The United States Post Office is not having its greatest year.
The venerable organization is struggling in the face of alternative delivery mechanisms like email, instant messenger, and a general decline in letter-writing.
They need some innovation to bring in more sales. They’re trying harder. I get that. And I applaud it. But…
Lately I’ve been faced with an unpleasant scenario at my local post office. It goes like this: I approach the understaffed counter and say, “I’d like to send this book at the book rate, please.”. Then the employee behind the counter, with a glassy look in her eyes, begins to recite all the rate options, beginning with Express Mail and working her way down the price scale.
I listen, and when she’s done I say again, “Book rate, please.”
She runs my postage, and then takes my second book package. I say, “It’s the same.”
“I have to tell you all the options,” she says.
I protest that I already know what I want, but she insists. Meanwhile, the line behind me is building.
Then the Postal worker proceeds to try and sell me a bunch more stuff. Again, I applaud the effort. But the execution is very, very poor.
My apathetic Postal employee insisted it’s a policy and she has no choice.
Is this really a rule for all Postal workers? Does anyone realize it’s a Sales Prevention Mechanism – and not a sales making mechanism? What happens when your customers get tired of being insulted and decide they’d rather ship UPS?
I actually love the USPS and its services – but this policy of forcing me to listen to the litany of options, if it is indeed a policy, is asinine.
Dear Postmaster: I advise you to reconsider. Fast.
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