By the time you read this, my birthday will have likely arrived (maybe left, as well). I ordered myself a camcorder, and it was to be delivered by a package service I won’t mention.
I’d used the tracking number to know it was coming on Saturday. So on Saturday I waited. And waited. And waited past my time to go into work. I finally left for work an hour late, skipped my normal break and got home later that night to see a “Sorry we missed you” tag on my door.
The tracking information said the delivery was made 20 minutes after I left for work. I called the company Monday to inquire about my package, and what time it would next be delivered. The following is how I remember the conversation:
Customer Service Rep: Thank you for calling (name withheld), how may I help you?
Me: I was inquiring about a delivery I missed because I was at work.
(I give her the tracking number)
CSR: The package was delivered Saturday, but you weren’t available.
Me: I know. I was at work. I waited from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the package. I was seeing when it would next be delivered.
CSR: We don’t deliver on Mondays. We deliver Tuesday through Saturday.
Me: Will it be at the same time? I work at about the same time every day, and we’re just going to run into the problem again.
CSR: The route is the same, so you should expect it at about the same time.
Me: Is there any way I can have it delivered to my office? I work at a pretty established building.
CSR: No, we don’t alter package delivery.
Me: Okay, so you can’t do that. I can’t get my package if I can’t miss work, and you will only deliver it when I’m scheduled to work.
CSR: Well, you can pick it up at our service center.
Me: Where is that?
CSR: It’s on 18112 Elm Street in Loo-bock, Texas.
Me: Um, it’s Lubbock, and it’s two hours away from me. That’s even less of an option.
CSR: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Me: Well, you didn’t really help me with anything.
CSR: (uncomfortable silence)
Me: Well, I guess not.
CSR: Well, thank you for…
(I hang up)
After I hung up, I saw a report on TV about how the new postal rate increase took effect. Effective Monday, a first-class stamp was up from 39 cents to 41 cents, and people made accusations of price gouging.
When I went to the post office later that afternoon to mail two letters, I bought a pair of 2-cent stamps to supplement what I already had. While in line, somebody said the price of a gallon of gasoline went up five cents. So much for that 4-cent profit.
As much as I like to bash government when it has its shortcomings, I can’t do that with the U.S. Postal Service. Everywhere I’ve lived, there’s been at least one post office. In each place, at least one clerk took the time to learn my name. Not every package comes straight to my door, but my package is safe and sound a few blocks away. I don’t have to rearrange my day or go to Loo-bock to receive a service I paid for.
That’s worth two cents any day.