Archives by Date: January 2005
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January 29, 2005
United States Postal Service: Doesn't Deliver Customer Service
Employing around 843,000 people, the United States Postal Service is the second largest workforce in the United States. If it were a private company, it would rank 11th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations (based on revenues). Shouldn't such a large entity have decent customer service?
Today, I went to my local post office in search of a roll of stamps. After waiting in line for 10 minutes, I finally got to go to a window. The employee looked like she'd rather be burning in hell then working at the post office.
The line isn't a big deal for me. What was a big deal was that she spent three minutes counting what appeared to be nine dollars over and over again. But, hey, she had to do her job.
"A book of stamps please," I ask. I wanted to pay with my American Express Business Card. She swipes the card and hands me the receipt. I sign it.
After staring at the back of the card for thirty seconds, she decides that I "didn't sign the receipt like I signed the back of the card." She asks me to sign again at the top of the receipt. I do. "It still doesn't look like the back of the card."
"Is this a joke?" I ask. Usually, merchants will just ask for a photo ID if there's a question. I can sympathize with merchants... I have a merchant account with American Express and know how harsh they are. "Don't be fresh with me," she instructs me.
I decide to simplify the process and hand her my Drivers License. After studying it for thirty seconds, she decides I can be on my way.
I mean... did this really happen? I don't have a problem with the fact she wanted to make sure it was actually me, but it's hardly a stellar example of customer service. There are apparently 400,000 job applicants on a waiting list yet no turnover. Why not?
No wonder Congress made firearms possession by USPS employees a criminal offense.
To learn more about the USPS, you can read the PDF report of the President's Commission on the USPS.
Posted in on January 29, 2005, 05:19 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
January 24, 2005
Welcome to ScottKidder.com...
Yeah, so I decided it's time for me to try this blog thing.
I've been really busy recently so have no time to make a "real" design for this blog, but don't worry... it's coming.
You can always email me at scott AT scottkidder.com. That is, assuming you even find this site somehow.
Posted in on January 24, 2005, 01:36 AM | Permalink
