other online shopping services, will be one of the major impacts to TCU’s postal services.

Amazon Prime Now is an online shopping service for Amazon Prime members that offers a two hour delivery from local stores, including Amazon and Sprouts, ranging in categories of grocery, health and beauty, household essentials and many more.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to accommodate that,” Hulme said. “I don’t know if the university is going to allow students to order things to come to their dorms or if it will have to come through here.”

The increase of enrollment in on campus housing with the new residence hall being built in the next couple of years is also expected to affect the TCU post office.

“That’s 400 more residents which increases our customer base by 10 percent,” Hulme said.

Despite the varying opinions on the new changes, Hulme said the changes benefit the post office to move more efficiently.