These Are Normal Stamps! You Are At The US Postal Service!

I was at a post office register today. The customer to my right was looking over the display of stamps in stock, consisting of five or six different commemoratives and a couple holiday issues.

"Are these all the stamps you have?" he asked.

"Yes," responded the clerk.

"Hmmm," he said. "I guess I like Elvis. But you don't have any normal stamps?"

"These are normal stamps!" scolded the clerk. "You are at the United States Postal Service!"

"No, I mean," explained the customer, "you don't have any regular stamps?"

"You mean 'Forever' stamps?" asked the clerk. "These are all Forever stamps!"

"Ma'am," I said.

The clerk looked at me, then looked away.

"Ma'am," I said again. She looked at me icily.

"He is looking for definitive stamps," I said.

She gave me a blank stare.

I tried: "Flag stamps?"

"Oh," she said, turning back to the customer. "No no no. We don't have any flag stamps, no."

Well I'm glad our postal clerks are not like that. Even the ones at shopper's Drug Mart have a bit of a clue.

Dianne

We don't have that problem anymore, they usually don't sell stamps at the post office.


You have to order them in advance or buy them at "estancos" (cigarette stores).

I never use philatelic terminology at the post office--I have to dumb it down to get what I want with the least amount of hassle.

Robert

The problem with some postal clerks is the "job guaranteed for life" attitude that was the norm for many years that possibly developed as result of strong unions.
But, through privatization and fear of unemployment its changing; and, the Post Office employees are (sometimes) returning to the once-normal "the customer is always right" concept that once existed in the service industry.
I'm all for progress; but, occasionally such ideas like "customer service" warrants a re-visit.

Canada Post has a great website including philately in an attractive way. For sure they will mail it to you! Ah old fashion people...