Very angry gripe about the USPS (post office)!!!
By mommyboo
@mommyboo (13174)
United States
February 25, 2009 1:24pm CST
Just a few weeks ago I was shipping a box of very late xmas gifts to my sister, who lives in another state. I usually go to the mail center near my house because it's only a mile away, but this time I had reason to be in the neighborhood of the city post office because I have a friend who lives right by it. Because of this fact, I decided that I would take the box with me and stop there to ship it before going to her house.
After waiting in a long line, I finally get to the counter and ask the guy if he can add some packing material to my box and tape it shut. Guess what he says? THE USPS DOES NOT PACK BOXES AND HE CANNOT TAPE THE BOX. Then he proceeds to tell me that he could sell me a roll of tape, but I looked at him and said - uh, do I look like I have a scissors or a tape dispenser in my purse so I can do it myself? Really now. Ok! So my next question was could he just weigh the box and give me the cost of the shipping label and print it, I offered to just BUY the shipping label so I could go take the box to the mail center and have THEM add packing material and seal the box shut - they'd do it for me free, and then with the shipping label already on it, they could just send it out in the morning! WELL OF COURSE NOT! HE REFUSED TO SELL ME A SHIPPING LABEL! $%%^#@!!!!!
Keep in mind that besides the fact that I was going to be in that part of town anyway, the only other reason it was remotely attractive at ALL for me to go to the post office in the first place is that I know it would cost me about $4-5 LESS to ship the box. The mail center costs a little more due to its convenience, but since it's so close to my house, I figure that the extra gas and waiting in line kind of equals out. There is NEVER a line at the mail center, at the post office sometimes it extends OUTSIDE.
Well, I am NEVER going in that post office again. I consider the guy rude and obnoxious for refusing to tape my box shut, and even worse after he refused to sell me a shipping label. WHY couldn't he sell me a shipping label? And it would have taken 2 damn seconds to tape the box shut. They can't try to say that it would take too much time, there were other people at the counter who took MUCH longer than me, even though eventually I just left. I was...just.so.steamed.
If you were in my shoes, would you have felt the same way? Does YOUR post office tape boxes shut? I had even offered to buy the tape if he could cut it for me, guess what, the idiot said he couldn't do that either! Really, I guess I should carry a scissors in my purse. To stab people!
7 people like this
22 responses
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Wow! it has been eons since I've mailed a package. I know the post office used to do everything if needed. Not so sure now. I will find out though. Ironically, I do have a package that I need to mail out. I had planned on going to the po for packaging and label etc as well. After reading your letter, I think that I will just go and buy some tape,packaging and do it at home. As for the clerk, he either was being lazy & rude or possibly the post office has changed their rules and perhaps he was just following procedure. I'll ask about it when I go to mail my package and get back to you on it. In the meantime, thank you for this eye opener. I think you may have averted me a frustrating experience with customer service of which I have had a few too many lately.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well, I asked my local post lady about that. Yes it was ridiculous. I told her it'd been a long time since I mailed a package...what do I do? She said, "put it in a box and bring it on in and I'll get it right out for you. When I told her your story, she said she would have not only taped it up but GIVEN me the label.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Believe me, I was shocked too when it happened. It's even worse after having been in a line for 10 minutes with a little girl - who behaved VERY WELL I might add. It was ME who didn't behave well when they refused to tape my box or sell me a shipping label!
1 person likes this
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
25 Feb 09
lol...I agree, It is annoying, No mine doesnt either. but then you go in and they say we cant ship that box, or something...no no no...I will continue to stick with UPS when delivering boxes! =)
I went into a UPS store and the lady said my box was too big for what I was shipping and it would cost me more, so she went into the back got me a box and repacked it for me to save me money!
Now THAT is service! And THAT is why I choose UPS!!
Sounded like a UPS commercial kind a LMAO!! =)
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
26 Feb 09
UPS is GREAT! I used them to ship an xmas gift to my mom because they offer a guarantee that your fragile items won't get broken. Honestly, the only reason I even attempted to go to the post office was in order to save a few bucks. I have decided that saving a few bucks is not worth fighting with idiots to just do their job. People always have to implicate that they aren't 'not doing their job' rather that 'you are expecting them to do something out of their realm of expertise'. I fail to see how taping a box shut or selling someone a shipping label is not part of the job description of 'postal worker'. 
@melissapalardy (213)
• United States
26 Feb 09
ok well i guess maybe you should stick with ups or something like that. the usps can not pack your items and tape the boxes because they don't want to be responsible for the contents of the package. if they would have done the work for you and then the items in the box broke, then you could say it was there fault and they would have to pay for it. not saying that you are like that, but a lot of people are like that. they are in it to get a quick buck
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well, apparently MY city post office has it's thumb up where the sun don't shine, so I'm not going to help pay their payroll for their employees who don't help anybody.
I have never asked anybody to be responsible for my boxes or items UNLESS I pay for insurance, in which case of course they are going to be careful to ensure the items do not get broken. If I don't buy insurance, of course it's my own fault and that's how it should work. They shouldn't refuse to do what I ask though if I am not holding them responsible. Heck, I'd sign a freaking waiver if that's what it took to not be hassled and have my requests declined. I have ALWAYS been willing to sign a waiver to promise not to sue somebody in order to get them to do what I NEED THEM TO DO.
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
26 Feb 09
That's not entirely true. Some post offices will help you pack your stuff, provide packing peanuts, and tape a box for you.
1 person likes this
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
25 Feb 09
The post office does not add packing materials to your packages. They don't normally tape them either, although if the package is coming open they will normally tape it better so it stays closed. Looks like you just got yourself a real jackass of a postal person 
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Ok, well WHY do they SELL packing materials and tape then? If they have those products available FOR SALE, what is different about asking them to put the packing material in the box and tape it shut - especially if you paid for the stuff?? It just doesn't make ANY SENSE TO ME AT ALL.
That'd be like someone coming over and seeing I had a pot of coffee brewing and a bottle of creamer on the counter... this person is my friend. So they ask me for some coffee... but I tell them, you have to buy a cup. And then 'I won't pour you the coffee or get out the creamer, and I won't get you a spoon either'. Ok, fine.
But I won't let them in the kitchen to go anywhere near the coffee.
Sound stupid, doesn't it?
1 person likes this
@dmrone (746)
• United States
26 Feb 09
The post office here is hardly open. They don't tape, label, or add packing. It seems to be a waste of time to even go there. I live in a rural area and most of the time if you have sent for something it winds up not showing up or if it does it is already opened and/or missing things. The post office even closes here when it is not a scheduled closure, much less the carriers deliver when they feel like it. I have to drive 15 miles to get to a better post office where the employees want to actually help.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
26 Feb 09
yeah the only good part about the post office is its prices compared to regular mailing place and the lines at our post office is ridiculous if you get 6 people in line it extends to the door even though they have 3 windows they rarely ever have all 3 open if i have to ship something out i usually package it myself just to save time and hassle cause most places if they put tape or anything on your box they will charge extra for it if they really wanted your business they should have made a little effort to help you out they are usually a little nicer at our post office but since we have had a po box there for years they know all of us so that may be why i can understand your frustration they could have been a little more polite at least not like you were asking him to pack the box you just wanted some tape to seal it shut dont see why they couldnt have helped you out with it
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
This is what I asked the guy at the counter. Could he please sell me a sheet of bubble wrap and fold it inside my box, then tape the box shut. It only needed one strip of tape. It's not like I wanted him to actually pack my box. It would have literally taken him about 5-6 seconds to do what I asked. Like I said before, he wasted MORE time arguing with me and trying to give me reasons why he couldn't do what I asked than it would have taken him to say 'sure ma'am' and DONE IT!
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I know that you can pay for a shipping label ONLINE and print it yourself, and part of the reason I went to the POST OFFICE was because I wanted them to tape it and do the shipping label. They have the supplies there and won't do it? I do wish they could be forced to, it would make me feel like people were doing their jobs instead of being whiny immature children who don't deserve to have the job.
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Whenever I got to the post office, for the most part unless I don't have them, my packages are closed and if I don't have the stuff needed at home to close them, then I buy them there. Matter of fact, I get my address labels there and put them on before getting on line. There are times when and if I can, the postal folks tape some of my stuff shut if it's not secure enough, but when they come to you, your stuff should be prepared. if they had shipping tape, usually it comes with an attachment to tear the tape from it. If he had a scissor, he could have made it easier for you to get them for a moment as well. But all of that stuff he saying there was unnecessary. I'm sorry you went through that. these folks make very good money and are providing a service to the public. If he didn't have them, then say so and be kind.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Exactly, providing a service to the public. Especially if I'm paying them for it, they should comply. I have worked in several different job fields and you know what? If someone asks me to do something and I CAN, either physically or mentally, if I know what's good for me I do it. It would be rude and disrespectful not to, ESPECIALLY if the person is paying for it.
'Part of your job' isn't JUST the bare minimum or the stuff you LIKE, it also includes doing things for customers if you have the supplies and it doesn't take too much time (which my request would have taken less time than it took for him to try and explain why he couldn't!) and also of course things you DON'T LIKE. Just because you don't want to do something does not make it not part of your job, and customers have the right to expect you to do the job even if you HATE it. You chose to work there, don't like it, quit! LOL!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I save any kind of aggravation like that by practically having my own packing supplies and such at home and then pack whatever it is I need to pack in a box and seal it up myself. Every time I'm in the PO I grab stacks of any kind of mailing labels I might need, like the certified labels, return request receipts, merchandise return, even the Priority Mail Mailers...this way I have everything I need at home and can fill out them at home rather than at the PO...Like I said I sort of have a mini post office at my apartment..
Oh, but I DO know from long lines...no matter what time of day, or what day of the week, my PO has such a long line, I swear it stretches from here in NY to California--and FORGET Christmas time
Oh, but I DO know from long lines...no matter what time of day, or what day of the week, my PO has such a long line, I swear it stretches from here in NY to California--and FORGET Christmas time1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I went to UPS at Christmas because not only do they have a package guarantee, they also had different prices depending on how long you were willing to wait for the package to arrive on the other end. UPS has EXCEPTIONAL and friendly service, both in the store and door-to-door. Fed Ex is okay door to door too except when they don't leave a package because you're not home lol.
I had always considered the post office as a customer service place, I did not realize that they had turned into a building where all they did was sell supplies and sell labels and postage and not lift a finger to help anybody.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I agree with you. This is why some of their employees even go "postal". You get less service that is for sure. And I'll bet the cost of stamps and other "services" will go up again soon.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Imagine that. They treat customers like CRAP, stop Saturday mail delivery, shorten the hours the offices are open, and then raise rates. This will just add to the people like me who will choose to go other places and also do things like send email and pay things online instead of buying stamps.
Sounds like the stimulus plan! Obama must've had his hands in the post office operations methinks...
This will just add to the people like me who will choose to go other places and also do things like send email and pay things online instead of buying stamps.
Sounds like the stimulus plan! Obama must've had his hands in the post office operations methinks... @phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I think it depends on where you are. I moved to a small town from a big city and I notice that the small-town post offices are a bit more accomodating. For example, I was sending a big box of food to a friend a couple of weeks ago (he lost his job and didn't have any food). The box would have cost over 30 dollars to ship it as it was, but the lady gave me a flat-rate shipping box to try instead. It was a bit smaller and I couldn't fit about 4 of the items, but it saved me about 20 dollars doing it that way. She taped it for me and gave me a label so I could write the address on the new box. If I had tried to do that in the city where I grew up, they would have laughed at me. I would use UPS if it were more convenient, but I have to drive 30 miles away for a UPS store. The post office is just right down the street.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I just wish I could not be angry about this but it really still irks me. I won't be going to the post office any more, I will go to the mail center (where they are always willing to pack and tape my boxes free) or to UPS which is only a mile farther than the mail center.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
26 Feb 09
i know when i had my ebay business i found out REALLY quick who the nice workers were and where the nice post offices were.. some times it was worth an extra long trip to avoid the hassles of a super rude employee!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Hey mommyboo! I do know that the USPS has all those silly
rules and they really can't do certain things, but I don't
see why it would have been such a big deal! I wonder if you
had asked to borrow a scissor if he would have obliged?
Probably not! I also hate to go to the post office for the
very same reasons! There are always long lines and it takes
forever! But, I do believe that unless you have the package
done exactly the way they want when you get up to the window
the won't accept it or help you in any way! That's why I so
dread to have to send a package! And they keep wanting to
increase the postage for their lousy service!
1 person likes this
@puddytat101 (657)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Sure they do! In fact, if you ship items by media mail, it is required to leave the box open at the top so they can check it. This is because the rate is so much lower but you can only ship certain items.
Another tale: Mail delivery has been awful lately. I'm getting other people's personal mail and bills in my box nearly every day. Some of my mail is missing too.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I have been getting a "neighbor's" mail for years. Only problem is, the actual house number doesn't even exist! And my husband doesn't know who the person is, he has never heard of the guy. So... it ends up in our box because ours is the closest number.
We also get bills for someone who lived here about 8 years ago, I can't believe they never had their mail forwarded.
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
25 Feb 09
This is not common knowledge, but quite often, the post office itself does not package your stuff for you. Reason that I say that it's not common knowledge is because I have a family member who is almost ready to retire from there. She packed something for me, despite the policy, & almost got fired for it. I won't go into what saved her though.
I will mention that I was not there to witness the incident, but the postal employee could have handled the situation better. If you got his name, you can probably file a complaint. Even if it doesn't get him fired, it will put a damper on any promotion he might be up for.
The mail center that you mention that you go to, I don't think is really the post office. They only have a right to use their logos & things like that, but it is a privately-opwned business that will handle those things you mentioned that the post office usually does not do. That's why it would cost a little bit more there.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I still feel it is wrong and unacceptable customer service to refuse to tape a box shut. I can sort of understand the packing material issue but it's not like I wouldn't have paid them for it. They offer packing material for sale. What is different about me buying a sheet of bubble wrap and having the employee stick it in my box??
You're right, the mail center is not actually a post office, but they do pack and ship boxes, print shipping labels, they do everything. The extra cost is worth like I said not turning purple and wanting to stab somebody. Seriously, if I WANTED to pack my own boxes I'd work at the post office. 
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
25 Feb 09
If there was a long line then I understand why they didn't help you with your packing. Also they probably didn't give you the shipping label how was he to know that you wouldn't add something to the box. They do have rules that they have to follow. You could have bought the extra supplies right there at the post office. I have never gone to the post office with out having packages ready to mail.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well then I'd have needed to buy not only tape and something like bubble wrap but also a tape DISPENSER or a scissors. Sorry but that seems totally unnecessary. I don't understand (and I never will) why a freaking counter employee at the post office cannot add some bubble wrap and TAPE THE BOX.
This reminds me of how unhinged I have gotten because someone at a fast food restaurant won't cut a burger in half. If I ASK them to, then I don't care that they touched it with their hands, DO I? Doesn't make any sense. I have been able to convince people to do it for me before, and clearly it doesn't bother me. Sorry, the customer should get what they ask for if they are PAYING for it.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I can't say that I've ever had that kind of problem. However, I just recently shipped a box to my daughter's through USPS. But, I had it packed, taped, and ready to go. I went online, paid for and printed the shipping label, and set up for package pickup. I didn't have to try to get it to the post office (it was kinda heavy) and there was no hassles or headaches to it. They came by the next morning and picked it up.
I do know that they have rules to go by at the post office and for the most part they really don't make any sense to the consumer. I do know that they won't accept any package that is not properly sealed and ready to be mailed. And I have never heard of any post office that would add packing and tape the box for shipping.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well, it was my understanding that a post office SHOULD pack or tape boxes and ship them. If they aren't going to, then they should have some tape dispensers on the counter for you to do it yourself. I suppose maybe if I didn't want to go to the mail center, I could print my own shipping label online, I think then I could go drop the package at the mail center instead of having it picked up. Might be cheaper that way, except how would I know the weight for sure?
@thecrazyjogger (3178)
• India
25 Feb 09
:(
tht sux man
im sorry u had to go thru tht
:(
happy lottin and have a nice day
@onedaysoon (651)
• United States
25 Feb 09
You should have asked me. I am up to my eyeballs in packing supplies :o).
At the little Post Office where my parents live I would say they would help with the taping and such, but probably not at the bigger post offices. That is just dumb. Would it really have been so hard for him to help you?
Not only do they have bad customer service, but did you know that they are raising postage rate for the millionth time in May?
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I don't think it would have been hard for him to help me at all but he didn't WANT to, clearly, which is I'm sure why he said 'we aren't allowed to'. I've never heard something so dumb in my LIFE. I also think that customer service has hit rock bottom, no, BELOW rock bottom. You'd think at least one person at each place would be willing to go above and beyond to EARN their paycheck. Gosh.
Yes, I heard that postage is going up AND that they may close the post office on Sat and have no mail delivery. I guess I can live with the no mail delivery on Sat, as far as I know, the mail center near me is still open on Sat.
@ljbinkop (744)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Yeah, I hate having to go to the Post Office too, and I often will go to the mail center because there is bever a line, and the people are SOOO much nicer there! I used to pretty much have no choice about going to the Post Office, because I was selling on eBay and it was the only place to do the shipping economically for that business. But now since I don't really do eBay any more I just avoid them. 
I thnk what really bothered me about the post office wasn't the waiting, even. It was that they ask you so many damn NOSY questions before they will ship your personal stuff! And then on top of it, they are REQUIRED (at mine anyway) to ask if you want shipping suppliesa and all that other stuff. I feel like saying to them: "Hey! Buddy! I'm here to mail a letter, not go shopping for the love of god!" Do you know what I mean???1 person likes this
