This place absolutely sucks! There's always a long line and very few staff which results in ridiculously long wait times. I dread going to the post office because of the awful service at this location. read more

This Post Office DESERVES -5 stars! It is absolutely horrible!!! I called today at least 8 times and the phone must have rang 20 times each time and no one ever answers the phone. There is no way of getting a hold of these morons! They have delivered junk mail to my address, but for some weird reason the post person has decided without their having any idea of the truth, that I do not live here and will not deliver a package to me. WTF?! And so I asked to have it redelivered and it showed it was out for delivery. Did I get it?! Hell no! Now I have no idea where this package is and the value of it is over $200. These guys should all be fired from their jobs since they are not doing their jobs!!! HORRIFIC SERVICE!!! read more

I was amazed. They had plenty of workers. The line went quick. Everybody was pleasingly pleasant. And finally I got my packages off in time for Christmas! read more

This location is in dire need of a new postmaster; and new employee's in the office. I called during the holidays because I left a card for my carrier; Becky, with a gift card in it to See's Candies. Unfortunately, she was not there on that day and the man filling in for her stole her holiday gift. When I called to make a complaint; Sunny/Sonny who is the interim postmaster did not think it was a big deal for the other carrier to steal from Becky. When I told him that in almost nine years of living in my home that she was by far the BEST carrier we'd ever had, his response was "I'm the best carrier for the past nine years" - I asked if he was the carrier on my route, and he said "No, but I am the best carrier for the past nine years and I will get back to you but if she was not there, then he gets to have her gift" I told him that was theft, and it was addressed TO Her, and clearly stated that she was the best carrier I've ever had in nine years of living here - so that man KNEW it wasn't for him; he is thief. I've tried to follow up with phone calls, and after two minutes of ringing, they pick up and hang up. It's by far the most unprofessional Post Office in Marin County. I've been calling them for the past half an hour to ask where my mail is for today - I've yet to see a carrier; so I have to assume that Becky is out ill or they took her route away because of how well liked she is. Sunny/Sonny is in need of retraining or relocation. read more

Pure, unequivocal incompetence. I believe the last time I checked, this USPS location is actually a business. I have never hoped for machines taking peoples' jobs, but this place has forced a reconsideration. I made an appointment for a passport. Showed up on time. I had to wait in line for 30 minutes because the passport office door was locked. After reaching the front of the line, I had to wait another 30 minutes for this despicable employee to slowly wander over to where I am standing. I did not have the back of my drivers license copied and of course this dude says "yeah, our copier is broken right now." BS! Refused to schedule me another appointment . I refuse to give them my money now. I would rather get railed on pricing online with a 3rd party than deal with these totally useless wastes of space and air. I have to stop my review before I pop a blood vessel. read more

I don't know what changes were made in the last couple of months, but this place is great. I've been here 3 times in the last 8 weeks and the service seemed to get better each time. There were no more than 4 people in line and an employee asks customers what they need so she can direct them to the correct counter. I have never spent more than 15 minutes at this post office recently and the lines are managed much better than before. It is quicker standing in line with my priority mail box than to use the kiosk! read more

how many stars can i reduce the post office by ......? hmmmmm. the post office post office boxes are filled with germs. yuck! a toddler does not need to be handling my mail when it is being picked up. until may 2023 I personally used to go into this post office to check the mailbox and I bring home the mail without the toddler touching it of course. I am of the mindset I don't want at all, a sick child in the household. cant work when the kids are sick even when working from home. how does one sanitize the post office box? I know .... do it the holistic natural way, spray the out side of the box and the inside of the box with they key in the slot of course with vinegar. that will kill the germs when the distilled vinegar is used full strength. Dropping the mail into my plastic bag to carry it to the car, i spritz the mail real well in order to get all the germs off the mail, works better than lysol. make yourself healthier, use vinegar on all mail you pick up at the post office and if you receive mail at home spritz the inside of your mail box at home and the incoming mail mail drop with distilled vinegar is great way to get rid of the germs and sanitize the mail read more

This place is sooooo slow!! I have to plan my day around it because I'm always in line forever!!! Surely someone from the back can help up front! Geez!! read more

US Post Office - The line in front of me, not to mention the one behind me! - Post Offices Near Me - Novato, California

It's like any other post office. So what's the deal? I thought the lady behind the counter was really friendly. Good thing there was no line when I came since my packages needed to be taped. I was expecting tape available since people do come here to send off packages but they didn't have any. It cost be $3.49 for a tape. At least they had pens lying around Anyways, my experience wasn't that bad. read more

Worst post office I've ever been to. They don't answer the phone. The building is dirty. The employees are rude. After waiting in line for 30 minutes, the poor lady behind me almost left without mailing her package because they wouldn't give her a piece of packing tape (she was given a choice between using scotch tape or buying a roll of packing tape). The employee told her that they "finally got smart and stopped giving it away for free." They just fall short in every way. read more

If there was an award for worst post office this location would win hands down. I am generally positive person, but there is simply very little good to say. I figured I would write a more recent review in the hopes management makes some much needed changes. The staff is poorly trained and slow. I understand that the USPS has issues, but in other offices clearly employees take pride in their job, welcome you with a smile and take care of their customers. Here that clearly is not the case. The counter needs to be staffed and by well trained people, who want to be there. Yesterday I stood in line for 45 minutes for a roll of stamps. When I made it into the main office (the line was out the door, partially due to the 6ft markers, but also because there was just one person assisting customers), I verified that they had rolls of stamps available. I was told yes and so I patiently waited my turn, only to be told "we have no rolls and barely any stamps at all". What a waste of time and what disrespect for a customer, who all along stood in line defending that "it was by no fault of the staff" that things were moving so slow and how they don't make the schedule. Well, the truth is the staff has no idea what they are doing and this certainly comes down from "the top". Novato USPS Management, please step it up. That people still come in is only because you happen to be in a convenient location, not because of your excellent service. read more

Tried to cash postal money order. First teller wasn't sure how to convert a US$ money order into US$. After informing her that it was in US currency (as stated in three places on the front of the money order), she tried to run it through her machine numerous times, but it didn't work. She said that she didn't know how to do it, so another teller would have to help me, and sent me to the back of the line to wait again. Got to the second teller, who tried numerous times to process it, still couldn't, then told another employee that it wasn't working, and he said that he didn't know why, but the system wasn't working right. If your system has a problem, maybe try to fix it before sending a customer through the line to wait multiple times. read more

They are way understaffed and not efficient given the season. They certainly don't have the urgency the recent commercials would suggest. But....... The line would move a lot faster if PEOPLE WERE PREPARED when they got here. read more

Goodness gracious so much negativity. I've never had a bad experience here; everyone has always been kind. There is a great little selection of cards! A lot of the reason it can take a long time is the people in front of you aren't prepared, if everyone showed up ready with all their stuff it wouldn't be as much of a problem. Also, don't leave it to the last minute. If you show up the week before Christmas, or the couple days before April 15th...that's your own bad. read more

A ruder than average post office. Seems like pleasantries like "hello" and "thanks" are not recognized here. There is one really pissed off Filipino-American clerk who acts like he is doing you a favor serving you. Super lame that they don't answer their phone either. Not believing that they were open until 6:30, I called them like 5 times. These lame brains can't even take the time to pick up a phone. On the unusual side, however, is that their number is posted at all. Most post offices' numbers are not posted, so you have to call the completely, abhorrently useless 1-800 national number, which rarely gets you any information you need. There is one redeeming quality to this post office...it is open until 6:30pm, the only one in Marin county to do so. Actually, quite surprising. I like Calvin D's comment about this place...kinda sums up the service here quite well. read more

Terrible. We were told a package was delivered to a locked box but it wasn't. And there is no one to talk to, you are out of luck. This happened to three houses on the block of 5 on the same day. Some got keys but no package. Others got a notice it was delivered but no key. It has been days and no nothing. Amazon really has to stop using the USPS. read more

These people are nice and hardworking individuals just doing the best they can. Patience is a virtue people. There's more than one reason this is called snail mail. No one else is in your hurry. I've never had an issue here. Not ever. Been coming here for 30+ years. read more

This USPS office in Novato is a fine example on why USPS is on the verge of going bankrupt. I've been working in Novato since Jan 2011, so I've paid this place a visit quite a few time since. First of all, the service here is slow. I mean dead slow. I swear an old man can pop a boner faster than the people working behind the counters can finish the line of customers waiting. Every (I must emphasize on 'every') time I come to this place, there's a line. It just seems to be getting longer and longer, to the point where it's out the door. And what are the employees doing? Taking their sweetass time. They'd walk to the backroom, sometimes with no apparent reasons, slowly. They'd talk to customers, slowly. They'd take / give packages to customers, slowly. You get the picture. You'd think that they would get the hint with the increasingly long line of pissed off customers waiting and start to go a little faster. Nope, no such thing as fast in their dictionary. In fact, make way for more bullshit wasted time from them asking every single customers the following questions: "Would you like delivery confirmation, Sir?" "Would you like them to sign for it when they receive it, Ma'am?" "Would you like to buy any stamps today, Sir?" NO! NO WE DON'T! If we do, we'd ask you god dammit. Just give us the motherfucking postage for our motherfucking packages so we can all get our asses outta here asap! And don't call us Sirs or Ma'ams, it's plain annoying. You want to be respectful and make us feel appreciated? THEN WORK THE FUCK FASTER! Holy shit, you'd think these morons would get the picture after asking these questions for YEARS that they cannot upsell shit in this post office. The key to increasing revenue is to work the fuck faster, have you thought of that hmm? Faster service = more customers served = more customers willing to come send their packages instead of choosing to go to UPS or Fed Ex because they no longer have to wait 20 fucking minutes to send a god damned package?! Of all the times I've been here, I've never seen a customer willing to say yes to any of the above questions that you guys constantly bombard us with. Another thing that pisses me off over here is how you guys blatantly rip us off by overpricing us in front of our face. I've come here before trying to send a book using media mail. The envelope I got from work had the word "first class" on it, so the dude told me I must send it via first class. Fair enough, so I offered to use a black marker to mark off the word "first class" on the envelope. Nope, he refused to lend me the marker, even though it's in front of his face. Great, so the cost shot up from $3s to $7s, while I'm trying to sell a $15 book. Nice way to take a chunk of my margin you cock. Another occasion was when I was trying to send an ordinary letter; I forgot to bring stamps from work. I tried to send it via APS, but it wouldn't take transactions below $1 (APS charged it as 45 cents). So, I ended up having to stand in line for 15 fucking minutes and when I finally got there, the asshole charged me 60 cents for it. Really? I'm not about to argue with him over the extra 15 cents, but seriously? I swear this is by far the worst post office I've been to. Unfortunately, this is the only post office in Novato, so they pretty much got me by the balls here on a tight grip. read more

Not sure why they even have a phone number. They NEVER answer the damn phone. I get my dogs cancer medication online as it's the only place to purchase it. I can see from the tracking information that it sits there for days. Once I had to make them go search for it after arguing 2x and kept being told it'll arrive tomorrow.....tomorrow. This time same thing, doesn't show but tracking says it's been there for 4 days. Saw the delivery guy, went to talk to him AFTER HE DELIVERED MY MAIL BECAUSE THE MEDS WEREN'T DELIVERED.... and it's sitting on his damn dashboard. Really? So has he been too lazy to deliver it because it didn't fit in my mailbox or??? This isn't a pair of socks here. It's medication. So, I guess I'll have to go complain in person because nobody answers the friggin phone read more

The absolute worst Post Office in existence. Not that I've seen/experienced them all by any means. I'm sure there's some back-water post office in some third world repressive regime that is worse than here but I'm fresh all-out out of adjectives to describe how bad the Novato Post Office is. As others have stated, s-l-o-o-o-o-w, doesn't even BEGIN to describe it. And, the APC (Automated Postal Center machine) is frequently out-of-order, forcing one to get in line (because, I gather, the employees don't care to maintain, service or replenish the APC). There are NO postal supplies outside the immediate lobby area (i.e., after hours, you CANNOT obtain ANY forms as you can at other post offices). Again, and apparently, because the employees don't bother to replenish the supplies. I have actually experienced this: About 15 people in line. One, single postal employee on duty. Single employee realizes (and states aloud) that all his other co-workers are on a break. Then says, for all the customers to hear: "well, if everyone else is on a break, then I'm taking one too" and promptly closes their station. In my face. That's right: not one postal employee on duty. Not one. Couldn't say for how long this lasted as I walked out. I have also experienced this: constantly mis-delivered, or completely missing P.O. Box mail (used for a business, not my own, as I would never, ever trust this branch with a P.O. Box of my own). Recommendations: 1.) Go to UPS; 2.) Go to Fed-Ex; 3.) Go to a postal store (more expensive but, hey, your time is worth money and the time you save by not going to the Novato P.O. is worth the extra expense); 4.) Go to the USPS in Petaluma, if you have to go to a post office. 5.) Drive your own mail to it's final destination. If you want to save your time, your health and your sanity: go ANYWHERE but the Novato Post Office. read more

We bought a house in Novato, which came with a keyed mailbox but no key. The local mailman said the post office would have to send someone out and install a new lock. I went to the post office and stood in line for 40 minutes. The clerk then told me I would have to pay a $50 fee and the janitor would be sent out to change the lock, which was supposed to take up to a week. I paid the $50 and the clerk said they would call me when the new lock was installed. I never heard from them. I called after a week and was told to wait another week. After another week, I called again and was told to wait yet another week. After three weeks, I asked to speak to the postmaster. A woman named Alberta identified herself as the postmaster and informed me that changing the lock was not the responsibility of the post office. She claimed it was the responsibility of the homeowner association. (Although the HOA later insisted it was not their responsibility.) I asked her why the post office charged me $50 and made me go three weeks without mail delivery if that was the case. She didn't respond. She did say, however, I will get my $50 back if I'm willing to invest the time going there and waiting in line again. She didn't even apologize. Apparently this type of incompetence and arrogance is so common with them they don't consider such a major inconvenience worth an apology. I finally hired a locksmith, which is something I should have done three weeks earlier. . read more

The customer service at Novato post office is not good. But, beyond poor for passport service. Go elsewhere to process your passport! I called continuously for 2 days 6/11 & 6/12 and finally got through to make an appointment with Novato Post Office for Monday, July 26 at 11am. We arrived 10 minutes early. No one was in the passport office, and we were ignored by the 3 clerks. My daughter waited through the line to ask about the passport office and was told they would page the person. We continued this process 2 more times requesting the person be paged. Others showed up for passport help, as well, but quickly left frustrated. Finally, at 11:35, the manager of the post office opened the passport office and told us they could not find the passport person??? She processed our paperwork. Long story short, avoid Novato post office! I had mine done at the Petaluma Post office years ago, where my appointment was honored. FYI, I heard AAA offices can process passports for their members. read more

Worst of the worst, they list a phone number but NEVER answer. I loathe the usps Novato.

Well I hate to say it but the other reviews pretty much summarize my experience with one exception that they now have a stamp vending machine in the front lobby but sometimes you swipe your atm card and select buy stamps and it kicks you out. Obvious flaw in the programming. Parking is a nightmare and the customer service is seriously lacking. read more

I had a package rerouted to my house in Sacramento ca unfortunately due to incompetence the package was still sent to the wrong address. I contacted the Novato post office on Wednesday about the error, they DID find my package and said they would need more postage even though I had already paid $20 for the reroute, VIKKI said she would need to talk to someone before she sent out the package, that was the last I heard from her and it is now Saturday. I have no idea where my package is or what's going on. This has been by far the worst USPS experience of my life. It really makes me nervous to ever use the USPS ever again. read more

I recall an article in the Marin IJ back in 2014 with the new postmaster being focused on customer service. That has not translated into counter service at the Post Office. I would suggest a look at the lobby at various times of the day to see the backup. I try to use the self-serve machine in the lobby when I can but that can be quite time consuming as well when like minded folks opt for that when the line is out the door for face-to-face transactions. I have no quarrel with the counter help (other than one individual who has been there for years and it still seems she is overmatched given her inability to process a transaction with any sense of timeliness), I just think there are too few of them to handle the traffic. I am holding out hope that after a year and a half the "new" postmaster will sometime soon see this problem and address it. read more

Walking into any Post Office is like being swallowed up in an abyss of poor service, outdated technology, and ambivalence. Your experience will definitely vary depending on which person you encounter behind the counter, but on average it's an infuriating experience for me (just like with any government institution). There is absolutely no incentive for the employees to hustle and get people in and out within an even reasonable time. Almost every time the line is long and if there are three clerks open, inevitably one will close and take a break. At Safeway they would of course open more registers instead, but let's not get carried away now and start glorifying capitalism. The pace at which these people work is mind-boggling, and then on top of that some chat away with the customers, regardless of if the line is out the door. I want to go POSTAL! read more

I've literally been calling for months and they have never, not once, picked up the damn phone.

I am very grateful for the people doing excellent work behind the counter, delivering the mail, answering questions and solving problems. They are friendly, dependable, and efficient. What would we do without them? From the beautiful stamps, the option to have a post office box, to listening patiently to our complaints, they offer more than recordings and technology ever could. read more

So terrible. Giving confidential information out to people in line. Complete attitude. My carrier is good but the window service is terrible. read more

I don't like post offices as much as the next person, but this one is exceptionally horrible. So slow, so unhelpful and rude customer service. I had a few questions regarding a passport renewal and I was being treated like a nuisance. I was told to read a wall of instructions which I had already read but still had questions about. I probably would've avoided a trip to the post office all together if they had just ANSWERED THE PHONE when I tried calling. Horrible service, long lines... you can catch me at a different post office. read more

This post office gets the prize for being the worst post office in all of Marin . Even with no one in line you will wait for service .... And then the customer service ( with the exception of maybe 1) is inefficient and rude. If I wait 20 minutes to get to the counter, at least be pleasant, helpful and efficient! There is no attention to the length of the line - like at Grocery outlet or Lucky where they open another register, here at the USPS there will be an agent working in their space... Playing with the computer or shuffling packages and envelopes while ignoring the line going out the door. I am happy to drive anywhere else- especially Petaluma or Larkspur , to be treated well and have my mail handled in a professional manner. I am sure something could be done to improve the service here. read more

All the typical traits of a post office, slow, lines, no knowledge, but more! The supervisor is rude. Period. On the phone, in person, it doesn't matter. She is rude. I was there today, and she was belittling a young lady next to me about picking up a package, then a lady that needed a form right after that. Unbelievable. read more

I never get my package they always say my business was closed when im sitting in my office the whole day so i always have to goto the post office to pick anything up i have ever ordered. read more

Sadly I post this. While we would happily give our mail carrier 5 plus stars, most of the window clerks at the main post office in Novato are some of the worst we've ever in our 40+ years living here, encountered. Just this morning we asked a newish clerk if there were any priority boxes available in a specific size that may be in the back. She replied with an answer totally unrelated to the question. We stated the question again .... she said there are none in back. Do you know for sure there are none in back? Incidentally, there were no others in line or at the other clerk's window at the time; ... the moron I addressed the question to said to the other long time employee that also loves to give "canned" answers .... have you seen any ? She said no. They went back to visiting as we were dismissed as we had for the most part been in the 60 to 90 seconds we spent at the window. - So many employees at this branch are good and we recognize so many as having been there for so many years, but the newish window clerk is just as laid back and inept as some of the others working those positions in Novato. It's sad for us as customers that the rates keep rising and with so many tenured employees that exist in the USPS that are close to worthless that overly influence the inept and poor service provided to customers. Novato USPS main facility: It starts at the top (post-mistress in particular) and we all deserve better that what you dish out. This rant applies only to the morons that are flakes, you know who you are, and not to the majority of other hard working and wonderful carriers and PO workers that we have here in Novato. read more

This place is horrible, very rude staff! They don't help at all!! They really need to be more charismatic and helpful with the customers!!

They have been very helpful to me when I have had to call about tracking packages, I really feel like I am getting good small town service. They have even given me tips on how to work the various systems to escalate searches. Would I get that at another Post Office? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it helps that I treat them like real people. If you are standing in line for something besides certified or registered mail you pretty much deserve what you get anyway. There are so many easier way to ship things these days. But if you have to go, have your act together, treat them iike humans, and you will likely get good service in return. Not every problem with the lines at the Post Office can be blamed on the clerks. read more

The postal service employees are really warm and welcoming. I appreciate the services they provide.

I think the Novato Post office is fine. I feel good going there and I find them to be very polite. No offense, but you folks from Novato have it all. I live the "City", and I am tired of it and the long lines and traffic. This is why when I visit my mom I come to this office. go to the Dollar store and Trader Joe's. It is very mellow over here including the Post Office. I think it has a good vibe; you want cut throat; come to the city..wow rush, rush, rush. read more

Apparently, this is the only post office that can't do what any other post offices can do. The only transaction they know how to do is weight a package and take your money. I had to find a parking spot in a over crowded lot and then I had to wait in a line out the door. When I finally got to the government employee, they refused to help me. The lady said she cannot help me because she obviously wasn't trained. She didn't even try. They're not human. They would make great hall monitors and window lickers. Of course, the government gives theses jobs to complete incompetent low interactive morons! And, for fucks sake, why is there only one post office? If there's only one, then have competent people working it! read more