While I've previously had a good experience here, I echo the sentiment of many reviewers who say that some of the staff here are rude and even hostile.
When I came in today around 10:30am, it was dead. The woman who helped me was initially just stoic and lacked friendliness, issuing commands to get me processed quickly. While I prefer a friendly greeting or demeanor, there was no harm done. Maybe she was having a bad day; maybe she didn't owe me anything. I considered asking her how she was because she seemed like she could use some cheering up, but she seemed so focused on her task. Then...
She asked me to verify the address of my first package on the screen. I said that the city came up wrong. She said, "That's how it's coming up in the computer," and I said, "Yes, but she lives in a different city." Thinking quickly, I said, "Let me check the map to see if it's the same house," and she repeated herself with a tone of protest. "But that's how it's coming up." I again said, "I just need to make sure the package will make it to the correct house." After about 15 seconds of checking on my phone, I was able to confirm the package would arrive at the correct house. We moved forward; it was solved. I didn't know why she was being so resistant/argumentative.
Then, when she told me my second package had the wrong zip code, I had to again pause and figure out what to do. I was mailing the package on someone else's behalf and didn't know the address by heart, so I started texting the person to verify it. After only a few seconds, she said, "We need to finish this." I was stunned. I had only been at her window a couple of minutes at this point. Frustrated, I said, "Sorry I'm wasting your time." She shot back, "I don't have much time." I gestured to the empty room and said, "But there's no line!"
Apparently, this didn't matter to her, nor her coworker, who jumped in to point out that "The clock is ticking on the computer." What? Does the USPS--or this location--have a timer on how much time they can spend with each customer? I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. Why rush a customer when there's no one waiting?
I asked her why she was being so rude. We proceeded to argue. At first I was just trying to get her to see my perspective, but she was so hyperfocused on the ticking clock that I switched to problem solving just to appease her. I offered to go outside, verify the address and come back in. I asked to see the package so I could take a picture of the address, but she wouldn't let me. She repeatedly talked over me and sometimes flat out ignored me, as if I weren't even there. It was like I was talking to a robot. At the culmination of this absurd argument, she shoved my packages back out of her window and suggested I to go to a different post office.
I was so upset that I cried in my car afterward. I'm 41 years old and have never had public exchanges like this--I was rattled.
I don't know if this review will help anything, but I guess it's good to know that I'm not alone in having a negative experience here. I hope the workers here are OK, because it seems that there might be some immense pressure from higher ups to keep the [nonexistent!] line moving. Despite this being my neighborhood post office, I won't be coming back to this location for a while, if ever. read more