[RANT] I Really Hate the United States Postal Service

[jaerdaph]

So, 1st class letter postage rates are going up from 39 cents to 41 cents on May 14th of this year. I'm trying to buy two cent stamps so I can use up my 39 cent stamps.

I go to my local post office. There is, as there always is, a huge line with a 40+ minute wait (more on that later). I go to the self service stamp machine to purchase 2 cent stamps. Are they available in the machine? Of course not.

I go home and decide to order them from the post office online store and have them mailed to me. I need to create a user account with the store. I diligently type up all my information, hit submit, and... the web page crashes. I try again (and need to retype everything as nothing was saved from before or comes up in auto form fill). Crash. After several attempts, I give up.

The funny thing is, I realize that this is the EXACT same thing that happened to me when rates went from 37 cents to 39 cents. The only way I was able to get the two cent stamps was to stand on that friggin' line.

Now about that line. I work at home. I'm here every day when the post arrives. Everytime I have a package sent to my home, the carrier never rings the bell. I get that orange card instead saying they missed me and that I have to pick the thing up at the post office now and get on that friggin' line. Happens every time. I've left notes on my box and complained by phone and in person.

If the post office can't do what UPS and FedEx and the others can, get out of the business.

I'm done ranting now - thanks for listening.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Well, at least this will be the last time you'll have to stand in line for the 2 cent stamps, since they have approved the "Forever Stamp" that will work even after any future rate increases.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've found that USPS service is considerably better than the service I got in other countries- even in some European ones.

OTOH, I just received a job rejection letter from the City of Irving (TX) this Saturday, telling me that while they filled the position, they'd keep my resume on hand for 6 months. I was never happier to receive such a letter- the letter was dated Oct 17, 2006. It was mailed the same day.

 

[tzor]

If you think you have it bad as a customer, (and I tend to think I also get it bad as a customer) I've heard equal horror stories as to how they treat their employees bad.

My carrier had to buy her own car. You think that's no sweat, but English style driver on the right side of the car cars are not all that common in the US. And you need them if you want to easily reach out of your car to the mailboxes along the side of the road.

Yes somehow the USPS has managed to combine the worst features of government and the private sector.

 

[Rykion]

Two out of the last three packages I've received through the USPS have been opened. Both packages had books. One of the opened packages arrived OK. Whoever opened the other package broke the binding of the book. They must not have been book fans. :\ Of course if they had been, I wouldn't have even got the book in damaged form. I've also had packages and certified mail go missing. Not a big fan of the USPS myself.

 

[Mycanid]

Just you be glad you are not a company that sends out most of its products through the USPS ... THAT is where you see the rate increase in full. :\

 

[jaerdaph]

If you think you have it bad as a customer, (and I tend to think I also get it bad as a customer) I've heard equal horror stories as to how they treat their employees bad.

And thus the verb, "to go Postal"!

 

[Aurora]

I wonder if they'll ever make it private sector rather than gov't run.

 

[jaerdaph]

Technically, the USPS is now a private corporation owned by the government, thus the move to dot com from dot gov.

I'm just impressed they managed to duplicate their bureaucracy digitally on their Web site...

 

[Corathon]

Funny, IME, it's USPS that actually delivers packages and UPS that leaves me a notice saying that I have to drive out to their building and stand in a long line to pick things up.