With family out of state we mail packages and letters frequently and we were so looking forward to having a USPS within walking distance. We have been loyal customers from childhood and have multiple save the USPS stickers lying around and have posted using the hashtag by the same name. I had a PO Box at the Huntington Beach, CA location on Atlantic for years and always got great service. I was mortified upon meeting the staff at this location, when I left I almost cried not for my one bad experience but for seeing a snapshot of why our beloved USPS is being allowed to die off. One politician cannot ruin an institution every American supports but if all of Boston is turned away, treated the way we were who is left to support them. If they trash their own champions, how can they survive?
I paid for a USPS PO Box online, and it was not the refusal of service that was harsh as much as the horrific delivery. The first woman I encountered was kind and helpful but since I did not have home owner or vehicle insurance as we rent and utilize zero emission transportation as much as possible - she had to ask for her supervisor's permission. I was directed to Leslie who immediately rolled her eyes, scoffed, and raised her voice at me as she declined my multiple forms of ID.
I asked how someone with no home-owner's or vehicle owner's insurance need can get a USPS PO Box - she said "They can't! That is how the US Postal service works!" I explained I had in one in CA as I presented her my driver's license, passport, certified marriage license thinking three legal documents proving my identity should be sufficient. She declined so I asked for my $150 back. She said go online, I pulled up the website and saw "Apply for a refund at the Post Office where the PO Box is located"
This made her yell louder and gesture at me as if to shoo me away, "If you paid online, you refund online!" I asked if there was a number I can call instead of online. She told me to look up the 800 number, I asked her to write it down. She rolled her eyes and wrote a 617 number down as she explained the tall, heavyset woman leaning at the next window was her superior if I had a problem with that. I asked how displaced citizens have access to purchase a PO Box but a renter does not? She then shrieked "That is only at 25 Dorchester!!" I asked her to write the address for me, she only repeated 25 Dorchester. I asked why she did not give me that option earlier, why argue with me rather than refer me to the right place? She rolled her eyes and waved me away. I reminded her rolling eyes does not help anyone, it isn't helping me or her. She repeated the behavior so I took the 617 number she wrote & headed toward the exit.
The window next to me just opened up so I asked the tall, heavyset woman if she was her superior... she remained stoic on the counter, looking right through me, not even bothering to nod. I said, "Well I just want you to know her rolling her eyes repeatedly isn't helping anyone or diffusing anything." She shook her head at me without saying a word.
I walked over to the original employee helping me to let her know I appreciated her taking the time to look into it for me and thank her for doing a good job at providing customer service then left.
I am sadly, reluctantly forced to open a box at the UPS store down the street. read more
