Going Postal

Well, the rates went up again Sunday. Yes, I said again. I don't care that it's been 4 years since the last rate increase. I know there are people out there who believe 39 cents is a bargain for letter delivery, but I am not among them. It's not actually the price that bothers me, it is the fact that the quality of service from the USPS has gone down steadily for years. I object to paying more when the employees of the Postal Service continue to do their jobs less and less efficiently.

Case in point: in December, my mom and my mother-in-law both mailed packages to us. They were mailed from the same Post Office on the same day, Priority Mail. Anticipated (but not guaranteed) delivery time for Priority Mail is 2-3 days. Now, realistically, we already know that it is most likely going to take 4 days for those packages to arrive at my house, based on past experience.

The package from my mom arrived one week later. The one from MIL? Took an extra day.

Explain this, someone, PLEASE.

So I was at the PO last week and ran into my friend Vanessa. Let's just say that I was already spoiling for a fight that morning. I was walking around with a chip on my shoulder, and woe to he or she who knocked it off.

I commented to Vanessa that the rates were going up again (my exact words) and I was met with a snide comment from a postal employee who was A) stocking the chronically understocked Prioirty Mail boxes and B) SOOOOOO not a part of the conversation up to that point.

I believe my response was, "Oh, I'm so sorry for having an opinion about this. I thought I lived in AMERICA." She fired right back and by the time we were done the entire lobby (about 20-25 people) were watching and listening to us. I said perhaps we would make the conversation even more interesting by taking it into her supervisor's office and continuing it there. Believe it or not, she still didn't back down and continued being rude.

Aren't you glad you weren't the supervisor who took my call later that day? Well, you should be. My god, I was already frustrated about it and NOW I find I am paying 2 cents more per letter to be accosted and verbally abused by a Postal employee.

Thirty-nine cents a bargain? Maybe. I'll pay the 39 cents. But I'll be goddamned if that wench ever helps me with so much as holding a door open for me at that post office again. Sad, but I'm actually looking forward to the day when I can go in there and tell her I'd rather drive 3 miles to another post office than deal with her at the counter.