I popped into this location around 11:30 today after a doctor's appointment two blocks down. I had to mail two letters. I was fifth or sixth in line (and the line grew behind me) and there was only one clerk working. No big deal, I always expect a line. When I finally got up to the desk, another clerk has simultaneously walked into one of the other clerk stations. I say hello to the clerk and she directs me to her freshly arrived co-worker and says (without a hello back) "she will help you" and points to her. Before I can even nod and say okay to her, she is already looking past me and says, "next in line."
Okay, fine. No big deal. So I walk over to the newly arrived clerk and say hello. She is looking at something on her monitor and she looks up at me and just stares at me. So I kind of just stare blankly at her, a bit confused on my end. Her eyes open wider and her head shakes a bit side-to-side as if to say 'what?' to me. Mind you, she still hasn't even said hello yet. I hold up the letters in my hand and ask, "Hi, um... can I mail these?" SHE TAKES HER EARPODS OUT, sighs, shakes her head side to side, and she speaks!! "I JUST walked in here." At this point all of the blood in my face has drained, I look back over at the other clerk, and I am about to say 'she just directed me over to you' because I wasn't trying to rush anyone or make things difficult for anyone. Ultimately I decided against saying anything about the other clerk sending me over to her because I thought it would come off like I am pointing fingers. I've just waited in line for 5-10 minutes like everyone else, I was not doing anything out of the ordinary that would warrant a negative reaction.
So I stand there in silence while she gets her station ready. At this point, the person in line behind me has already been helped by the clerk who had been there the whole time. She weighs each letter, sticks the sticker on each, and one at a time chucks the letters hard into the outgoing bin.
I worked in the customer service industry for a decade. I get it, believe me I do. I have been called every name in the book, cursed at, threatened, homophobic slurs, ALL of it. BELIEVE ME, I REALLY get how frustrating it can be working with the public. But WOWWWWWW! It was truly unnecessary and kind of cruel... but I still do not even feel angry about the situation. Just downright pity, they are obviously disgruntled and frustrated and hopefully someone in management can help the staff out at this location because something is not right. It was only 11:30... she still has the whole day ahead of her and she is already upset. I feel terrible that I was an accidental part of making her feel bad. I wish it wasn't so awkward to ask strangers if they need a hug because I really think she needed it. read more