# Customers at the USPS. You're too stupid to be an idiot. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787 "2014-02-07T20:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/1 "2014-02-07T20:53:54Z")
I’m not talking about the ones in line. This is about the people using to stamp/shipping machine. And it’s EVERY time. Jesus Fucking H Goddamn Christ on a Popsicle Stick people. I swear to God that if two or more people are in front of me it’s quicker and less frustrating to stand in the line for the counter behind 30 people. And it’s not that complicated either. Somewhere between an ATM and a microwave. To most people, using the machine is the same level of difficulty as using your smartphone to hack into NORAD. Are you buying stamps or shipping? Hit the button for “stamps” or “shipping”. Maybe the difficulty is that you can’t read because a screen of maybe 12 words of text shouldn’t take you minutes to read and them additional minutes to process shit like do you want express mail, priority mail or first class or do you want insurance because if you don’t know what the fuck you want then fucking stand in line and ask at the counter. Oh and you know that sticker on it that says they accept debit and credit cards and that card slot right there? You know you have to pay right? Then why do you fucking stare at the screen like it’s printing moonman language then sloooooooooooowly get your card out, blankly staring at the card slot like you’ve never seen anything like it before then realize that the rectangular thing in your hand might fit in there if you hold it sideways and that that will make those funny words on the small television go away. I was so freaking bored on time waiting to use the machine during December - and how many times during Christmas time do you say that you stupidly did NOT choose to wait in line at the post office - I timed the three people in front of me. 9 minutes - First Class box 12 minutes - First Class box 10 minutes - Priority Mail box Me: 4 minutes - Priority Mail box So now your transaction is over … or is it? When the machine asks you if you need to do anything else, that is not the time to stand there thinking, “Should I order a pizza tonight? I need to call my niece. When is the sale at JCPenny over?” Let’s narrow it down to postal stuff people. Did you really walk in the post office not thinking whether you need stamps or have another package WITH YOU to send? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/2 "2014-02-07T20:57:20Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Somewhere between an ATM and a microwave. May as well ask them to set the clock on a VCR. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/3 "2014-02-08T10:25:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > May as well ask them to set the clock on a VCR. Inventing the time machine’s the hard part of this one. Oh. I forgot. I’m at the SDMB, where people still know where “I go, I come back” comes from. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/4 "2014-02-08T12:48:13Z")
I endorse this pitting. People at the windows are not too much brighter either. I’m in that line every day and can’t believe some of these people know how to breathe on their own. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/5 "2014-02-08T14:49:44Z")
OP how often do you ship packages? If more than once in a blue moon I suggest you buy your own postal scale, such as this one: > **[Amazon.com : UltraShip 55 lb. Digital Postal Shipping & Kitchen Scale : Mail...](https://www.amazon.com/UltraShip-55-Digital-Shipping-Kitchen/dp/B000FSWB9K)** > > Amazon.com : UltraShip 55 lb. Digital Postal Shipping & Kitchen Scale : Mail Scale Detachable : Office Products And buy postage on the internet. I use: US Postal Service Click-N-Ship: [https://www.usps.com/ship/get-to-know-click-n-ship.htm](https://www.usps.com/ship/get-to-know-click-n-ship.htm) and Paypal Shipping: > **[Log in to your PayPal account](https://www.paypal.com/signin?returnUri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.com%2Fshiplabel%2Fcreate%2F)** > > Transfer money online in seconds with PayPal money transfer. All you need is an email address. Note buying shipping on the internet is sometimes, but not always, cheaper than buying at the Post Office. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/6 "2014-02-08T15:00:10Z")
I have exactly the same complaint with the ticket vending machine at the movie theater. I’m baffled as to what the big mystery is about picking your movie, picking the time, and sliding your debit/credit card in the slot, seems simple enough, but apparently these are the same people who just came in from the post office. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/7 "2014-02-09T17:28:45Z")
USPS click and ship. Really, use this. You save a few cents per item, and you can schedule a pickup from your postal carrier. The only time I ever go to the Post Office is if I have to send something registered or certified so I can get it postmarked. All you need is a scale, and it doesn’t have to be a postal scale. I use my kitchen scale that goes up to 11 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/8 "2014-02-09T17:52:27Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > USPS click and ship. Really, use this. You save a few cents per item, and you can schedule a pickup from your postal carrier. The only time I ever go to the Post Office is if I have to send something registered or certified so I can get it postmarked. All you need is a scale, and it doesn’t have to be a postal scale. I use my kitchen scale that goes up to 11 lbs. The only limitation is that it handled only Priority and Express Mail. You can’t print out a First Class label or anything in the parcel ranges. That said, I use it daily to mail books (PM). It’s cheaper for me to pay $5 in postage and use the free envelopes than it is to pay for all the wrapping materials and trudge down to counter-mail at Media, Library or Parcel rates. Customers appreciate the fast service as well. (Nothing, IMHO, is harder to justify than when a promptly-mailed order takes 14 days to arrive… just to save $1 or so.) ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/9 "2014-02-10T07:17:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > \To most people, using the machine is the same level of difficulty as using your smartphone to hack into NORAD. Have you seen smartphones these days? There’s an app for that. I fully endorse this rant, but will expand it to pretty much every self service type of terminal from gas pumps to ATMs to grocery self checkouts. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/10 "2014-02-10T14:18:15Z")
Cut folks some slack. For some people it’s their first time using it and they want to make sure they get it right. I’ve offered to help some folks who seemed concerned about making a mistake. I feel the same way about people who insist those going through the ATM at a bank or the drive through at a fast food joint should be 100% prepared to accomodate their schedule. We have programmed ourselves to be in far too much of a hurry. Other people aren’t on your schedule and shouldn’t need to be. Take a breath and relax. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/11 "2014-02-10T14:46:14Z")
May as well add in the times that the machine isn’t prepped properly. Several times, all I wanted was stamps, get to the machine, out of stamps. One time, the scale was giving an error message, iow, the machine was “out of order” but no one cared enough to notify us ahead of time, like say, with a sign. If I _have_ to go to the Post Office, I just expect it to not be as timely as possible. I can do many of these things online, tho. I can even buy regular stamps at Walgreens. So, it really only comes up on rare occasions any more. Still, it’s annoying as hell when it does. Oh well… ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/12 "2014-02-10T15:31:55Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I feel the same way about people who insist those going through the ATM at a bank or the drive through at a fast food joint should be 100% prepared to accomodate their schedule. We have programmed ourselves to be in far too much of a hurry. Other people aren’t on your schedule and shouldn’t need to be. Take a breath and relax. You could increase the speed of drive through ordering significantly if you put a second menu sign about 40 feet back from the microphone. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/13 "2014-02-10T15:47:29Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > …I feel the same way about people who insist those going through the ATM at a bank or the drive through at a fast food joint should be 100% prepared to accomodate their schedule. We have programmed ourselves to be in far too much of a hurry… Tell that to the folks whose jobs involve a punchcard, who have limited break periods, who have sick children or family members to care for, who really need to pee, etc. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/14 "2014-02-11T14:00:14Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > You could increase the speed of drive through ordering significantly if you put a second menu sign about 40 feet back from the microphone. Some places do exactly that. That can help if those who know exactly what they want can easily go around those who are looking at the menu, but often it’s all one lane and you have to worry about pulling in front of someone who may be going forward at any time. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/15 "2014-02-11T14:03:42Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Tell that to the folks whose jobs involve a punchcard, who have limited break periods, who have sick children or family members to care for, who really need to pee, etc. which is all not the persons fault or responsibility who is in line in front of them. HAve a short lunch break, bring lunch instead of going out. plan ahead. HAve sick kids at home. Order delivery, what the hell are you doing in the drive through anyway you irresponsible ass, have to pee, pull over and go in to order. They have a bathroom. If 2 or 3 minutes is too long to wait without getting aggitated, it’s your dam problem and fault not theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/16 "2014-02-11T14:05:24Z")
The ones who don’t know exactly what they want can go inside the fucking restaurant. That’s what it’s _for_. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/17 "2014-02-11T14:56:47Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Cut folks some slack. For some people it’s their first time using it and they want to make sure they get it right. I’ve offered to help some folks who seemed concerned about making a mistake. > > I feel the same way about people who insist those going through the ATM at a bank or the drive through at a fast food joint should be 100% prepared to accomodate their schedule. We have programmed ourselves to be in far too much of a hurry. Other people aren’t on your schedule and shouldn’t need to be. Take a breath and relax. I’m not talking about something overly complicated. If it takes minutes for you to read and comprehend “Put package on scale” means to put the package on the scale you are an idiot and wasting my time by being at a machine you cannot operate and wasting my oxygen by breathing. 30 seconds is slack. 3 minutes per operation is “Stop being fucking retarded!” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/18 "2014-02-11T15:28:22Z")
I think it’s a combination of slow reading and then not having thought out the process flow ahead of time. So you get the situation where you have someone who takes 10 seconds to read the instructions, and then has to actually consider what they just read and make a decision, which takes them another 5 seconds… at each step of the process. Most of us know that our package is 3x10x4, and is going to Phoenix, AZ by 1st class mail, and we can read faster, so we’re looking for the correct answer, rather than reading, considering, deciding and pressing. I know that I don’t want insurance, so once I see that particular prompt, my answer is no, and I don’t have to read the entire blurb or the contents of each particular button to know that. Either that, or people are just really stupid and slow moving and need cattle prods applied vigorously and liberally to get them out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/19 "2014-02-11T16:31:15Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > If 2 or 3 minutes is too long to wait without getting aggitated, it’s your dam problem and fault not theirs. You clearly did not read the OP. We are talking on the range of 10 minutes per person to ship a package. That’s not cut them some slack because they’re slow. That’s bring lunch and a good book because they’re glacial. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787/20 "2014-02-12T03:14:03Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m not talking about something overly complicated. If it takes minutes for you to read and comprehend “Put package on scale” means to put the package on the scale you are an idiot and wasting my time by being at a machine you cannot operate and wasting my oxygen by breathing. 30 seconds is slack. 3 minutes per operation is “Stop being fucking retarded!” Well I can see where calling them retarded and a waste of air is certainly better than offering to help. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customers-at-the-usps-youre-too-stupid-to-be-an-idiot/680787.md?page=2)