I hate going to the post office as much as going to the dentist. I am not kidding. My experience this week has reinforced my theory that the post office is the most annoying place in the world.
Ever since my first daughter started college, I have an annual ritual of making treats to send for Halloween. I think it goes back to when I was in college and my dear aunt sent me home made treats three times a week. I was the envy of everyone in the whole school and my room was the room to go to when you were hungry in the middle of the night - drunk or sober. Anyway, I got up early on Monday morning and made Hello Dolly Bars to send to my daughter and two nieces as a special treat. I searched the house for the right sized boxes, and efficiently wrapped everything, put them in the boxes, printed the addresses and was all set for my adventure. Only problem was, I didn't have my niece Caitlin's address and after numerous attempts to reach her and my sister, I had to abort that package. When I got there, I knew I was in trouble when I saw there were twenty people in line. It wouldn't have been that bad, but there were only two windows open, and I knew it was going to be painfully slow.
To begin with, the girl in front of me and the guy behind me, were simultaneously talking loudly on their cell phones, each in a different language. Annoyance in stereo. Then some man gets to the window, mails a letter for 56 cents and proceeds to put it on his debit card. After much debate as to whether or not you can charge just 56 cents, it did go through. I never realized that the post office had Nordstrom envy, so I was shocked when every person was asked if they were interested in seeing the latest line of stamps. It was almost like "would you like to see some stamps to go with that money order?" Then they would pull out all 50 stamp designs, and the customer would debate which one was the most impressive to accessorize their bills. This is not fricking Nordstrom's you idiots and if they need stamps, they will ask. Don't encourage them. Then there was the guy who was obviously an ebay affiliate, who had twenty little packages to mail to twenty different addresses. All the while ignoring the kiosk in the lobby which was put there to prevent ebay sellers from being strangled. I guess he figured it was too confusing to use, and he would rather annoy fifty people than waste ten minutes of his time figuring it out.l
After twenty wasted minutes of my life, it was finally my turn. I was told that since I had packaged them myself, it would cost me 15 dollars per package. Had I used the free, prioriety mail package, it would only cost $8.75. After much discussion, I decided to put them in the free boxes and save money. By then everyone in line hated me, and I had become one of those annoying people who hold up the line because they ask too many questions and are still clueless. I still don't understand why it is cheaper to send something in a box they provide for free, but I have confidence that the postal system knows what they are doing, and like all government agencies is run efficiently and for the betterment of the American people.
The sad part of all of this, is that I still have to send my niece Caitlin a package. I may just get her an itunes gift card, put it into an envelope and save myself a half an hour of torture.
oy, I go to the post office all the time and if it makes you feel any better they are just as annoying here on the east coast as they are on the west coast. Everytime I go, my packages, which like you, I use my own packing, is a different cost each time. I can't figure it out :(
Posted by: kat | November 03, 2007 at 03:13 PM