U.S. Post Office Counter Workers

Do you work here? Do you get a kickback or commission on what you sell? Is there a button I can wear that I can request they not ask 20 questions?

I go to mail the 9"x12" envelopes of company product cards or ebay stuff I sold and this takes place weekly.

Me: I just want to mail this one envelope, first class.

Them: Anything hazardous, liquid.......? (serious tone)

Me: No

Them: Express will get it there tomorrow for $20?

Me: No thanks

Them: Just ship it the cheapest way? (really sarcastic tone)

Me: Yes

Them: Need delivery confirmation? (honest and helpful tone)

Me: No thanks

Them: Need insurance on the package? (more sarcasm since I just turned down the delivery confirmation)

Me: No thanks

Them: Do you need any stamps? (sarcasm again)

Me: No thanks - I bought stamps last week when I was here when that guy was arguing with you about the cost of shipping that large Apple computer monitor. Or was it the week before when you yelled at that guy for scooping all the pennies out of the "take a penny, leave a penny" dish?

Stamp Machine.

SOP. just as if you walked into a UPS Store/Kinko's-FedEx. They get hammered to upsell anything and everything, so they don't lose money every year, but on the other hand if they don't lose money, they don't get any budgetary increases from Congress.

Brian

Being a Gov't agency they are probably required by some genius manager to repeat that from a script. This manager then promoted a few friends and relatives to assistant managers that go from post office to post office in plain clothes looking for the renegade clerk that doesn't follow the script every time. He calls a third manager who pulls the clerk out of service without pay for a few days to teach him a lesson, and save the company money. Ofcourse I'm just guessing because my gov't agency would never do anything so rediculous

Buy the required postage on line, apply, and call them for a pickup--as they are advertising they will even pickup boxes!

For the envelopes, print, apply, put in mailbox before postman arrives.

The people at the counter of my neighborhood post office (inner city of a major metropolis) are always friendly and helpful. Go figure.

Yeah, they're just doing their job asking all the questions. The sarcasm I could do without. Find another PO? I have two that are nearly equidistant from my house.

The folks at my local PO (the one I frequent) are very courteous. I can't say anything bad about them.

I did a small asbestos job in a PO years ago. This was around the time the whole "going postal" event happed that coined the phrase. It may have been the most hostile work place I've ever seen. I doubt it has gotten any better.

Service at the larger POs in my area sucks. They aren't open at hours you would think they would be. Talk about not understanding how to do business!!!
I have better luck at any of the small branch POs.

i had a package get delivered that wouldn't fit in my apt mailbox, and there weren't any package deals like a lot of them have. i didnt get a note, but the online tracking showed it was at the PO, but it wasn't so clear. so i call to ask what the deal is, end up talking to the supervisor of that PO. he was very friendly, said just ring the doorbell by the door off to the side, and ask for me, i'll bring it to you. i get there, ring the bell, nothing. another guy comes up, supposedly has business there as well, rings the bell, nothing. knocks on the door, nothing. he eventually gets fed up and knocks louder, and we hear someone walk over to the door and "click" they closed the deadbolt.

at this point the grumpy lady working the counter starts yelling at the guy, i go over and tell her i had talked to the supervisor, and he told me to ring the bell, she wouldn't listen said i had to wait in line that was now well over a lunch hour long. so i call the supervisor back again, and he says just come to the counter, i meet him, get my package, and go.

i have had to deal with so many worthlessly lazy people in one place before

spitfirebill wrote: I did a small asbestos job in a PO years ago. This was around the time the whole "going postal" event happed that coined the phrase. It may have been the most hostile work place I've ever seen. I doubt it has gotten any better.

That's one of the reasons that unions stay popular with gov't work. You have people that neer held a real job work their way into managment with no clue what they are doing but read the almighty rule book front to back. They were often bullied as kids and now the world is going to listen to them. I hae worked for a few in the past that had an incredible lack of people skills or common sense, but thanks to a well placed relative determine how things should be done and will severly punish anyone who doesn't follow their rule.

We're lucky to have a couple small POs here. Even when they are jammed with old folks at the holidays they keep the line moving and somehow stay friendly the whole time

Yeah, they are doing the same thing fast food restaurants do...selling as many services as possible. I do have to admit, that once in a "blue moon" I forget what I need at the P.O. and their "speil" helps to jar my memory.

Why not try this the next time you think they are annoying you:

ask for a Whopper and a medium order of fries, I'll bet no one will ask if you "...want anything with that postage?" again.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AN EXTRA BIGASS FRIES?!?!

Wally wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: I did a small asbestos job in a PO years ago. This was around the time the whole "going postal" event happed that coined the phrase. It may have been the most hostile work place I've ever seen. I doubt it has gotten any better.

That's one of the reasons that unions stay popular with gov't work. You have people that neer held a real job work their way into managment with no clue what they are doing but read the almighty rule book front to back. They were often bullied as kids and now the world is going to listen to them. I hae worked for a few in the past that had an incredible lack of people skills or common sense, but thanks to a well placed relative determine how things should be done and will severly punish anyone who doesn't follow their rule.

I work for USPS. It sucks. Worst place ever. Been there almost three years and I have been looking for 2.5 to try and get out. The above posts are pretty much spot on.

But the best part is when they wait until the line is the longest, finish up with a 'customer", act like they are doing something for them and head for the back room where they take a break for 20-30 minutes with no warning or anything.

It's no surprise why they "go postal" on everyone, they have no concept of reality.

Never had a problem aside of occasional long lines. A lot of people around here have guns, though.

I've had split experience with them, though ALL do the script thing. The post office at home (where my parents live) they are all rude and always seem to not have time for you. The post office in the town my college was in was just one guy at the counter all the time, and he was cool as hell and really helpful. Now the post office in the town where I live now, it's a huge place with five windows, and again with the rude and impatient people.

I've had various experiences with USPS, my Dad happens to be one of their unhappy employees. He has been there over 20 years at a major processing facility and has seen the trash that gets into upper management and subsequently ruin the company. Most parents like if their kids want to follow in their footsteps, I've been explicitly told not to.

One year we wanted to mail a care package of cookies, tastykakes, and such from Delaware to an aunt in California. The moment after we handed the package over Bombquisha launched it into a wall and said "NEXT!"

Nottingham, Pennsylvania or small town usa has a nice friendly post office that gets everything done efficiently with a smile. I swear I saw a 180sx deliver my mail for a week and then disappear.

They are completely hit or miss.

But about the script, that is ANY retail establishment. Managers force SELL, SELL, SELL every second they get. When I was a manager I used my knowledge and expertise to sell things, not a script.

Edit, not Quote dammit!

I'm betting you and your dad aren't in management!

We're not, and don't have the desire to. I Got out of the 'Zone' and back into school. He is hoping the place lasts long enough to retire.

It shows.

Like the rest of you, I've had problems with the postal system, but, have found with the carrier to this building, a little goes a long way: A Christmas card to him/her.

B. Cookies! Especially home made. My sister's are to die for, so, a small package addressed to "all the postal workers" in the mail box helps.

C. After it snows, clean off and around the box.

Sounds corny, but it seems to have worked. Instead of leaving a package outside the apt building, they will bring it to the door. Not the ground floor, but up a flight of stairs and down the hallway.

Might help, everyone like to be appreciated. Doesn't help those stuck inside the PO all day, but, helps me get my mail unmutilated.

I have the pick of several POs around here.. the one I am "supposed to go to" is the big one and I hate going there. Always a long line and stressed out people. If I go 10 minutes out of my way, I can go to a small country PO with one person in the building who is always friendly and helpful..

even if they do take an hour lunch from 1 to 2 pm and close the shop when they do

mad_machine wrote: I have the pick of several POs around here.. the one I am "supposed to go to" is the big one and I hate going there. Always a long line and stressed out people. If I go 10 minutes out of my way, I can go to a small country PO with one person in the building who is always friendly and helpful.. even if they do take an hour lunch from 1 to 2 pm and close the shop when they do

Ditto. My hometown PO is run by idiots, people whose only success in life was somehow passing the civil service exam. If I drive the same distance to a tiny town with a fire dept and a dozen houses I have a 1 person PO that takes care of all of my business as well as my work PO Box. The postmaster and I compare ebay stories and she gives me free packing materials frequently.

My father was a letter carrier in my hometown for over 20 years. He loved his job, but by the time he could retire he couldn't wait to get out. The lack of professionalism that crept in coupled with the push to hire minorities regardless of their intellect drove him out.

And there are people who want the government to take over our health care...