Posted on 03/02/2007 11:35:05 AM PST by CedarDave
Question: Why is the U.S. Postal Service removing all clocks from its lobbies?
Answer from the U.S. Postal Service: "It's part of our retail standardization program to make all the post offices look alike so you get the same service and the same supplies are available everywhere you go."
Answer from a woman in line at the Academy Post Office on San Antonio NE: "That would be so I don't know how long I've been standing here."
Yes, the clocks are gone, or they will be as post offices all over the country continue a decade-long switch to red, white and blue look-alike decor.
If you ask why lobbies can't be standardized with clocks, the answer is pretty much the same: "It's the retail standardization program. It could be a cost issue."
Time to choose sides, folks. Post office bashers, just form a neat line. Those in the standardization camp, please try to look alike.
~~ snip ~~
"It's part of an overall design," said Sam Bolen, Southwest area postal spokesman. "All lobbies are to have the same feel and service... "
Amenity schmenity, said Jake Gutierrez, who was at the Academy Post Office to mail a certified letter. Well, what he really said was: "I've been here 15 minutes. It's horrible with postage as expensive as it is. They raise the cost every year, but service has remained the same. It hasn't improved. You have to plan your lunch hour around it."
Gutierrez and others should note, the price of stamps could go up to 41 cents in May.
Some people don't mind the time. "When you come to the post office, you expect to wait," said Kyle Burns, whose cell phone helped keep him occupied. "I wouldn't have noticed about the clock if you hadn't said anything."
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Again??
Oh yeah, those clocks really run up the electric bill...
If the USPS got efficient through standardization, one would think that they wouldn't need to raise the cost of postage. Besides, I like that San Antonio woman's response. That was right on.
Clocks are for people who don't have watches. BS issue.
I hate my local post office and try not to go there if I don't have to. I live in a small city in central New York. There's one post office here and it's always packed. The parking lot is always full, and dangerous. I'd rather drive in New York City or Washington, D.C. than have to go into that parking lot. The postal clerks who man the lines are great...but accessibility sucks. I'll drive 15 miles down the road so I don't have to wait the average 15-20 minutes in line.
USPS socialism; everything has to be the same and look alike. Boring.
I don't wear a watch. I have a clock on my cell phone. Watches are so last century.
No clocks means you can't complain when they lock the door just as you're rushing in at 3:47 thinking you've made it under line with 13 minutes to spare. Oh, what am I saying? They do that with or without clocks.
I hate the Post Office. They lose your stuff and then look at you like its your fault.
I had them lost an overseas pacakge with an antique camera in it. They send me back one of the customs receipt, saying they had lost the entire box. Lost in the machinery.
It took six months to get any satisfaction--and that was after no less than 30 letters to local, district, and national postmasters, my congressman, and the President.
And then they sent me two checks.
No wonder why they would be out of business in a second in a free market.
The main post office in Providence is wonderful. I was petrified when I first started sending pkgs to Iraq, the whole government worker stereotype. The people there were great. They cried with me when I was telling them about my son being in Iraq. They let me show them his pictures...so they could relate to who the pkgs were going to. Maybe come to think of it, I was the reason the lines were so long and people had to wait.
The higher the cost of postage, the slower the service.
Standard across the USA.
I think you can buy stamps over the internet.
The postal service is out of date. Needs to close offices and eventually will be out of business unless the government props it up with tax money.
Does this mean the USPS is going to repaint/remodel all post offices? I didn't know they had a bunch of money lying around..
Hmmm. When I'm back in Albuquerque, I usually use the P.O. at Alameda and Corrales Road. It usually has no waiting time.
My dad raised 5 kids,put them all through Catholic school,sometimes working 2 jobs to do it,got up every morning for 25 years a 4:00 a.m,I remember seeing him leave many times,out into the cold and snow,getting into that old Chevy Impala.
My dad was a Mailman.
This is because the USPS couldn't buy clocks that run as slow as the mail.
What a bunch of whiners. Who looks at clocks with cellphones and watches?
BTW: My postal service is great, and the people at the office are usually very helpful. One reason it takes so long is that a lot of older retired people use the counter to do things that can be done at the kiosks like buy stamps or overnight postage. They are always friendly and patient with them.
I have basically quit using the Postal Service. I receive and pay my bills online, post a Christmas web site rather than send cards and soon will get all my magazines in online editions. If I have to send anything I use one of the private delivery firms. 90% 0f what shows up in my mail box goes immediately to recycling.
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