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The Post Office
Oct. 13th, 2010 11:39 amI'd blame Rotary for not posting yesterday, but that would be a lie, and Rotarians Never Lie (tm). (It's true - see the Four-Way Test about halfway down on this page.) In truth, I had nothing to say. Then, last night, I went to the Post Office, to return a book sent to me in error. Oh joy.
Now, they only had two of five clerk stations open, which was a bad idea, given that it was the day after a postal holiday and thus you'd expect Monday crowds, but that wasn't the real problem. The real problem was the customers. We had, in no particular order:
1) Guy Who'd Moved - he didn't understand the difference between a mail hold and mail forwarding, a conversation which involved a clerk and a supervisor.
2) Lady With Overflowing Purse - a purse in which it took her forever to find her wallet, which was also overflowing. Recombobulating herself after her purchase seemed to take an inordinate amount of time.
3) Guy Who Only Wants One Stamp - what, do they expire? Buy a book from the machine. That post office even has an automated do-hickey that can print custom postage (including one stamp's worth).
4) Guy Who Wanted To Check Postage - three sheets of paper will in fact be under one ounce, sir, all day.
5) Lady Not Clear on Shipping - she was trying to ship two large, odd-sized and cumbersome boxes, and seemed unclear on any of the mechanics thereunto.
Sometimes, I lament the loss of American common sense... ;-)
Now, they only had two of five clerk stations open, which was a bad idea, given that it was the day after a postal holiday and thus you'd expect Monday crowds, but that wasn't the real problem. The real problem was the customers. We had, in no particular order:
1) Guy Who'd Moved - he didn't understand the difference between a mail hold and mail forwarding, a conversation which involved a clerk and a supervisor.
2) Lady With Overflowing Purse - a purse in which it took her forever to find her wallet, which was also overflowing. Recombobulating herself after her purchase seemed to take an inordinate amount of time.
3) Guy Who Only Wants One Stamp - what, do they expire? Buy a book from the machine. That post office even has an automated do-hickey that can print custom postage (including one stamp's worth).
4) Guy Who Wanted To Check Postage - three sheets of paper will in fact be under one ounce, sir, all day.
5) Lady Not Clear on Shipping - she was trying to ship two large, odd-sized and cumbersome boxes, and seemed unclear on any of the mechanics thereunto.
Sometimes, I lament the loss of American common sense... ;-)
