Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The United States Post Office

I have been trying to keep a Positive attitude this new year (which is probably why I haven't written) but it has been very hard.  Major calamities don't seem to rattle me as much as the little things - probably why someone wrote that book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" ?  But this small stuff just put me over the moon.......

I purchased some Valentines Day cards and seeing that one for my daughter & her husband required "extra postage" I decided it would be best just to go to the post office and mail it from there and purchase a book of stamps while I was at it.  I love cards - sending e-mail greetings and E-Cards is fun, but it's just not the same as a paper card in hand.  It tells the person you thought enough to read thru dozens and pick that one out personally for them.  Not the same as pointing and clicking.  Anyway, I digress. 

Have you ever stood in line at the Post Office on a Saturday morning before a holiday?   HA!  Let me tell you..........20 minutes in line, but I'm a people watcher so it did have its amusements.  When I get to the counter the woman tells me she is "NEW".  That SHOULD have told me something, but I was caffeine deprived having hit the Post Office before WAWA.  OK - I'm not mailing a package - I have 3 envelopes - should be easy.  One will require 2 stamps.  Not rocket science.  She says "this is only an ounce - doesn't require extra postage".....that's when the little siren went off in my head.  Maybe the card manufacturer had a typo on the envelope and it didn't require extra postage.  After all  I am AT the Post Office - they should KNOW.  Right?  Wrong......

Flash forward 9 days.....NINE DAYS.......card finally arrives......with 20 Cent postage due.    Well not actually FLASH forward .   Can someone explain to me how it took 9 days to get to my Daughter's door and have someone ask for 20 cents?  Nine days?  Did it sit in the post office in Stafford Virginia in a postage due pile that they only look at once a week?  Maybe every other Monday?  I can not fathom how it took 9 days.  

See - that's what I mean about the small stuff .  I think I just don't have patience for people who don't take price in the job (no matter how small).  I don't have patience for ignorance - unfortunately, you just can't help stupid I'm afraid. 

Oh well......wondering now when UPS or Fed X will come up with something to counter-act the mail.   Think of all the new jobs it would create.