I want my books back. I am trying to forget the horror of receiving an empty box. The box was ripped open from side to side. None of the books in that box made it. Someone said my books were stolen. If they ripped it open to check whether those were books or some other business material, I'd appreciate them taping it back. In fact, one of the 4 boxes was opened then taped back. I lost a few books and one book came apart while another was ripped into half. Still... I had the pieces. Unlike the books in the empty box. All have been lost in transit. I was told by USPS to fill out a form. Then we shall see. No one else got back to me. Never send anything through USPS media mail. read more

So the rumors are true! I've spent the entire day trying to track down a package that tracking shows is AT THE POST OFFICE and they lost it. Clerks at the desks are rude as hell, no help from calling either. Pathetic. They lost a gift for my fiance that was extremely expensive-hope they enjoy paying me back! read more

They never pick up the phone. I have been trying to get an issue sorted out remotely (eg, I am not in Cambridge and can't go in to the post office) and it has been a nightmare. After I waited over 10 min on the line for someone to pick up the phone, I finally spoke to a guy there, Chris, who was very unhelpful. I persuaded him to try to help me - he said he would ask my neighborhood mail lady about my query - and he said he would call me back with an answer and never did. So basically I am still unable to sort out the issue. Worst customer service. read more

I should first say by way of caveat that the regular carrier who comes to our door each day seems like a lovely woman - always goes out of her way to be friendly, and we've never had any trouble with delivery of letters and small packages, etc. However, today I had a pretty unsettling experience with the Central Sq USPS folks - a box of 15 or so books, some of them brand new, which I mailed home from San Francisco arrived at my house completely, 100% EMPTY - not to mention the box itself was utterly physically DESTROYED - with a note taped to the outside: - received possibly damaged - received without contents - received unsealed Ya think? When I go to check the tracking history, NONE of the usual arrival scans etc. have been completed in Massachusetts. My box goes from processing center in California to my doorstep - magic! Now, the package was shipped MEDIA MAIL (my biggest and last mistake - DON'T DO IT!), one of the few forms of mail which USPS employees can legally open and inspect to insure compliance with content restrictions. And I've seen plenty of stories online that when this happens, USPS tends to blame resulting damages and disappearances on "bad original packaging." However, I packed this box myself INSIDE the post office in San Francisco, in a new box I bought from them that day, with tape I bought from them that day, IN FRONT OF the USPS employee who watched me seal ONLY BOOKS inside. Not much of an excuse for them to open it right back up in California, though admittedly, they could have. Given the circumstances, I expected when my partner went to the Central Sq post office to inquire (I'm out of town) there would be at least some attempt at explanation - let's see who went out on delivery today, why it wasn't scanned, maybe the books are still hanging out in a back office waiting to be shipped to the LOST FOREVER department... Nope. "Here's a form. Fill it out. We'll get back to you in 21 days. No idea why it wasn't scanned or anything. Sorry." So that's supposed to reassure me that someone didn't just open up my box because they could, sort out whatever was of interest to them - or frankly, just got lazy about putting the books back in as I'd packed them oh-so-carefully to the last inch of empty space - then tape it back up and drop an empty box on my doorstep? I mean, this isn't a hypothetical. One of your employees on duty today, Ms. Manager, was the person who delivered an empty box to my door at 10:07 am. At the very least, you could have made a couple quick inquiries to figure out when the emptiness happened and get yourself off the hook. Or some sympathetic noises? Sorry, USPS, but at this point I'm not so worried about your Saturday hours or Marie Antoinette cake stamps. I wouldn't be so sad to see you go. read more

Worst Post Office, I've ever dealt with. They almost never answer the phone and if they do, you are placed on hold forever. So, you're forced to go into the PO and nobody wants to help or they direct your problem to someone else who is not in the office. They say they will get back to you but never do. I get about 50% of the packages delivered to me, forcing me to ask sellers to refund my money or resend using another shipping method. When I place orders now, I pay additional money in shipping to avoid USPS delivery but the times I don't have an option, it's Russian roulette if I'm going to receive my package. Currently, on the phone with customer service and the phone has been ringing for over five minutes and I know nobody will answer. read more

I wonder if I am living in a parallel universe. Central Square Post Office in my experience is the worst, repeat worst post office I have ever experienced. My most recent experience involved a 30 minute line which I joined at sucker #19. One person on duty, a very compassionate guy who implored me to make a written complaint. I used to go to Inman Square instead, but this has be taken over by an assortment of unfriendly females. I now try if possible to do business at the Davies Sq., post office where they still seem to treat the customer with respect. Believe me, Central Square's folkloric status for terrible service is in tact and so bad it might be preserved as a tourist attraction read more

I have lived a lot of places, but NEVER had such a horrible time with mail. Packages get delivered to my neighbors every time. It is live a scavenger hunt to figure out who got it this time. Even letters come late. My neighbor often gets checks late for his business downstairs. I told my family a year ago to stop sending me things because they have gotten lost. 3 times in the last year I have had to go pick up things that I paid for the delivery, after several attempts to have them delivered. Right now I'm on hold with Amazon trying to find a package that says "delivered" on the tracking page. I paid extra to expedite this and I am going to probably have to pick it up this morning. I hate them so so much.Thankfully I am moving this month! By Cambridge USPS forever! To add, I made the horrible mistake of getting my passport here. The photo adds 50 pounds to me, no joke. Everyone that looks at it is confused by how little it looks like me. It is like they moved the picture while scanning it and I got stretched out. So for the next ten years of travel I will look like a before and after promo. Incompetent. ______________________ Update, the women at the desk were nice and pretty helpful. It was pretty nuts how hard it was to figure out that my package was there and about to go back onto the truck for delivery. Thankfully one of them nabbed it before it left so I could take it home. The delivery guys however, don't mark something as delivered if you in fact did not leave it. And if there is a note on the door saying to ring bell and leave it on my step because my room mate was home, maybe just go ahead and do what the note says. K thanks. read more

We just moved into this neighborhood and the prospect of being merely two blocks from the post office instead of the previous ten minute walk was a huge bonus, especially since I make my boss's day by offering to drop off any outgoing packages so he doesn't have to drive in rush hour traffic to post something. The only (small) gripe I have about this (and the Harvard Square P.O) is the number of people that are working after 4pm (ie - hardly any!). There are always at least 8 people waiting in line to be served, and while the automatic postal machine is great, it doesn't send international packages (which I often have) or make stamps for anything less than $1. So I join everyone else and mentally figure out using some undiscovered mathematical genius how long I'll be waiting, or place bets on who is going to serve the next person. It's not a super huge deal, but I thought that since most people work during the day, anytime after 4pm would be the best time for them to get their postal errands out of the way. Staff are very nice here, but be sure to approach with a smile if there really are more than 8 people waiting - postal workers are human too! read more

USPS sucks!!! They failed to deliver my package on Monday because the door signs are too confusing, so I scheduled a redelivery for Tuesday online. I waited all day long and no one came. I called the Customer Service and they said there could be some cross in the system and they haD rescheduled my redelivery on Wednesday. Okay...so I guess it's just my bad luck...Then I waited whole day on Wednesday and no one came. Excuse me?! I called the Customer Service again and talked to someone from the local postal office. They promised to deliver it on Thursday. Guess what!! I wasted my day again waiting for this stupid package! No one even tried to deliver it!! Now they told me to wait for another day. Am I going to get my package? I don't know! read more

Either no one is sending mail anymore, or the Central Square post office has suddenly become customer service oriented. The last few times I've been there, it's been extraordinarily easy-- gone are the days of the 50 person, 45 minute line to mail a package. Gone is that surly guy who loves to yell at people and then send them away to fill out additional forms. A few things that still do suck, though: - Never, ever, ever have someone send you something signature required. Because if you're not home, your package will end up in the bowels of the Central Square post office, and there's a 50% chance you'll never see it (my 50% here is actually statistically correct- 2 out of 4 times, we have had "lost" packages INSIDE the post office). - When your package IS lost, they will tell you to call the Postmaster General. He never, never, never answers the phone. In fact, I'm convinced he doesn't exist. - If you DO have to use that horrible window for "customer service" at the far end of the post office, bring your own Xanax. The experience will make you crave an anti-anxiety pill. - Finally, I do wonder why they can't get another one of those automated postage dispensers in the PO. Certainly the office is spacious enough for another, and people really seem to make use of the machines. Just seems like a real quality of life improvement. read more

This Post Office has improved over time. The large marble structure is a beautiful bonus to this storied Post Office. While service has improved it could still be better. If you added at least one more person to the customer service desk area, people could get the things they needed done faster and at a happier pace. read more

If average post office deserves two stars, this one deserves three, but not four. It's a bit nicer than most post office, but they could do better by putting more self-serve kiosks, open more counters when line gets long, etc. read more

Long lines, kind of depressing, occasionally surly. When dealing with mail in Cambridge, assume mail will take a day or three longer to reach its destination (assuming it is not lost along the way, which happens in Cambridge much more often than it should). The staff that interact with the public try to be helpful, but sadly the post office here seems to drain people of their spirit, like I imagine a long prison sentence might. read more

I don't expect anything more than what this post office has to offer. Never had any especially bad experiences. I'm glad it's here.

Love that it's open until 7:00 p.m. (boo on you, Boston post offices that only stay open until 5:30 p.m.). Staff is always pleasant and the lines move relatively quickly (longest wait ever was about 15 minutes). read more

If the US Postal Service closes the Inman Square Post Office, I will take all my business to UPS. Hands down. Don't close the post office.

They push you towards the self service machine (which is great, I'd rather use this than wait in a 40 person line for one person to wait on all of us) BUT if you are going to have a self serve machine - make the box thingy that we put the envelopes and packages in WORK. So instead we have to attempt to open the damn thing which appears to be broken (none of us could get this thing to work postal workers walk by not one offers to help or try to figure out the problem), so then we have to stand in line (or cut) to give the person behind the desk the already paid for package to ship. read more

I love my regular mailman but hated when he is off. The sub on a few occasions leave my mailbox unlocked so any of my neighbors can just looked at my mail. I called and complained at the beginning but the sub still does it. I post a note to lock it after that. Seems to be working. And whoever is delivering packages is not doing their job. I waited on Saturday for a package that I had bought online for father's day and knew that it was coming that day so I had stayed home on a beautiful day to wait. I did not hear the bell ring or a knock on the door but got a postcard saying "sorry we missed you, pick up your package on Monday". Doesn't it take longer to write on the postcard than knock on the door? And all this was about 6 minutes before 2pm so I guess he/she was in a rush to go home and had decided to give me a postcard and not my package that day. read more

Worst ever. Every USPS location I've been to in Cambridge (Central, Kendall, Harvard) is sub-par, but Central and Kendall are truly abysmal. The lines are regularly 15-20 people, and employees at the windows are slow, rude, and generally unhelpful. Add to that the arbitrary, byzantine regulations the USPS generally holds you to and you have a recipe for a nightmare. -Need a passport? Be prepared to wait over an hour. -Did you print your own postage online in the hopes of avoiding the line? Tough beans; you still need to wait, and if you're unlucky enough to have weighed the package off by more than 8 ounces, you'll pay a penalty as you lose the online discount and cannot combine insurance. Last summer I asked for a hold-mail service while I was on vacation for a few weeks. I had to call three times to ask them to re-instate the mail; it finally showed up a week after I was back. read more

The post office lines are slow, the math is sometimes wrong (check if they've figured the dimensions correctly for packages!) and the customer service hours are theoretical at best. If you ask to have your mail held, it may or may not be, and it may or may not resume when you return. A terribly run business! read more

Location, location. . . that is all the Central Square Post Office has going for it. This place has waiting lines a mile long, surly tellers who act like they are on-strike, placing supplies on the back wall and doing everything possible to avoid calling the next customer. Shabby service and if this was the private sector they would be fired. read more

They were quite helpful in processing my passport application. Thank you central square post office team.

I would describe this post office as adequate. It's not terrible. I mail a lot of things, so I know what I'm talking about. Hear me out. The biggest problem with this post office is that it is in a high-traffic area, yet the number of staff does not match the volume of customers. In addition to this deficit, customers arriving at this post office seem to have the expectation that, because this post office is in a high-traffic area, it will meet the needs of the commuting public. All of these things seem reasonable, but everyone involved seems inflexible. The day-to-day operations of this post office are the same as any other, but the huge difference in experience vs. reality is what causes problems. If you can go to another post office (more staff at Harvard, shorter line at Inman), by all means, do. Or do what I do, and expect that you're going to be in line for about 30 minutes, use that time to make sure that your packages are ready to mail when you get to the counter (another time-suck), and then be pleasantly surprised when it takes less time. It's the city, things take time. Bring a magazine, you'll make it through, I promise. One complaint I do have is that the postage stamp selection is very poor. Every time they are out of some kind of stamp, the USPS worker helping me says something about the guy who orders the stamps-- he's been out, he doesn't order stamps enough, etc. Can someone do something about this? Clearly the stamps are being sold, maybe he can order more of them or place an order more often? This is the post office, after all: please let me buy your stamps! read more

Best ever experience at a post office. I came to get a passport. There was a real long line but once I got to the passport agent (Candy) she made me completely forget about my 1 hour wait. She was hilarious. She made my whole experience so joyful. She took my photo and explained the process completely. She made everyone in line laugh while apologizing for the long line several times. read more

I posted about this place yesterday and after another dumb experience this morning, am doing so again. There are good people at this PO but it's understaffed, and the physical layout is sometimes absurd. Today I went in to pick up a package. The Package Pickup window was open, with no one there, and a sign that said "Closed, go to Registry window for pickups". I did so, and that window was closed. Then I went to the service counter where one person was waiting on a line of customers. She sent me back to window #1. I told her about the "closed" sign and she said and did nothing about it. Back at that window, I pushed a button for "service". I heard no bell or buzzer and no one came. Because of a wall behind the window, customers can't see if anyone is behind the wall. Other customers came. We took turns pushing a button that didn't make a noise that we could hear, to alert an employee who may or may not have been behind a wall that we couldn't see through. If impatient, our option was to walk to the other end of the PO again to talk to the one person there, who would just send us back. Why does it take an act of Congress to put up a sign saying, "Staff person is in back, please wait" or some such thing? The setup is stupid, and customers feel stupid after waiting for a long time, not knowing if the button works or if anyone is back there to hear it if it does. If there isn't enough staff to communicate with customers, then use signs of electronic devices to make this possible. Who in hell wouldn't feel impatient waiting, after trying to summon an invisible person with an inaudible bell? read more

Yes, I"m a fan because of the workers! This is the P.O. I go to and always if I stand there picking out cute stamps or whatever I never feel rushed by the staff...folks waiting in line might not like this, but one should not feel pressure from others. I feel if your in a rush the post office is not the place to think it's an in & out fast paced service: customers have package(S), questions about the various services and rates...on and on, so yeah, I sigh, shift from foot to foot and then just accept this for what it is. And truly the lines move faster then it feels most of the time. The lobby needs a new setup...maybe split the wait lines into 2 sections. Brighter lights and more counter space... read more

I have not received about a week now, I was wondering if it is weather related? and called the customer service, the phone is ringing....ringing..... no answer........ read more

I do business at the Post Office in Central Square every day. The lines are ridiculously long. There are never enough clerks at the counter. The postmaster comes out into the lobby with a smile and instead of apologizing or getting more employees to help, she tries to lure you to the self help machine! she should be ashamed for running her business like this! The post office has gone down the toilet in Cambridge the past few years. The clerks are great if you can get by the robotic questions they ask for every tansaction. But there is no other business that is so poorly run than the Post Office, that I've seen in Cambridge. According to the clerks who work there, all they do is cut jobs and try and discourage customers from going to the P O so they'll do all their business online or at the self help machine. And it's true that you've got a 50% chance of losing your package in the Post Office. The internet tells you it's there...but it's not there. Huh? read more

I hate this post office and avoid going in whenever possible. Understaffed, some nice employees, some surly or slow moving employees, poor signage, no signage, ever changing locations for the package pickup window or for the line that you wait in to get to the service counter. Phone this place with a problem or question and no one ever answers. Ask a question in person and get the response, "I don't know why, I just work here!". Supervisors seem okay if you get to speak with one, but there's an overall bleakness about this place that's palpable. Mail carriers are a mixed bag too, some nice, some who throw packages 20 feet to your steps, who yak on cell phones while delivering mail, who sleep and eat in their parked trucks with the engines running.... Here's an example of USPS related FRUSTRATION: I had a package shipped to me 3 days ago via 2 Day Priority. Today is Saturday. Tracking originally said that the date of delivery would be next Tuesday (6 days after being shipped !!!) , but the package arrived at the Central Square P.O. today, within the 2 day time frame, and tracking info changed to say that the expected delivery date was today, Saturday. Then tracking info changed, telling me that the NEW projected date of delivery was next Monday. I called the USPS 1-800 number, dealt with automated crap, finally got to speak with someone, and he gave me the number for the Central Sq. P.O., which isn't listed. I called to ask if I could just come in for the package, assuming that it was there. No answer. I went to the P.O., waited in line a long time, and was told that my package wasn't there, that all packages were on trucks for delivery. "Why did tracking info change the delivery date three times?" "If it isn't here, why doesn't it say 'out for delivery'"? "I don't know" was the reply. I came home, tracked the package again - and read "out for delivery". Aarghhh!!!! This of course isn't a problem specific to the Central Square P.O. - but it still stinks! read more

Why have a telephone if you are not going to answer it? Called multiple times during different intervals of the day...

I used the Premium Forwarding Service on line and had several issues with it. What I didn't have issue with we're several phone calls and messages from Patty at the Central Sq post office who was keeping an eye in my mail situation. She spotted a discrepancy and acted on it. I appreciate her attention, communication and SERVICE which was beyond my expectation. Thank you, Patty! read more

Oy vey. PLEASE hire some more employees! It is not helpful when there are only two windows open and there are always ten or more people waiting in line. Central Square is busy. You are understaffed. read more

This Cambridge, MA post office Lost my Package. It traveled across the world without any issues until it reached this post office. Someone should look into this location about the "lost packages". read more

Are there any truly enjoyable post offices? I have visited many in my day, in all parts of the country, and they are all understaffed (especially at lunchtime, when everyone is on break from their job and comes into the PO to mail their packages... seems that's when the PO workers take their lunches too!), have long lines, and surly workers (although I have met a few exceptions). Even the Automated Shipping Center (which is NOT 24/7, by the way, since this post office is locked on Sundays, holidays, and late at night) usually has a small line. FYI, the "13 ounce rule" that is posted on the drop box by the Automated Shipping Center does not apply to anything that you ship using the Automated Shipping Center. If you come in with something pre-stamped and ready to go, and it's over 13 ounces, then you have to take it to the counter. That's just a PSA, because the notices aren't clear about it at all, but an employee informed me that this was the case. That said, they more or less get the job done. I believe that this is the main post office for Cambridge, so they do passport applications. I did ask them to look into a lost package for me once, and while the lady took my name and phone number, I'm not convinced she ever did anything. But they are reasonably competent, and at least some of the employees there will smile back at you if you smile at them (but not all). read more

I'm just throwing in a review to balance out some of the negative comments on here. I have never tried calling them, so can't speak to that issue, but 1) the location can't be beat, and 2) It's a post office. It's not the nicest one I've ever used, nor the worst. The hours are convenient, open til 7pm Mon-Fri which is super helpful for those of us who have to work. The lines get really long at peak hours as you might expect; they usually have more staff at those times to keep things moving, but the wait can get pretty long (over 15 minutes). The employees are nice if you're nice to them. One might expect better from the main USPS branch in Cambridge, particularly since many people who use this place are professionals in a rush - budget in the extra time when you come and you'll save yourself some stress. read more

Not sure what more to add other than that I agree with everyone here about their phones. They will ring and ring and ring without anyone ~ever~ answering them. Really one of the worst locations I've been too. Unreal. read more

Even with long lines, the people working the counter are always friendly and helpful, which is essentially the only thing I look for in a post office beyond getting my mail where it needs to be. read more

I used to live in this neighborhood so used this post office a lot. I've moved but I make my way back since I sill work near there. Stamps - check. International packages - check. Wedding invitations - check. Random money order - check. The people who work there are friendly and helpful, so it is worth waiting in line even though it gets busy sometimes. read more

Absolutely horrible. After making a mistake in their delivery, and making no effort to inform me, I still had no way to reach this place by phone. The phone LITERALLY just keep ringing for ~10 minutes. Is there no one in charge of answering??? read more

hi everybody please stay away nobody will answer a phone at this location unbelievable only in usa and now we know why they failing asaa company read more