The people at the Post Office should get better training...
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I decided to sell one of my southern gold rarities to a dealer on the west coast. Out of a desire to avoid wetting Mrs. Lonacre's beak with some of the proceeds, I had to get the coin out of the safe deposit box and to the post office on the sly. The only way I could do this was on Saturday morning. I need to think up a cover, so I very nicely offered to go get Mrs. Longacre Starbuck's coffee on Saturday morning (the bank, post office, and Starbucks are all near each other). To guarantee safe passage, I offered to take the kids with me (I knew that Mrs. Longacre would be interested in getting a break from the little munchkins, although I did feel a little bit dirty using them as cover for my clandestine activities). In addition, on Friday at work, I prepared the mailing envelope, the cover letter to the dealer, as well as the registered mail tickets
Luckily the bank was empty when I got there. Like a well coreographed hit, I was in and out of there within minutes. I stuffed the coin in the envelope, punched the minivan hard, and with a screech of tires, I high tailed it out of the bank parking lot on the way to the post office. When I arrived at the post office, the stars and the moon were in alignment. There was no one there. I thought my plan was going to succeed, until I encounted Griselda the Postal Worker. She rather rudely informed me that I could not send a registered package in a padded envelope. I said, "fine", and I would just buy the plain while envelope that they sell, and put my package in that. Then she said, "no can do. Whatever is in your padded package has to be loose in the white envelope." Now I was seeing red. I told her that it did not make a bit of difference if my item (coin) was loose in the white envelope, or if it was in the padded envelope, in the white envelope. When I asked for her reasoning, she just said coldly, "postal regulations." I begged her to seek a second opinion with another worker, because by this time I was sweating bullets because my "trip to Starbucks" was taking too long. Finally, she said she had mercy on me, and agreed to let me put the padded envelope in the white envelope.
Has anyone had a similar experiece with postal workers? Do they just read rules literally, rather than using common sense? It's very frustrating.
PS. As a little insurance, I bought Mrs. Longacre a Snickerdoodle cookie at Starbucks, even though it killed me to spend $1.75 for a cookie.
Luckily the bank was empty when I got there. Like a well coreographed hit, I was in and out of there within minutes. I stuffed the coin in the envelope, punched the minivan hard, and with a screech of tires, I high tailed it out of the bank parking lot on the way to the post office. When I arrived at the post office, the stars and the moon were in alignment. There was no one there. I thought my plan was going to succeed, until I encounted Griselda the Postal Worker. She rather rudely informed me that I could not send a registered package in a padded envelope. I said, "fine", and I would just buy the plain while envelope that they sell, and put my package in that. Then she said, "no can do. Whatever is in your padded package has to be loose in the white envelope." Now I was seeing red. I told her that it did not make a bit of difference if my item (coin) was loose in the white envelope, or if it was in the padded envelope, in the white envelope. When I asked for her reasoning, she just said coldly, "postal regulations." I begged her to seek a second opinion with another worker, because by this time I was sweating bullets because my "trip to Starbucks" was taking too long. Finally, she said she had mercy on me, and agreed to let me put the padded envelope in the white envelope.
Has anyone had a similar experiece with postal workers? Do they just read rules literally, rather than using common sense? It's very frustrating.
PS. As a little insurance, I bought Mrs. Longacre a Snickerdoodle cookie at Starbucks, even though it killed me to spend $1.75 for a cookie.
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
But usually they are very helpful.
What if you were simply sending an empty padded envelope registered, would that package be denied?
By the way, good call going to the post office first and then Starbucks or, in your haste, you might have found yourself mailing the cookie and giving the coin to your wife with her coffee!
Jerry
<< <i>Actually, I've only had one incident with postal workers when I was trying to get a package mailed before they closed and as I was reaching for the door to go in - some lady locked it. One of the rudest things I've ever encountered. It was 4:56 and they close at 5:00. But usually they are very helpful. >>
I have a related story.
Our post office will lock the door at exactly the closing hour, not a minute later. One Saturday, as usual, I was running a few minutes behind, orange registered mail slip in hand to pick up a much awaited gem, only to arrive at the post office a minute too late. I snuck in the out door and the grouchy post office worker -- every post office has one -- literally yelled at me to "get out" and "we are closed". I protested very nicely that I only needed to pick up a package and was leaving town before the post office reopened on Monday, but to no avail. She immediately went to the back of the office and got the boss, leaving the person she was helping in the process. When he arrived on the scene I explained my story to him, and he was kind enough to get me the package, with the grouchy postal lady giving me the evil eye the whole time.
Take care...Mike
p.s. kudos to Longacre for the story -- I really got a kick out of it.
I even had one of the post offices refuse my properly taped package because I put an address label on the package and they said it had to be hand-written. In order to mail the package, I had to completely rewrap the package and retape it. What started as a 5-10 minutes visit to the post office turned out to be a 35 minute experience. Interesting that the other three P.O.' s would have accepted the original package.
I try and use Priority whenever possible but sometimes Registered is the only method accepted.
<< <i> Terrible with mail, but boy can they shoot! >>
Lots and lots of hours at the ol' practice range with a Glock can do that!
<< <i>
Has anyone had a similar experiece with postal workers? Do they just read rules literally, rather than using common sense? It's very frustrating.| >>
No, but I have had similar experiences with postal customers. We're told to follow rules. There's not much room for interpretation of these rules, and no wiggle room. Sorry, I don't feel like losing my job over something like a padded envelope.
I would like to brag about my USPS clerks. They will even apply tape for me! No problem with putting a padded envelope into the proper paper envelope, but I already knew about that regulation... They recently had to consult to see if I could ship registered in a priority box... Yes, as long as all the seams were sealed with reinforced tape, and they would apply the tape!!!
It is true I go about 2 miles farther than the nearest PO, but it is worth it!
I hope the kids fink on you and then hang you out to dry (talking about their mother like that).
Tim
If I were you, I'd find a post office near your workplace to do your "dirty work".
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and Kiyote - I get the impression that each Post Office is a direct reflection of the postmaster. Those that are helpful and have friendly people usually are happy with the boss. But in every case, when I encounter "disgruntled" or short-tempered workers, I will always catch snippets of derogatory comments toward that so and so....lunchbreak overruns, scheduling, vacations, who has to do what, etc. I think it filters down from the top.
every treasure on Earth
to be young at heart?
And as rich as you are,
it's much better by far,
to be young at heart!
<< <i>You CHEAP sleeze rat!! You write "I decided to sell one of my southern gold rarities to a dealer on the west coast. Out of a desire to avoid wetting Mrs. Lonacre's beak with some of the proceeds......" and then complain about spending $1.75 by stating "As a little insurance, I bought Mrs. Longacre a Snickerdoodle cookie at Starbucks, even though it killed me to spend $1.75 for a cookie. "
I hope the kids fink on you and then hang you out to dry (talking about their mother like that).
Tim
Good story!
When I advised you to let Mrs. Longacre "wet her beak", I did not mean that literally (ie. wetting her mouth with a cup of Starbucks* coffee). I meant that she should be allowed to enjoy the spoils of your profit (like in The Godfather). We need to get her and Mrs. RYK together to exchange their version of coin stories. On second thought...
Furthermore, the sooner you get your oldest child into coins, the easier it is to get him/her on your team, to cover for you, etc.
<< <i>You CHEAP sleeze rat!! You write "I decided to sell one of my southern gold rarities to a dealer on the west coast. Out of a desire to avoid wetting Mrs. Lonacre's beak with some of the proceeds......" and then complain about spending $1.75 by stating "As a little insurance, I bought Mrs. Longacre a Snickerdoodle cookie at Starbucks, even though it killed me to spend $1.75 for a cookie. " >>
And Yes, they do make regulations up on the fly.....
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
<< <i>You seemed to survive under pressure! Good job. "Mission Near to Difficult" should be calling on you any minute to get you to join the team! >>
Thanks, but I can't take all the credit, especially seeing how I don't actually work at the post office! Still, it's important to see both sides of any story.
<< <i>You seemed to survive under pressure! Good job. "Mission Near to Difficult" should be calling on you any minute to get you to join the team!
I would like to brag about my USPS clerks. They will even apply tape for me! No problem with putting a padded envelope into the proper paper envelope, but I already knew about that regulation... They recently had to consult to see if I could ship registered in a priority box... Yes, as long as all the seams were sealed with reinforced tape, and they would apply the tape!!!
It is true I go about 2 miles farther than the nearest PO, but it is worth it! >>
I can say the same exact things about the post office I use. Just a little further away, but get better service. However, this past Friday, I showed up at 5:01 running late becuase I was with my daughter in the ER. The "guard" at the door had just let someone else in but wouldn't let me in. "If I let you in, then the next person will want to come in..." He was not going to budge. I stood my ground with a pitiful look on my face. When the Post Master came out, the "guard" asked if he would help me. They escorted me to the side window where I was nicely waited on.
Trying to hide your dealings from your loving wife and carefully planning your Skulldugery deeds........!!!!!!!!.........
I have never had to send anything registered mail before. All of my eBay sales were less than $100. However, I just sold an item for $800, and stated in my auction I would send it registered mail. I made up the package, label, etc at work also. Bought a nice padded envelope for it and brought it to the post office last week. They said I could not send it registered mail in a padded envelope. And the reasoning was someone could open a padded envelope and reseal it without it being obvious. So I had to buy a plain, non-padded envelope and they said just stick my padded envelope in. So they let me mail it that way.
Years ago I used to ship slabbed coins Registered enclosed in a Safety Mailer cardboard envelope liner covered by a white envelope and from there enclosed completely in reinforced packing tape. The only way to get into such a package was to cut it open, and even then it was not that easy. A couple of post offices in Massachusetts used to give me trouble about this form of packaging so I avoided them.
When I moved to Florida, I got more complains and the statement that such items should be put in a box. This of course increased my expenses, but I got the boxes and started using them. Then one day a clerk at a particularly irksome post office (all of their clerks are whiners and complainers) told me my box was not big enough. With that I reclaimed my item and walked out. (I felt like telling them to perform an intimate bodily function in their hat, but restrained myself.)
Some post offices are just bad news. The best thing to do is avoid them. Most of their regulations are designed to increase their revenue stream by forcing you to mail larger heavier packages. Others are so stupidly run that it ALWAYS takes them 10 minutes to find an insured or registered package. Sometimes they can’t find it at all. My reaction is to give those post offices as little business as possible.
Isn't it strange how "postal regulations" are directly related to the mood of the clerk or the past relationship between clerk and customer.
The name is LEE!
No if you ask me about the empty tube I got that was supposed to contain a Norman Rockwell print, and was told by the PO manager, "It's not our job to find lost mail", that's a different story.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Edit: Whoops... migrated to this thread from his newest one that had this as a link... sorry for bringing the dead back.
I order the small video boxes by the 25 pack. a 2' section of 4" wide tape will cover all 3 sides with seams in one piece and it is very quick and easy to send a coin. You have to pay priority mail rather than 1st class.
I get the feeling that registered mail is on the way out and us coin geeks are the only ones who use it much any more. --Jerry
Seems anything that rattles is now a problem.
Called the guy an a-s-s, walked 3 blocks to another post office, and it was mailed without a problem.
Some of those guys are just lazy, and they know there is not a chance in heck they will be fired.