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'.

It's greed and a lust for political power that starts wars really, that and things like intervening when evil dictators invade other countries. I'm pretty sure that lack of generosity with SelloCelloStickytape won't start a war any time soon.
TBH people have been saying "what is the world coming to" all my life. In the post office, the only difference is that instead of saying "yeah it's over there" the assistant would have said "you will have to pay for it madam" and glared at you from behind her Deirdre Barlow specs.

I'd have just asked for a bit

They are there for postage, not for supplying things free they are a business.
There's a sign up in.ours

I love this thread. Thank you all!

You can buy three rolls of Sellotape for a quid in card factory. The bit of Sellotape OP needed must’ve cost less than 1p. But yeah They’re A Business.

Where would it stop? Would OP bring her baking ingredients along to borrow the weighing scales next time rather than buy her own? Best Nip It In The Bud.

I think I must be drunk on half a glass of wine, because I am CRYING laughing at this thread. Between the OP's dramatic kindness declaration and @Moier's dirty knickers, it just keeps on giving. Brava, folks.

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 just replied, "sorry, we can't give you anything, they'll do us for fraud."

After what the post office has been through I think we should always be giving them sellotape, so welldone op!

I like to pronounce it cellotape, as in the instrument -cello.

Loving this post - especially Moier's contribution 😂.

Well done OP on calling out the miseries!

@AuntieJoyce No, definitely wouldn't do that😂! I do know the 'general limits'. My perception was, however, that a bit of tape was 'within the limits'.

Rest assured, I will now be taking my tape everywhere with me...as well as lots of pens!
(Yes mumsnet, I have shockingly also requested a number of business' ink before, without one thought of the 'where does it stop' repercussions.)

What the actual... I can't even believe you would bring that name in. No wonder the worlds so fucked.

Can't link, but a pp suggested op might go on to weigh her baking stuff on the scales....or maybe borrow their oven 😀
I think @titsywoo has it though. Its probably quite a few peeps doing it, and they get naffed off.mea culpa. I once realised late in the day that I couldn't seal an envelope...think the licky gum panel wouldn't stick. I asked if post office woman would put some tape on it please, very nicely.she said she would, then it arrived at destination flappy and unsealed. I'd sooner she'd just put me in arm lock and forced me to buy sellotape frankly.

It's hardly "bloody intrusive" - get a grip!!! Postal services all around the world ask what is in a parcel and have done for decades.

Just as an aside... you're not supposed to call pipe cleaners "pipe cleaners" in schools any more...

It's CHENILLE STEMS!!!! 😄 🤣 😂

Omg I love this 😂 It sounds so glamorous. What else could we give an upgrade to🤔

It IS intrusive, depending on what you're sending. I used to handmake cloth sanitary pads and sell them online. I quite enjoyed embarrassing the hell out of the staff when they would ask me what's in it. I'd loudly reply "cloth sanitary pads", they soon stopped asking me.

There is absolutely no need to ask what is in it, they should only be asking if there is anything from the prohibited list in it.

Oooo I just adding this cause I like telling. I went to the post office at my mums and thought I knew the drill. You wait in a queue for a million hours and pay £50 to post a £10 present. But no! Got the the front and the woman took my parcel, told me my wrapping was terrible, rewrapped it and somehow made it a large letter, the rewrote the label cause my handwriting wasn’t great. I told mum, her neighbours and anyone that would listen. They didn’t believe me but then they started telling me they’d been and the woman was amazing.

Or just answer the question without being a twat - it’s not that difficult really, is it.

Don't forget Magic tape. The King of cellosellostickytape.

Our local post office has just shut down but the two women in there were hatchet faced harridans. I used to dread going in.

Surely you realise that you don't actually have to state exactly what is in the parcel?

When sending things overseas there is always a possibilty that duty might be required to be paid in the receiver's country, and there are some goods which you are not allowed to send to certain countries. I really think this outrage at being asked what is in a parcel is ridiculous. Until today I have literally never heard anyone complain about this - however I don't live in the UK, we probably aren't as uptight here!

My post office isn’t allowed to give out tape anymore

Where I live we call it all “scotch tape”. Its become the generic name

Also, roll not role!