USPS And The Holiday Spirt - Not

I had to mail a package out to one of our forum members and my favorite Postmaster was off today. I know the replacement she is the type that hates people and her job even less. So I handed her the package and said in a meek voice, "My I please have stamps instead of a meter?"

She looked me straight and the eyes and said, "What?" so I again asked her for stamps instead of a meter. I trembled in my feet waiting for her response. At that she looked at me again and said, "Why?".

At this point I was feeling that Holiday joy real good and as several good response floated though my mind I simply replied, "My friend is a stamp collector and he would like to see stamps on the package or he might get mad."

So in her best Christmas Spirit she shouted without any glee, "I guess I could put a 59 cent stamp on it." I smiled and said "That would do if she didn't mind", I mean I wasn't asking her to give my my Christmas Turkey or Ham."

The Scrooge that she was she stated that she would have to break up a perfectly good sheet of stamp as if it was her last lump of coal.

So when you get your package from me remember how special that post mark of 12-24-08 and the 59 cent stamp is. It was post marked by our own very Scrooge, now if only the three Christmas Spirits will make her a visit tonight.

I seem to have forgotten given the customer service hell we live in, but isn't the USPS losing billions of dollars a year with that attitude, and aren't YOU paying THEM?

So true-Laswabbie!
I went to mail off some Linn's Stamp News that I pass on to Bryan K.
I had them packaged up and said I wanted to mail it media mail--my least favorite post mistress looked at me and asked if I had a note or letter in with it-- that she would have to charge the regular mailing rate ! So when did this start happening?! Next thing you know, they'll start ripping open our packages to double check! I, of course, was honest and said "Nope, it's just stamp magazines." Luckily,
I didn't have any note or letter in it. You could see her disappointment when I said nothing was in there but magazines!
My husband said I should file a complaint because this same gal gives me a hard way to go everytime! I just dread going to that post office!

That has always been true. A note or letter is considered first class mail. If one is enclosed, the first class rate applies. You used to be able to put the letter into an envelope taped to the package with first class postage applied to the envelope and the package rate to the package. Don't know if this is done any more.

AS I had it explained, a letter is not allowed UNLESS it serves as a "reciept" or "bill of lading". So long as the letter mentions the items in the package then you should be ok should the postal nazis decide to inspect your package!

It is so cheap to mail things that when I think something is over weight I add one or two more stamps.

Even when for some reason the USPS can't come up with the correct postage with the stamps they have I just tell them to use more than it takes because I want stamps on it.

I just wants to use stamps not meters.

Seems like someone needs a change of career!

I also work in a shop and I have a creed that I live by (at work).

"The customer is not an interruption to my work, He/She is the reason for it!" Please feel free to copy this and send it to her.

I must give my post office a blessing here, they are wonderful to deal with. I have no hesitation in asking for stamps to be applied to packages and they will even let me hand cancel them. On one parcel recently the clerk even sorted through many different stamps so there would be a variety for the receipient, without me even asking her to.

Steve

My postal clerk is a member of my stamp club. My secret santa recipient will see that even though there were 18 stamps on the exterior of the package the clerk neatly hand canceled each pair and took the time to place the extra stamping on that they usually don't bother with.

Richard

That's okay...I have the same types of problems with sub-office staff up here as well. They'll quote delivery standards without even having a knowledge of how mail travels. I love it when they try to talk me up to "Expedited Mail" (at 20 times the price of regular lettermail) for an item that is going four hours down the road. Both types of mail travel in the same truck, and the destination office is a small town one, where they will have time to get *all* the mail out for delivery once it arrives at the destination. You get nothing extra for your inflated price, but they still quote the party line on the standard.


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It really is a shame that the front line postal clerks do not realize that by selling their stock of stamps it is helping the USPS to not have as much surplus to send back & destroy. I have no problem with having to take packages to the window to insure proper postage, but at least give me the option to apply stamps instead of a meter. A stamp is a more personal touch to a letter or package regardless of whom is receiving it. I am pretty fortunate to deal with a wonderful philatelic clerk, a good substation employee across the street from my office, and a great postmaster in my parents town.