125th Street Post Office
This morning, I was down at the post office to send some stuff to Singapore. The guy in line before me was having the hardest time with this lady behind the glass window. He politely asked for a receipt for a parcel and she got worked up very quickly, telling him to see the manager if he liked but she that she didn’t issue one and without his decision, she took the package and flung it back into the return window. What a bitch! I thought to myself. But I was next.
I went up and placed my envelopes into the window and asked how many stamps I should put on the envelope because it was complicated. I wanted one of them insured and the other, not. But she wasn’t listening to me and started with "Now you listen to me…" and got increasingly angry saying I should have gone to another corner to weigh it first, that I was holding up the line, that I should have put as many stamps as I had, etc.
She was merciless even though I said I was new in town and was still figuring things out. And I really didn’t want to put more stamps that I should have. Besides, even if I didn’t put stamps on one of the envelopes, there was still the other envelope that was ready to be insured. I was fuming mad and have never been so harsh talking back to a stranger. I wasn’t rude but very firm in my defence. Everyone in line was shaking their heads at how unreasonable she was.
I don’t know what she was going through and maybe she thinks she’s untouchable behind those protective glass windows. But I just think it’s a great thing she’s behind those windows. Loony wild animals should always be.
March 25th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Perhaps it is different on the east coast? Here, in California, when you bring a parcel up to the window, they weigh it to make sure the weight is accurate. Then they ask how you want it sent, they ask you to fill out forms and come back up to the window when complete. After that they tell you the amount and always give you a receipt. I have never ever had a bad experience such as you discribed. I think I would have noted her name and asked for the manager to make a complaint. Try another post office.
March 25th, 2005 at 7:54 pm
That is exactly how it works here. And yes, that’s how I would have handled it, too.
Problem is, Post Office jobs are Civil Service, so many times people act the way they want to because they know their jobs are fairly safe.
March 25th, 2005 at 7:57 pm
That is not to say that you didn’t handle it well, Dwayne. I’m sure you did and perhaps in retrospect this woman knows she was wrong.
April 12th, 2005 at 6:16 pm
I went to the other post office on 112th. MUCH better service. Oh! What a difference.