alphagam7:

It is so interesting to see that different postal workers in different states provide different information to us when it comes to shipping out our packages.

Actually, I've been told different info by different clerks in the same city.  We have two post offices in town and some of the clerks differ on minor points.  For example, some ignore assigning a value to the contents of a package, others require me to fill in an amount.  One of my clerks is former military, and he is very helpful.  He wanted to challenge me on putting "Any Soldier" under the name the first time I shipped a package, but I explained the program to him and he has been great ever since - even though he and I cheer for opposing football teams.  Ha!  He's always telling me stories about the stuff that his family and friends sent to him when he was stationed in England.

About the green forms versus the white forms...  When I first started in 2004, my clerks said the green form could be used on packages up to 4 pounds.  Then either the regulations or their understanding of them changed, and they said anything going to military addresses would require the white form, unless it was under 1 pound.  I have been able to send those small bubble mailers using the green form, which has been nice.  From reading the new regulations on the USPS site, it looks like those mailers might now be classified as flats and priced differently than before.  When I have time and can catch one of my favorite clerks without a long line, I plan to ask some questions to clarify some of the changes.

I have some very supportive post offices locally.  One postmaster was a Paratrooper- and he is always so happy to see the packages go out... another guy seems to take a lot of joy from the fact that I get so much value out of my flat rate boxes.

Yesterday I had to swing by the grocery to fill a package and get it to the PO before they closed... and as I drove past the bank clock it said 4:27 ... and I had two packages and only one customs form filled out.  I thought they would be so mad about me slipping in at the last minute.  I crossed my fingers that it would be my favorite guy... nope- it was a new lady who was actually in training.  There was a customer already at the counter who seemed to have a complicated order and I tried to weigh the rudeness factor of interrupting to ask for a customs form- or waiting- and then forcing them to wait for me to fill it out.  I quietly asked for a customs form when I noticed that the other customer was counting pennies... hundreds of them! 

I had my customs form filled out before all the pennies were counted!  At least I didn't feel like the annoying customer at closing time anymore!

 

 

alphagam7:

It is so interesting to see that different postal workers in different states provide different information to us .

I have found this to be true of any large bureaucratic organization.  Sometimes it can work in your favor. If I call up the phone company or the IRS and don't get the answer I want, I just call back and ask again until I do.

I think things will improve a bit once the clerks have had more time to learn the new rules and rates.  They don't seem to find them any easier to understand or remember than we do.

I loved your story, Sarah!  My clerks helped me out from the start by sending me home with a good supply of the forms.  I have a stand-up file near my packing spot to store them and I pick up more when I notice my stock is dwindling.  I always type the white forms because I can't bear down hard enough to print through all the carbons by hand. 

I live in a very small town (Pop. 350) and the Post Master there has been great. I must have brought in about a dozen packages over a few weeks' time before he finally asked me if I knew that many people in the military! LOL  Of course, I told him about AnySoldier.com, and he told me that he was a VietNam vet, and he always thanks me for taking care of "the boys". (I don't hold that comment against him, as it was mainly the boys when he was serving.) He goes out of his way now to make sure there are plenty of the FRB1s on hand for me.

Jenifer / Jenifer_one_N

It's funny how the different post offices treat people.  I usually drive to the next town over because they are generally quicker and friendlier than the one here in my town.  But two days ago after work, I decided to go to our local post office--maybe I just had a bad experience before.  I had 4 packages and my customs forms all filled out ahead of time.

There was one customer ahead of me and one lady came in behind me.  When it was my turn, the clerk says, "I'm gonna take her (motioning to the woman behind me) first; she only has one box."  He didn't ask me if it was ok--he just told me that's what he was going to do!!!  The lady was embarassed and I was sort of taken aback and after a little while, I told her to go ahead.  It took him forever to get my packages processed and I was doing a slow burn the whole time.  While he was waiting on me, others came in and lined up behind me, so he called a woman who was in the back to take care of the others; she immediately fled the scene and ran into the back office when the line was gone.

I hope they don't all get paid the same; some deserve a bigger paycheck than others.  I'll just keep going to the other town's post office and save myself the aggravation.

Maggie

I'm not sure if I'm picking up on these posts a tad to late, but here it goes.  For the most part since 2002 I've not had any real problems with the PO and sending packages.  Prior to...yeah, sometimes (but there has been several worker changes since).  It was like it was to much of a hassle for them, and that was sending big boxes not all these little boxes, but to be blunt, so what.  That is their job and the way I looked at it then might not have been the nicest way, but was the most honest way in my opinion. (At least I was tactful enough not to say it to the workers.)  Those packages were going to those who did their jobs which were a heck of alot harder, without complaint.  But as I said, since 2002 I haven't had any difficulties in sending any packages.  Matter of fact the PO I use now, the clerks are top notch and keep me supplied with customs forms, address labels, and boxes.  So all I have to do is pack, deliver, and pay.  And there is a couple of PO workers who never say a word, or even give a hint of anything negative if they have to spend any extra time with me because I needed some advice in what would be the best way to send odd items or goofed in something.  Even if it means a few minutes past closing.  And one goes out of his way to make sure that what I'm sending is the best way considering the weight and price of postage.  Did that make sense?  If someone else is there in line, I usually just tell the clerks to let them go ahead of me as what I'm doing will take longer, but if I've not suggested it yet, then the clerks always ask me if I mind letting them go before me, if they haven't I can't remember it. 

If the PO clerk isn't going to get someone esle to the front to help and wanted to let someone else go before you, then they should at least ask if you mind.  That would have been the polite thing to do.  When mine ask me, I don't mind since I try to consider if that was me, I was behind someone with packages, and just had something simple, what a pain in the keister that would be having to wait on someone else who had a lot and there was only on clerk, especially if I was in a hurry or had someone waiting for me.  I'd be more aggravated with the fact that there was only one clerk available.  Kind of like getting in line at a wally world and having to wait for 30 minutes to check out, because despite there being 100's of customers in the store, there is only 2 cashiers and one of them is slow as Christmas.  *smiling*  

I wonder what was up with the taking so long to process the packages?  I wonder if the clerk was very familiar with how to process them (I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't just trying to be a pain in the kiester).  Who knows maybe if the clerk is impolite to more people he will find himself rotated elsewhere.  It might be worth checking back once in a while to see.  But I'd go for something else besides my packages. *smiling*  I hope things get better at your PO so you don't have to spend extra time going to another town's PO to do what you should be able to do at your own.  And I agree, some PO clerks are worth more than thier weight in gold.  Its kind of like when the clerks are so helpful to us, they aren't just helping us with just any old package, in the long run, they are helping the soldiers to whom we are sending these packages that have been filled with love, to get a smile, a laugh, a touch of home, or maybe even a nice memory in the midst of so many they want to forget, when they open some of these packages.                    

Sister Barbara

I can't find the posts about the return to sender I read earlier, but I wanted to comment on it and get any input if I need to change what I've been writing.  I've been marking other instructions and writing in "Give to next available soldier", hoping that the packages will not come back and will get to a soldier who needs it.  Will they do that?  Do yall know?   

Sister Barbara

I used to get "pushed" to the back of the line when I came in with lots of boxes.  (I try not to swamp them like that anymore) but when I told them where the boxes were going and for whom they were packed they changed their attitudes.  Now they all know me by name and if others line up they just keep working on my pile of boxes.  I often hear them tell the next person who comes up that MY boxes are donations to the troops and that I come in ALL the time..  If you want to have all the forms and boxes delivered to you house here is the link.  I order my stuff online and Nels, my postman, brings it all right to my door.  I order 50 boxes at a time and as many customs forms and address labels.https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10152

Hope this helps out a few.  Mary

I feel like I can relate to you, Sister Barbara. We have about 3 stand-alone post offices here and a few "quick stops", as I like to call them that are located inside local grocery stores. I've used just abotu every one in town except for the main one because it is downtown and parking can be a little difficult (it sits between the federal courthouse and the Senator's offices). There is actually a PO worker in the office close to my house who ALWAYS walks away after helping the person with a small envelope when there are 5 people in line with boxes. Unfortunately, he still has his job even after the other workers look at him and ask him to stay to help. I have found that I get alot better service and treatment when i go to the "quick stops" in the grocery store where there are only 2 clerks.

Like in your situation, they will ASK me if it is okay to take the next person first who has the small envelope befor tackling my many boxes. The very first time I sent something, I used the wrong Customs Forms and had to fill out new ones. The clerk asked me if I would step to the side as I filled out the correct form, but he kept my boxes at the counter with him. When I finished with the forms,he asked the other clerk to process my packages as he was helping a guy who was sending 25 certified letters and there were 8 other people in line! I was so surprised...I was actually waiting for him to tell me I had to get back in line! I asked for his manager when I was done so that I could give him a compliment for what he had done. Now, when they see me walk in, they have smiles on their faces and they can't wait to help me.  Last week, some grumpy and impatient lady (and I say that with lots of love!) came in after me and demanded that they take her first because she only had 2 small envelopes. To my shock and amazement, they told HER to wait her turn because my packages were going to Iraq to some very well-deserving soldiers who needed some love! From now on, I know where I'm going to send my packages out!

Great stories, alphag!

I am fortunate in that the PO closest to me is pretty good. vtleogal also uses it, and they have told us about each other, LOL.  The only downside is that they don't always staff up to handle the most busy periods, IMO, but that's probably in a union contract or something.

One thing that helps is to figure out their slow periods and go in then if you can.  My PO is open until 12:30 on Saturdays. I have figured out that most people can't remember if they close at 12:00 or 12:30, so that everyone else gets there before noon.  I always come waltzing in between 12:15 and 12:20, like clockwork, when the "crowd" has often dwindled down to 2 or 3 people.  I make a point NOT to arrive any later than 12:20, because I know my packages will take some time to process, and I don't want to keep the staff too late.  They all know to expect me by now, and I'm always greeted with smiles.

We definitely are on the same page alphagam7.  Bless your clerks!  You got gold there!

Hi Sister Barbara,

I appreciate your comments.  I have no problem with letting people go ahead of me who have less!!!  Heck, in the grocery store I'm not going to make someone who's buying a gallon of milk wait behind me and my 90 items; that's just rude.

Unfortunately, the post office in our town here has a less than stellar reputation.  Even before we moved here, one of the locals we were talking to made a comment about it.  And the real estate agent did also (and she was trying to get us to buy a house here.) I think it just boils down to them being lazy...  In the clerks defense, it did seem as if he wasn't too familiar with the process.  

And in a backwards sort of way it works out to their benefit:  People avoid them because they stink=less work for them.  People like the good PO in the next town who are nice, so they go to them=more work for them.  Life's not fair...LOL

Thanks for your input,

Maggie 

 

 

 

maggie61:

Heck, in the grocery store I'm not going to make someone who's buying a gallon of milk wait behind me and my 90 items; that's just rude.

 

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. The PO we have in our grocery store is similar to bank branches in a grocery store. In any case, it was not I who was "rude" to the lady behind me....the Postal worker I was interacting with made the comment to her. Unfortunately, in Santa Fe people like the lady behind me are always grumpy and impatient when someone in front of them has a lot of stuff whether it is packages at a post office or items at Target. I've lived here for over 6 years and these are by far the "rudest" people I've ever met and they don't like people who are not native to new Mexico which is why I ALWAYS look forward to heading back to the South whenever I can. Anyways, just wanted to re-explain myself.

 

Hi Alphagam,

I didn't mean that you were being rude.  I apologize for my wording.  I just meant that I have no problem letting a small order go ahead of my monster order.  (I hate shopping, so it's ALWAYS a monster order...)

Even though it has nothing to do with the forum subjects, I totally understand what you mean about the "natives" not being very nice to people who are not native to the area!!!  I am originally from Chicago.  We just moved to a small town in Indiana not too far from Chicago almost 3 years ago.  At work, people are always complaining about those "&$%#@ people from Chicago..."  I should mention that the area used to be mostly inhabited by people who were lawyers, doctors, business owners; in other words, people with money.  Now, there are people like my family moving in--mainly blue collar; not wealthy, but not poor either.  We cut our own lawn; they hire people to do it for them.  We shovel our own snow; they hire someone to do it for them--you get the picture.

One day at work, a client of ours (I work in a veterinary clinic) was grousing about all these people from Chicago, blah, blah, blah...so I said, "Yeah, we just moved from Chicago." Most people will clam up after that, but not this woman.  So I finally just walked away and left her by herself.

I never thought I'd have anything good to say about Chicago, but around here I definitely have to go on the defensive. 

So, I also look forward to visiting my old neighbors...

Take care,

Maggie