posted on February 14, 2001 11:29:56 PM
I'm really fuming! I won a wall calendar a few days ago and contacted the seller to let her know that I was a Canadian bidder (yes they did state they shipped internationally). I had a response today to let me know what the post office said the shipping would be. $13.25! I'm not upset with the seller, I'm angry at the USPS postal clerks that don't seem to know anything about Global Airmail Letter Post and Global Economy Letter Post (Surface). She took the item to the post office to get the correct shipping cost.
I'm sure all the clerks aren't this bad, but I'm almost thinking that the USPS doesn't train their staff at all. I sent her the info from the international rate calculator and am hoping that she will take it down and show them. She suggested UPS but that would be even worse with the $30 brokerage fee.
Sorry, I just needed to vent. If I have to explain this stuff to one more seller I think I'm going to implode.
posted on February 15, 2001 07:37:08 AM
Send your sellers the link to the US Post Office each time you win something:
www.usps.com
That way they can look up the info themselves. It's usually accurate.
You are right about the clerks not being trained. Most of the time we customers know more than they do. One clerk told me their supervisors don't hardly tell them anything--that he felt like a mushroom--always in the dark.
posted on February 15, 2001 07:46:08 AM
I totally agree with you! I also feel that as a seller the Postal Clerks give us the run around because they do not want to hassle with the international shipping. I had a package on Monday that I took to the post office to ship to the UK via Air Mail. The clerk got out his big book and flipped through it very quickly, took out his tape measure, and told me that the max length allowed was 46 inches with 108 inches length and girth. My package length was 47 3/4 inches. I asked if he was looking under Air Mail because the information that I had obtained on the USPS site said that 60 inches was the max length allowed with 108 inches length and girth. His response was "Why would Air Mail be any different?!" He told me to take it back home and repackage it so that is was 1 3/4 inches shorter. I took the package back home and went back to the web site and sure enought I was right and he was wrong!!! I called the PO and asked that they verify the info on the web site. I then had to lug this package back to the PO. This clerk, as well as a few others at my PO, are always very put out when I show up with an International package to ship. If they see me standing in line they typically make themselves busy work to try to avoid waiting on me! My advice is always go to the PO with a print out from the web site to stick under their noses so that they can't shuffle you out of the way to avoid handling the international shipments!!
posted on February 15, 2001 07:55:03 AM
vohnjamm said, "My advice is always go to the PO with a print out from the web site"
You are so right! I learned the hard way to always take the printout with me on international mailing. Some of my local clerks are great, and always get it right, but others . . . . .the less said, the better.
posted on February 15, 2001 12:40:57 PM
The USPS website even has a little blurb that says to the effect to 'print this page out to make shipping go faster'.
posted on February 15, 2001 12:48:23 PM
So anyone who does not look up rates on their computer or even have a computer (average normal people who just mail things for fun ) have the possiblity of getting over-charged because of the wording 'Letter Post'
posted on February 15, 2001 12:50:00 PM
I work for the Post Office, but I am NOT a window clerk. However, it seems to me that all the info they need is right there on the computer-all they have to do is hit a button or two. Even the worst should be able,but I unfortunately have to say I'm not surprised. The supervisor probably even knows less.
posted on February 15, 2001 01:03:45 PM
I think if the Big Heads in the front office had just called it 'Letter Post/Small Packages" this would not be a confusion for the clerks and customers. When you see the words 'Letter Post' many do not go past the title to see that the description includes packages.
posted on February 15, 2001 06:37:55 PM
I agree with your post, the postal clerks are not adequately trained by the post office. The postmaster in my very small Wisconsin town told me that she received the "new international rates" on Saturday noon before they were to take effect on Monday, in a binder the size of the New York phone book. Because, I feel, these new international rates were drastic that is NOT enough time to aquaint oneself with a lot of new regulations.
I too was convinced after the rate hike that the only "reasonable" rates for international mail had to be the global priority rate in the two sized packets. Which meant only items that would fit into those packets would I post to be sold internationally.
It seems to me that the big powers that be at postal central just throw manuals at the postal people and expect them to absorb the information by osmosis, no training required. I don't think that's fair.
My postmaster is not always correct at all times, she's only human. Thanks for the tip about the print-out, that's a great idea.
I think a few of the older generation postal clerks sometimes are a bit threatened by the web site. It wasn't that long ago that what they said about shipping went-- no arguements! I had one older clerk say to me, "you think you know everything about the U.S. post office, don't cha". Well, gee it's kinda of part of my business to know the postal regulations & rates for shipping; Since I send packages out everyday.
As a funny aside I once had a postal clerk, after spending numerous minutes & different approaches trying to get her "new" computer system to take my international global mail shipment - she concluded that the U.S. postal service no longer sent mail to Japan (and she wasn't kidding!) I had to bribe her a bit to have her ask for some help in getting the system to accept my package.
Everyday's a challenge. I just pray before I enter the postal cave, that #1 there's a parking spot up front and #2 The line forming behind me doesn't rise up strike me down from behind in their effort to buy one 34cent stamp.
posted on February 16, 2001 04:06:42 AM
HI, I use the usps site and when the rates changed they did away with the small packet rate haha which is by their definition NOW
"Letter Post",. Make a long story short I went to mail a small packet to Australia and they said it no longer existed, I went home found the description and printed the international mailing information and took it back to the PO and they were so grateful to me for informing them and even copied my print out to show all their clerks. LOL it was in their books but hard to find. Most time they go by their meters that don't explain the the definition of type of package.
I find that all the clerks at the post office are very friendly and love to see me come in. We ebay sellers are doing wonders for the mail business. Just wish I could buy stock in it(the Postal service that is.) or can we? ...
posted on February 16, 2001 08:39:52 AM
Hey irked - let's form a co-op AND buy out the USPS - I know we could run it better!
Yesterday I took a printout in to ask a question about rates to Germany - I knew the rates, but was not sure what the difference is between Airmail Letter Post and Airmail Parcel Post (apparently nothing except size and the rate, and PP may take a day or so longer) - my package could go either way, but is cheaper by Airmail Parcel Post. Anyway, as I was trying to explain to the clerk what I wanted to know, I kept using the term "Airmail", since that is what is on the printout. She informed me (and she is one of the smarter ones at my PO), "Oh no, we don't have Airmail - it's not Airmail . . . " and I showed her on the printout where it says AIRMAIL. She turned the computer screen around so I could see it, and showed me - "It's not AIRMAIL, it's AIR Letter Post . . . it's not AIRMAIL."
posted on February 16, 2001 09:49:02 AM
Now that is the funniest thing I have read all day kudzurose.
Yep we should really do that. Do you think the powers that be would let us?
That lady you are talking about needs a big letter L on her forehead. haha
OR at the very least a well duh sign on her station or post or cubicle.
Thanks for the laugh.
OH! do you think all our mail floats over or goes on the slow boat to China? Then gets there in a few days if we don't have any air mail? LOL. Besides most overseas mail does go by air somewhere along the line even if it does take ages to get there. Just look at the video's of the mail abuse last Christmas that was on our own national news at the airport. Not knocking the PO, just the dummies behind the counter for saying such dumb things.
posted on February 16, 2001 10:27:12 AM
Yesterday my husband tried to ship a package to Japan for me, only he made the mistake of going to the postal annex at the local supermarket. Even though I had sent him with a copy of the print out from the USPS web site, the clerk insisted that the package couldn't be shipped letter post since it was not an envelope (gee, ya think the post office could have come up with a less confusing name for that?).
He knew better than to second guess my instructions, so he took the package down to the post office, and sure enough it went through just fine. The clerk groaned about the annex employees screwing up all the time...seems they are not postal employees but just work for the grocery store that the annex is located in.
I learned a couple of years ago to not go to the annex when I got into an argument with the clerk about whether 22, 55 and 77 cent stamps even existed. No point in dealing with anyone that dumb! I can handle the clerks not knowing everything, but when they rudely insist they know better, it is just infuriating.
posted on February 16, 2001 06:13:56 PM
LOL! Thanks for all the great stories! I'm glad to know I wasn't alone in this. I've had to fight with postal clerks here in Canada over what is or is not small packet. But, my story ended well. The seller took the package to another post office and they charged the correct postage. She said that the "Letter" part was messing up her clerks too. I don't think it could be anymore confusing of a name for it.
----------------------------------- Yoda of Borg are we: Futile is resistance. Assimilate you, we will.
