Post Office Diagreement - Delivery Confirmation label!

DaveH

DaveH

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WOW!

I just got back from the Post Office, I waited in line then put two things on the counter and said "I'd like to send these both priority with delivery confirmation."

He said "Didn't you see any delivery confirmation labels in the lobbby?"

I said, "I never looked, usually they just get put on at the window." Well things degenrated from there, but the upshort is this. All forms must be filled out and all labels stuck on by the customer before stepping up to the window. It's not the PO employee's job to stick on labels or fill anything out for the customer.

So I called the USPS 800 number and I'm trying to determine if that's official policy, or someone blowing smoke.

I suspect the latter.

Dave
 
I've been there before.

I had a woman get really snotty and raise her voice over delivery confirmation labels a while back.

(just loud enough to call attention to us, in hopes that I looked like a fool, no doubt)

She handed me a big stack of D/C labels and said "Sir, we're not responsible for filling these out, take these and start filling them out before you get here. We don't have time for this"

Being the only one at that particular window, and seeing that the place was almost empty, I thought this was odd.

The fact that she stood there picking her nails while I filled out the form and sealed up my packages kinda made me hot.

I mean these people do get PAID to work at the PO, they aren't volunteers.

I don't think it's unreasonable to have to fill out a D/C label or two in the course of a day.

I'm sure it never occurred to her that I was on my lunch hour and had to get back to a real job with real responsibilities, but I bit my tongue and didn't say a word.

I too would like to know what the official word is on this.

Other than rude and sometimes brainless employees, I have to say I've been very impressed with our postal service lately.

Josh
 
Every time I get delivery confirmation, I simply tell the counter person(usually, the counter person asks me if I want delivery confirmation), and they take it from there. I have never had to afix any lable or fill out any form. The counter person always takes my package, I pay the fees involved, and that's the last I see of the package. You must have gotten a lazy counter person that day.
 
Donning my flame resistant suit - it is not the job of USPS employees to fill out your labels. You are the person sending something, not them. Had one get in a bit of hot water for addressing a Priority Mail label for me incorrectly, it came back and they had to eat the cost of resending the package.
 
CarkHK,

I don't have a problem if that's the policy, but it never used to be a problem. So if now they are enforcing policy they should tell people.

Often the lobby is not very well stocked, I can't fill out a form ahead of time if there aren't any.
Then what happens? ( not arguing with you, just posing a rhetorical question)
 
The counter worker isn't responsible for filling out the forms. . .except. . .for placing the monetary value in the appropriate section(s). They're also responsible for "round stamping" the necessary documents.

As far as the counter working doing "all" of the work. . .depends on the counter worker. I've had a 50-50 split.

I have a stack of "confirmation tracking & insurance stubs" at home. When I need to move a box. . .I fill the necessary forms out and have them ready when I hit the USPS window. That way. . .I'm in and out as fast as possible.

On the other hand. . .

Have you ever had a job waiting on customers ? Remember the old saying, "The customer is always right." That's BULLS@#T ! Every swingin' wanker wants it done NOW ! Typical whinin' junk, "I had to wait 15 minutes. . .and now you're telling me that I have to. . . . . ." WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA

Customers can be outlandishly abusive (especially when they're 55-years old +) !


I go out of my way to be nice to all the folks behind our counters (just not the Postal employees) ! They earn a great deal of respect just for the BS that they have to put up with !
 
I go to the USPS site, got a sh-t load of address labels, delivery confirmation forms, boxes, envolopes, tubes, and even tape for free!!! So I have everything packed and filled out before I leave the house. I do not stick the delivery confirmations on the boxes ahead of time, as per a request by the Postal Workers, They said its easier for them to scan them and then put on the labels themselves. To anyone doing allot of trading or selling, I highly recomend going to www.usps.com under supplies and take advantage of the free supplies they offer. :)
 
Ok guys,

Here's your solution

Go to http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.htm

It'll print out a label for you along with delivery confirmation, and the best part is...the delivery confirmation is FREE.

That's right, FREE, if you do it this way. We ship hundreds of packages all the time this way.

Now we can all stop worrying about delivery confirmation and get back to buying knives...ha.
 
Postal office don't stick any stickers? Filling them out is of course your responsibility, but not even sticking them on there? Where the hell would I know they want the sticker? If I stick it at the incorrect spot of the package, should I try to rip the label and in the process wreck the packaging too? I've shipped packages in large envelopes. I write the labels while they stick it to the correct place that it's suppose to go. Besides putting a sticker doesn't take them tht much time.
Call them up, figure the policy. If that guy was BSing, file an official report. It might not do something, but at least you gotta vent.
No wonder they say going postal down at US of A
Coincidentally, the PO at Mike @ New Graham somehow refuse my Canada Post money order in USD funds. They're suppose to accept it at every office and I got pissed so I phone up USPS and filed an report.
 
Thanks Bad Guy. I just went over to the Postal Store and placed my first order. They do have just about everything available there - and for FREE. Can't beat that. Thanks again.

Ken
 
I have to say with the raising of prices on certain zones and the "bright cheerful" people you get to deal with Ive considered cutting them loose. after all who wants to give their money to be treated poorly???
the post office should consider senstitvity training. after all most businesses enforce treating customers well!! most of them there, not all, but it seems most, dont get it!!!
 
rev_jch, the postal service does give its window clerks sensitivity training along with skills training. But with about three-quarters of a million employees, the postal service will have its share of obdurate, inconsiderate, obnoxious, incompetent, mean, miserable wretches.

As a postal manager, I was always happy when a customer came to me with a story about an employee who had been less than helpful. How else could I fix what I didn't know was broken? When I was hanging around, all the employees were obviously on their best behavior ... so if any of you don't think the clerk is right, don't get upset, get the manager or the postmaster, and ask them what they think. You may save yourself an upset stomach, and save a lot of other customers the same.

But if you don't complain there, why complain here?
 
Thanks for the tip on that USPS web site Cumberland! Very good information to have. Use of the USPS web site to generate labels, and pre-calculate postage should be a real process expiditer.
 
Gotta pretty much throw a big DITTO out there to Gigone.....

I have always filled out all my own labels and had them attached to the boxes before i get to the post office.

Caylth,

I had the same problem with a Canadian International Money Order that someone sent me. Neither the Post Office or my bank would cash it. The bank actually accepted it for deposit and then could not collect it so I was out an additional $3 too.
 
yeah, I know this topic is pretty much run it's course, but I got a call just a few minutes ago from the local PO on my issue.

a) There hasn't been a policy change.

b) There is some issue about a sign or signs for the customers that he wouldn't go into. (I suggested they post a reminder to have forms filled out etc.)

c) It's the descision of window clerk to let you send a package without having delivery confirmation label ready and attached before you reach the window. Ditto on forms filled out etc.
(That is they can ask you to return once they are attached / filled out, etc.)

So, in summary, I just think I got one of those random bad day/bad interaction, etc kind of things.
 
Handy having that label maker type thing with Free delivery confirmation, I'll give that a try some time...;)

Just gave it a try to see what the label looks like, and to check something as well, wanted to see if the label program searches and inserts the zip plus 4 number and it did, which does make the mail travel all that faster, very cool! :)

G2
 
I've had a few postal employess tell me to step out of line and fill out the delivery confirmation slip. I tell them it doesn't need to be filled out anyway. The portion that goes on the package is not filled out. Only the portion I get is filled out so the post office doesn't need the spaces filled in. You can fill it out later.
 
It's the Postal Employee's job to ensure that the mailing address on the package matches the mailing address on the confirmation stub that you keep with your records.

Simply, when they "round stamp" your portion of the confirmation stub they are certifying that the addresses match. . .for claim purposes.

Unfortunately, the dishonest people ruin it for us honest ones. ;)
 
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