Why I hate the United States Postal Service
Posted by Kelsey G on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
The above picture says it all. People are waiting in line right underneath a huge sign that boasts an “automated postal center” where patrons can supposedly mail packages without assistance. The only catch is, if the package weighs more than 13 ounces, you have to wait in line to go to the service counter to mail it anyway.
The USPS website also boasts that you can print and buy shipping from the convenience of your home. That would be fantastic were it not for the fact that you still have to take the package into a post office if it weighs more than 13 ounces!
Think about that for a moment… what are the odds that something that is too big to fit in one of those blue postal drop boxes weighs less than 13 ounces? Why would you even bother with the post office or its lousy service if you have a package small enough to be mailed without their assistance?
The Post Office claims that the 13 ounce rule was imposed for “security reasons” after September 11th. However, the only reason you have to stand in line is so that the postal worker can ask (paraphrasing) “does this package have something bad in it.” Yeah, way to protect security guys! How much did those anthrax packages sent in 2001 weigh again? Weren’t they less than 13 ounces? How much did the Unibomber’s packages weigh? I’m willing to guess it was more than 13 ounces and he sent those before the ban on 13 ounce packages over a period of several years… not that Ted Kaczynski would’ve honestly answered the postal worker’s mindless query of “does this package have a bomb in it” anyway.
The point is, security is not obtained through a stupid question. Security is obtained by having behind the scenes measures to detect explosives or other contraband or dangerous materials. Things like trained dogs, x-rays, or chemical detection machines go much farther than questions which expect those who wish us harm to give an honest answer.
It’s not like the post office isn’t suffering a major decline in business due to the fact that people are more often than not, using email to send most things that weigh less than 13 ounces. It’s also not likely that the post office has any desire to change either. They’ll just continue to raise postage rates to make up for their lost revenue and/or receive government bail-outs until and beyond the point that they have no willing customers left!
The US postal service is the US Government’s only “for-profit,” self sustaining enterprise and they can’t even get that right! Remember folks, these are the same morons who want to muck up our health care system!
Despite slightly higher prices for packages between 13 ounces and 10 pounds, I’m using UPS from now on. At least they’re out to actually earn my patronage and I’ve never had to wait in line either!
(3 Ratings)Filed Under: Humorous, News & Politics
I love the photo, and share your disdain for the Postal Service. However, one clarification is in order. My understanding is that as of July 2007, it’s now possible to ship packages over 13 ounces without visiting the post office, as long as you print out the postage from online. See http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_058.htm for more information.
Also, your first paragraph isn’t accurate. You state that if a package weighs more than 13 ounces, you need to go to the service counter. That used to be the case, but it no longer is. Just two weeks ago, I went to a post office and there was nobody behind the counter, so I tried out the “automated postal center,” and it let me ship a package that weighed several pounds.
Granted, the “automated postal center” could have been a little easier to use. For example, the woman in front of me couldn’t even figure out where her “stamps” came out of the machine. It turns out that it doesn’t print out stamps, but rather just a shipping label that resembles a UPS shipping label.
But my point is, the main gripes in your blog post were valid two years ago, but not any longer.
p.s. One other thing: Theoretically, the rule about having to go to the counter has more to do with the fact that there’s a camera filming people at the counter than it does with the stupid question about anything flammable, hazardous, liquid, or potentially dangerous (I practically have it memorized now from hearing it so many times).
Similarly, I bet the main reason they now let people ship large packages by printing the postage from online (as opposed to using traditional stamps) is because they believe they can trace people better via online postage than from a traditional stamp.
Good article. I still hate the DMV more tho…
Nathan,
The gripes were based upon a visit to the post office a couple of hours before I wrote the blog post. Yes, the automated machine will print postage on a package greater than 13 ounces, but there’s a big sign on the drop box right next to the postage machine that claims packages can’t weigh more than 13 ounces. If the policy was changed, my post office didn’t get the message.
If I can, that visit will be one of my last.
UPS Store. Costs a bit more but never had any service problems or lost a package. Can’t say the same for USPS.