posted on October 25, 2002 01:35:23 PM new
You know, every Grocery store has an express line.
The PO Really needs an "Old People" line. How important is it really to have just the right picture on your stamp? Why is it always a big decision for old folks?
If you had a choice, would you rather stand in line behind;
A) Someone with a postage meter
B) Someone with a Passport application
C) Two Old people holding normal envelopes
posted on October 25, 2002 02:03:55 PM new
None of the above !! LOL !!
I know, they complain about all of us ebay sellers backing up the PO lines, huh !
And they are such a pain in the grocery stores too .... just stop dead in their tracks and block the aisles, hate that !
Oh, and must pay with exact change so go digging for it, hate that too !
I am 52 and good god, hope i don't get the same way, yikes !!
posted on October 25, 2002 02:17:25 PM new
You would be surprised at how many of the over 30 crowd agonize over stamp choices and have you ever gotten behind anyone with a passport application or someone buying multiple money orders to send overseas by registered mail? I have many times and I would much rather wait for the aged stamp connoiseur's selection.. Like a bank you stand in one line and it is the luck of the draw as to who is ahead of you.
buyhigh
posted on October 25, 2002 03:01:20 PM new
Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me. How many times have YOU held up the line while mailing out multiple parcels? I know I have, and the looks I get are not pleasant.
posted on October 25, 2002 03:22:42 PM new
Just remember that if you live long enough, you will be of us OLD ones. We have every right in the world to choose which stamp we like best. Personally I buy my stamps in a roll of 100 & could care less what or who is on them, just make sure they are 37 centers. By the way I am 74 & am going strong.
[ edited by sanmar on Oct 25, 2002 03:23 PM ]
posted on October 25, 2002 03:53:54 PM new
Gina50- You could develop Angina at 53 or 55 and I understand that this condition stops people in their tracks - where ever they are. How would you deal with this? Maybe make a sign to hold up so that others would understand? I recently went to a small P.O with 1 clerk to pick up a $7.40 book of stamps and the guy ahead of me had over 20 packages to mail and each had to be weighed etc. I sure he was taking care of e-Bay business. Maybe they should have a special line for multiple packages as well as for the old folks.
buyhigh
posted on October 25, 2002 04:07:43 PM new
Wow, who do you consider old? The nice thing about our mail postoffice is that the passport window only does passports. We have a line that stands behind no window but to the side. You are called from that line when a window opens so if you are in line behind 3 or 4 "OLD" folks that look at stamps or "eBay" sellers everyone is out of luck. It's not who get to the post office that is young it is who gets to the post office first. The rest wait in line. Now I suppose all you younguns want a postoffice of your own.
Sanmar you must be a very young 74 because you write like you are about 30. I would be happy to stand behind you in a line as you seem to have your act together. Not like the gentleman, probably in his 40's, that was behind me with gazillion packages, all priority mail with insurance and no paper work filled out. This was on a Saturday at 11:15. I explained to him about the online Priority Labels and filling out insurance forms before getting there, he said he was to busy...
I am also a senior and move rather quickly and have everything ready when I get there. No body waits to long for me.
posted on October 25, 2002 04:30:07 PM new
I go to the PO with my box full of ebay parcels and someone would come in behind me with one letter so I would let her (mostly a Her) go first.
No more, after they invariably have a registered letter, and need stamps, and a money order.....
Now I just stand there with a glassy look in my eyes.....
posted on October 25, 2002 04:37:00 PM new
sanmar-
Good for you and I am being sincere.
Speaking of holding up the post office lines, the other day I had about 12 packages to send out with about 10 people behind me and believe me, I received some "looks" and I am a younger person.
To me it doesn't matter if you're younger or older (when you hold up a line somewhere,it's still a pain to wait).
Just have to remember to use common courtesy and like my mother used to say,"Respect your elders"!
posted on October 25, 2002 04:53:10 PM new
sanmar,
A nice old fella I work with has this reply when we call him "Old Man"
"better to be old than to be dead"
Kinda makes sense......
[ edited by micmic66 on Oct 25, 2002 04:53 PM ]
posted on October 25, 2002 05:06:56 PM new
Well, I am almost 70 and can take 5 packages, ready to go, forms all made out, no silly questions; and get my visit done faster than than most people in line with just a couple of packages or a few letters. On the PO, one PO here is the "new look" with a philatilic section in front, with a clerk selling stamps (any design you want) and supplies, and answering questions. It looks like a third of the PO customers get their business done up front and never get to the real counter.
posted on October 25, 2002 05:12:33 PM new
The thing about most eBay people mailing a lot of packages at a time is that most of us seem to have our act together when at the post office. I can mail 12 items in the time it takes someone else (young or old) to pick out the type of little cute birdy or santa stamps they want and joke with the clerk or mail one dang letter because they dont know the correct zip code or have not even written the address on the envelope yet. Why should we get dirty looks from people just because we are mailing multiple packages? We are paying for the time we use with the postage costs we pay...is the post office making more money from the person buying 10 cute birdy stamps and taking 15 minutes of valuable time with their $3.70 purchase or an eBayer mailing a dozen packages for $50 or more taking up the same amount of time? LET THEM GIVE ME DIRTY LOOKS..I dont care anymore.
posted on October 25, 2002 05:21:53 PM new
Replay: My god, you really need to get a little humanity - and humility. I am almost 65; I never used to understand why old folks walked slowly, or limped, until, 5 years ago, I suddenly needed a hip replacement. In a twinkling I understood (1) why handicapped stickers and spaces are important, (2) why some people walk slowly, (3) why some people limp. I have no hip problems now, but when I see an older person shuffling along I have empathy for that person.
I have some arthritis in my fingers now, and recently I was at a pharmacy, old man in front of me, and the (young) clerk sort of threw the change onto the counter for the man. The man looked at the clerk, embarrassed, and said "I can't pick that up." What a moment. I understand his pain.
Almost NO people grow old without some physical ailments! Try walking in their shoes, please.
AND - for me, stamps say a great deal about my values. I will not, for instance, buy a U.S. stamp with a flag on it because I think we have too much flag worship in this country. I am very artistic and want the envelope I send out to be attractive, with a good-looking stamp. I do NOT spend a long time choosing, but it's my money and I have a right to choose the stamp I want.
Hey, if old people are the worst thing to happen to you, consider yourself lucky.
posted on October 25, 2002 05:30:00 PM newI have some arthritis in my fingers now, and recently I was at a pharmacy, old man in front of me, and the (young) clerk sort of threw the change onto the counter for the man. The man looked at the clerk, embarrassed, and said "I can't pick that up." What a moment. I understand his pain.
A good education moment, though. Hope the clerk learned something.
Roadsmith, I am 49 years old and I already have osteoarthritis in both hands. I can't pick up coins, either.
I used to square dance quite a bit, which as you probably know is an activity that has quite a few older people in it. Some of the women would wear badges that said "Please don't squeeze my hands". I didn't understand it then but I sure do now.
600 mg ibuprofen four times a day makes life bearable.
posted on October 25, 2002 05:33:37 PM new
replaymedia: Lingering for long moments to pick out one stamp or another isn't an old people thing; it's a people thing. I don't care about stuff like commemoratives, but apparently some people do, because many of them want only certain stamps.
It's not just stamps, either. Look at people shopping for produce. I swear some of 'em squeeze every tomato before making their selection. Right?
posted on October 25, 2002 06:03:28 PM new
How about this for slow and stupid....
Doesn't matter how old they are. You are in a McDonald's or Burger King or whatever. The group ahead of you finally gets to the front of the line......AND THEN STARTS PERUSING THE BILLBOARD-SIZED MENU FOR WHAT THEY MIGHT LIKE!!!!
Number One
The damn thing is visible from outside the store and across the street. Why didn't these dolts look at while they were in line.
Number Two
It is the same freakin' menu that was there the last 1000 times they were there. Nothing has changed. You mean to tell me that they can remember what is on the menu? What is wrong with these people, haven't they got more brainpower than God gave a rock?
.................................................
I live in my own little world, but it is Okay...They know me here.
posted on October 25, 2002 06:37:46 PM new
buyhigh~if I developed Angina or another health problem, I would probably use home pickup for my ebay mailings and not go to the post office
Believe me ~ I adore older people and love to sit and talk to them about the old days. I love to hear all the stories !
It is not just older people that hold up lines, etc ..... I have a BIG problem with younger people on their cell phones .. you know they start talking and forget where they are .. stop right in the middle of the aisle at the store.
At least older people will almost always hold the door for you when you are trying to get into the PO with all your packages! I find that most younger ones don't, they'll let it slam right in your face and don't say ~ excuse me!
posted on October 25, 2002 07:06:28 PM new
To reply to various previous comments.
I use Endicia. I carry in 2-3 full mail TUBS every day. I wait in line with everyone else. Once I get to the end of the line, I hand over the tubs. I get hateful stares from everyone behind me, because I carry in so much stuff. You should see the look of relief when I hand the tubs to the clerk and walk away, taking all of 15 seconds. It honestly takes me less time to mail 60 items than 1 old lady buying a "love" stamp.
We don't have a passport window where I go, but it sounds like a great idea.
Now that you mention it, I haven't seen a postage meter in line for a long while. What's changed?
Roadsmith- calm down. I started this thread for fun. Old peoples healt problems have nothing to do with my original post. I'm not complaining about how slowly they move. I was complaining about how they don't even seem to notice the 5000 people in line behind them.
posted on October 26, 2002 06:46:02 AM new
Another "gray panther" here ... I will reach full retirement age in six months.
Like my peers who have posts in this thread, I am also well prepared when I visit the Post Office. That is because I am transacting a part of my business. However, did you ever consider that people in the 60+ age bracket come from a kinder, gentler time? A time when making a purchase of any sort was a pleasant, courteous exchange? A time when the rat race had not been invented?
posted on October 26, 2002 07:22:04 AM new
ASHTONNE: I'll be on the lookout for someone who needs a left ear!!!
Seriously, No matter where you go in this life you are going to wind up behind someone who is slow or confused or inconsiderate or just downright rude. Whether it's the grocery store, bank, post office or anywhere else you go. I know I do.
I own a home business besides eBay and I learned a good lesson from some very wealthy people. ALWAYS be courteous-ALWAYS hold your tongue-ALWAYS keep smiling.
Relax, take some time to smell the roses. If someone in front of you is slow, strike up a conversation with the person in front of you or behind you in line. You never know who you'll meet. Make sure you are fully prepared with your packages when you get in line so the people behind you see a prepared, competent individual.
Regardless of how irritated you become or how much everyone else bit****s, keep your cool. You'll lower your blood pressure, be a happier person and best of all you'll make the rude, incompetent person look like a real JERK!!!!
posted on October 26, 2002 08:13:31 AM new
The post office I go to is located in the inner city. I try to get there when the doors open so that I can get to work on time. Almost always, there are people there ahead of me. By the way they are dressed (and the fact that it looks as though they haven't brushed their hair in a week), it's obvious they don't work. That doesn't bother me so much as 75% of the time they can't speak English and if they can it's very broken; 90% of the time they want a pile of money orders; 95% of the time they are sending those money orders to Puerto Rico, Mexico, etc. and 100% of the time they don't have any of the Express mail paperwork filled out. More often than not, the clerk has to fill it out for them!! In the meantime, I'm standing in line dressed in a business suit and tapping my fingers on the counter.
I expect slowness at the grocery store. I just hate it when you have a couple of items and want to go through the "scan it yourself" line and in front of you is someone with 3 carts full of groceries and they can't figure the thing out. Stood behind someone once who fit that description perfectly. After 25 minutes I gave up and got into a longer line. I was finished first!
posted on October 26, 2002 08:45:58 AM new
Replay: "Just kidding" and "For fun" never cut it! I suspect we gray panthers took your original post exactly as it was meant.
Earthmum: WELL SAID! You get the gold star today.
Everybody: Should we start a separate thread on young people who talk so fast, personally or on the phone, that they're literally impossible to understand?
posted on October 26, 2002 09:05:52 AM new
OK, not alot to say here, but I am technically young, I'm 30. I think it all boils down to respect for our "elders", and really, just respect for "mankind". We all have our days when we are not prepared and we are the ones "slowing" everyone else down.
I also feel that what you complain about in others always seems to find it's way back to happening to you. I know it has for me!!!!
We all have our days when we want to complain, and sometimes it just doesn't come out right. I don't think there was really any harm meant on this thread, but I can understand each point of view here. I think generalizing it to "old folks" was just not something that was thought out before "speaking".
posted on October 26, 2002 09:46:23 AM new
I learned long ago that many elderly people don't have a lot of social contact because they don't go out a lot. They may not have friends or family that live close to them.
So the trip to the post office, the bank or a store is an "outing" where they meet and greet others.
Some come into my shop where it is a safe environment for them and they do spend money. In return I take time to listen to their stories and sometimes their ailments. They know when I'm busy and they seldom intrude on my time.
Everyone should take time to make a visit to a care home for the elderly. Afterwards I doubt that you will mind that extra wait in the next line-up.
posted on October 26, 2002 10:38:16 AM new
I consider my time in line at the Post Office my break every day. I am in no hurry and enjoy talking to all the people in line. I know all the postal employees by name and they all know me. If someone is in front of me old or young and takes 10 minutes to pick out stamps I just figure I get an extra long break.
Slow down and enjoy life. We will all (hopefully) be old someday and we can pick out our stamps real slow just to make the young people mad. I am 49 so it won't be that much longer.
posted on October 27, 2002 01:34:20 AM new
The cues will be as long as the market will bear.
replaymedia
You don't even realise that your problem is with the business owner, not the customers in the cue.
It is they who offer a stamp selection and give people picture options, because they don't give a $hit how long you wait in the cue, just as long as you do wait in the cue.
If you halved the number of customers, you would probably find that the management would release 1/2 of the staff, & the cues would be just as long.
I saw a movie once with Michael Douglas, he was a multi millionaire developer and in the movie he made a comment about people today
"Love animals but hate people"
So tell me replaymedia, joking of course,
Do you like animals??
