A Mind-Bending Post Office Saga

Submitted by ima_mandolin t3_zy91jg in philadelphia

I’ve been trying to mail a package since last week. Roxborough had Christmas Eve hours posted, which seemed weird, but whatever. I went and it was closed.

Today, I go back to Roxborough and there are signs posted that their computers are down and to go to Manayunk instead.

I start walking to Manayunk and try to call them to be sure they’re open and functioning. After 10 minutes of bullshit phone menus and getting hung up on, I reach a person and have the following conversation:

Me: Hi, are you open today?

Post Office Employee: Yes

Me: Can I mail a package?

PO: The elevators are not working.

Me: Ok…can I mail a package?

PO: *20 seconds of unintelligible mumbling* …we can not be held liable.. *more mumbling*… go to Roxborough branch.

At this point I’m almost there, so I keep going since I don't know what the hell she said. I get there and there’s caution tape across the steps and a sign that says to use the elevator. The elevator is indeed broken.

So I’m standing outside trying to figure out how to get into this building, which is apparently open, when I see that everyone else is just climbing over the caution tape and going about their merry way.

WWHHHYYYY is it this way?! Other delightful experiences I’ve had are the East Falls branch looking at me like I was deranged when I asked to buy stamps, and the Nicetown branch refusing to give me my package because I did not have multiple forms of photo ID on me.

74

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

blowjob215 t1_j24sv4c wrote

I’m curious how many people carry multiple forms of photo ID with them. Like, driver’s license and what else? My passport expired in 2019 and I haven’t renewed it since then, what other forms of ID are people expected to have?

37

ima_mandolin OP t1_j24teni wrote

I still don't know because they actually refused to give me the package and said they would re-mail it. It happened years ago, but I remember showing them my driver's license and a pay stub I happened to have on me.

15

napsdufroid t1_j25gdgk wrote

Odd...have never needed more than a driver's license to pick up a package at several post offices

0

eleboil t1_j263b2d wrote

The wonderful Manayunk post office I went to recently said the same thing" 2 forms of ID" So, I got out my drivers license and a government issued TWIC card and a government photo ID. No dice. I asked what was acceptable if this wasn't and the response, Drivers license and credit card. I left my CC in my wallet in my work locker. A$$HOLES !!!!

8

[deleted] t1_j24z4zf wrote

[deleted]

1

blowjob215 t1_j25154g wrote

Your health insurance card has your photo on it? I worked hospitality and retail for years and never once saw one of those CitiBank cards with the cardholder’s picture on it.

3

trashpandarevolution t1_j24g7dn wrote

I got all my holiday mail today. It was post marked December 11th. I also got mail from all sorts of people within a 6 block radius. It’s shameful

35

kellyoohh t1_j24nu1d wrote

I am missing all my holiday cards that showed up in my informed delivery. I’m sure I’ll get them in a couple weeks. I live in Fishtown and the post office is constantly closed randomly due to staffing shortages. It’s a mess all around!

19

Girls4super t1_j26e0o2 wrote

I mailed my mother a package from Colorado and the post office says they don’t have it, they can’t file a claim without the original receipt (photo of the receipt with tracking number doesn’t count), and it theoretically was delivered not long before my mom got home that weekend. So I’m hoping they have it and it shows late, or some nice neighbor got it instead and returns it. Smh

5

Frummage t1_j250uk4 wrote

Fairmount Avenue post office has always been really nice.

19

persephone-aflame t1_j257xp9 wrote

can confirm, i’m an idiot and always get confused about mailing packages (esp overseas) but the people at the fairmount post office are always patient and kind

9

aintjoan t1_j2669lo wrote

They HAD always been patient and kind to me until a recent visit! I went in; there was no one in line, and two women sitting at the two windows, so I walked up to one -- and one of the women snarked at me "Wait until you're called. Read the sign. Reading is important" and pointed to one small sign amid the million other things on the wall that said "Wait until called." I had to laugh because it was so ridiculous. There was no one else there! But once I was called up, they were friendly and helpful again. That was bizarre.

9

MajorNoodles t1_j28u38v wrote

I used to mail packages internationally all the time from the Blue Bell post office. Just do the mailing label and customs form online. It makes your life so much easier and apparently it's a lot less work for the postal employees too. The biggest inconvenience is needing to know the weight but I have a cheap kitchen scale that works for me 95% of the time.

1

pierogi_boy t1_j255gjj wrote

The university city post office is a delight. The same worker is always yelling about how drunk she got the night before. I think her buzz carries over into her shift sometimes.

17

Brahette t1_j24tz50 wrote

LOL I just drove past the Manayunk post office like a half hour ago, saw the tape and was wondering wtf was going on

15

Leapingforjoyandstuf t1_j24x6ys wrote

Yeah, post office people really aren't pleasant to deal with in my experence.

One time they didn't deliver a package of mine. The tracking says "Available for pickup at post office". This was just after Thanksgiving, so I'm understanding. I'm sure like anywhere they're understaffed.

I go to the post office. They tell me my package isn't there and it's out for delivery that day. I ask why the tracking says it's at the post office and why it says that the customer (me) requested it. The worker tells me they do that when it won't get delivered in time and they don't want to get dinged for it. Once again, I'm understanding. I say thank you.

Package arrives like three days later when they said it was out for delivery that day. If they just said it would take that long it'd be fine. It's the purposeful miscommunication, and their annoyance when anyone asks them to do anything that really bothers me about all my post office experiences.

14

Aromat_Junkie t1_j26x7yq wrote

when a metric is known that it's measured it ceases to be useful. Same with the old "pull up we'll bring your food out"/

5

flaaaacid t1_j2570m7 wrote

It's such a mixed bag. Our carrier now is the nicest, most competent one I can remember. The guy before her would literally sit in his USPS truck on my street smoking a blunt, cop a huge attitude with literally everyone, and routinely mark things as delivered when in fact they were not.

10

watwatinjoemamasbutt t1_j254sw5 wrote

The post office close to 30th wouldn’t let me use my DEBIT card (ie I would put it in the card reader and enter my pin) bc the back of it wasn’t signed. I had my driver’s license and passport. I was like ok but I could go back in line and sign it and use it….

8

Trafficsigntruther t1_j25iayh wrote

the back of my card says:

> not valid unless signed

What does yours say?

5

watwatinjoemamasbutt t1_j25xbff wrote

I understand but I had 2 forms of photo id and both with my signature. I could understand if she was actually going to swipe the card herself and run it as credit but that wasn’t happening. Meanwhile it’s very well documented how postal employees in Philly are stealing checks and not delivering our mail. They aren’t following rules.

5

Trafficsigntruther t1_j266m8o wrote

> I understand

No you don’t. A credit card isn’t valid unless signed. The postal employee was following the terms of their merchant agreement.

−6

watwatinjoemamasbutt t1_j26blm0 wrote

Actually the rule is that the merchant can ask me to sign the card and ask for valid id which I showed her. So anyways…

1

ScienceWasLove t1_j26fhiy wrote

Did you finally sign it?

1

watwatinjoemamasbutt t1_j26j1e0 wrote

No! I’m doubling down on this! Lol jk yes it’s signed now. Honestly I don’t even remember why I was using my debit card bc I have credit cards and they are signed. Maybe she wouldn’t accept my credit card after seeing the unsigned debit card lol

4

Trafficsigntruther t1_j26gp4j wrote

> Actually the rule is that the merchant can ask me to sign the card and ask for valid id which I showed her

You sure about that?

> Not at the post office.

> “It is a policy that it must be signed when presented at retail counters,” said Lisa Gamboa, consumer affairs manager for the U.S. Postal Service’s Colorado and Wyoming district. “It’s a security thing to prevent any potential fraudulent use and the card companies have it in our agreements with them.

https://www.denverpost.com/2007/09/02/see-id-dont-do-it

You should tell the post office what’s in their agreement. I know a Karen and it is you.

−5

dgJenkins t1_j24oyvf wrote

USPS in Philly sucks. I avoid them at all costs. I once went in to the office in QV because I had to mail a check via certified mail and I asked the women behind the counter if she could show me how to get started (i had never mailed certified before)… all she could say was ‘over there.’ LMAO, I asked her probably three basic questions and the response to each one was ‘over there.’

Contrast that to the post office I went to in Estes Park, Colorado when I wanted to mail some family a few postcards, the guy behind the counter was incredibly nice and helpful. People like him give me hope that post offices out there can be nice, inviting and helpful places.

6

ima_mandolin OP t1_j24psqg wrote

I used to work near Narberth and the post office there is so friendly, helpful, and competent that I was shocked. Every time I go to a branch in the city, I say never again but it's so close, I think how bad can it be? It's definitely worth it for me to drive to the extra distance to the suburbs.

5

blowjob215 t1_j24sny3 wrote

The Bala Cynwyd post office was a nightmare every time I went. I only ever saw one person behind the counter at a time, even when the line was 10 deep. I wouldn’t say they were rude, just… apathetic? This was before the pandemic, I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better since then.

6

luckygirl721 t1_j2507bl wrote

Staff at the Philadelphia Mills branch are usually pretty nice.

4

thecw t1_j25var0 wrote

Grays Ferry is still enforcing a mask mandate, for some reason. They make you come up to the counter and get one.

3

defusted t1_j26gd1u wrote

Honestly this amount of pointlessness was pretty much the entire pandemic.

−7

ScienceWasLove t1_j26f489 wrote

The post office in Ivyland/Warminster is open 24 hours w/ a self-serve mailing kiosk.

3

defusted t1_j26g5lu wrote

It's also like a 45 minute drive from where OP is

3

ScienceWasLove t1_j26gfks wrote

I know. Just pointing out one of the negatives of living in the suburbs.

2

LogicalFool420 t1_j2662s5 wrote

https://youtu.be/zR7LOtMix9w

Chappelle was 15 years too soon

2

wawa2563 t1_j269wjz wrote

Don't even have to click. Gonna guess Pop Copy?

3

LogicalFool420 t1_j26gy9s wrote

Yes, you know I’d go to rikers for 3 or 4 years just to prove this point.

3

ParallelPeterParker t1_j28y5vw wrote

The east falls branch is still closed. Honestly, the best PO IMHO is either castle station (broad and ~morris, I think - they have a very easy drop off door) or the daddy PO at 30th/Chestnut (which is super busy).

The worst was Suburban where you had to wait in line to drop off packages (or allegedly cut the line), but they still had to "ask the questions".

2

flagshipcopypaper t1_j284doj wrote

You can pay for a shipping label on the USPS website. I do it all the time for packages. Then arrange a pickup or drop it at a post office.

1

napsdufroid t1_j25ib8c wrote

Can honestly say I've rarely had a bad time at any post office except for the very occasional grumpy clerk. A few are long-wait shitshows due partiolly to short staffing, but more so to people who have no clue...they'll walk in holding, say, a jacket and say, "I need to mail this," then have 8 million questions about the different ways it can be shipped, then ask to borrow tape so they can put a box together. Like it never occurred to package it at home before coming in. One woman wasted almost a half-hour wanting to know why she couldn't address a package in Russian. The USPS site is incredibly easy to navigate and answers 98% of any questions someone may have, but apparently many never visit it.

0

xpeebsx t1_j24uec8 wrote

ppa, dmv, msb

mere nuisances compared to the evil that is usps

−3