Surreal USPS Employee Experiences

[ileca-ra]

There is one small post office located in a strip mall
which I occasionally drop-off at when in the area.

The only employee I have ever seen, a lady appearing

to be in her 50's, never fails to disappoint.

Yesterday, was no exception. 

I walked in, the only customer.

I began to wait patiently while she affixed labels
and scanned barcodes for a pile of 20 similiar

items on her counter.

Now, around 3/4 the way through the pile,
she looks up as the door opens and notices
the line of three customers.  "No more than three

inside at a time, wait outside," she says.

"Oh, and I go on break at 3:45, so you may have

to come back."

I say, "Wow" as I look at the other customers.

I really wanted to say more, but fell victim to
shipping extortion.  I'd hate ruffle feathers

and get an INR.

Again, this is the rule, not the exception

at this small post office.

It must be nice to have a job with the option

of turning away paying customers when you

feel like taking a break.

But wait, I actually like and value my customers,

because happy customers help my  business.

Is this bureaucracy at its finest, or am I being unfair?

[nobody*s_perfect]

What state are you in? My state currently has covid-related has limits on the number of customers who can be in a store at the same time, based on square footage. Even some big stores chains (Walmart, Kroger) are doing this voluntarily.

[ileca-ra]

I'm in Lafayette, LA. Yes, we also are also observing the 6-foot rule and some stores only have one entrance with a clerk keeping a headcount as customers enter.

This lady has exhibited this behavior well before the outbreak, though. I simply will not go there unless I'm across town and am in danger of not making post for that day.

[ed8108]

She will most likely receive the coveted " best customer service" award for her location.

[jellsello]

It's the power trip I tell you!!!!!!

My husband dealt with a real piece of work once. We had gotten up early a few years ago to go the market. I had one package we figured we would drop off at the post office on the way to the market since ours didn't open till later an d we just wanted to be done. The lady reamed him out about bringing a package in that did not have the same zip code as the that particular post office.  My husband said sorry, I will take it to the other post office then. But she  said no, I'll accept. Suddenly you can take it?

[ed8108]

To avoid inconvenience, some emploees do make up their own policies.

[lex-talon]

I haven't set foot in my local Post office for years. The last visit I experienced was not pleasant at all. The clerk that was present gave me a hard time and the supervisor had to straighten him out for me. All other clerks, Postal carriers, are nice to deal with. Trips to the PO are only done if absolutely necessary.

[muttlymob]

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@ed8108 wrote:

To avoid inconvenience, some emploees do make up their own policies.

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Sometimes the employees don't have to make up their own policies, because they know the existing rules.  There are certain classes of mail that must be presented at the PO of the origin zip code on the label.

[jellsello]

In any case a kindly, we cannot accept this first class package here, and explaining why would be the right thing to do. Not yelling at someone out of the blue about something.

[myangelandmyprincess]

My last experience was when I tried to mail just a letter to a friend in Mexico...the lady told me you can't just send letters international with just stamped mail it has to go with tracking.  She ended up getting called away to do something in the back so had the other lady take over my transaction who knew what she was doing.  

[johnrj1226 · Accepted solution]

@ileca-ra 

You  will find people with less than friendly attitudes just about every were you go.  Best thing you can do when it happens at a place of business is remain "chill", take names, have the date & time the issue happens and make contact with a manager or call the head office.  Have called Bentonville, Arkansas (Wal-Mart HQ) a few times.  They take it serious and someone will call you back - often the store manager.

[lisa5768]

I have a PO box the next town over because my local is horrible. I had a package that was damaged and the seller filed the insurance claim. I was sent a letter to take the package to any PO for inspection. I went to my local with the box and the letter and tried to give it to them. They refused to look at it and told me I had to take it to the PO that it was delivered to. I pointed out the letter said ANY PO, they said no you must take to to the delivery PO. I asked to speak to the postmaster who shrugged me off.  This is a PO in a 100,000+ population city, sadly bad service is everywhere.

[ed8108]

Wal-Mart is a private sector corporation where customer dissatisfaction may result in loss of business.

In my experience I have found public sector organizations along with USPS appear not to be as responsive to service complaints.

[ed8108]

Existing rules ?

Interesting that I once presented a written copy of current USPS rules that govern in order to get compliance ,at my local which was also the main post office, after a review of the rule, the response was "we don't follow that here."

[muttlymob]

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@ed8108 wrote:

Existing rules ?

Interesting that I once presented a written copy of current USPS rules that govern in order to get compliance ,at my local which was also the main post office, after a review of the rule, the response was "we don't follow that here."

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They were idiots.

It happens.  USPS is huge.  Training is not that consistent.  Management is not that consistent.  It is luck of the draw whether employees always know what they are doing or not.  Sad, but true.

If you have good staff at your local PO, celebrate.  If not, hope they move on before they can do too much damage.