Postal Service Vent!!!!!

[sunkissed212]

I went to my local post office today to submit my application for a new passport. I had one when I was younger but since it was issued before I was 16, I can't renew...I have to get a new one. That's fine, I have no problem with that. So, I did all the research online about what I need to do, where I need to go, how much it will cost, how long it will take, etc.

Last week I printed out the application and completed it. Friday I went to AAA and had my photos taken and I went today after work to submit everything. There's 3 people in the post office and 3 workers. I go up to the counter and say that I need to submit a passport application and the woman tells me that they don't process passport applications after 2:00pm !!! What??? Where does it say that? (Nowhere!!). I was there an hour before they closed and they wouldn't do it because she said that they don't have enough people working after 2:00pm to take passport applications. Um, ok.....there's 3 workers and 3 customers....that's a 1:1 ratio and I think that's plenty of people to take care of this. I had EVERYTHING all ready to go how complicated could it be?!!!

So, needless to say, I'm pretty upset that I left work an hour early specifically to do this this afternoon because I'm leaving on Christmas Eve for New Brunswick. Now, I don't need the passport for that trip so it's not a big deal if I don't get it on time but I'm frustrated that NO WHERE on the postal service website or at the branch does it say that they only process passports for a 4 hour block of time during the middle of the day. If I would have known that, I could have made arrangements accordingly. Now, I have to try and sweet talk my boss again to see if I can take a long lunch tomorrow and try at lunch time. But, I swear...if I go tomorrow at lunch and they tell me that they can't do it because 1/2 of their workers are at lunch and they're too busy I'm going to blow a gasket!!

Thanks for listening to me rant!!

Oh yeah, BTW - I'm not bashing the postal service IN GENERAL ... so please don't flame me. My brother and cousin both work for the USPS and I know that they work very hard - I'm just bothered by this experience I had today.

 

[4greatboys]

I dont blame you for being upset. If they only do that at certain hours it should be posted. Not everyone has the time to make several trips to the PO hoping to catch them at the right time.

 

[jennyl772003]

I am a former postal employee. I think the PO has some serious issues with their retail portion.

They really need to treat it more as a retail business and hire retail employees, not use overworked clerks. That is half the problem. They are expecting employees that have a million other things to do to staff the front counter. Because they are clerks, they are being paid more then a regular cashier, which means they only staff a couple.

Seriously, they need to cut down to maybe one clerk to supervise, and the rest be cashiers.

 

[Jeanny]

my post office actually closes for lunch ... for 1.5 hours. They have two employees in the office, they open the window precisely at 8:30 a.m., close it for lunch at 1 pm, open at 2:30 and close it precisely at 4:30 p.m. for the day.

They do however, open the lobby doors at 7:30 a.m. so we can get our mail (they require us to pick up our mail there, they won't deliver it to our house). They lock the door at 5:00 p.m., so I only have time to get my mail in the morning on my way to work.

I'll have to tell my daughter about the not after 2pm rule, because that may apply to our post office also. She was just talking this afternoon about getting a passport this week while she's on vacation. She's going to Ontario in January, so she'll need a passport as far as we can figure out.

Thanks for the heads up about your hours.

 

[Micca]

I gotta give props to our local postal service, they rock Your deal with the limited passport hours sucks. I hope they are understanding at work.

 

[LoveWDW]

I just renewed my passport. The policy isn't posted there either. I picked up the form there and asked then. This was when I found out that I had to call and make an appointment, so I did and came back a week or so later for the appointment. It turned out that if I had gotten the pictures on my own I could have sent the whole thing in myself since it was a renewal, but I paid the post office person to take my pic then mailed it all while I was there.

 

[wdwpluto]

The PO I go to definitely has limited passport hours, but they're posted. Can you call and complain to the postmaster?

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Even though we only have two of our stations here in town that do the passports, I especially put up a sign in my office that states their hours. I do believe in the CYA rule. The station supervisor of those stations really need to have that info posted. Our two stations do have earlier cutoff hours for the passports than for the windows. Do complain and let them know that info needs posting. Now the website on the other hand wouldn't have those hours, especially since every town has different hours.
Good luck
Kim

 

[bicker]

Depending on the post office, passport acceptance hours could change from week-to-week (making it inappropriate to have the hours posted). That's why the website says, "Call the main USPS information number toll free 800-275-8777. They will confirm the hours the passport acceptance officer is available, any requirements for advance appointments and will be able to give you specific driving directions."

 

[mickeyboat]

Depending on the post office, passport acceptance hours could change from week-to-week (making it inappropriate to have the hours posted). That's why the website says, "Call the main USPS information number toll free 800-275-8777. They will confirm the hours the passport acceptance officer is available, any requirements for advance appointments and will be able to give you specific driving directions."

I called my post office for the hours, too. I can understand why every PO clerk is not trained in passport application processing. Maybe one trained clerk serves more than one post office, so each office can't have someone there full time to process the applications.

We have to collect our mail at the PO, too, as there is no home delivery on my street. It is a royal pain in the tush. I get out of work at 5:00, the PO closes at 5:00. They do leave the lobby open until 5:30, but if I have extra mail or something too big for my box, they want me to come back later. I have taken to knocking on the postmaster's door to collect that mail. I can't take off work early every day to get my mail.

Denae

 

[sunkissed212]

Depending on the post office, passport acceptance hours could change from week-to-week (making it inappropriate to have the hours posted). That's why the website says, "Call the main USPS information number toll free 800-275-8777. They will confirm the hours the passport acceptance officer is available, any requirements for advance appointments and will be able to give you specific driving directions."

bicker - where did you find that. I just went on the USPS website and didn't see that disclaimer anywhere. I think if I would have seen that, I would have made the call...but since I didn't, I assumed that passport services were done during normal business hours. Even if they posted something that said "hours may vary, please call for information" ... or something like you've shown above, I don't think I would have been so upset about the inconvenience.

Regardless, I was able to squeeze out of work for a little while this afternoon and get it done during the appropriate hours.

AND - I got an email response back from the email I sent the postal service yesterday afternoon after this happened: Here's what they said:

"Kimberly,

Thank you for visting our website. I understand you feel that the times
should be posted on the internet.

I apologize, I have passed your concerns on to my supervisor.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me. Thank you
for using the United States Postal Service. "

I'm over it now.....at least I know that someone has seen my concern and my passport is in process. I guess all's well that ends well, right?

 

[bicker]

bicker - where did you find that. I just went on the USPS website and didn't see that disclaimer anywhere.

http://passportinfo.com/Local/MI.htm

 

[diskids2]

My PO has limited passport hours, but there is a sign posted right above the area you need to go to while waiting on line. I don't blame you for being upset. I spoke with my DH, who works for the PO in Manhattan. He said that they are not required to post hours. He also said that not every clerk can be trained due to various reasons. He did say that the PO wants to promote good customer service and that the hours should be posted to help out with that. He also suggested going to the Postmaster of that station and provide a suggestion that the hours be posted.