Two of the busiest hours of the week at the Coupeville Post Office occur on Saturdays.

That will change in April when the post office ends its Saturday service as a cost-saving measure.

It will be an inconvenience to postal customers island-wide, as Coupeville was the only post office where a clerk was available to help mail a package on Saturday.

Lack of customer demand wasn’t a problem.

Distribution clerk Mark Cullinan said two people normally work the busy window on Saturdays while two others sort mail.

“It is one of the busiest two-hours periods of the week and everybody knows it,” Cullinan said.

He said the cuts stem from the postal authorities asking local offices to suggest reductions. The U.S. Postal Service has been losing money the last few years.

Some Coupeville staff will continue working Saturdays sorting mail but the front window won’t be open. Cullinan said Saturday delivery will continue.

With the move effective April 4, the nearest post office open on Saturdays will be Anacortes.