This is the slowest, most unprofessional post office I have ever used, and unfortunately I had to deal with them on a regular basis for the past decade. Don't plan on ever spending under 30 minutes here. The line is always long, and it takes forever to get through it. Fingers crossed that you're in the right line to begin with, or you'll have to start all over!
I lived on Lake Samish for 10 years, and moved away a few months ago. The mail for 98229 is processed and delivered by the Mount Baker Station (Orleans/Sunset USPS branch). The rural carrier who delivered the mail to my neighborhood was not only completely inept (I constantly received mail for my neighbors, and twice received mail for someone on the other end of the lake!), but lazy and passive aggressive. I honestly often felt held hostage by her unwillingness to deliver my mail/packages properly.
She would deliver my packages to my uncovered steps every single time. Never mind that they were in FULL view of the street, and it would have taken nearly no extra effort to put them on my deck, just on the other side of my railing, where they wouldn't be seen. More importantly, just putting them on my deck (like an extra foot away from where she was leaving them), even if still left in full view of the street, would have at least had them under cover. Instead, I came home to packages that were almost always completely soaked through.
I travel for work, so I would painstakingly set up mail hold for the dates I would be gone, as well as the date I would return and needed the packages and mail delivered. Sometimes I was only home for one day before leaving again, so I really did need them delivered on the day specified. Not only did she almost always deliver on the first day I was gone, so my mail/packages for that day would sit there unattended for sometimes weeks before I returned, but she would almost never deliver on my return date, and it would sometimes be a day or two later before she bothered.
One time, instead of setting up a mail hold, I asked my friend who lives in Blaine (up to 45 minutes away, each direction!) to pick up my mail for me. He showed up, and instead found a note inside the mailbox saying she had taken away all my mail and packages, and they would have to be retrieved from the post office by a certain date, or would instead be returned to sender! Not only did my friend waste the trip, his gas, and his time to pick up my mail, but he couldn't even go get it for me from the post office because he wasn't on file as having permission to do so. Add to all that, there was a good chance I wasn't even going to make it back in time for her deadline. I was livid!
I have to believe that they refused to even punish her, let alone fire her as she they should have, or else something might have changed. I even filed a complaint against her with the Postmaster General, and nothing changed. Luckily, it was shortly after that when I finally moved away, so I thought I wouldn't have to deal with her again.
Recently, I placed an order for something online, but somehow the default address for delivery got changed back to my old Lake Samish address. It processed before I could have it corrected. The tracking info said it was UPS, so I unsuccessfully tried to make arrangements to pick it up with them. The last step, however, was for them to transfer it to USPS for delivery. I was a bit relieved, because any mail I had not successfully changed to my new address was set to be forwarded to me anyway, so I thought it was safe.
Nope! It went out for delivery. I called Mount Baker Station directly, and sat on hold for a literal HOUR before someone took my call. I told her what happened, and asked her to call the carrier. She said "Don't worry. The carrier knows your mail is being forwarded, and she won't deliver it. But just in case, I will call her." I said "When I lived there, she was not very conscientious about such things, so I really would appreciate it if you did call her." She rudely snapped that she would, and we hung up.
Next thing I know? Package DELIVERED!
So I called back. I spent an hour calling, and having the call disconnected on the other end. Over and over and over again. Finally, someone picked up the call and put it directly on hold. Fine. I waited. For almost another hour before... they picked up the line and hung up the phone!!! Unacceptable!
This post office is a disgrace. The way the mail carrier for Lake Samish performs her job duties is tantamount to mail tampering. I don't know how her behavior, and the apathy of the post office who employs her, can even be legal. Not that it will do any good, but I will be filing another complaint with the Postmaster General.
By the way? I sent my friend from Blaine to go retrieve my package the very next day. Luckily, the new resident was home and answered the door. And guess what? She had opened it! What the hell, anyway?!?! read more