posted on February 23, 2002 03:00:28 PM new
I've read with great interest the ongoing discussion about dropping off packages at your P.O.
It seems that we must develop a personal relationship with our clerks to get speedy service.... I don't know.
We have been in business just over a year now. We go in every day. All clerks know us. Some are more cordial than others, if you know what I mean! We have everything stamped. Ready to go. All forms filled out, etc. The only reason we stand in line is because the items are too big to drop in the bin up front, or we have an international shipment.
I can understand those who say that this is counter-productive. It is...time is money, and the more time I spend waiting in line is time I could be back at the office working.
Here is my question: How do we get our local post office to let us just drop off? Do we ask the Postmaster of that location for special treatment? Is each Post Office exclusive, in that they can make their own decisions in these matters?
We were getting "brave" for a while. If the line was out the door, we would just place our 20 or so packages at the end of the counter with a wave to the nearest clerk.
No more, now there is a sign, any package "dropped off" and not accepted by a clerk (translation: wait in line) will not be considered mail and refused.
I wish I could work out an arrangement with our P.O. so we could just drive to the back and drop off. How do you do it?
posted on February 23, 2002 03:13:36 PM new
I have the BEST postal workers in the world. (Agnes if you are out there- Thanks) I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of several post offices. (Although it is hard to walk with 26 pakages! ) The best one is the smaller of the three. Sometimes it is worth the extra 4 or 5 miles out of your way to have things done the way you want them. If you could go to another town or area you may be in luck. Also, I agree with the other thread, IT IS THEIR JOB. No, they don't have to be smile-happy 24-7, but you are just as much a customer as all those other people.
Have you tried chocolate? It works on Agnes.
PS. If any of you know who I am talking about-(Agnes) you know I am right.
posted on February 23, 2002 04:02:33 PM new
I'm very fortunate with the Post Offices I normally deal with. The building where I work has a USPS substation which is where I ship during lunch hour - only catch is they can't ship out of the country. I know the lady who runs it fairly well by now, but I don't get any special favors nor do I ask for them. Of course, there's rarely a line there either.
When I must ship something outside the US, I drive to a little country Post Office a few miles from work that nobody seems to know about yet - the longest line I've seen was three deep at Christmas time, and all the clerks are nice as can be. I just hope others don't find out about it - within a five-minute drive there's a major suburban PO from HELL that has a guaranteed minimum wait in line of 20 minutes. I really don't want those Postal patrons to find out about this place...
The third PO I normally ship from is the weekend/days-off PO where I live. I'm sure the clerks recognize me there, but we never get chatty. Of course it's a much busier PO so I don't mind that they're more formal in order to cycle through the line which can get pretty long. The trick with shipping at this PO is simple - get there as soon as they open and there's no line. Sure, I'd rather sleep in on my days off, but if I snooze, I lose - lose at least 15 minutes standing in line at 10:00 AM!
posted on February 23, 2002 04:11:44 PM new
Most Post Offices have a drop off dock in the back of the building. If everything is marked and stamped all you do is drop it off on a cart on the loading dock the back off the Post office. have you aske if this can be done at your post office. That is how most all of the business that mail in bulk drop off their mail.
posted on February 23, 2002 04:18:30 PM new
I tried to get a special arrangement about a year ago. I was first told that all packages had to pass from me to the postal clerk, or they could not accept them. I then inquired further, and found that I could get postal bags from USPS, and arrange drop off's that I would be billed for.
My solution?
I stopped using USPS and went to cheaper alternatives, like FedEx and UPS.
posted on February 23, 2002 04:20:32 PM new
Of course it's their job to stamp packages. But there is such a thing as common courtesy toward the other people waiting in line.
At my post office (and maybe yours) if someone comes up to the counter and needs to fill out an insurance, customs or other form, the clerk asks them to step aside and fill out the form while the clerk helps another customer. How would you feel if the clerk made everyone in line wait while the buffoon spent five minutes filling out his paperwork? I'll bet you'd be annoyed.
That's why I object to anyone that thinks they're doing the post office, or other patrons, a favor by coming to the counter and expecting the clerk to scan 20 or 30 packages. If you're a business, get yourself a little digital scale for $20 and stamp your own packages.
I don't mean items that really do need to be handled by the clerk. But I find some people's attitude very inconsiderate. So what if you're an eBay seller? Other people have better things to do than wait while the clerk does your job for you.
I've been going to the same post office a couple times a week for five years. I'm on great terms with all the clerks and supervisors. They are always volunteering to do EXTRA work for me. I do my best not to waste anyone's time.
posted on February 23, 2002 04:32:59 PM new
Good replies! I've been considering asking one clerk his suggestion about a "drop off" service. He is friendly. Most others act as if we are in the way. Any questions about overseas tracking (there is none) or insurance is met with arrogance and annoyance. Perhaps it is where we live, I don't know,..but not revelant.
I guess I will have to get the balls to ask the postmaster for advice or some type of consideration..what do we have to lose?
Please keep responding, though...I read with much interest about others and their experience or advice....
posted on February 23, 2002 04:55:09 PM new
Thanks eveyone for the replies, we sure do appreciate it.
tomyu: You wrote:
Most Post Offices have a drop off dock in the back of the building. If everything is marked and stamped all you do is drop it off on a cart on the loading dock the back off the Post office. have you aske if this can be done at your post office. That is how most all of the business that mail in bulk drop off their mail.
No we have not tried this approach, how did you go about setting up this arrangement? This is exactly what we would like to do. We just don't know how to ask?
posted on February 23, 2002 05:17:24 PM new
These threads about the post office are sad witness to the terrible shape the postal service is in.
Consistancy from one post office to another, and between clerks is obviously lacking.
There are no doubt official policies that relate to all the discussed problems with mailing large numbers of packages. But there is no clear and universally approved method of doing it. Drop it off in the back, don't drop it off in the back. Leave it at the counter, don't leave it at the counter.
Put stamps on it but if it weighs more than a pound, wait in line. Insurance, deliver confirmation, wait in line.
The postal service needs the business we ebay sellers can and do give them but they (or their representatives) have alienated huge numbers of shippers who are fed up with the constantly changing rules and attitudes.
You know, I sent comments about the "proposed" rate hike to the usps consumer advocate. The reply thanked me for my comments, and then justified, in advance, all the changes in Priority Mail. So I guess the approval of the rates is just a rubber stamp and that they are intent on going ahead with it.
And that, as they say, is the straw that is going to break this camel's back.
posted on February 23, 2002 05:54:05 PM new
My post office loves it when I come with lots of packages and when I don't come with lots of packages they ask me why.I had a 3 week period that I didn't mail anything and the postoffice called me at home to ask if I had a problem and if they could help me.Every thing I ship has insurance and I never fill out the slips for them because they say its easyer for them to do it themselfs.
posted on February 23, 2002 06:08:51 PM new
I'm fortunate enough to have a great Post Office. They always stop to say hello even when I'm not their customer. It's kinda like going to the Wafflehouse where the workers say hello when you walk in.
My big beef is with the Postmaster (take out the post, through in a b&d and you'll have an idea of my opinion). Those long lines while only two clerks are at the window are his bonus check.
dendude
posted on February 23, 2002 06:21:34 PM new
Just ask them if they have a bulk mail drop off located in the back of the post office and they should be able to tell you what to do. Our post offices have a loading dock in the back and they keep empty rollers on the dock. People put the baskets on the rollers and they replace them through out the day as they are filled up. Works like a charm. I do go inside daily also and often have more than 10 items. Luckily I have never had a problem as I am blessed to have VERY nice postal workers at this branch. I have been bringing in my 2 year old with me since she was born and they treat her like she was one of there own. I have never heard one complaint about people in line having to wait. I spend over $20,000 a year in postage so I don't feel bad at all. If there is a line they simply ring up another clerk until the line is worked back down. ( that is normaly what they do when they see me coming) I cringe to think what it would be like if I had the type of workers you describe. I am also glad to wait behind someone that has more or less than I do as everyone deserves there turn with as little or as much mail as they have or however many questions they may want the clerk to answer. Impatient people is the main reason I became self employeed and I would sure hat to have to fire myself for the same LOL
posted on February 23, 2002 09:55:45 PM new
I would approach them by sking what you can do for THEM! Just ask them if you can do anything different to make your mailings easier for them. You can still ask your questions just from a different angle. They will be more forthcoming with info if they think you are trying to make THEIR job easier.
Just an aproach to consider.
[ edited by surfsworth on Feb 23, 2002 09:57 PM ]
posted on February 24, 2002 06:36:09 AM new
I agree with surfsworth. Tell them that you hate to hold up their line and ask them if there's any other way you could do this to make it easier for them. There's one guy that goes to my same post office who uses Endecia (or one of those) and rings the bell in the back and they just load all his packages on the truck. The clerk told me about him and said he ships hundreds a day, many international. (WOW) They do the same for me except I give them a blank check and they do my order in their spare time and load it in the truck and put my receipt in my PO Box (I don't ship more than 25 a day). They asked me if I would use one of those services and I just told them I was too afraid that I would do it wrong - postage would be off or something. Originally it was only supposed to be during the Christmas rush that they would let me do that, but I gave them a Christmas "thank you bonus" and after that they just told me that they would continue to do this for me. I love my post office - but still use UPS for larger things. Shipping a video tape is not cost effective through UPS.
posted on February 24, 2002 07:02:20 AM new
I must be the most fortunate person on the planet. I have a great relationship with the postal workers in my local post office. They are very friendly and helpful. They never complain when I show up with a bunch of packages because I always go at non-peak hours. Fortunately I can do that because I work from home. Even when I was working outside the home and I had to go during peak times no one ever complained. I now have the best situation I could possibly imagine. I spoke with one of the people I know pretty well who works the counter and asked if there was anyway I could keep from slowing the line. He told me to talk to my mail delivery person and see if he or she (we have two) could help me out. I spoke with them and they both told me that if my packages were weighed and had the proper postage on them to put them in large plastic bags, tie the bags closed, put my name on the outside and when they drop off my mail I could put the bags in the back of the truck and they would drop them off in the back when they returned to the post office. Talk about a bonus!!!! I live in a large metropolitan area yet I find if I am friendly to the postal carriers they are friendly in return. I purchase large plastic lawn bags-secure them with a rubber band and put my name and address on a large mailing sticker and affix it to the bag. The postal carriers said it was no problem because they had to return to the loading dock anyway and they would just take the bags and drop them on the rollers. I asked if it would be too much trouble for the postal workers in the back to handle large plastic bags and was told by my postal carrier "Hell no!! These guys don't do that much anyway!!!. It has worked perfectly and I never forget to say thanks each time they take packages for me. I still go to the post office several times per week because of items I need to insure but this had made my life a bunch easier. Like I said I must be the most fortunate person in the universe because I have postal workers who actually care about their jobs and satisfying the public.
LOL