Going Postal

I needed to send a parcel this week. I appreciate the very affordable rates available through priority mail, so I moseyed over to the local USPS. There are always huge lines at the PO near my office...ditto for the one near my home. It is quite apparent that they're cutting back on staff, although with two hikes in our rates in what...two years?...you'd think they could afford some staff. But, that's not the gripe today.

They have these nice little kiosks that allow one - if you're not afraid of computers - to weigh your own package, calculate postage, print a shipping label and pay for postage. It's all touch-screen and easy to use. Apparently, lots of people fear the kiosks, because there are seldom more than one or two people in line behind each of them...and dozens of people in line waiting for a human being. But, that's not the gripe today.

I decided I needed a book of stamps, since the ones I own are two price-hikes out of date. So, I went to the little machine that sells stamps. I was able to conduct my business with little effort. However! (Here comes the gripe....) There was a sign on the machine saying as how it's really not "efficient" for the post office to continue to operate this machine and it will be removed on a specific date in the near future. The sign goes on to say that stamps are readily available at Kroger and Schnucks and other nearby supermarkets and that we should consider making our stamp purchases there.

That may qualify as the strangest sign I've ever seen in a post office. "Don't bother us with your petty stamp needs. Buy 'em where you get your eggs and milk."

Weird. Totally weird.