Post offices are very different here in the United States as compared to Canada, and quite frankly I still haven’t gotten used to them.
Here in the U.S. the post office is generally a old, large building. Of course the one I now frequent is in a mall but truth is most of them were built decades ago and feature huge ceilings and the kind of floors that make your steps echo throughout.
In Canada you head to your local Shoppers Drug Mart when you want to visit a post office. That’s right, you read that correctly – you head to the local drug store whose U.S. equivalent is Walgreens, Rite-Aid, CVS, or Duane Reade. In the back of most Shoppers is a full-service post office including post office boxes, package pick-up and delivery, pretty much everything you would expect from a post office.
So what are the differences? The most glaring is the fact that every U.S. post office has a long line any time you go there. I know what you’re saying, “Oh C’mon B you are exaggerating.” but the truth is I’m not. If you need to mail something at a post office you had better set aside at least 15 minutes to half an hour of your day.
Lately I have been visiting the post office more and more, sending greeting cards and boxes to friends and family. The other day I came across some shirts I no longer need or want and I know my dad will love them. All I need is a box and I can go ahead, pack them up and ship the items off to Canada.
So the other day I ask H if she can stop at Rite-Aid and pick up a small box. After a minute we both realize they probably won’t have one (their stock is terrible) so I ask if she can cross the street and visit the post office. They have a small area with supplies including plain old boxes for a dollar or so. I know for a fact I can ship the box to Canada for no more than $2-3.
H comes home with an Flat Rate box because the woman inside said it’s the best option and blah blah blah. Yeah of course it is, and it’s also $25 to send the box back home.
Which brings me to the last few times I’ve been there. Someone always wants to sell me insurance, or delivery confirmation. I sent a few small packages the other day and the woman kept asking me why I didn’t want to send it Express Post. Look, I just want the package sent regular old ground please.
The last six times I’ve been a customer someone has tried to up-sell me. To begin with I don’t even know what they are trying to sell me! What is the difference between Express Mail, Priority Mail and Parcel Post? The reason I don’t know is because there is no signage listing ship times and prices in the building.
Think about it – in what store do you shop and make decisions without knowing the price or the service you are paying for?
I appreciate the postal employees trying to be helpful but please don’t hassle me when I’m content on sending something by ground. If I needed or wanted it there quicker I’d ask what my options are – and I’d have to ask because there is no signage explaining the different services.
Tomorrow I will sheepishly make my way back to the post office and purchase a box for $1.99. I’ll fill out my customs form in advance of arriving at the counter and ask to send the box to Canada via ground.
Anyone want to wager about the up-selling that will take place at this time?
Has anyone else here in the U.S. had similar experiences?
You should check out the USPS website at http://www.usps.com. You can buy postage and order supplies. Also, some post offices have self-serve kiosks (I’m pretty sure the post office at the Macy’s mall on 7th street has one). You won’t be able to buy a box, but you can weigh your package and purchase postage without having to stand on a long line.
Hi there Li!
I’ve checked out the web site before but never ordered anything from it.
I’ve used the self-serve kiosks to buy stamps in the past, but if I ever have to send a package I usually need to (a) buy a box, and more importantly (b) ship to Canada and I can ‘t do that with the machine.
I hear what you are saying though – I think it is a great service and I’m surprised more people don’t use it. It seems as though almost half the people in line waiting for service could get what they need at the machine.
I used to work in an office where we’d have to send out dozens of packages daily. Depending on the destination, USPS, UPS, FedEx or California Overnight offered different benefits and drawbacks.
Sometimes UPS is cheaper, other times FedEx is. Generally you can pick up printer labels from USPS for free, and then print off shipping labels from their website. Then just drop the parcel in a post office box and be on your way. I never had to deal with the lines that way.
You should talk to H’s dad, he mails stuff all the time all over the world for eBay – and has really figured out how to do the weight and everything else right at home on the computer!
I think the downtown post offices are extra bad. Maybe because there are only two there? I know the one near where we live (non-downtown), if I go there during the right time, most I will be waiting behind one or two people.
There are quite a few post offices downtown, not two. Some have long lines, and some do not. It also depends on the time of day that you go.
The post offices that I have used are:
Olympic & Main
7th & Fig
5th & Spring
Cal Plaza (3rd & Grand)
Terminal Annex (Chavez & Alameda)
Federal Building (Los Angeles & Temple)
Arco Plaza (5th & Flower)
Not all of them are obvious from the street, though.
Here’s a tip. There is also a retail post office in Little Tokyo open 7 days a week (yes, even on Sunday) in Honda Plaza at 2nd & Central. It’s inside the store on the far right side of the plaza. (406 E 2nd).
Sorry, not 7th & Fig, but Macy’s Plaza on 7th between Flower & Hope/