I kinda like the post office. My aversion to fisticuffs makes me unwilling and mentally unable to take on any branch, agency or tributary of the Federal Government in any fight. I do not want my name showing up any one's list, save maybe Nixon's, but I was too young.
That said, if I ran the Post Office, some things may be different. Allow me elucidate.
February 17, a package was sent from the world renowned bow tie maker, Ellie Stager to moi. Ellie kindly sent the link enabling me to follow its route. I enclose yesterday's edition below.
Label/Receipt Number:
Class: First-Class Mail®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™
Status: Processed through Sort Facility
Your item was processed through and left our CHARLOTTE, NC 28228 facility on February 18, 2010. The item is currently in transit to the destination. No further information is available for this item.
Enter Label/Receipt Number.
Enter Label / Receipt Number.
Detailed Results:
Processed through Sort Facility, February 18, 2010, 10:45 pm, CHARLOTTE, NC 28228
Electronic Shipping Info Received, February 17, 2010
So I printed a copy and went to the post office. The clerk, took my print out, hummed and hawed a couple of times, went in back, poured a cup of coffee, got a cig, went outside to finish her smoke, eventually returned with the best advice I have ever heard.
The postal clerk said "Friend, consider it lost, that way if it ever shows up it will be a surprise". Can't argue with genius.
Trying to keep from feeling despondent, I went home and checked on the status of another package I am having shipped. This one from California. I include it here.
Tracking number
USPS
Processed through Sort Facility, Mar-22-10, 19:53 PM, JERSEY CITY, NJ, 07097
Processed through Sort Facility, SPRINGFIELD, MA, 01152
Processed through Sort Facility, BELL, CA, 90201
Electronic Shipping Info Received, GARDEN GROVE, CA, 92841
California,to Massachusetts, to New Jersey.....
Keep in mind I live in Missouri.
Is it any wonder?
Toad
That said, if I ran the Post Office, some things may be different. Allow me elucidate.
February 17, a package was sent from the world renowned bow tie maker, Ellie Stager to moi. Ellie kindly sent the link enabling me to follow its route. I enclose yesterday's edition below.
Label/Receipt Number:
Class: First-Class Mail®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™
Status: Processed through Sort Facility
Your item was processed through and left our CHARLOTTE, NC 28228 facility on February 18, 2010. The item is currently in transit to the destination. No further information is available for this item.
Enter Label/Receipt Number.
Enter Label / Receipt Number.
Detailed Results:
Processed through Sort Facility, February 18, 2010, 10:45 pm, CHARLOTTE, NC 28228
Electronic Shipping Info Received, February 17, 2010
So I printed a copy and went to the post office. The clerk, took my print out, hummed and hawed a couple of times, went in back, poured a cup of coffee, got a cig, went outside to finish her smoke, eventually returned with the best advice I have ever heard.
The postal clerk said "Friend, consider it lost, that way if it ever shows up it will be a surprise". Can't argue with genius.
Trying to keep from feeling despondent, I went home and checked on the status of another package I am having shipped. This one from California. I include it here.
Tracking number
USPS
Processed through Sort Facility, Mar-22-10, 19:53 PM, JERSEY CITY, NJ, 07097
Processed through Sort Facility, SPRINGFIELD, MA, 01152
Processed through Sort Facility, BELL, CA, 90201
Electronic Shipping Info Received, GARDEN GROVE, CA, 92841
California,to Massachusetts, to New Jersey.....
Keep in mind I live in Missouri.
Is it any wonder?
Toad
Posts
13 comments:
S-i-g-h.... We received a package last week with a huge hole ripped in the end- it was totally and clearly empty. The clerk at the Post Office looked at it when I had the audacity to ask why they even bothered to put it in our mailbox like that. "Well, how do we know they didn't SEND it that way?"
Does tracking automatically come with insurance?
Makes one wonder what the point of paying for tracking is if they lose track of it!
So, what's not to fight about? In these situations, I like the phrase 'May I speak with your line manager?' I carry pencil and paper in my bag to take notes with. If I'm getting really stupid responses, it's 'May I have your name, please?'
Part of the joys of retirement is that I now have time to write letters of complaint. It sometimes gets me something free. Not always, but sometimes. I'd be happy in many cases with just an admission of failure and an apology.
I have to say I get pretty good service from Royal Mail. Might have something to do with the fact that the Distributions Manager for my area is a good friend.
Now, imagine these geniuses running healthcare, or the schools, or...
I've always found our post office staff to be pretty friendly, but often hamstrung by a system that no longer makes any sense.
Hoping your surprise package surfaces.
my sincere sympathies. i sell on ebay and insurance is mandatory. these guys still think the pony express was a good idea. all the mail in my little town goes to portland, maine and thence to boston or worcester even if i mail it to someone in town. considering the nonintuitiveness of the system, its amazing it works as well as it does. they have broken unbreakable items.
oh, I'm so sorry they lost your tie! :-(
I miss the tie, bit oddly the other package arrived in the local distribution center this morning. It helps to complain I guess.
I still won't see it for another week though.
Hush my mouth, it arrived this afternoon.
I am amazed that it can take 7-10 days to get a package delivered a couple of states away. The local post office folks just seem to disappear whenever a line forms!
Karena
Art by Karena
I hate the USPS. They lose things. Their tracking sucks. They're not open at convenient hours. I use UPS now to send packages; I have a UPS store close to home and they're open until 8:00 pm (you know, because people have jobs and they can't get to the post office by 4:00 because they work 9-5). With UPS, you know exactly where your package is and when it was delivered.
I'll say it again, USPS SUCKS!
I was in our local post office a couple of weeks before christmas and the manager, who had his hair parted down the center, and trousers hitched up to his arm-pits, came out to survey the crowds. I asked if he could open a window to help alleviate the long lines. He couldn't.
As I finally finished my wee transaction, a half an hour later, the clerk slipped me a note saying "please contact the postmaster about this situation"! I was shocked, but I did it!
I'm just now seeing this! You'll be surprised what eventually turns up. Why don't you e-mail me and we'll talk about what you can get to replace it.
-Ellie
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