I just got back from the Post Office. I almost went yesterday, but remembered that Columbus Day was a postal holiday before I went out the door. So today, I went.
I waited until almost 3 to go, figuring I'd avoid the lunch crowd and maybe miss the late afternoon, buy stamps on the way home from picking up the kids at school crowd. It seems though that there is always a crowd.
This time I had to wait in line to get inside the post office to stand in line. As usual, there were a wide variety of people waiting: Moms with kids, men that looked like they were sending something business related, people like me who just didn't know how much postage to affix to their packages. And, as usual, there was an air of tension caused by waiting in a long long line for services.
My last visit to the PO, as I was at the head of the line, the two women standing behind me made loud cracks about how slow this post office always is. They even remarked how it would almost be faster to drive downtown to the main post office, although by my calculation, you'd have to stand in line for almost 40 minutes at this branch to justify a trip downtown in traffic.
Today I didn't hear anyone remark about the long line or seemingly sluggish service, but I could tell that everyone was thinking it. As I surveyed the faces of my fellow line-standers, I could read frustration.
As I progressed to the front of the line, I noticed that only two clerks were working. There had been three when I first arrived, but one lady had closed her window and left. She returned about twenty minutes later, so I assume she took her break.
I also noticed that every single customer who had stood in line, shifting weight from one leg to the other impatiently waiting for his turn, got up to the counter and was utterly unprepared. Several patrons didn't have the foggiest idea what they wanted. Insurance? Uh, maybe. Delivery confirmation? Hmm, what's that. Oh, I want this, so I'll have to fill out this form.
Some people had not even addressed and sealed their packages.
This is the sort of thing that I find to be interesting and at the same time intolerable: For people to be so damn impatient, and yet to contribute wholly to the problem.
I don't expect everyone to know all the nuances of postal services and rates and what-have-yous, let's face it, the postal system is quite a beast of rules and regulations, but if you're going to pretend like you're so inconvenienced by everyone else's ignorance, at least don't be ignorant yourself.
So here are my rules for going to the post office. You might want to jot these down.
1. Write the address on your package before you get to the counter, goddammit. You've been standing in line for 30 minutes with the package already, holding a pen. And there's a counter. You've got no excuse.
2. All those little forms in the "outer post office", those are the forms for delivery confirmation, signatures, extra insurance, etcetera. If you need one of those, get it before you get in line. And fill it out while you're in line, it will give you something to think about. You dumbass.
3. The Post Office, like most government offices, has a website! If you want to save yourself and everyone else some time, try looking for the answers to all your stupid questions there. They publish the rates in a handy PDF, and you can buy stamps there too.
4. Finally, be courteous to the clerk behind the counter. You've only stood there for 30 minutes, and she's been standing there dealing with dummies like you ALL DAY. The last thing she needs is your attitude.
Oct.14.03 at 4:13 PM
Athena writes:
too true! Wish they would let you laminate that and display it proudly on the doors, maybe even a sign...too bad it would still be lost on the people who need to read it most. Some people. :)
tim writes:
This rant is almost I-fucking-dentical to Henry Rollins's rant on lines at the ticket counter in the airport. Stuff like holding both boarding pass -and- identification at the ready...cause you know you need it.
If you have not heard it, and perhaps want to, I will burn you a copy of that particular disc.
Dan writes:
I try to always be courteous to those behind me in line. I get correct change ready before I reach toll booths, I fill out my checks before I reach the checker at the grocery store and I'm ready when I reach the post office counter. I am 'post office dumb' in other ways, however.
I stopped at a rural post office on my way to work Monday to send Mom's birthday card. I completely forgot that Columbus Day was a national holiday! (No other Ohio cities have holidays, do they?) Later that evening, I walked all the way out to my mailbox before realizing there had been no mail delivery Monday. Then, I felt really dumb, I'd forgotten it was a postal holiday twice in the same day.
Ya'll start lookin' for 'a nice home' for ol' Dad!
Mom writes:
I've found that mid morning, around 10 AM and around 2 PM are the best times at the post office. Evidently we have smarter postal patrons in California. Rarely do we have to wait for someone to address a package or fill out a form.
But I am always nice to the people behind the counter because I know there are JERKS out there. Even if they don't happen to be there when I'm in the post office.
My post office folks look like they have a stinky supervisor; their faces show it, so I'm particularly sympathetic.
I second the lamenation idea. I was thinking of at least printing it and giving it to the post office people at my post office.
kris writes:
I seldom venture to the PO, but I have had simialr experiences at fast-food restaurants, especially when I worked in swanky South Tulsa.
The 'I'm super important and naturally in a hurry' guys who would harrass the workers at Taco Cabana for not offering 5-star service for minimum wage became my nemeses. I made it a point to be friendly to the employees every time i went in, and you know what? I got excellent service, with a smile, and all for the same 3 bucks those other assholes were paying for their food.
AVERAGE JOE writes:
This is why I love big cities like Chicago and New York. If you pull a mindless stunt like that, you'll get dressed down by the rest of the line at best or dragged outside and shot. There is zero tolerance for that crap. Be prepared or get out of the way.
Of course, try mentioning to a Southern idiot just what a dolt he is and he'll snap back at you. That's the best. He just wasted 20 minutes of everyone's time, but YOU'RE the jackass for calling him on it.
This is why dumbasses in the South think New Yorkers are rude. They're NOT rude, they just don't tolerate the blantant clueless stupidity that practically defines Southern living.
</soapbox>
Ma' writes:
I kinda like that 'drag them out and shot them' scenario for stupid people! Lines would surely get shorter, and the morticians would have a field day...can you imagine in Texas...you drag one of the Bubbas out and shoot him, and several of his Good Ol' Boy Buddies then shoot you and anyone standing next to you, or kin to you, or even looking your way...Yeah...the lines would get shorter as the population decreased...
Ma' writes:
But stay from the Post Office until everyone else is dead...
Dan writes:
You can tell it's a new century - now the patrons are going postal!
tim writes:
Glad I work at UPS and not the PO.
*ducks bullets*