Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

All one needs to do in order to witness this fine example of effeciency in action is to travel down to the downtown Florence post office, usually around 1 pm daily. There you will usually find a line about to reach out the door, with two (if you are lucky) windows open and a dedciated government employee working at light speed....NOT...or more likely jawing with the person at the window about their latest trip or newborn.... with no respect for the people in the line behind them who probably have to get back to work, but were forced to leave their office since the postal service promply closes their doors at 430pm and never opens before 9am.
It is about time to bring the free market back into the postal service and get rid of some of these employees sucking from the government teat.
The Tuscumbia Post Office is no better. Not only with the long lines and only 1 worker, but also with the delivery of your mail to your house. For months I didn't have a regular postman, so my mail would run just whenever. I was expecting a package to be delivered, I got a conformation from the shipper saying that it was delivered. Only it was not on my doorstep. Went to the post office, they decided after talking 45 minutes that it was delivered to the wrong address. This was not the wrong house on my block, it was the wrong street completely. Postmaster went back to the house, the folks there said they never seen a package so needless to say, since the post office keyed in that it was delivered to my address, I ended up paying $300.00 for a package I never received. Was told by postmaster they were not responsible if they delivered packages to wrong address, it would be up to me to fight the shipping company.
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
Muscle Shoals post office has those long lines too. There's 4 windows but only one open. Roll Eyes


I know these waits can be irksome, but they are not unique to the Post Office or other government agencies. Happens at Wal-mart too. And restaurants. You don't want to over-staff and have them twiddling their thumbs at the service counter and having other areas neglected. I'm sure if all 4 windows were open and few people in the office we would be hearing complaints of "those folks at the post office dont' do anything but sit there and stare out the windows".
The only problem with that argument is that if the lines are backed up at Walmart or Food World, you call and ask for another line to open up. I have persoanlly seen employees at the post office walk away from a window with people ten deep in line. There is an arrogance with a government employee that they are untouchable and overworked, and you are at their mercy. The post office is a great example of how government employees take advantage of the system. Sorry, if I am stepping on some toes there, but the service at the local PO here is miserable and has not impoved any in the past four or five years.
BTW, for the record, I'm not blaming this on Obama. It was in a crappy condition before he took office.
quote:
Originally posted by teyates:
The only problem with that argument is that if the lines are backed up at Walmart or Food World, you call and ask for another line to open up. I have persoanlly seen employees at the post office walk away from a window with people ten deep in line. There is an arrogance with a government employee that they are untouchable and overworked, and you are at their mercy. The post office is a great example of how government employees take advantage of the system. Sorry, if I am stepping on some toes there, but the service at the local PO here is miserable and has not impoved any in the past four or five years.
BTW, for the record, I'm not blaming this on Obama. It was in a crappy condition before he took office.


I agree somewhat. If it were that simple, it would probably not be a problem. Calling someone to help at the PO means that person isn't doing their "other" work which means people may or may not get mail delivered on time or other issues. Wal-mart has the flexibility to staff up by hiring or down by lay-offs that the PO and other government agencies don't have. So, without that flexibility, they have to make tough choices about how to allocate their staff.

It's frustrating and I hate it as much as anyone. I've never been known for my patience.
Sam-

Stand around and observe the Florence P.O. about 15 minutes before closing time. You will see one or two windows open. You will see a couple of postal workers standing against the wall behind the tellers at the window. The only thing they can do is accept a stamped piece of mail and toss it in the correct stack. There is also a woman who stands at the locked door to let people out and tell the ones who want in to come back tomorrow. At times, I have observed up to 4 additional employees who, for whatever reason, can't do a thing.

This is an easy fix. There are obvious peak times, including lunch time and closing time. It is a simple task to schedule workers to man the windows for short peak periods.

In addition, they no longer have stamp machines. The sign on the window lists places who carry stamps. I visited two of those places and were told they haven't seen any stamps in months. I finally went to First Metro drive thru and got some, but you have to buy them by the book, not individually. there is no excuse for that situation, other than bad management and gov't union employees who couldn't give a rip.

This is also an easy fix. In a time where you can get anything from drinks, candy, fishing worms and movie CDs from vending machines, you can certainly get machines to dispense stamps. You can easily direct employees to make sure the businesses they advertise as stamp sellers are stocked with stamps. Also a result of bad management and employees who don't care.
The USPS has automated postal systems at some offices such as Madison. You can buy stamps by the book, send small packages, insure mail and a number of other services. I'm surprised there isn't one such station in Florence or Muscle Shoals. I buy my stamps there, at my ATM, banks and super market.

If, you wish to send a package and not wait in line, go Fedex.
Went by Thur. to check my p o box, no customers in line with 2 window clerk there. I will say a lady in a caddy stayed parked in the handicap spot reading her mail for about 30 minutes, blocking other disabled people from using the spot. Also the flag is faded and torn at the end, what a sham. I long for the past when it seemed the clerks cared more about the customers.
I have witnessed similar things at the Florence PO. Then on top of that with people backed up out the door, the clerks will carry on a conversation with peole like they are at a family reunion. This is a place of business, which is already being run in a poor fashion, there is no need for that type of thing to be taking place.
On one occasion, I saw an elderly man go up to the window and buy a stamp, and then began to haggle over the price, wanting to know if there was a discount for paying cash.....now that was too funny.
quote:
Originally posted by BandMom:
What about the MS PO not delivering more than a few social security checks on time this month? Many of those folks depend on that money to pay bills, buy food, etc. and ANY delay may mean they have to go hungry until that check arrives. Have to wait 3 days to report and then up to 15 days to get a reissued check. Does the PO care enough to help? Doesn't seem like it. Seems to me if you have more than a few missing someone in charge needs to be looking for them. They say they never got them, social sec. says they sent them. (direct deposit is not really an option for elderly folks that do not trust banks)


With all due respect, elderly folks, like everyone else, must accept the consequences of their decisions. In this case, the refusal to use direct deposit will result in the occasional lost check.
quote:
Originally posted by gracies old man:
Sam-

Stand around and observe the Florence P.O. about 15 minutes before closing time. You will see one or two windows open. You will see a couple of postal workers standing against the wall behind the tellers at the window. The only thing they can do is accept a stamped piece of mail and toss it in the correct stack. There is also a woman who stands at the locked door to let people out and tell the ones who want in to come back tomorrow. At times, I have observed up to 4 additional employees who, for whatever reason, can't do a thing.

This is an easy fix. There are obvious peak times, including lunch time and closing time. It is a simple task to schedule workers to man the windows for short peak periods.

In addition, they no longer have stamp machines. The sign on the window lists places who carry stamps. I visited two of those places and were told they haven't seen any stamps in months. I finally went to First Metro drive thru and got some, but you have to buy them by the book, not individually. there is no excuse for that situation, other than bad management and gov't union employees who couldn't give a rip.

This is also an easy fix. In a time where you can get anything from drinks, candy, fishing worms and movie CDs from vending machines, you can certainly get machines to dispense stamps. You can easily direct employees to make sure the businesses they advertise as stamp sellers are stocked with stamps. Also a result of bad management and employees who don't care.


I'm not shilling for the PO. There are lots of things they can do and should strive to do to improve their business. However, we tend to oversimplify problems. How do we know those employees standing around are trained and capable of helping. The PO is a highly organized union shop. Many times the collective bargaining limits the flexibility of moving staff around. That could be work above their grade.

I've been to the Florence PO as I used to work downtown. Sometimes service was really good. Others not so much. I'm certain there are many, many factors involved. The natural ebb and flow of foot traffic, the complexity of issues on any given day, time of day (lunch hour), periods of high leave usage by employees, etc.

My service problem on one day and your service problem may be totally unrelated and be cause dby different factors. In that environment I think it's difficult to distill things down to one or two "easy" solutions.
Why mess with them? I have eliminated over 99 percent of my need for the USPS by using internet and fedex, ups, etc. Almost all of my bills are electronically delivered and paid and if I have to ship something it almost always goes FedEx or UPS. The biggest thing I would not get if the USPS went out would be a lot of junk mail and bulk rate catalogs, etc.
It is likely that in the case of the PO, a possion table may prove useful.

I try to avoid the Post Office for just this reason, I buy stamps that don't expire and use the mail box in my front yard as much as possible. Usually when mailing a package I just use Fed Ex or UPS.
I have found that the personnel working at the windows are always nice, friendly, and helpful , and I don't blame them if a line gets too long.
I have noticed similar problems in banks back when I actually received a paycheck and tried to cash it in my lunch hour. Tellers go to lunch at that time also.
I go to them every quarter to mail a nice fat check to the IRS and Sate of Alabam Revnue Department. It is the only place I know of to go and send this to them via registered certified mail. You need that information in case they decide to say you mailed in your payments late or they say they did not get them, both cases which I have had in the past 12 years.
Perhaps it rubs me the wrong way to go into the post office to mail a large check to the government and get pizz(sp) poor service while writing them a check. Maybe its just me, but that rubs me the wrong way.
I got fed up with poor service at the Florence PO many moons ago. The best thing I ever did was sign up for Internet postage. I also bought a postage scale at Office Depot. Now, I print out my own postage, affix it to the package, and put it out for the carrier to pick up. There is a charge (of course!) but it is worth it not to have to go through the hassle of visiting the post office.
quote:
Originally posted by gracies old man:
Agreed, interventor, Fedex is non union and slightly cheaper than UPS.
I was generally referring to letters, but we use the post office when we ship from our website or Ebay.


Fedex may be non union, but they are not cheaper than UPS in most cases (or overall). So, if they charge pretty much the same rate as UPS, why do they pay their drivers so much less (not much more than half) and use so many subcontractors (all Fedex ground drivers are subcontractors and NOT Fedex employees). Whose pockets are being lined? And why are they non union? Because they fall under a different labor law than other small package carriers, so they have to be unionized nationally instead of locally, which is much harder.

I'm no big fan of unions as a whole, but there are a few companies out there that make unions a necessity.

Jeepin'
quote:
Originally posted by Netracer41:
The USPS should have been carved up, privatized, and divided between UPS & FedEx a decade ago.


No one would want the letter business, no money to be made in it. Thats why the post office is where it is today ;O(

Unfortunately, the post office needs to reevaluate its business plan and adjust accordingly. They are increasing the price on a product (letter) that has a decreasing demand. The law of supply and demand says that they are shooting themselves in the foot. Their flat rate boxes are competitive in price, but the service is spotty and they only end up with the heavier residential shipments that are most costly to deliver and harder to handle. They are just not competitive over 5 lbs or so unless the flat rate boxes are used for very dense shipments.

Jeepin'
quote:
Originally posted by StarryNight:
I got fed up with poor service at the Florence PO many moons ago. The best thing I ever did was sign up for Internet postage. I also bought a postage scale at Office Depot. Now, I print out my own postage, affix it to the package, and put it out for the carrier to pick up. There is a charge (of course!) but it is worth it not to have to go through the hassle of visiting the post office.


I have been doing the same thing for a couple of years but I've never been charged for my mail carrier to pick up my packages.

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×