The retail portion of this office closes at 5:30. No big deal, that sounds about right. The lobby closes at 6:30. That's a little weird, probably because other offices I've visited remain open 24 hours a day. Usually at those locations you can use the automated post machine and drop your letter or package into a slot or the big barrel container, any time day or night. Not this one, apparently.
So there's an hour window between when the retail portion closes and when they lock the outer doors. I stopped by on a Monday evening sometime between 5:30 and 6:30. I use the automated postal machine to buy postage for a package. I apply the label to the box then attempt to drop it in the barrel thing. It felt like it was jammed, so I pulled on the handle a little roughly. There was a piece of painted plywood covering the letter slots, mentioning that any letters going out need to go into the blue boxes outside the office. I didn't really think this applied to the package container, as there was no other sign indicating so.
So I yanked on the barrel a few more times. An employee came out from a door next to the barrel and nastily pointed out the letter slot sign. I asked if she could take my package, as it's labeled and ready to go. She acted as though I was asking a ridiculous question and said 'No, the office is closed for the day, you'll have to just send it out tomorrow.' Well, I understood that it wouldn't be processed until the next day, but I just bought postage and expected to be able to drop the package. Nope.
So why have the lobby open for another hour and then limit the services to what, only PO boxes? That's about the only thing you can do between 5:30 and 6:30. And buy postage from a machine if you're interested in labeling your package but also toting it around for the rest of your trek.
Lastly, and I hate to contribute to a stereotype (postal workers are stereotyped right?), but the only remotely pleasant experience at this post office, and every other I've visited, has been with - can you guess? The automated postal machine, of course! I can't figure out if the employees get some gratification from the power they wield, or if they're mistreated regularly; but the takeaway is that they could not care less about your shipping needs, let alone your basic needs as a person. Just once I would like to have a normal human-to-human interaction with someone who works there. Nothing fancy. Just a nice enough person who will talk to me like the adult I am, and help me if I need it. And certainly not act like that's the last thing they're interested in doing (you know... their job?).
Sorry for the rant, but perhaps someone will read this and act. Not likely. But maybe. Because if this office and others continue to operate like this consistently, then the entire US Postal Service deserves to run their business straight into the ground. I'll happily use UPS or Fed-Ex for my shipping needs :) read more
