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'.

@HeidiIeigh its my job so I care 😂

and you obviously did to have posted it!

Definitely not as important as the post office incident in the OP.

Moier 😂😂😂I might try this!

I think the Sellotape fiends are missing the point, or trying to illustrate further lack of kindness🙄

Ooh interesting. I had this very situation last week OP and as I queued I could spy the sellotape dispenser next to the man working behind the counter.

Luckily once I got to the front I worked up the nerve to ask him (I'm not shy just feared him saying no due to past experience) and he passed it over. No smile or eye contact, mind, but he didn't refuse!

There isn't much kindness left op, it's true.
I would have let you have some of the tape, but then I bet my ' jobsworth' boss would have told me off for allowing the customers to use Post office stationery or some such.
DS 2 used their service for his new passport the other day and he said the man was so helpful and nice ( he didn't trust doing it himself in case he messed up the forms / photos etc)
They are not all the same, but she was out of order not letting you have a few pieces of tape

I don’t think you can extrapolate the current state of the world from such a minor irritant.

Can we just call it sticky tape and be at peace?

I do find that since true post offices were closed in the search for profit, and shunted into a corner of Spar / whsmith, service and particularly knowledge of all the intricacies of postal and dvla details, has deteriorated.

No honestly I totally promise you I literally don't give a shit what it's called, please don't mistake me for someone who cares about the lil s/cellotape 🤣🤣

Good for you - I wouldn't be going there again either. Loved your parting comments too.

I'm not in the UK, but I'm pretty sure the postal agencies here in my town would offer their Sellotape, they certainly used to. I worked as a receptionist for decades and if anyone asked for Sellotape, stapling documents, even putting their letters in with our mail to be sent I happily obliged.

Did you say it right OP, real pedants can hear the C or the S, perhaps this is on you!

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 love to send you with my parcels, just so your claims can get more and more extravagant. Brilliant

Knowing now how shittily they are treated by their management, I am cutting post office workers infinite slack.

Plenty of people show up at the Post Office without stuff taped up properly and expect them to provide free cellotape which is unfair on a small business. One of those one rule for everyone I'm afraid. Happened to me before so I just paid for a roll.

Me too!!!!!

Scotch tape is far superior in the majority of uses.

But brown parcel tape only for post.

There is no “confusion … from some association with cellophane” - there’s a genuine association with cellophane. Cellophane is a film made from cellulose, cellotape is made from cellophane. Sellotape is a brand of cellotape, although nowadays everyone just uses “sellotape” in the same way as hardly anyone still says “ball point pen” or “vacuum cleaner”.

I get you. Our Post Office was run by a lovely family, who would always have given you a little sellotape when needed.

They retired and it was taken over by a rather annoying man who is obsessed with making money, filling up the entire floor/queuing area with tat for sale, and they won't give you any sellotape either. So, I ALWAYS now take a small pair of scissors and roll of sellotape with me in my bag, anytime I need to go to the Post Office.

Yes, it's a shame that there is little kindness in the world these days, so I am adjusting by just being better prepared now!

And this whole thread is why I love Mumsnet.

@FFortheloveofthedog

Thanks.. made my family laugh too.

This absolutely enrages me. I always just say ‘nothing on the prohibited list’ and stare it out. It’s so bloody intrusive!

@Moier We used to have a clerk on our Post Office who also asked what was in the parcel. I genuinely had to reply "knickers" once as my DM had been transferred from one hospital 90 miles away to another hospital (rehab unit) 75 miles away and some of her belongings hadn't been transferred with her. She needed some clean knickers and the easiest way to get them to her was to buy new ones and post them. I was chuckling all the way to the PO as I knew I'd be asked what was in the parcel.

This happened to me too!! "If everyone like you asked for sellotape" I was dumbfounded

Sellotape?!

Well yes, but everyone doesn't do they 🙄😒 Agree with you OP, people are shit

Or maybe they’re trained to ask people what’s in the parcel because most people don’t know what counts as a prohibited item.

Unclench and just tell them, they’ve got a zillion other customers to serve and you’e wasting their time.