Post Office Experience

Dianne, that's good to know!

When I visit my father and siblings in PA, I often mail items from the Post office in Manchester, PA in York County. Very friendly and helpful and most of the employees accommodate stamp collectors cheerfully. They have never allowed me to hand cancel the postage but have carefully done it themselves while I watched. But it is not a good idea to go when they have a long line of customers.

Another small PO in York County is Railroad, PA. I've never been there but every cancel I have seen from there is a neat large circle hand stamp that is always on the corner or edge of the stamp, never SON. A friend occasionally saves cut corners for me that are canceled from there.

For stamp collectors; small town post offices rule!

Cool, David.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but according to regulations, it's not supposed to happen, and I can just imagine some vest-pocket Hitler of a supervisor wanting brownie points writing up a wicket clerk for this. Because it's a regulation, it could even end up in a suspension -- and I've seen people suspended for far less, let me tell you.

Suffice to say, if you enjoy such service, don't advertise it to management *double tap on side of nose*.

Ok, now I've gone off the deep end. I wrote an email to the USPS commending the clerk who helped me with my cancels. I did not mention specifically what happened, only that she was "friendly and helpful beyond my expectations and much of my experience at post offices." I hope she doesn't get fired now. I might have stuff to send out before long...

Clark

A few days ago I tried to get a circular date cancel on a couple of letters and was told by the clerk that since 9/11, they no longer hand cancel any mail unless it has sharp objects in it (non-machinable). Is this actually true despite my other (several) recent experiences?

I couldn't help but imagining my future PO visits... I walk up to the counter asking for a hand cancel on my yet to be sealed envelope, but the clerk refuses, saying the same stuff above. I then produce one (1) unused razor blade with a cover on it from my pocket, drop it in the envelope in front of the clerk, seal up the envelope, and calmly ask for a hand cancel again.

Clark

if there is a will there is a way huh?

I don't know if this is a "since 9/11 thing"; I suspect that this is just an excuse by the clerk so he/she wouldn't have to do it. A lot of postal clerks know nothing of stamp collecting (surprise, surprise).

Naturally, one reason for hand cancelling an item has always been because the item is non-machineable, and I myself have seen the fun that occurs when an envelope with a lapel pin inside goes through a Klussendorf cancelling machine. Can you say "shred"?

You should be able to get a handcancel without any excuses -- after all, you are asking them to cancel a stamp on an item that you want to take back with you. They've gotten the money for the stamp, so it should be no big deal because nothing else is required of them, and they don't actually have to handle the item.

Just as you can write a letter commending a postal clerk, you can also write one complaining about one.

Clark, you need to prearrange bail and all that stuff if you do what you suggested.

lol, a razor blade may be sharp, but sure isn't an effective weapon... The clerk's cancel stamp is probably more dangerous in the right hands. Or all the paper in the PO; paper cuts hurt!

On a more serious note, the cost of a razor blade and the extra postage for non-machinable mail makes all this pure fantasy.

Clark

Wanted Friendly Small Town Post Office.


Just back from the PO and they changed their hours again. First, the local one does not open on Saturdays anymore. So went next town over and now they close at 10:00 am. Really what sense does it make to only open for 2hrs. I foresee this one closing Saturday also. So now another price increase is coming. And they wonder why they are losing money. They built and set up their service for volume and every year it just drops more and more because of cost. It is no wonder more people resort to online mail for bills or correspondence. Think about it who wants to mail out your bills every month when it will average about $5 or $6 dollars in post when you can do it free. I still do but it is very close to the point to rely on online billing more. Don't even get me started about the mass murder cancel killers when requested. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! (One stamp now ready to go sir.)