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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think for myself, Post Office staff?

34 replies

EugenesAxe · 20/11/2013 21:49

Having two small DCs I buy online postage for parcels to friends as family, so I don't have to queue.

The other day I popped into the PO to drop off my 'medium-sized packet' by the window. The woman in the booth said in response to my 'I'm just leaving this for collection; it has postage': 'No you can't leave that there; you have to wait.'

So I queue up, fucked off as queue is long and I left DCs in the car; I had only expected to be a few seconds and DD was asleep. I left it though as I could see the car and I had to post that day or the postage would invalidate and I didn't have another opportunity to return.

I eventually get to the counter and the guy asks me to put it on the scales; he says the usual 'You don't want this signed for?' 'What's the value? You don't want to insure?' - to all of which I reply 'No.' Then he says 'Actually, the postage is wrong...', so I apologise and said I priced it as a medium-sized packet, 855g etc. He then says 'No nothing's wrong - it's just it's only insured up to £20 if it gets lost.' ('???' thinks I). So I say 'No - I don't care; if it gets lost then never mind.' And he finally lets me go with a proof of posting that I didn't want.

I was pretty calm throughout but when I got out I was having such a brain rant.

AIBU to think FUCK OFF YOU VULTURES? Don't judge me about the car please.

OP posts:
Tullahulla · 20/11/2013 21:54

Erm, we're not vultures, just doing a job. New dangerous goods rules came into force in the summer, all parcels have to be handed over to staff and customer are asked if the contain any prohibited items, that's why you weren't allowed to leave it at the hatch.

Original poster
EugenesAxe · 20/11/2013 22:32

Fair enough Tulla - I wish the bloke could have mentioned that though, instead of trying to do what appeared to be a hard sell...

OP posts:
Imsosorryalan · 20/11/2013 22:37

Sorry but I think post offices have some of the worst customer services I have seen ( in the ones I have been in anyway) always long slow queues, rude or abrupt service and ridiculous postage systems!
Why not simplify the whole process, set up some self service tills and then it would certainly be quicker. Sorry to derail you thread op (had a stupidly delayed visit to PO today and with a bored toddler and a rude woman behind the window)

PrincessWellington · 20/11/2013 22:53

Post office staff, with one or two exceptions IMO, are all jobsworths. They are rude, difficult and often incompetent. Luckily we have a good relationship with one local post office and use this one. It amazes me how consistently crap the post office are. If there was an alternative that was price matching the post office, I would vote with my feet! Unfortunately for many small items, the post office is the only option

RedLondonBus · 20/11/2013 22:57

The woman at our post office said 'what's in the package' to me the last time I posted a parcel....so,so tempted to say sex toys! Grin

I could lie and say anything really

Scuttlebutter · 20/11/2013 23:30

I use our local PO nearly every day as I run our internet business from home. Certain aspects of the set-up are immensely frustrating - the bizarre sizing guides (these appear to have just been relaxed I think), the queues and the opening hours - for instance, like many internet businesses the weekend is our busiest time, yet we can't post out parcels on Saturday afternoons or Sundays. Bizarre, and desperately needs updating. These issues, though, aren't the fault of the counter staff themselves.

The people (all female) who work behind the counter are a joy - calm, cheerful and very helpful in lots of little ways. The new rules about asking what's inside are frustrating for both of us - they see me every day with an armful of dog coats to post out - but I know they are doing their job and just say with a smile "It's the usual" when I arrive at the counter. One of the staff has said that the PO is sending round mystery shoppers to check this is being asked - if they are doing this, then they should support local staff who know their customers well and are using a common sense approach.

HettiePetal · 20/11/2013 23:48

I was in the PO yesterday. A queue of about 20 people - 5 windows "open", but only two staff actually working. The other three were standing chatting & laughing with each other for 15 fecking minutes.

One of them eventually looked over at the queue, did an "ooops" face at the others and they all went back to their windows.

Pretty crap.

Tullahulla · 21/11/2013 08:39

Aside from estate agents, I think PO staff get a really bad reputation. We're not all jobsworths.
What most people using PO don't realise is that PO and royal mail are two separate companies and most of the crazy rules are enforced by rm, like parcel sizing, asking what's in your parcel etc. if you're trying to be coy about what your parcel contains then that's fine, I'll put a stamp on it and put it in the bag, if it gets to the sorting office and is found to contain a prohibited item then it gets destroyed.
You can post parcels on weekends, lots of po are converting to PO local which are located in shops like spar and are open the same hours as the shop.
As for the hard sell, all part of the job I'm afraid, none of us like doing it, but its a requirement. If the PO doesn't try to sell insurance, special deliveries, mobile top ups then it makes no money. No money = less staff.

Queues are long, so what's new? When was the last time there wasn't a queue in any of the supermarkets, banks, etc, it's no different to any other place!

When a customer comes to the counter, please remember, we have no idea that you've had a bad day, have left a toddler in the car or have been offered a car insurance quote 3 times already that week, you're just a new face, that most of us are trying to help!

RedLondonBus · 21/11/2013 08:43

tulla well said there! Good post

Applies to my job in retail too I think

Tullahulla · 21/11/2013 09:06

I think it applies to most peoples jobs, if your manager or company tells you to do something - you do it! I just don't get why we get such a reputation for it.

BadztMaru · 21/11/2013 09:22

The staff in my post office are lovely and polite , however I avoid going in as they have obviously been told to try and sell other products to customers, broadband , insurance etc and I find it a bit pushy

kali110 · 21/11/2013 09:26

They're doing their job its not their fault, not their fault youve left your kids in the car and the queues are long.

MissBattleaxe · 21/11/2013 09:34

I do loads of ebay stuff and my little local post office is wonderful. The staff are friendly and cheerful and explain any new regs to me. They have to ask what's in the parcel because there a lot of new H&S rules esp regarding perfume and aftershave.

They are being mystery shopped too, so they have to do this. For all they know, you could have been posting lighter fluid and guns.

They really are just doing their job.

Tullahulla · 21/11/2013 09:52

Thanks to those who understand where we're coming from.

As I already said, most of the rules come from royal mail, but the PO are the ones getting the flack for it. The royal mail rules come from CAA, they govern what can and can't be sent overseas. Just the same as when you're at the airport and there's rules for what you can take on a plane!

I'm all for helping customers, however, if you bring your bad attitude to me, expect to get some back!

pudcat · 21/11/2013 10:06

The staff are only doing their job how they have been told to do it. No different to shop assistants asking "Can I interest you in our special offer chocolate?" when buying a newspaper, or "sorry to keep you waiting" when you haven't. They can be disciplined for nor not doing it, and didn't someone post the other day that their manager wanted them to observe each other reacting with the customers. So as well as mystery shoppers the assistants just do not who is going to assess them.

PrincessWellington · 21/11/2013 13:31

Tulla - your post 'if you give me attitude, you are going to get it back'

This is exactly what I mean. I don't give my customers attitude ever. PO staff are ready to jump down customers throats.
This is due to the stupid systems you are dealing with, no doubt, but just because you have had one customer be aggressive, it doesn't mean you have to tar all customers with the same brush. If customers didnt come in, there would be no post office. Why alienate the people paying your wages!

MelanieCheeks · 21/11/2013 13:36

Tulla, while you're here, can I ask about missing parcels? I sent a few bits and pieces to my daughter - nothing valuable, except sentimental value - so I didnt insure or track it. I do have a proof of posting though. But no receipts for the items (sweeties, and old dancing leotard dress...)

What happens to missing parcels, does anyone chase them up if I go and say it hasnt arrived?

DownstairsMixUp · 21/11/2013 13:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

PrincessWellington · 21/11/2013 13:48

Tulla - your post 'if you give me attitude, you are going to get it back'

This is exactly what I mean. I don't give my customers attitude ever. PO staff are ready to jump down customers throats.
This is due to the stupid systems you are dealing with, no doubt, but just because you have had one customer be aggressive, it doesn't mean you have to tar all customers with the same brush. If customers didnt come in, there would be no post office. Why alienate the people paying your wages!

Clutterbugsmum · 21/11/2013 13:56

I know what you mean. It's the same as when you go to the bank. I only want to do what I have come in for. I do not want you try to sell me anything.

Bramshott · 21/11/2013 14:00

I just loiter by the postbox when I know the postman is coming, and hand my pre-paid parcels to him direct if they won't fit in the box. Although to be fair, the staff at my local PO seem to be fine with "These have postage on, can I just leave them there?".

PottyLotty · 21/11/2013 14:08

Post Office staff here are always miserable. I can never remember them smiling or even being friendly to anyone when being served. Even when an elderly lady was explaining she won £125,000 to them they barely even blinked at her. Its so sad they clearly dont enjoy their job, too much red tape I guess for it to be enjoyable nowadays.

Catnap26 · 21/11/2013 14:10

Same redlondonbus happened to me the other day.i appreciate they have to make sure there are not prohibited items in there but couldn't they ask "does the package contain X,Y or Z..." I'm going to say sex toys next time.

Picturesinthefirelight · 21/11/2013 14:16

They'd want to know what batteries they contained!!!!!

Have to admit to bring a bit annoyed when questioned over my ink cartridge in Rymans (post office had moved inside there). It was opening day, I was in a rush & the queue was enormous. I wasn't to know the bloke behind the counter in the suit watching everyone was Theo Paphitis!

I said I didn't know if my cartridge was liquid or powder but as they sold HP cartridges could they not just check. Took 3 members if staff & a manager 10 mins to do so.

ladypete · 21/11/2013 14:36

Unfortunately I have to agree that on the most part the service in the PO is awful Sad I am sure there are a few exceptions though please come to work in my local

We are normally greeted (or not) with grunts, tutting and eye rolling. The cashier once managed to process my whole transaction without looking me in the eye or speaking! Just pointing aggressively at the scales, clicking her fingers to get me to hold the address against the glass so she could copy it! Awful! Especially as she's usually shouting at some poor OAP who isn't going as quickly as she'd like, so I know she's more than capable!

I eBay a lot and always do online postage through PayPal. So far I've been able to leave it at the hatch. I've got a horrible feeling that I too will soon have to queue for 30mins plus - joy!

I've also never been asked what was in packages which is odd. My friend once admitted to it being jewellery however, and that parcel went missing, and the insurance she'd been up sold had miraculously not been logged properly Hmm