USPS sucks, episode #?
Lakesammman
Posts: 17,380 ✭✭✭✭✭
Don't feel like you have to read or respond - just want to complain. Anyone know of a alternative to the USPS registered insured mail?? What's been your experience with FedEx, for instance??Claims?? Anyone know whose jurisdiction the USPS is under now so we can complain??
Just came from the USPS. The line to get into the parking lot was 1/2 block, blocking traffic both directions. The line was outside the door, a guaranteed 45 minute wait from past experience, so I left. 5 windows inside, 3 open with USPS staff - why?? How is a guy who works 6AM to 6pm weekdays supposed to get anything mailed.
Here are some suggestions for our suffering civil servants.
1. Open all windows during peak hours.
2. Quit packaging stuff for customers. If they're not ready to mail, tell 'em to came back when it is ready. I barely snuck in line in front of a guy last week who came in with 3 shopping bags full of stuff. When I asked why he didn't have them wrapped, he said the guy at the counter had boxes! This happens 50% of the time I'm there. I'll let you guess how slow the line moves when that happens.
3. If your facility is too small for the community, build a bigger one or else risk becoming irrelevent. From my perspective, you already are.
Just came from the USPS. The line to get into the parking lot was 1/2 block, blocking traffic both directions. The line was outside the door, a guaranteed 45 minute wait from past experience, so I left. 5 windows inside, 3 open with USPS staff - why?? How is a guy who works 6AM to 6pm weekdays supposed to get anything mailed.
Here are some suggestions for our suffering civil servants.
1. Open all windows during peak hours.
2. Quit packaging stuff for customers. If they're not ready to mail, tell 'em to came back when it is ready. I barely snuck in line in front of a guy last week who came in with 3 shopping bags full of stuff. When I asked why he didn't have them wrapped, he said the guy at the counter had boxes! This happens 50% of the time I'm there. I'll let you guess how slow the line moves when that happens.
3. If your facility is too small for the community, build a bigger one or else risk becoming irrelevent.
From my perspective, you already are. "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose.
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TRUTH
I also hate the way the USPS acts like everyone is free to do their mailings between 10:00 and 4:00 weekdays!
Why can't they keep some branches open just once or twice a week until maybe 9:00PM? They would get a ton of more business from me if they were open more hours that I wasn't working!
JJacks
Just wait until the Christmas rush
Depending on the size of the town, USPS contracts with small businesses to operate a post office inside their store.
They offer full services (except money order sales). You should check with your post office and see if there is a contract store nearby.
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since 8/1/6
If you were to buy my time, the hour wasted at the postoffice would be $200 - good value? Life is short - time is the most valuable thing I "own" and is not to be wasted.
The other thing is the teller always asks (even with 20 people in line) "Do you need any stamps" and the customer goes "Well, ....maybe.....what kind do you have available?". ..."Well, let's see we've got flags, cars, ......", instead of just trying to get people to buy stamps from the machines like they should.
JJacks
Also, I operate a home business and get daily fedex pickup and that can come in handy for personal shipping as well, especially around any holidays. As a heavy user, I get a substantial negotiated price reduction because of the volume of packages I send on an annual basis. If you work for a company that gets daily pickups, ask your shipping people or accounting people if you can use the company account as they likely also get a discount that you as only an occassional user cannot get.
UPS I use only begrudgingly as they seem to be making things harder and harder for business use even as they keep trying to improve their slice of the business pie. Granted, they are still the best choice if you are sending anything heavy or if you are in no real hurry. Just make sure you insure it as they have a high rate of 'never delivered'.
Over ten years with fedex, shipping thousands of packages, they have never completely lost a single one. Only one ever got lost for a few days but they eventually found it, a little chewed up and squashed, but still deliverable. Fedex has a low liability limit but you can pay a fee and get more coverage. I have never had to file a claim so I can't say how good they are about paying.
Just MHO.
Kris
"I think I have finally lived long enough to realize that the big man in the sky aint talking" Ogden Nash
"When all you got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"
What is the purpose of "insurance" with the USPS? Has anyone put in a claim with them and then followed through with it? I have and honestly, if I thought that the recipient would not have thought that I had doofed him, I would have just replaced the money and said Adios. After you pay the buck thirty to insure a a package with a real value of $25 or less, the fun begins.
Ever try proving the value of a raw Franklin set in AG-G condition?
I think that too many people insure low value parcels, and think that they truly are insured! NOT!
The alternate is a simple 50 cent delivery confirmation forms.
Wish the buyers would quit spending all their money on USPS, and buy better grade coins!
Just my 2 cents worth!
Bulldog
No good deed will go unpunished.
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I work flex-time, so I can go to the post office whenever I want. My local USPS is never busy.... 5 minute wait, tops. And, as an extra-added bonus, there's a very attractive young lady working behind the counter.
Sorry, folks. It's just so rare that I have something to brag about!!!
Clark
Bulldog asks about insurance claims: I have had to make a couple: it is very tedius and they take a long time, but, in both cases, I was eventually paid. I have given up on USPS insurance when I send anything under $50---I offer the buyer insurance and charge $1.00; but instead of paying the USPS, I merely "self-insure"---that is, if the recipient doesn't receive the coin. I will immediately refund his money. Much quicker and easier for both of us---again, this has occurred once; I also had a slab broken by the USPS, which again I simply paid the buyer to have it reslabbed (plus a little, as I recall).
As for alternatives---they're all more expensive for small items.
As to lines, I am in the unusual position of not having lines!!! There is a huge postal sorting center a block from my office. Several months ago, they opened a small corner of the building for retail windows. Since the retail operation is small compared to everything else there, they seem to have enough lines (though I've never seen it crowded yet--I guess no one knows its open, in spite of the huge banners on the street. but more importantly, since the building is 24 hour operation, they have decided to leave the window open into the evening (8:30PM I think) which is really convenient.
Pete
Brian.
Kris
"I think I have finally lived long enough to realize that the big man in the sky aint talking" Ogden Nash
"When all you got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"
For FedEx, you can also register as a shipper online, print labels out from your computer, then just drop the boxes off at the counter -- no line waiting needed.
FedEx ground is very competitive with USPS, especially considering all packages come with $100 and online tracking at no extra charge.
The biggest problem with any of the other shippers is that USPS has a monopoly on sending to PO boxes, which many coin customers like to use.
anywho...
I am in North central Ohio. I mailed out a registered, insured package to North Carolina on Thursday. The recipient recieved it Today!!!!!!! I was impressed!
Fortunately I live in a smaller suburban town where the only problem I encounter is one woman whose shock treatments took a bad turn and an occasional line of 4 or 5. Otherwise a great group of good natured people. One guy even slips me a roll of reg insured tape now and then. I can't imagine what it's like in a city post office on a Saturday -- is this your local PO Lakesammman, or Seattle?
Just another view. Having lived and worked in many parts of the world, comparatively, I have found USPS to be superior to the postal service in most countries.
However, I really hate the policy that apparently was forced on workers a few years ago - to ask everyone if they want stamps, insurance , etc., etc. - it wastes time and confuses a lot of people.
But, this policy comes from headquarters in Washington, DC. I know most clerks dislike it and hate asking everyone "Do you want insurance? Do you want stamps, return receipts, blah, blah, blah!" I've had clerks tell me they would like to send the people who just come in and expect them (the clerks) to fill out all the forms, etc. to the back of the line - but they can't - management will be all over them - really!
Just my 37 cent stamps worth.
Suggest you complain to your congressmen/women and senators, and to USPS headquarters. Its time to stop rewarding the lazy bums who want somebody else to do the work for them!
Having said this, I've met some really fine postal workers - YES, RIGHT HERE IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA.
Mush of USPS's current efficeincy problem is a senior management problem.
I live on the second floor and at the end of my apartment building. Now I will admit that my complex did a real good job by messing up the way they number the doors, but this blew my mind. I was expecting some coins in the mail today(my 95-W ASE), so while my dog was ...hmmm...shall we say "doing his thing" (side note: 195lb St. Bernard...yes in an apartment, not by choice) I watched the postal worker wandering around my building till she spotted my door. What happened next really surprised me. Instead of walking up ONE flight of stairs, she tried to throw my package up and over the rail to my floor. As if that wasn't bad enough, SHE MISSED and it fell back down to her. That is when I screamed at her from across the road...boy did she look like a deer caught in headlights! Needless to say, I let her have a piece of my mind. Good thing she was just a temp that fills in for my regular delivery person during some weekends.
I plan on calling their district office and letting them know what I saw. I still can't believe it.
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Registered mail is an excellant service. Very secure. Insured is ok, but doing a claim is cumbersome and slow. Got to go, last out of game 6.
my hotels
Like most places, there's always people who don't have a clue. One person in front of me thought they could send a package express to England in a used appliance box that wasn't taped. Of course, the clerk gave him a box, and showed him how to pack it and fill out the forms, etc. IMO, the clerks are always courteous and helpful. Usually I hear about the long waits, but I never hear about the postal clerk being rude or uncaring.
Proof Dime Registry Set
<< <i>Usually I hear about the long waits, but I never hear about the postal clerk being rude or uncaring. >>
Except the ones with the semi-automatics shooting at their co-workers.
OK I admit that hasn't happened for a couple years now.