I am a seller on eBay; therefore, I make daily trips to the post office. I mail at least 20 packages per day. I have a 2-year-old son, so I make it a point avoid the post office during busy hours. I went a post office near my home this morning at approximately 10 A.M. I have been to this particular post office at this time before and have never had to wait in line longer than 10 minutes.
This morning, however, I ended up waiting in line for 45 minutes, and ended up not getting a chance to mail my items.
When I arrived at the post office, there were three people in line ahead of me. There was one clerk, and she was servicing someone. I proceeded to wait in line. I stood in that line without moving for thirty minutes. Finally, another clerk came out, and the first clerk finished with her one customer. The clerks, however, did not take any more customers. They were setting up their areas, and doing something on their computers. I can understand having to prepare your work area, but why were both clerks doing so at the same time?
As the clerks busied themselves with their areas, the line grew. Finally, someone opened a line at the stamp/info desk. She requested that people from the front of the line with small packages or simple transactions move to her line. I did as she instructed, as all of my packages were small (under 1-pound and 6X9 inches). Once I had all of my things moved over to her line, she glanced at my bag of parcels and told me "Ma'am I can't take you, you have too many packages." "Too many?" I asked. "Yes, you will have to go back to the other line." She stated. I did as she requested, although I still don't understand her reasoning. How can you mail too many packages? Isn't that what the post office does - mail a bunch of packages? I believe she just didn't want to take the time to do her job.
Regardless, I moved everything back to the other line, and stepped back in line as the third person, the same exact place I had been. An employee then told me that I couldn't cut in line and was forced to go to the end of the line. This employee had even witnessed me try to go to the other line and get turned away.
At this point my son and I had been standing in line for close to forty five minutes. My son began to get cranky and cry. I tried to comfort him, but there is not much comfort for a baby who has been standing in a post office line for so long. Determined to get my packages shipped, I remained in line, and tried to entertain my son. The employee who had asked me to move to the back of the line approached me once more. This time the employee informed me that other customers were annoyed with my son's crying, and asked me to leave.
I feel I have been discriminated against for being a Mother. I have seen other people with their children in the post office and know that my child is not the only child to act up while in line. As a matter of fact, my son is well behaved in comparison to some of these children. It is my regret that I didn't get this employee's name, or ask to speak to a manager before I left the post office. I was highly upset by this matter and had an appointment to make.
If having children in a post office is a problem, why don't they offer a drive-thru service, or even a pick-up service like UPS? I am a paying customer just like everyone else who was in line. If I am not wanted at the post office because I have "too many packages" or a cranky child, I will have to take my business elsewhere, and I will advise my friends and family to do the same.
0 comments