A funny thing happened at my local post office last Friday. My PO is a tiny outlet, with usually only one person working the counter. I try to avoid it at lunchtime because there is usually a line. When there is a line however, it gives you a chance to chat with the person in line behind you. Sometimes that is a good thing, other times not.
See below for my story:
As usual, I was late mailing birthday gifts to my neice and nephew. I finally bought the gifts, but I needed to buy a box, fill it and send it. I decided to buy the box at the privately owned Fax and Mail Store, but ship it at my local US post office. You see, I love to buy my boxes at that store because they have all sizes on display and it is easier to pick out just the right size. However, they also levy a surcharge on shipping so I usually go over to the US post office and ship there.
At the fax store, there was only one clerk and it was slow, slow, slow. She was faxing, filling out forms for people, etc. There used to be two clerks but I guess they had to cut back on staff. I was so frustrated and vowed not to go back. I finally got my box, took it home, filled it, and went to the PO hoping for a better experience.
There was a line at the post office, and only one postal employee, but suprisingly it moved along much faster than the fax store. When it was my turn, I grabbed my box and was about to step up to the counter when a woman who had been filling out a form ahead of me went up and asked for a box. So the mail clerk went to the back to get it for her.
The lady behind me said, "Oh now you will have to wait, maybe you should put down the box." I said, "Its ok, it isn’t too heavy." Then while I waited she looked at me and said loudly and laughingly "And they are going to do our healthcare!" I felt my stomach clench and felt slightly nauseous at that point. At first I thought, what is she talking about? There is no healthcare at the post office. I wasn't even thinking about healthcare. It was confusing. Then I recognized it for what it was.
I said to her in a bright and friendly and loud tone, "Uh, no they are not! My insurance company hasn’t gone out of business. Nothing has changed. And " they " do Medicare. My parents have it and they don’t have any complaints." Well, that shut her up. I guess it was not the reply she was expecting.
My only regret was that I didn't suggest the fax and mail store as an alternative.