| Author | Message | ||
     Sherri De Rose Citizen Username: Honeydo Post Number: 440 Registered: 11-2005 |
Something must be done about the slow, apathetic attitude at the S.O.P.O. I was on line yesterday for 20 minutes as only one window was open at 10 AM. When I got to the window and asked for 8 rolls of stamps I was told "We have no stamps!". They said the manager was out for 2 days and the machines were empty and they could offer nothing more than 3 rolls and I was told to come back later. (Later there were 30 people in line!) I called the main USPO number to lodge a complaint and asked if anything would be done. I was told that only if a large number of people complained would this situation be rectified by the Dept of Consumer Affairs. So I am asking all you S.O. residents who are tired of dealing with the S.O.P.O people to please call and lodge your complaints so maybe something will be done. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1033 Registered: 1-2006 |
Do you know the number, and would you please post it. I aged more than once while waiting for service there. jd | ||
| Kibbegirl Citizen Username: Kibbegirl Post Number: 773 Registered: 5-2003 |
Sure! What's the number? These are the same folks who have consistently f'ed up our change of address. I've been there several times speaking to the head of the mail carriers and each time I'm assured that it will be taken care of --not! The last time I went there, I had an armload of mail that still had our old address on there and only one piece that had the yellow sticker with the new address. They all looked dumbfounded. Sure! Give the number -- I'll call! | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 4187 Registered: 5-2001  |
Take your business elsewhere. -s. | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1899 Registered: 3-2003 |
I do. Millburn. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 787 Registered: 2-2006 |
I have lodged complaints before with little results. Once I sent in an email via the USPS website that solicited comments. Someone finally emailed back to say they couldn't do anything without a written letter, no phone numbers provided. (I asked via email for one but the request was refused. Think this was some regional office in Bergen somewhere. But the game was to drop any responsibility for anything.) They seem to be hiding from the public. The last two times I've been in there, across 2-3 weeks, they have been out of stamps. I think writing to Sen. Lautenberg might help. (Although one exasperated woman in line there once told me she had written to a US Senator with no response.) If someone wants to float a draft letter, we can all comment, print the final and mail under various signatures. (Getting neighbors to sign might help as well.) Just a few thoughts. If nothing else, sending dozens of emails to the White House through its website might get someone's attention. We could "take our business" to Manhattan, but why should we have to? Why doesn't the PO in SO work? | ||
| The Man Citizen Username: Bumboklaat Post Number: 202 Registered: 2-2005  |
Manhattan? Are you nuts? Go to Maplewood, Millburn, or Livingston before you start commuting to NYC to buy stamps. Also, can't you just buy stamps at an ATM? | ||
| Cara S Citizen Username: Caras Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2006 |
Strangely enough I got a letter from USPS the other day asking me to do a survey about customer service with USPS. Given the number of hours i have spent in line at SO post office i gladly did the survey and in the suggestions box filled it with the problems as i see them at SO. The survey asked for contact info to do follow up questions so i also gave that and am hoping they contact me as surely they will listen to the results of a survey they are comissioning. Went to SO PO yesterday and wanted to use the self serve machine to do my postage (the best way to go if possible if you ask me) and had to wait FOREVER for the postal worker to 'help' the person in front of me use the machine when she herself had no idea what to do (or how to read the very clear instructions)- it's almost impossible to leave that place in a good mood if you ask me! | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 6131 Registered: 1-2004  |
I gave up on the South Orange Post Office long ago. Used Maplewood until recently. I discovered Short Hills is open until 7pm; so I've gone there the past few times. | ||
| westside Citizen Username: Westside Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2006 |
Sad though, that South Orange PO is basically unusable (like Yogi Berra said, it's so crowded that noone goes there anymore). The Post Office needs to put up more branches and hire more employees. People are using their services more than ever, especially in places like S. Orange where lots of people have home based businesses and telecommute. What happened to substations? When I was a kid (in Mass.) you could go to local businesses (like drugstores and grocery stores) and they would sell stamps and weigh packages for you. Whatever happened to that? Sounds like just the ticket. No markup either. | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 947 Registered: 3-2002 |
The grocery stores generally sell books of first class stamps , either at the register, or at the customer service counter. | ||
| Sherri De Rose Citizen Username: Honeydo Post Number: 442 Registered: 11-2005 |
I called 800-275-8777 and went through the prompts and got an actual person who took all my info. Every time I go to the SOPO my boss tells me "Good Luck!". | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 6137 Registered: 1-2004 |
westside I think Pathmark sells books of stamps. I find it's easier and less aggravating to drive to Millburn or Short Hills. | ||
| Kibbegirl Citizen Username: Kibbegirl Post Number: 775 Registered: 5-2003 |
I've purchased stamps at Pathmark and I have used the SOPO automated machine, and purchasing stamps that way is fine. But sometimes, I need more than just the American Flag. I wanted to buy sheets of the "Amber Alert" stamp, and I just knew SOPO wouldn't have it so I went to Maplewood. He pulled out so many stamp selections, my mouth was hanging open. SOPO never was this bad and I don't know what the heck is going on there. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3792 Registered: 5-2001 |
It's bad in Maplewood too. | ||
| Kibbegirl Citizen Username: Kibbegirl Post Number: 777 Registered: 5-2003 |
Is it bad in Maplewood? I guess I just got there on a good day. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 10734 Registered: 4-1997  |
1) Buy stamps online. 2) Buy a USB scale ($8.95). http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102728 3) Need packaging? Buy in bulk: http://www.uline.com orders tend to come the next day via ground UPS) | ||
| GSP142 Citizen Username: Gsp142 Post Number: 146 Registered: 5-2003 |
Kibbegirl, the reason why the Maplewood Post Office has such a wide selection of stamps is that it is one of a select group of post offices designated as philatelic centers, link:http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentUpload1View?status=i&langI d=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10152&HTMLName=stampcollecting.html&pagetitle=S_Col lecting#NJ, meaning they feature stamps and other items for stamp collectors. The Springfield Post Office (on Mountain Avenue) sells some philatelic items, too, so a better selection of stamps may be found there as well. | ||
| CJH Citizen Username: Christel Post Number: 223 Registered: 1-2006 |
Unfortunately the "go elsewhere" suggestion only works for certain services. I had to file a formal complaint after I submitted a request to have my mail held for 10 days while I was on vacation only to return home and find a big pile of mail on my dining room table. Not a single piece was held for a single day, luckily I have a friendly neighbor with a key who collected it for me otherwise I would have been the classic burglar's target. | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 4238 Registered: 5-2001  |
I live and work in maplewood Village and I choose to go to the SO Post Office. Never had any problems there. maplewood's is pathetic. | ||
| westside Citizen Username: Westside Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2006 |
When I worked here years ago, I sometimes used the Springfield Avenue PO in Maplewood. It bypassed lots of lines, but it isn't open much. How is that nowadays? | ||
| ttwizard Citizen Username: Ttwizard Post Number: 37 Registered: 10-2005 |
I was there today. The service was extremely slow. My suggestion, buy your stamps online and if you need to ship packages; have the USPS come to your house and pick up packages. It's FREE... | ||
| westside Citizen Username: Westside Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2006 |
Probably not a bad idea, except I'm not real comfortable with leaving stuff out all day. I really want to know why we can't have post offices with reasonable lines. I shouldn't have to wait 25 minutes at Maplewood PO like I did the other day. I don't even try the SO PO, everytime I go the line is 12-15 deep. This isn't a SO-Maplewood issue either, all the towns I lived and worked have the same problem- Iselin, Bayonne, Kearny (Kearny was pretty good though). We deserve better. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1041 Registered: 1-2006 |
Don't go postal on them, please. They have a monolopy on that gesture. jd | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1043 Registered: 8-2005 |
Vauxhall, people!!! It's right there on Springefiels Avenue (across from Jiffy Lube), there's always parking available out front and almost never a line!!! And the icing on the cake? The people are outright FRIENDLY!!! | ||
| westside Citizen Username: Westside Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2006 |
Good call, Scully. I remember them from way back, they are a good alternative. | ||
| Politicalmon Citizen Username: Politicalmon Post Number: 273 Registered: 9-2005  |
Dave - good call empower yourself | ||
| Jerry Tuttle Citizen Username: Jerrytuttle Post Number: 37 Registered: 11-2004 |
It can be pretty slow evenings in the Maplewood post office too. Church Street (Manhattan) has lots of stamp machines, and also some self-service machines so you can pretty much avoid the lines if you're willing to pay by credit card. Jerry Tuttle www.SoOrangeNotary.com |
