I've lived in Malden for 16 years and have never had a problem with the post office or mail delivery. My mail arrives at the same time every day and is always in our individual mailboxes. I've also never had a problem with "mail hold," which I use when I'm on vacation. One time, a package, sent from a company that didn't require a signature, was stolen out of my foyer, and the manager of the PO couldn't have been nicer about trying to help me report the theft.
Is there ever a mixup with my getting someone else's letter on occasion? Sure. Is the staff at the PO more straightforward than chatty? Yes, and that's actually a good thing. Have I ever had to wait in line at the PO? Um, yeah, every single time. That's just called life, people. I, too, used to roll my eyes and get impatient, but you have to accept the fact that sometimes in life, there will be lines!
And after years of observation, I've also realized that the long lines are actually due to customers' being unprepared (see Elizabeth G's comments about tape) or not knowing how to fill out forms. So, basically that boils down to: customer, heal thyself. No one is born knowing how to send a certified letter. Sometimes it needs to be explained, and you're the poor sap stuck behind the guy who needs the explanation. Malden has a significant international population, too, so again, yeah, you're going to have to wait for people to send boxes overseas - which are probably filled with presents. Think about it: presents! The other day, a girl and her mother were shipping two humongous boxes to her college in the Midwest. How can you be mad about that? Someone's going to college! That's exciting. And good. And if you pay attention, you'll see it really is only about a ten minute wait. Trust me, I've clock-watched... back in my eye-rolling days. And though ten minutes in real time can feel like an eternity - because we're sending actual things, not texts - when you think about (at some point when you're in your happy place), ten minutes really is nothing.
If you are prepared with pre-labeled, maybe even prepaid, TAPED boxes and have an idea of what kind and how many stamps you want in advance, and buy Christmas stamps in October instead of December 19th, and listen to an iPod, you'll be all set to spend ten minutes in line at the Malden PO, or any PO, for that matter, 'cause Woburn ain't no picnic neither. Don't ever think you're running in for a minute. Prepare yourself for the way it is and always will be.
Oh, and P.S., you know there's a self-serve area, too, right?? read more