Thursday, September 22, 2005

Going postal...

So today I had a classic, stereotypical moment at the dang USPS...that would be the post office, slangily. I encountered the WORST(and YES, I could know that) POSTAL WORKER ever. I was sending two packages to South Africa...don't ask...just know that it does not involve Nigerians or money transfers and is one of the worst tasks assigned me in my otherwise "that's why they call it work" job.

I found out today that, even though I have received numerous email messages from the US Postmaster hisself extoling the virtues of "click and ship" (No, that's not a typo, its "ship") along with tutorials on both clicking and shipping parcels, apparently no one actually employed by USPS is privy to any of the information on their own website. None of the employees know anything more than what the customers tell them. Of course, I take partial blame as I foolishly went to a different branch of the PO as it was closer to home. The WORST POSTAL WORKER EVER announced that the labels I had prepared using the UPSP's own "click and ship" program were, in her words, "Not valid." She repeated this over and over and even held up one of my carefully prepared labels and asked the clerk next to her if "didn't he think it was invalid?" From six feet away, he squinted and agreed with the WORST POSTAL WORKER EVER that the label was, as far has he could tell.....invalid...Rather than argue with them, rather than explain that I had mailed to this customer a bajillion times, I simply gathered my paperwork and quietly announced that I would take my packages to the Hillsboro Post Office where Ben, my postal guy, works. He never tells me my labels are invalid. He always tells me that my scales need calibration, as my package weights always differ from his by at least 2 ounces....sometimes as much as 6 ounces, but he still puts labels and stickers and lots and lots of rubber stamps on the parcels. Somehow they always end up in the right place...Halfway House, South Africa even though the WORST POSTAL WORKER EVER said Hafway House doesn't accept Express Mail. O YES THEY DO, you dumb......WORST POSTAL WORKER EVER!

I drove to my regular PO and Ben accepted my packages with a smile and sly wink when I told him that I wouldn't be surprised if my package weight was off by an ounce or two! Oh...postal humor! In and out...zip, zap, take a crap!
I only mention all of this as I believe it may well be the Aloha Post Office where I possibly...and I emphasize POSSIBLY...may have left my very best, most cherished pair of reading glassses. I don't look good in glasses...loathe and despise them, frankly, but I like my little tiny Microvision Pen readers. I couldn't find them anywhere when I arrived at work today. I searched my car three times, emptied the duffle I call a purse twice..........no glasses............they are gone. I loved those glasses.....and that's why I hate the PO.

1 comment:

Miss Five said...

Mother -
You have to add a new post, otherwise people won't come back and keep reading.

Chanel