Frankly a very bizarre experience... I'm a huge fan of the post office, but unfortunately, this branch needs to turn it's attention to management and employee training. They were absolutely understaffed, and the one employee at the window was not prompt and both prone to chatting but also struggled to answer questions. I heard him tell the customer before me that priority mail could not be shipped overseas because the USPS was a US government office and wouldn't send mail to other countries -- THAT IS NOT TRUE. I have sent priority mail abroad and received it abroad. Shocking to see such a lack of knowledge and incorrect information being shared. Eventually, I gave up and used the self kiosk station. I love love love the USPS, and it was so disheartening and frustrating to see this service and incorrect knowledge applied. Please, please, address staff training at this location. read more

When I have to work on Saturdays, I sometimes drop off packages at the Wellesley Hills post office. The man that helps me always has a smile on his face and take my packages. There is parking on the street as well as n a public lot. Sometimes I have trouble parking but the service is worth the effort. read more

I don't really ever feel compelled to leave poor reviews online, even when the place of business merits it. But for the USPS in Harvard Square, I'm going to make an exception. It's not hyperbole to say that this might be the most poorly run post office in the country. Possibly the world. There was a line 15 people deep at one point, yet only one employee taking customers. I counted 3-4 other employees in the back at one point, no one ever came out to help. I thought maybe I caught them on a bad day but according to some other folks in line, " it's always like this." Huh? I waited in line for 50 minutes to simply pay for the envelope I was shipping my package in. The poor girl in front of me waited just as long, and when it was finally her turn, she asked the employee for a piece of tape to affix the mailing label she had already printed for the package she was sending. Pretty standard request, right? Wrong! The employee gruffly barked "no tape here" and after a few seconds of trying to determine whether this person was joking, the woman walked away dazed, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. The entire scene was beyond surreal. If you value your time or your sanity, please avoid this location at all costs. read more

It is true and thus I will say it. I was absolutely blown away by my experience at this US Post Office location. Never before in my years of toiling and moiling and moheling have I had an actively positive experience at a US Post Office. Whether because of the havoc wreaked by utterly shameless customers, because of the misery cultivated by aggressive employees, or because of the intoxication prompted by terrible chemicals in the air, a simple trip to the post office is rarely simple. But lo and behold, an exception is found at ZIP code 02138! And to think the skeptics warned us to be wary of a ZIP code beginning with zero (0). This US Post Office graced me with the swiftest post office experience known to humankind: I entered to ship a box and ship a box I did. Some may say that the pleasure and speed were a gift of the self-service kiosk I used. Indeed no human interaction was required. A mere machine took the addresses and dimensions and weights and masses. But as we know soon the machines will be the humans and the humans will be the machines or something along those lines; of course someone once noted that the last shall be first, and the first last. Aye. read more

I would give zero stars if I could. Always a line out the door and incredibly slow. Avoid this place at all costs and go to FedEx or UPS.

YIKES. Today, Jewell (the staff member I spoke with) mocked me for leaving the line with my two crying kids (a toddler and an infant) when they were TWO HOURS behind their appointment times for passports, and came back an hour later to try and see if they were ready for our appointment then. "What, you think you can just get served whenever you want, ma'am? That ain't how this works." _._ Then, upon asking if there was a better way for me to try to get an appt, said, "that ain't my job. You go online, and you figure it out for yourself." Just YIKES. read more

Unbelievably slow and workers purposely avoid helping people. Also appointments do not matter if you have them

Even the most fabulous of folks cannot avoid the abysmal trifecta of the dreaded errand-running establishments: the bank, the RMV and the post office. No matter what, you need to handle your money (even if that just means keeping it somewhere between spending it), you must have a license or some form of identification, and you must send shit to people and receive it from them. A gift to your grandma who lives in Pennsylvania or some last-minute documents to a friend in Miami. Yes, even in the golden age of technology, sometimes you have to send things the old-fashioned way...through the mail. In this unavoidable department of adult life, I've been considerably lucky. My local PO is pretty damn efficient, hardly crowded when I am there and when there is a line, it moves rather quickly. I'd avoid the noon rush, and the morning zoo hours...just like you'd avoid going to the bank branch near your job on your lunch break. Using common sense will make your visits to the post office in Harvard Square as pain free as a any adult obligation could possibly be. read more

First time passport application appt. I came organized, was nice and she was so nice, quick, and friendly. So smooth!

This post office either makes me so angry or so happy. It's insane. 2-3pm on a weekday - priceless Any other time - mad house Seriously, the line has been practically out the door, and there would be only two people on staff. All that said, this is the most convenient post office for me. And I appreciate the self-serve, weigh-your-package option. Still... man o man. read more

Their self serve machine was broken but no sign to let people know. The staff move at turtle speed and are always in a bad mood, and respond rudely to questions -- I could hear how they treated people who got their packages through in front of me. The most recent time i went to drop off a USPS priority mail box, I waited in line for 1.5 hours and still no service. It seems like no one knows how to do their job. This location needs a reboot ASAP. read more

Avoid the older gentleman with white hair and glasses. He's mean! Every time I go to the post office, I end up with him and he finds some way to make me feel stupid. Other than that, this place is okay. read more

Extremely disappointed with the passport service. The person put a staple through my naturalization certificate, and I expressed concern, but she said that she was supposed to. I later contacted the passport call line, and they said that it shouldn't have been stapled. For reference, it costs $555 to replace the naturalization certificate. I also found out through calling the passport call line that the person at USPS should have issued me a tracking number, but she didn't. So now they're unable to keep an eye out for my package to know that they need to handle the staple delicately. If it were not for COVID, I would not have gone here to get my passport. Maybe there's another USPS location with better service. read more

The one star is me being VERY generous. It is also due to the fact that I can't give zero stars. So far, they have lost four packages that I've sent. After the second time, I asked wtf the problem was. They said, "oooh, you should really add on the tracking # so that you can see where your packages are." I told them that I thought the price of just the regular postage would ensure that my package would get there. I was also confident that this would happen as the post office/postal service has only TWO jobs. The first is to deliver mail. The second is to not screw up job #1. So, like a dummy I bought the tracking #. They still lost my package! I checked the tracking # online and saw.... nothing! Surprise! I went back to the post office to ask them wtf the issue was this time. They asked me for a tracking #... I handed them the slip of paper they originally gave me with the tracking # on it.... they said the tracking # didn't exist. Is that my problem? FIND THE GODDAMN PACKAGE. And cut it out with your crappy attitudes. And, to mirror what Jim B said... there are some serious, SERIOUS regulation nitpicks working here. The self-service kiosk is the only useful thing about this place, and even that is out of order half the time. read more

Mean staff....super condescending with no personalities. They try to make you feel stupid. Lines are super long. When I moved to Inman Square and went to their post office, I was SHOCKED. They are so nice!!!! And they give you free stamps and envelopes. When I said, "You are SO much nicer than Harvard Square," they said, "Yeah, we get that a lot." read more

Honestly! This place IS TERRIBLE!!!! They are the worst Dont ever get your stuff shipped from this location or even set you foot in here. They are rude, impatient, give you nasty looks and make you feel stupid! Dont ever ever deal with Kathy R either she is horrible. She talks to you like you are a 2 year old. If I could have I would not even have given her a star!!!!!! I was so annoyed that I had to leave and take all the packages I had taken in!! read more

Would leave ZERO stars if it were possible. I needed to return a package that required a slip inside. I don't own a printer, so I printed off at FedEx next door, meaning I couldn't seal the plastic bag package prior to going to the PO. Asked if they had tape I could use to close it up - literally, a six-inch piece is all I needed. Was told I had to BUY a ROLL. I said how that was not my experience at other PO locations, and was then told by the employee in a raised voice (did not catch his name) that I "needed to stop being so cheap, this is a business." He handed me back my package and told me to go elsewhere. I recommend anyone in the area to do the same. Never been treated like that before anywhere! read more

SELF. SERVICES. MACHINES. most genius idea ever. just mailed my ex the last of her things. at 11pm at night! read more

So of course the ONE time that I misplace my tracking number 3 out of 4 of my boxes take their sweet time travelling across the country. Its not easy always shipping stuff back and forth between San Fran and Cambridge. Its not easy mentally, physically or financially. I only recieved 5 out of 8 boxes that I shipped home and called the Post Office in SF to see if they could help a sister out. Oh they helped alright...with a response of, " those boxes are probably floating in the sewer down to the ocean right about now if ya don't have the tracking number." After that response ( which was kinda funny) I lost hope, but came here first to see if my boxes were here. They weren't, but one very sweet guy gave me the lost & found number to call and ask them. I really appreciated his help. By the time I got home that evening one of the missing boxes was on my front doorstep (it looked like it travelled to Korea and back, poor box). The other 2 boxes are still missing aka floating in the ocean somewhere, but I'm not really even that mad because I honestly forgot what I had originally packed in them. Minues one star because the line was incredibly long and like 2 people were working. read more

To follow up on Alex B.'s passport experience, I had this exchange a few days ago: Me: I'd like to apply for a passport. Clerk: Not now, you're not. Me: ummmm, Why? Clerk: We only do passports from 9 to 4 because we have to get everything ready to ship out. Me: I have everything ready to go, envelope addressed. (they just needed to look at the birth certificate.) Clerk: No, we need time to get everything ready to send out in the mail. Now, I KNOW YOU CAN PAY FOR POSTAGE EVERY DAY AFTER 4PM. God, this place drives me batty. It's hit and miss as far as courteousness of clerks goes at this place. I've had the same person treat me with the common courtesy of a fellow human being, and then on a different day act like I am some kind of flesh-eating bacteria. But like the above encounter, usually a miss. And if you go at lunch time, forget it. The line will be 20 people long, with 2 clerks at the counter. Even more frustrating, are the 2 or 3 other clerks sauntering around behind the counter with apparently more important things to do than service customers at the busiest time of day. Tip to PO: post times when you accept passport applications, or don't make people feel like idiots when they walk in at 5:15. Also, it would be helpful if the hours didn't begin and end during the workday. read more

A very efficient post office overall, with very helpful postal clerks who make you aware of your different mailing options, a handy Automated Postal Center if you can't wait in line (with some access to it after hours), prominent displays of all postal products, and a good open floor plan so it doesn't get too crowded. I only wish there were more postal clerks so the lines wouldn't get so long -- after all, this post office was designed to accommodate 5 or 6 clerks to quicken the pace of service. But I realize that the U.S. Postal Service is strapped for cash and has had to lay off a lot of workers. I also wish the Automated Postal Center would dispense Media Mail stamps, not just First Class and Priority. All in all, this is one of the best post offices in greater Boston. read more

It would appear that the USPS at Harvard Square has no real incentive for customer service. Technically, I have not received "bad" service, but I have had to come back another time because the line was so incredibly long (literally 20+ people) which is unacceptable. And it isn't the employee's fault, it is the management's fault that the office seems so miserable. Everything is in general dissaray, service is really slow and the staff look as though they would rather be absolutely anywhere but there. That type of morale and store presence is the job of the manager. Shame on them. I wish there were more choices for mailing around here... read more

Most USPS locations don't have the best ratings, but I won't hesitate to review this location positively. I'll add that this location has a 4.4 rating on Google I've found that employees here are incredibly nice and patient. I needed to ship some beanies I knit for my significant other's parents a few weeks ago, and employees here helped me to find the right size box and tape the box together. They were similarly kind when I went to send an overweight envelope last week. I would recommend this USPS for all shipping and mailing in the Harvard Square area. I just had a terrible experience at FedEx - for printing, not shipping- but if you can ship through USPS rather than FedEx, I would recommend doing so read more

"Wait, oh yes wait a minute mister postman Wait, wait mister postman... I been standing here waiting mister postman So patiently" is what I sung when I stood in the never-ending line at this post office around 1 pm on a weekday. Long. Long. Line. However, on the plus side this office is open until 6:30 PM on weekdays (and there was no line late in the afternoon), and 3 PM on Saturdays, which is AWESOME for those of us who have full time jobs. I haven't tried the self service machine, but I certainly will when I feel the urge to mail a sock monkey on a Sunday. Service is relatively friendly, the forms are askew and pens are missing out in the main section. It was also hard find Priority Mail envelopes and boxes and such. Generally I'll go to the Watertown Post office, but this is a good option too. read more

In there before 6pm (right before closing time)...and they had already roped off the area closed. When I asked about the time and that it wasn't technically 6pm, a rude associate responded "it's 6pm on my clock". read more

Made a passport appointment online for 12:15 and arrived at 12. Waited in Line because there was no one at the passport desk. When it was my turn, staff told me I needed to wait while he helped people behind me because it was 12:13 and he "had two minutes until my appointment". Someone else came to help me at 12:20. This second staff then informed me that I could not have passport photos taken at this location (despite the website allowing for appointments including photos) because the machine was down. As a person with multiple invisible disabilities, this was not only inconvenient but had a negative impact on my health which was already flaring. I don't believe there isn't a way for the website to update this and the staff were rude. I would say I won't be back but this post office is close to work and doesn't require an uber so my options as a person who can't drive due to epilepsy (one of my conditions) are already limited. Customers shouldn't really need to claim medical challenge in order to complain about poor service, but this sort of challenge can have severe consequences for people with chronic illness and disability. Please do better. read more

I'm not exactly sure why there's been such an uptick in my PO activities as of late, but there has been, and I've had to visit this particular branch each time, since it's closest to my office, and I can come here during my lunch hour. So let me lay it all out for you... in the past week, I've been here three times, and each of those times, I've been "helped" by the same blonde lady (Kathy). Each time is worse than the last, and today was just the icing on the cake. It was an awful experience, and left me feeling genuinely upset. Now I know it's a Monday, and none of us are all too happy to be back at work, but this was RIDICULOUS... so much so that I had to come back here and re-write my review and dock a few stars off my initial rating. I mailed off my dad's Father's Day gift today, so it could get to him before this weekend. Simple enough. I had a shirt box, knew I wanted to send it Priority, and so I grabbed the medium-sized flat rate box for it. I was able to put the shirt box in there, and close both ends, even though the box inside was a little bit longer than the flat rate box... but as I said, I was able to close both ends completely, and it was still a rectangular box, not at all misshapen, perfectly fit for mailing. I stand in line, ready to pay the 11.95 rate, happy that my errands were soon to be completed... and then I come up to the counter. Kathy: "You can't change the shape of the box. Everything must fit into the flat rate box." Me: "Well... I didn't change the shape. Everything fits. It's closed." Kathy: "Everything has to fit inside the flat rate box. Go get a box that will fit everything. NEXT." YEAH--she called for the next customer while I was still AT THE COUNTER, leaving both myself and the rest of the folks in line kind of incredulous. Fine. I don't have time to play games. I went into the adjoining area, grabbed another medium-sized box, placed the shirt box inside, folded the ends together, and walked back into line, hoping all the while that I would be helped by someone other than my newly-found nemesis. Another man jumped behind the counters, and I was fervently praying that he or another one of his colleagues would help me. Anyone besides Kathy. Please. But no such luck, even after Kathy physically left her counter after helping the person in front of me and dawdled around for a few. She came back, and I was unfortunately next in line. Whatever. I come back up to the counter, and hand her my box, and she tells me I need to fill out the "to" and "from" lines... I told her that I still wanted to send my box via Priority Mail, so I had the mailing sticker already filled out. Then she tells me that my box should have already been taped up, and I kindly informed her that since I was sending my package via Priority, and that I would appreciate it if she would please help tape my box with the Priority tape that was RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HER. She tried to resist more than a few times saying I needed to have already taped my box. I reminded her that I was JUST here with an already sealed box that she said I couldn't use, that there was no way I could have taped the box (I mean, really, with what? AIR?), so could she please just tape it for me. She kept jabbering about how the package should have been closed and it wasn't her job to tape things for me. This went on the entire time I was at the counter. It took ALL of my willpower not to ask for a supervisor right then and there. I was BOILING mad. But I still told her thanks for her help. When my package was FINALLY ready to send off, I was about ready to leave when she tells me that if I needed boxes in that particular size, it'd be best to order them online, and that they come several boxes in a package. I told her it was simply a gift for my father, and she ends the conversation with a "Well then, it's not going to be very helpful for you to order so many boxes online." You know what, Kathy? You're right. It wouldn't be very helpful. And quite frankly, my dear, neither are you. My goodness, I can't wait until the Spangler PO opens up again. I'll be counting the minutes... read more

Dear blond woman who works behind the counter here sometimes: I have tried and tried to imagine why you hate your life and all your customers so much. Why each time I stride up to your counter, ever more determined to get you to crack a smile, when I ask how you are, you simply reply, "Fine," and don't see fit to inquire about my wellbeing in return. We had one interaction that reminded me of the airline counter scene in Meet the Parents. I brought a package to the counter and asked to send it via media mail. You informed me that it would be cheaper (as well as faster) to send it first class. So I said, all right, then, send it first class. But you had already rung up the media mail postage, so you needed to void the transaction. A string of beeps followed as you punched buttons and looked increasingly perturbed and started to mutter curse words under your breath. This went on for a very long time, but each set of beeps brought fresh hope that this time it might actually work (though I am all too aware that this is the definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result). Eventually, you called a manager over and she proceeded to yell at you as she canceled out the sale. After she left, you told me, "Next time, know which service you want to use *before* you come up to the window." Come on now... I'm sorry you got yelled at, but I would have been just as happy to send it media mail and leave, blissfully ignorant that I could have saved 50¢. Then, there was the day I brought in some of my used books that I'd sold on Amazon, and sealed them up in Priority Mail envelopes - faster shipping *and* free packaging included in the price! When I got to the counter, you told me I couldn't use these envelopes for books. Why not, I asked. "You changed the shape," you told me, as if that would be completely OBVIOUS to any IDIOT, in spite of the fact that other clerks had let me mail books in these very same envelopes on numerous occasions. For awhile, I was trying to figure out if this was personal. After that interaction, I decided that it didn't matter whether you had it in for me or not, and I just started going to Central Square instead (especially when I had books to mail). Guess what - they let me use the Priority Mail envelopes! HA! I'm not usually one to single out employees, but interactions with you have pretty much defined the way I feel about this post office. The other clerks are pleasant -- even downright NICE sometimes! As a public service, can I suggest that you find some source of joy in your life that would allow you to hate your job a little less? And until then, unfortunately I have to recommend to savvy, Yelp-reading customers, that if you're next in line when this counter opens up, you might want to let the person behind you go first. Other things about this location: don't go during lunchtime. The postal service does not care that these are the busiest hours; they don't bring in extra staff to cover for others' lunch breaks, so there are fewer clerks working AND there are more customers. Morning or mid-afternoon can be good; post-work can also be busy, but the lines move fast. Anytime close to Christmas or tax day, you are pretty much screwed. It is obvious the staff has been told that they MUST try to upsell each customer. It is so uniform and predictable that it's all I can do to keep from laughing before they even say it: "Will that be all for you today? Do you need any stamps, tape, mailing supplies?" It's true - check it out next time you go. read more

I work right next door....the location is convenient, so I keep going there but I only use the automated machine. As long as I don't have to ask an employee for help then everything's ok. They are often fighting with each other behind the counter in front of us customers. It's hilarious to watch. And I used to have a PO Box there but had a couple of issues with missing and delayed mail and when I asked Dave the dude in charge of the PO Boxes for help, he treated me like I was a dummy. Now I have a box at Porter Square and haven't had one problem. read more

It's the kind of places that is difficult to avoid, but if you must, be prepared for rudeness and inefficiency. Long queue is to be expected; machines may not work. I would say some members of staff do try to be helpful, given the workload they have, but this woman with long blonde hair is just sad and miserable and would try to inflict her negativity on others. She would reject your mail over the most trivial matters and she talks to customers like master to servant read more

1) No parking to unload boxes. How is one supposed to bring boxes in to ship? 2) Slow - I mean slow - service. There were about 8 people in line, yet the lady at the counter took her time arranging paper at her station, and the other employee determined it was a good time to have a chat about Montreal. 3) Sour service. Kathy was so gruff, condescending, just poor interpersonal skills. I felt like I was in the second grade being reprimanded about how I taped my box. read more

This branch has been terrible since I moved to Boston (2006). The people are generally not nice, it never has enough staff, they are slow and don't seem to care. I'm rating other branches much higher than this one because I came back to this one after two years and said, yeah, it's probably better. It's not. Go anywhere else to mail your stuff. read more

This place is hell. The clerks are rude and dismissive to the point that you feel like you are being pranked like on that "Too Much Tuna" show. Go to the branch in Kendall or Central--much better customer service. This branch needs to be shut down and replaced with robots because they would show more warmth and empathy towards customers. read more

Post offices are often frustrating, but this one is a downright nightmare. Lines out the door and people taking breaks and moving as slow as possible. Just a plain snarky tone to 80% of the clerks. Some outright hostility at times. Nitpicking of regulations beyond belief, they look for a reason to say "no", there is zero semblance of customer service. Avoid at all costs. Central and Davis are much nicer, and even Porter has friendlier staffs (really!). Self service is nice, but you can't use it for international mail, which is the only reason I have to go anymore (everything else is done online). read more

26 people in line at 2:57 pm and only 2 behind the desk=poor management and extremely long wait times!!!

This might be the unfriendliest post office I've ever been to, and that's saying something. Every postal worker I've interacted with here has been surly, despite me being polite. Of the four times I've been here, there's always been a long line despite it not being peak hours. I won't miss this place at all. read more

Long lines, not enough parking, needs more automated shipping kiosks.

I came to this post office a year ago to get my passport renewed and the guy that was in charge of passport matters gave me the wrong application even though I had filled out the correct application prior to going in. He insisted that it was not the right application and I had to fill a new application. I had two new passport photos and he messed up the placing of my passport photo and had to tear it and take my other new one which rendered the other one useless since it had big holes. In the end, the application was the wrong one, therefore I had to redo the application which I had correctly filled out prior to coming to this US Post Office, and had to once again pay again and get new passport photos which I all did in another US Post Office in Chelsea. Don't come here if you want your passport renewed, you will end up paying double for a mistake like this. read more

These folks see everything. It's an international post office. And they are always helpful. Lots of questions as to how one sends a packages to the UK, to China, to South Africa. I don't know where all of these negative reviews (earlier) come from. I always blame the network -- texting and email breed a need for instant gratification. Instead, these folks take the time to explain your options, and what is likely to happen at the other end. I am always presented with choices. Sometimes I am the only customer and sometimes there are lines. Welcome to the world. Many transactions can be dealt with by one of the automatic postage dispensers that weigh and price your parcels (and letters) according to destination. But I like dealing with people. I am grateful for the Harvard Square US Post Office. Bill read more

The workers are knowledgeable and helpful, but overworked and that shows in their demeanor. I avoid this post office as best as I can because the lines are always very long and the wait is excessive. read more