nandywell

I'd like to tell you about a curious incident that happened today around 4pm. I entered my local PO to dispatch of four small, neatly wrapped, A5 padded envelopes and after waiting for what seemed like an eternity, but which in reality was about twenty five minutes, I eventually reached the front of the queue.

My heart sank on realization that the only vacant counter was occupied by a rather poor Les Dawson lookalike. After informing her of my postal needs she muttered "Mmm Mmmmm Mm Mmm Mmmm".

"Sorry?" I asked.

"Put it on the scales!" she snapped.

And so I did. I weighed all four envelopes and was just about to slide them through the slit under the glass screen when she rammed eight postal stamps through and said "Stick two on each envelope".

"Sorry", I said. "But that's your job, I'm the customer."

She then rather confidently replied "I'm not sticking them on."

"Why not?", I snapped.

"Because it's the customer's responsibility to put the stamps on" she replied.

"Then why have you a stamp sponge?" I said.

"That's for.. err.. well anyway it's bone dry" she said.

"Then wet it" I snarled.

"Just stick them on yourself" she growled.

"No! you've kept me waiting for twenty five minutes, your attitude is appalling and on principle, I'm not licking eight stamps when you've a perfectly fine sponge sat there right beside you, you do it and remember I'm the customer!"

At this point, I was bright red and really ready to throw a few expletives into the mix.

"Fine, then you'll just have to wait and I'll stick them on later" she concluded.

And with that, she placed the envelopes to one side and slid through my change.

I'm not hopeful those envelopes will leave the PO today, infact they might not even leave at all.

It's terribly embarrassing and granted it's a trivial affair, but I'm not prepared to do her work for her on principle! you'll probably think I'm being deliberately awkward but when she slides those stamps through the slit under the glass screen, not only have her fingers been all over the back of those stamps, but it's the same slit used to place money through. Think of all those germs! It's the work of a moment to wet that sponge thingy she has on her desk, the shiftless Herbert should be more prepared. All the other counter staff members do their job, why shouldn't she?

What do you think? and is there any way of officially complaining as I did manage to prise her name from her before I left in a fit of rage.

This is yet another example of diminishing standards in this once great country.

narabdela

I thought all stamps were self adhesive now? They don't need to be licked.

nandywell

Books of four stamps are self-adhesive, but because of the new charges for size, 1st class stamps are no longer suffice and two or sometimes three stamps need to be affixed before they can be sent.

jaycad

well that's the way of this country at the moment-
bin men who won't pick up a binbag if it's slightly the wrong shade of grey,will not walk a couple of feet to replace the recycle box to where they got it from so leave it on the lawn with it's lid off!
police men in police cars hiding down side streets waiting for a car with tinted side windows to pull over so they can remove the adhesive tints as they are '7% too dark(never seen a stretch limo repremanded for this though) yet the same police are 'unable' to arrest the drug dealers who are blatantly dealing cocaine in every pub in the same area.
bus drivers who miss a couple of stops so they can have a longer ciggy break at the bus rank.

i have the same problem with a certain woman who works at my local post office

for some reason people don't see why they have to carry out their duties-the over the top health and safety bureaucrats are the initial cause of this growing trend.........it makes me mad!!!

''no diggin'!!!!!!''

nandywell

I couldn't have put it better myself Jaycad.

Dame Starry

I've had to stick my own stamps on in Post Offices for years - crumbs, nandywell, you've been spoilt!
Why don't you just weigh your items and print your own postage off on the Royal Mail website? It's quick, easy, no queuing - and you just bung them in the nearest letter box before the label expires.

The way POs are disappearing, you won't have much choice soon anyway!

DS x.

earlb

Nandywell -I applaud you Sir. I insist you complain about this ignorant person. That's the trouble with we British, we just let them get away with it. Jaycad said " that's the way of this country at the moment" - Unfortunately that's the way it's always going to be.

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

nandywell

Cheers for that Earlb, I actually started to doubt my own sanity when she challenged me infront of a queue of already irate customers. At least this losing battle I'm fighting is a just one.

samkydd

They should be renamed Pissed-Offices because I always feel very pissed off when I'm in them. They could do things to improve matters like ban pensioners and women with pushchairs during lunch times when working people have a limited amount of time to perform their transactions.

The staff should have their superior attitude gland removed by surgeons, and they should be constantly reminded that without the customers there would be no Post Office, and to show their gratitude by being polite, helpful and non-judgemental!

There should also be a fast lane like in supermarkets, with one package and cash only counters (excluding people fumbling in their purses for an hour to retrieve the exact amount required in copper coinage for a second class stamp to send a birthday card to their grandson Clifford in New Zealand)!

They could also help by placing ALL the forms available to punters in the main shop so that you don't have to queue twice to a) get a form and b) fill it in and hand it over!

People who try to get car tax without the appropriate accompanying documents and stand there arguing for ages because their insurance is out of date or not for that particular car should be siezed by burly security guards and beaten to a pulp in the back yard for unacceptable time wasting!

Lastly, E-Bay sellers who take armfuls of Jiffy Bags filled with their latest items for despatch should only be allowed in between the hours of six to seven a.m. as they take more than their fair share of counter time.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Carmel

nandywell here is the post office helpline they will point you in the right direction to complain that lady if i dare call her that needs to be taken down a peg or two see if she's as ignorant when she gets a good talking too. 08457 223344

Live each day to the full because one day it will be your last.

nandywell

My local PO was once blessed with a vending machine that allowed folk to purchase 1st and 2nd class stamps without the need to queue. That has since been replaced with a drinks machine that is full from front to back with over priced 750ml bottles of Coke, Pepsi, 7Up etc. On the back wall once hanged a clock, that too has been removed. So to semi quote James Mason in Spring and Port Wine "time and place no longer exist". The back wall, that once used to shelf all the leaflets and forms a person could ever need is now a sales counter for the recent broadband and telephone services that the PO provides.

We're living in a supposedly great age that malfunctions daily on so so many levels.

*I should really have already pointed out that in person, I'm a very timid young man and abhor all aspects of confrontation, so this kind of rebellious behaviour is quite out of character for me.

earlb

Unfortunately that's how it works nandywell. They try to weaken your resolve and embarrass you. I'm very glad you stood your ground and you MUST complain. You've got the phone number, now DO IT!!! Good luck.

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

EHV_Emmetts

Nandywell, I think the PO official you encountered today was taking Jobsworthism (does such a word exist?, if not, I've just invented it ) to new heights.

There used to be a time when you could hand over unstamped letters to PO staff and they would gladly put the correct stamps on them. It was considered a courtesy to the public.

Fellwanderer

Still happens here - and not just in my village PO.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

nandywell

EHV, common courtesy is unfortunately a thing of the past, but I at least try in vain to keep it alive. Thanks for the number Carmel, I'll give them a ring first thing. Excuse the pun but, I'll keep you posted on what happens.