worst service ever!!! If I can give zero star, I won't give one!!! I just want to mail a box of gift to our family, but this location made me so angry with the service of an old lady with short hair!!! read more

You know, maybe more people would not be using other services besides the post office to ship packages if they were not as typically difficult and inconvenient as the El Cerrito post office is. I am currently on hold, and have been for 15 minutes since someone finally picked up the phone after more than 75 rings and asked me to hold. Oh, and now they just disconnected me. That's terrific. Given the location of the post office - right next to a large shopping center, on a main street in town - you'd think they would have more options that would allow people to use their services. Starting with hours that were not useless to those who work. A postage scale and printer for self-service would also be smart. Heck - even a stamp machine would be useful. as it is, you have to go to the window for ALL services, from buying a stamp to getting Priority Mail supplies. You even have to wait in the line if you have done all the work at home and have already attached a postage label generated at their site and just want to drop the package off. I had one of those pre-posted packages to drop off on a recent Saturday. I entered and waited patiently at a window for a few minutes because there was nobody working it. I heard movement in the back and called out, and the woman yelled back that they are not open on Saturdays, despite the posted hours (which I see from other reviews is because the posted hours are for PO box access...which if I had one I would only be able to get my mail on Saturdays because their hours are 8:00-4:30). I asked the woman if I could at least just drop off the package, since it was already posted but just wouldn't fit in the box. She refused. So I had to take the package home and take it with me on BART on Monday morning so I could take it to the Embarcadero Branch in SF, since THEY have one of those machines and a larger bin for dropping off packages. Such a hassle. Since then I have and will continue to use the UPS Store a block up the street for anything I can't just drop in the mailbox. They are open convenient hours and are friendly. The few extra bucks is worth it to save the frustration. If the postal service were not rife with stories like mine, they certainly would not be in as bad shape as they are. You'd think with those awesome retirement plans they are given, they would work harder to keep people using their services. read more

While I think Rachel D needs a life, (good God, a book on a post office), I gotta say I am a little disappointed they don't answer the phone OR take messages. read more

Horrible post office. I pre-stamp all of my packages. I have a lot of packages due to Amazon business. There is no place just to drop them off. I have to get in line to do this which is very time consuming. read more

This is the most inefficient post office I have ever been to and the staff is completely incompetent.

One star for simply existing. If half or no stars were an option, that would be my selection. This post office simply does not fit the standard for being a post office. They are NOT OPEN during post office hours. For example, the sign on the door says they close at 4:30 or 5pm on weekdays and Noon on Saturdays. Yet, if you arrive at 4pm on a given weekday, they are CLOSED. I just went there at 10am on a Saturday and they were CLOSED. Hello? Is this a joke??? That's closing 2 hours earlier than posted hours!! There were a lot of ticked off folks walking in and out of there as I stood in amazement. To add insult to injury, they don't have one of those awesome APC machines, so you are completely helpless. They really need to get one. That way, when they decide to override government standards and head out early on a nice day, the rest of us peons can still get our packages out and purchase stamps. And, I agree with the previous posts. Walking into this place is like entering a time warp. They function in super slow motion and there are never any pens anywhere. ETA: I received a call back from the USPS in response to my complaint about this location and need to correct myself here. They assert that this location is not actually intended to be a full USPS location. It's more like a satellite location, for PO box holders only. I informed the USPS representative that the fact that 'hours' are posted on the door, is very misleading, as it leads one to think those are the hours in which one may be provided with window services. They have mailing slips and boxes out and everything. You just can't do anything with them! I was informed that this only means that the lobby is open during these hours PO box holders may access their mail box. When I asked why they don't have an APC machine, I was told this is due to budget matters. When I asked how one is supposed to stay loyal to the USPS when this local post office is essentially useless, I was told that if you need to send out a package, buy stamps, etc - go to their location by the Weinerschnitzel. There is a UPS store within walking distance. Why would you drive/walk all the way to practically Richmond, when you could walk right down the block? read more

I woul give it no stars I just called she told me to call the 1800 # I told them I needed to speak to someone here, she was of nooooooo help

Extremely slow. Two person were at the office. They were chatting to each other for five minutes before greeting me when I was the only customer. They did not understand the concept of prepaid self-addressed envelope with tracking number. Had to go to a different post office to get the simple job done. They insisted that I need to get express mail for $22 to get tracking number when I know I can use the priority flat rate mail for $6.45. Don't waste time there. read more

I have never written a review before. This is not to say that I haven't had my up and down moments when it comes to services. Normally, The ups and downs don't even come close to how lazy I can be. But here I am leaving a review for this post office. Horrible would be an understatement. The employees in this particular seem miserable. If you walk in to find no one in store, its probably because the locals around the neighborhood has had enough of them. They'd rather drive another 5 minutes than deal with depressed, rude and INEFFICIENT employees. But do not be fooled if you are the only one. It is still going to take you @ least 20 minutes because you are bound to have forgotten to do something as simple as filling out a supplement form. Well in that case, even though they're right in front of you, every second you spend filling that form out will make you feel like the biggest living pain. Of course, if someone happens to walk in while you are filling that same form out, get a book or something to keep yourself occupied for the next 30 minutes or so. I mean its only normal. Please save time because it hurts to see people wait in that line. I am a local and I have to drive across that post office pretty often and yes, it does hurt. Some sort of motivation is definitely NEEDED at this branch. p.s.I put one star because the system wont let me give them a zero. read more

Wow - amazed at all the bad reviews. The clerks here have always been sweet and helpful to me. They deal with long lines, and have always answered my questions, and, if I forget to write something in on a customs form, they tell me to skip the line when I'm done writing. It does help if you're friendly towards the clerks, of course. I see some people in this small post office who seem to forget that the USPS has had severe budget cuts, that the clerks work for very long periods of time alone, and these people have no patience because they have to wait 10 mins to mail the 3 packages they came in to mail one minute before closing time. I'd also suggest that the reason there are no pens is because people use them and then 'forget' they are holding them, thus absconding with the pens. Yes, the post office is no longer open at convenient hours. So next time you pay that bill online, instead of mailing a check, remember that you're part of the issue, and don't moan when your local post office closes at 4.30 pm. read more

I'm shocked at the low ratings. I have never once had a bad experience -- they have always been friendly, helpful and worked things out for the best for me -- always. I imagine if I had to deal with massive amounts of people with varying degrees of challenges, I'd probably be one of those workers who goes crazy. I really like the ladies there. read more