posted on June 19, 2002 10:52:32 AM new
Why is it every time I go to the post office with my eBay packages, they give me the evil eye? Hey, with no one mailing letters anymore...us eBayers are helping to keep them in business! Those lousy government workers should keep this in mind. I hate feeling guilty just because I have a lot of things to mail. Hey I am running a business and the post office is my lifeline.
Anyone else get the "evil eye" at the counter? lol
posted on June 19, 2002 11:10:30 AM new
no "evil eye" for me , I am on good terms with my posties
off course when I get to the counter all my paperwork is done , packages are sorted ready to go.
this stack all books media mail please,
this stack priority with dc (slips are filled out and on the package)
this stack priority insured. insurance slips filled out
could it be you go up unprepared with a bit of a attitude and thats why the posties give you the "evil eye"
posted on June 19, 2002 11:17:43 AM new
Dont feel bad, The workers in the post office give me the evil eye also. when they have 2 windows open both girls seem to slow down even more.Each one wants the other to finish first so they have to take me.Here it is the 19th of June, and I keep asking them in the post office if they have the new zone rate charts. They tell me nope... I know I can get the information online, But I just want to see what they will say. We should have a lot of fun trying to get our packages mailed for the first couple of days when the new rates go into effect. They all act like they dont want to be there. I wonder how many of them would still have their jobs if it wasnt foe Ebay. My post office bill for last month alone was 1146.00.
posted on June 19, 2002 11:19:15 AM new
You might try another postoffice if there is one. Postal employees are people and all people do not respond to situations in the same manner. Have never had anything but efficient professional service at any I have dealt with.
buyhigh
posted on June 19, 2002 11:19:33 AM new
I ship from one substation, a rural post office, and one downtown post office on a regular basis. I've never gotten the evil eye from the clerks mostly because, as mrspock pointed out, I come in prepared with all the forms filled out. Most of the clerks know me by name and know that I sell on ebay. In fact the clerks at the rural post office (which I usually only need to use when shipping internationally) will ask where I've been if I haven't dropped in for awhile.
I'll sometimes get the evil eye from other people in line, but I really don't care. Fact is, I'm in and out of there with 15 packages faster than any unprepared person is with only one package.
posted on June 19, 2002 11:22:47 AM new
Off on a tangent:
Some of the female workers at my PO have taken to wearing blue rubber gloves since the mail anthrax thing (They started with yellow but I suppose they had to go to official USPS blue).
First I suggested to one that the other workers shouldn't make her wash the dishes all the time.
Then I asked one of the non-glove-wearing male mail workers if the women were studying to be amateur proctologists, and were practicing at work.
The PO guys thought this was funny in their understated, officialistic way. I think that postal regulations forbid employees from enjoying their work.
posted on June 19, 2002 11:25:20 AM newWe should have a lot of fun trying to get our packages mailed for the first couple of days when the new rates go into effect.
Yes, a couple weeks ago I mentioned the zoned Priority Mail to the woman who runs the substation that I frequently use, and that was the first that she had been informed of the change. This substation is very low tech - they use an old fashioned scale, no postage print outs (regular postage stamps are applied to all my packages), and cash receipts are hand-written --- I'm sure that when the new zoned rates take effect, they'll have to pull out a slide rule to figure those out!
posted on June 19, 2002 11:26:04 AM new
My sub station is a joke! They will only take up to 10 packages. I am a bother to them because I do my postage online and so they have nothing to sell me. They tell me EVERYTIME that they do NOT have to take my packages.
My post office is in up roars. Management has be transfered and just temporary assignments have been made to cover them.
They is one window clerk that really hates when I walk in the door with my 30 packages. Heck all they have to do is take them and ring date my insurance slips (usually 2 or 3 of them). This one guy will sort his paper clip if he things my number is next. Anything to avoid waiting on me.
The other 5 clerks are great. But some insist on ring dating and weighing every package which is not necessary because the packages are metered and therefore identified.
The other PO in the area will not even take my packages because my meter zip code is not in there area even though there are closer to drive to.
Face it! The PO is not customer friendly in many ways!
I hate the hour and a half I wait there twice a week!
posted on June 19, 2002 11:33:35 AM new
I know the look! My main PO is like that~ I go to a substation that is small and very friendly!
BUT the main advice I can offer~ If you aren't doing it already~ is to print your postage online! I use PitneyWorks and only go to the PO with big packages, insured or international!
Since my postage is metered~ I can dump it in the blue postal bins~ if it fits!
I often do it late at night when I don't have to drag the kiddos along!
posted on June 19, 2002 11:48:47 AM new
RichieRich, if you use online postage, like I do, (Endicia) I changed the zip code to the closest to me, even though it isn't my home zip code.
I can't remember how I did it, but somehow I got it right.
The only ones that give me the 'evil eye' is the customers waiting in line, while I walk by and put them on the counter, already metered, they HATE me Even had a few, make remarks like 'hey! you have to get in line!'
posted on June 19, 2002 12:18:40 PM new
I don't go to my local post office anymore. They have been asking questions lately about what I have in my eBay packages, because they or or friends of theirs sell on eBay. I drive extra so the clerks just mail it without questions. And no, I don't charge extra to the buyers to do this.
posted on June 19, 2002 12:25:15 PM new
USPS raises rates because they are losing revenue. They decide to sell on eBay and then they find out that it wasn't all that.
Who is making these business decisions? Howdy Doody?
posted on June 19, 2002 12:27:21 PM new
The first time I paid for priority mail online I had two packages one paid for one not both with the free DC on them. I give her the one I have to pay for first and she srings it up then I give her the second one telling her it's paid for. She said that she will see about that, scans it in then tries to charge me for shipping on it. I told her no I paid the postage already and pointd it out. She said that she thought I meant the DC was paid for and I said no I meant the postage was paid for. I've been back there a few times since and I always get her but she has been nicer now.
posted on June 19, 2002 12:43:39 PM new
The Post Office I usually use is great we all know each others names and get along good. I have another Post Office about the same distance that I try not to use unless I am going that way and will not have time to go to the other one. They hate seeing anyone with more than one package. They all have one speed Ultraslow.
I think the Post Office better take a look at who is spending the money. My reciepts from the Post Office last year totaled close to $10,000.00 I don't think we are asking for to much to have them smile when we come in and not give us the "evil eye".
posted on June 19, 2002 01:13:25 PM new
You are lucky you can just walk past the customers to give the clerk your mail. I tested Endicia and it did not matter! My clerks insisted I had no recourse other than to wait my turn in line.
They also stated due to the terror situation I could not leave anything over a pound in the blue boxes (which are now taped shut on the back for packages) so I would just have to wait my turn whether it was paid for or not!!!
Great bunch of people here. The same ones that keep returning my payments to the customers. They have everyone listed on the back of my box who used it in the past (It has been mine now for 3 years) but some idiot keeps using it for new credit cards. I know because I keep getting his mail while mine is being returned! They said there was nothing they could do about it, mistakes do happen--and it is a courtesy to past box holders to return their mail. This after I suggested they just put everything in my box if it had my number on it and let me sort it out.
This is Las Vegas, Nevada, main post office, not some tiny little place, and they are the worst. The smaller substations do have limits to number of packages accepted, and the smaller post offices only have two clerks with lines out the door so they are no help even though they are much friendlier.
[ edited by lindajean on Jun 19, 2002 01:14 PM ]
posted on June 19, 2002 01:24:53 PM new
lindajean, when we started using Endicia, we printed out a bunch of stuff from their site, gave it to the PO we go to, and we talked to most of the clerks what we were doing. At first, there were a couple that looked at them, and acted like we were doing something 'illegal'
We don't have to hand them to any clerks now, they told us to stack them all at the end of the counter. Thats what p*sses off the people in line, BUT we are not taking away the clerks from them at all... so I don't see why they get upset, go figure.
Couldn't you talk to your clerks, or Postmaster, of what you are doing, so you don't have to wait in line,couldn't hurt to ask.
posted on June 19, 2002 02:21:53 PM new
There is one friendly clerk there. I could get her to ask the supervisor. I don't see the need to wait in line when everything is already taken care of. The other clerks just don't like us coming in at all.
One night they were not very busy and a person came in with about 75 brochures, magazines or something like that in mailers. They weighed one and sold them stamps for all of them. Not even the pre-glued one and this person had to go outside and mail each one individually. The clerk had no other customers and nothing to do but stated they were not obligated to personally post over 5 like items.
I could understand it if the line was out the door, but it was a very slow night. And, he was rude about it as well. I felt sorry for the poor girl bringing them in.
[ edited by lindajean on Jun 19, 2002 02:53 PM ]
posted on June 19, 2002 02:44:22 PM new
I get the "evil eye" too from my post office. They have to put their coffee cups down and get up from their chairs to earn their money and take my packages. If you want insurance or something on a package they act like you are "going too far." I really believe they make enough money they can handle my packages. I live near a very rural town on a little country road out in the sticks. The post office shuts down for an hour so the worker can eat lunch. If she looks out the window and sees me waiting outside the post office the hour lunch drags on longer. I play that game several times a week.
posted on June 19, 2002 04:37:20 PM new
The employee's in my P.O. are also friend's of mine. So when I go it's like going to their house to visit, we always have a good time.
posted on June 19, 2002 04:57:59 PM new
Well, people everywhere are different. Some like their jobs, others don't. The ones who do enjoy themselves a lot more.
I have a wonderful group of posties at my PO. We all know each other and always have a good time chatting. Well, one gets kinda tense when he's the only window open, a line is all the way out into the lobby and someone expects him to pack their box!
They're always glad when they get me! Everything is filled out, etc.
When there's a big long line of people who have never, ever in their entire life sent a package or something they feel needs a receipt (think tax returns...)I help the waiting customers. Get them the right forms, etc.
The PO manager doesn't have the budget to stock the square Priority boxes so around the holidays I order 3-4 extra packs of them and just leave them there.
A plate of cookies every now and then doesn't hurt, either!
posted on June 19, 2002 04:58:18 PM new
I never get the evil eye because I don't go to the post office. I use Endicia, plus PIC for my insurance. My mail carrier takes the packages from my home. I only go to the post office once or twice a week to pick up payments from my PO Box.
If you can arrange something similar, believe me, it is worth it. Time is money, too.
posted on June 19, 2002 07:15:19 PM new
When they first started offering the online printable address labels w/free dc - none of our PO's knew about it - one guy accused me of trying to defraud them by claiming the dc was included - he kept wanting to charge me extra for it. I even had the bottom half of the paper that said it was Free.
I too have asked about the zones - One nice worker tried to explain it to me, but not specifically and I can't find it on the net - I can find the pricing chart - but how do I figure out what zone someone is in compared to my city. (Local is zone 1 . . .)
posted on June 19, 2002 07:46:46 PM new
I have 3 different PO's I go to all are great. In fact talking with one we had a conversation about limiting packages. She said that they can't do that. Every customer is important and they have to take all you have. She said there was no hard and fast rule on 10 packages.
I try and have everything ready. I also write in the upper corner where the stamp goes the amount of insurance I need so if I forget she asks. I will tell you one thing why does everyone go to the post office at 11:30 on Saturday. If I was the clerk I would be upset. I have a hard and fast rule if I can't make it to the PO by 10am on Saturday I don't go.....
posted on June 19, 2002 09:41:21 PM new
Has anyone ever thought of contacting the post Master General about their rude postal workers and checking to see if it is their legal right to not accept more packages than 10. That is stupidest thing I ever heard of. Heck contact the highest government official and see what they say if they answer. Sounds like your post office needs an enema.
Mine is great, first name basis with all they love me there. They know that us ebay sellers are their bread and butter. Besides it is their job to take and do mail if they don't like it then they should hit the road they are after all government employees and if they did me that way someone would definately hear about it. MY fees pay their salary not the other way around. Well I am off my soap box now hope everyone a good day.
Gary McElreath
ID at ebay is earlybirdgetsworm
posted on June 19, 2002 10:44:12 PM new
There's a few workers here that always question when I ship media mail, "What's in there?" Then on the second package, "what's in there?" On the third package, "is this a book too?" Then they feel it, "yep, feels like books." Bunch of amateurs.
posted on June 19, 2002 10:53:23 PM new
I used to put Priority Postage on the boxes and place them in the bin, no waiting in line, it was great, until they returned all the boxes back to me saying I had to hand them to a person. Supposed to be a security issue in case there's a bomb in there. As if the employees have x-ray vision. They are so anti-efficiency.
posted on June 20, 2002 07:50:07 PM new
I use a rural post office, of which we are the largest shippers, and we are treated like royalty.
I know of 2 other eBayer's who use the same post office, and the clerk cringes when she sees them coming, because they never have their packages in order, nothing is filled out, and they often fail to have the correct forms for the shipments.
I have a friend who had a VERY unfriendly post office, and she (via fax) reported them to the State, and Federal Postal Authorities, and believe me changes have been made. Do they like her any better, heck no, but they treat her properly. IF your service is improper at your Post Office REPORT them to the State and Federal Postal Authorities.
I am preparing to test the on line postage service of Endicia, so our records will be kept in better order, and the process will move faster. I hate to do this to our little post office as it removes their revenue, but it is time the post office modernized, and got away from all the "hand written" slips. I am also going to test Pic for insurance, as we insure everything, and the time used filling out insurance forms is ridiculous. If only all of this could properly be done in one place on line, at the same time.....(just dreaming)
posted on June 20, 2002 09:12:43 PM new
JWPC. I agree with you about the hand written items, but I also have a problem with the receipts at these had written postal stations. They have nothing that indicates where I mail my package to. If the postal service wants all these small substations I think they should be made to have the proper equipment and training. I have a substation just a couple of blocks away and I have to tell them how to do things, makes you wonder what year we are in. We have 2 major postal stations in a town of 90,000 that have full service. We have 3 that have minimal service.
