To wonder what this world has come to?

[Fortheloveofthedog]

I went into my local Post Office today, to post an A4 size manual.
An A4 sized padded envelope was too snug for it, so I had to choose the next padded envelope size up and it was considerably bigger.
Not wanting the manual to bang about in the bigger envelope - before writing the address on it and paying for the envelope and postage etc - I folded down the loose edges and approached the counter to kindly ask for a piece of cellotape to stick them down with.
But despite there being a ginormous role of cellotape behind the counter, I was met with a really cold 'Yeah, there you go' and a downward glance to the roles of cellotape for sale on the shop floor.
Essentially, I had to buy a whole role of cellotape just to be able to post my parcel.

Aibu to think there is very little kindness left in this world?

FYI to try to shame my tiny local Post Office for their lack of kindness, when I had paid for everything, I pushed the cellotape through the lady's counter slot and told her to keep it specifically for some somebody else in my position, adding 'because kindness shouldn't be completely dead'.

I'd have pretended id not noticed the cold stare towards the cellotape and said "oh, I dont really want a whole roll cos I have some at home. Have you got any behind the counter I could use? Its just a couple of small pieces I need." Then, if they pushed the point by saying "no, you have to buy it" I'd have bought some under duress and never gone back to that PO again.

As it stands, my own local PO are brilliant. They have a special desk where they have roles of all sorts of cellotape, brown tape, pens etc out for customers to use for free.

To be honest if I’ve ever been in the post office and needed sellotape I’ve just bought some , I can always use it at home . Imagine if everyone asked for sellotape.

Truly we live in the end times.

adding 'because kindness shouldn't be completely dead'. I'd have enjoyed overhearing this. I hope you said it in a dramatic voice!

I was in a bad mood, but the dramatic end really cheered me up.

Selfish cellotape hoarding bastards

What an awful person. I really hope you made them feel shitty. Doubt it sadly.

@Fortheloveofthedog Jeez we must go to the same post office. I took a large envelope to post over the counter already stamped up I just wanted to check it was enough for the postage.

There was a tiny white mark on the purple coloured stamp which tbh I hadn't even noticed. This was our conversation.

Man: Has this stamp been used already it's got a mark on it.
Me: No it hasn't its brand new out of husbands wallet.
Man: Mmm not sure it will be accepted at other end they might have to pay for it. Might not accept it.
Me: OK I'm going to have to buy another stamp then as this needs to be sent and your basically saying it won't be accepted.

I did explain in as loud a voice as he used that myself and dh are in our sixties and do you really think we would attempt to reuse a stamp 🙄which was met with a wall of silence from him but a chuckle from the lady along the counter.

This man is such a jobsworth loves to pick up on any little thing. There are people like this in life, just not very kind and almost get a kick out of it.

If I need cellotape in the post office I buy my own.

It's Sellotape, not cellotape, everyone.

I think the confusion might come from some association with cellophane.

Really? For the sake of one small (say 10cm) piece, some people would just buy their own roll off the shelf, rather than politely asking?

In all honesty, I didn't think it would be any kind of issue, so just asked automatically.
I'm always helping others out, wherever I can.

Well, I'll vote with my feet and shan't spend my money there again.

Excellent move by you.

Yeah, just imagine.

lol. I thought this thread was going to be about multiple wars and natural disasters.

No, but lack of kindness starts wars!

Sellotape is a brand of adhesive tape and a trademark.

Cellotape is a generic type of adhesive tape.

It's cellotape, unless you're talking a specific brand.

It's Sellotape, not cellotape, everyone LOL

What gets me mad at the post office is when l post a parcel they always say " what's in the parcel "..
When l have pointed out they should ask if any of the prohibited items on the list.
They say they have to ask.. and repeat very aggressive sometimes.. " what's in the parcel" it's happened a lot to me.. one time l said " dirty knickers I'm sending to my boyfriend ( it was a dress).. they then said don't be rude.
Next time l said a vibrator but no batteries in it. ( they didn't like that) . It was a water flask.
Third time l noticed they had self service .. where you can press for no prohibited items.. l went to the desk though because was a queue.. assistant says to other " oh here we go the vibrator woman". Puts my parcel on scale .. get asked what was in it..
My reply.. " ill tell you what.. I'll go to self service because that doesn't ask me what's in it.. I've just to press I've nothing prohibited in it".
Just a jobs worth.🤷‍♀️

@HeidiIeigh that is incorrect. Sellotape has become genericized. @MissJoGrant is right.

I’ve had to do this and the server grumpily shared their (cello/sello) tape with me to do up an envelope whilst telling me they had to pay for their own as they don’t get supplied with it.

WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!

Me too!

I mean to be fair, who actually even cares what it's called 🤣

@Moier that really made me laugh!

Lol at the cellotape v sellotape war on this thread.

I love your level of passive aggression! (Genuinely!) I too would have enjoyed this.

And funnily enough, if I go to the post office to port something but need to buy an envelope for said something, I rarely bring an emergency roll of sticky (see what I did there) tape.