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whats USPS's ABC?

N

NiceCold

Senior member
whats USPS's ABC?

i was going to drop off something at the post office. i went at 15 min before the close time and i took the shortcut route.

one person came the same time as me. he was in front me power walking and so am i. i was about 5 sec behind him. we both made it inside the building.

i stand in line for 30sec. then the employee says "hes the last one, we close" we look at each other face..... the guy in front of me and i.

i stand there confused.... then i get it. they kicking me out. then the clerk says "you can use abc"

i dont know what the ! that is. i just say its ok and walk out.


what freak man????? cant they let me? thats kindda bull! i was only 5sec behind the other guy. if the door was locked.... i can understand but i freaking stand in line for 30sec! this situation is when it needed a human-hearted employee! its all about the worker!

when i came from somewhere late night and was hungry... stop by a restaurant where the food is already made in stove, just have to scoop it. it was about to close but i dont want to eat it in the car so said for dine in.... the other employee says we closing and then the other employee says its ok for 5min. this is what you call human-hearted employee that knows moral and rightness.


anyway whats abc? i google and found this http://www.usps.org/e_stuff/ABC.html

? why would the usps employee tell me to use the abc??
 
He probably said "APC", automated postal center. Probably not ABC, unless that's some inside joke in the USPS.

I just use USPS carrier pickup 99% of the time for packages.
I print out postage using the general Paypal link and schedule a pickup at the USPS site.
 
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Crono said:
APC, automated postal center.
Click to expand...

is it a machine for self service? is it really what i need? it is a box and i needed them to do the stamping and stuff.

isnt it just for small envelope? i never look around when i go to the post office.


well i was standing about 4 feet away from the counter.... the employee behind the counter sends voice across the room. probly APC. anyway what it is?
 
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The USPS is a unique critter. They're run like fiefdoms. Some are so stiff and formal, you'd think their backs would break. Some are so helpful, you want to bake them some cookies. Some regularly open late but, post a guard at the door to make damn sure nobody gets in after closing. Send a thank you note to the post master and you get a form letter...eventually. Complain to the postmaster and you get a form letter...eventually.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
The USPS is a unique critter. They're run like fiefdoms. Some are so stiff and formal, you'd think their backs would break. Some are so helpful, you want to bake them some cookies. Some regularly open late but, post a guard at the door to make damn sure nobody gets in after closing. Send a thank you note to the post master and you get a form letter...eventually. Complain to the postmaster and you get a form letter...eventually.
Click to expand...

i dont really get what you mean. i can complain to them? and get a form letter? whats that?

anyway the ABC is self service machine? i could of done it with my box? or it just for small envelopes?
 
looks complicated. glad i didnt use it or they would think im from the country side. dont want to embarrass myself.
 
im not going to that location again. still piss of they not letting me through. finding new post office FTW!

thanks for the clarification.

and why would they allow me to use the apc but not the human service? i bet this particular employee cant wait to be off work!
 
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If you have customers in line before close, they are in your store. They have a limited amount of time to get out. In a retail store, that means, if you are trying on a pair of shoes, you finish trying them on, decide whether to buy them, and either buy them and GTFO, or simply GTFO.

In a USPS office, that ought to mean that those presently in line get to finish their business, and new customers entering the store are turned away. Sure, everyone wants to go home on time, but if a customer enters a store during working hours, and then the store closes, you don't turn away their business.

Fortunately, in your situation, they have an APC. Granted, IMO, the clerk should have been more helpful and suggested that if you are going to pay with credit/debit to ship a package, you can (and should) use the automatic terminal. If you are paying with cash, remain in line to be serviced.

IMO, the only thing wrong with what you described is the demeanor of the clerk. Common courtesy goes a long way, IMO. But, with government employees, they tend to know what they can and can't get away with. Apparently, they can get away with what they did.

Fortunately for me, I moved to a smaller town. They tend to be pretty friendly, and don't turn away customers who enter the store before close. However they do promptly close at the times listed. That's fair, IMO.
 
NiceCold said:
is it a machine for self service? is it really what i need? it is a box and i needed them to do the stamping and stuff.

isnt it just for small envelope? i never look around when i go to the post office.


well i was standing about 4 feet away from the counter.... the employee behind the counter sends voice across the room. probly APC. anyway what it is?
Click to expand...

I like you. You keep the APC terminals free when the lines are cluttered up. I love how APC is usually empty. It saves so much time when the lines are 30 minutes long on a Monday afternoon.
 
mvbighead said:
Sure, everyone wants to go home on time, but if a customer enters a store during working hours, and then the store closes, you don't turn away their business.
Click to expand...

Depends what they want and what the store does.

Customer service is a minefield full of "oh, I just need one more little thing."

When I'm closing, registers are pulled max 15 minutes after closing time. Period.
 
I live in the Los Angeles area, and those APC things are always borked when I need them.

I ship two or three packages a month, and the postal line in my area is a 15 to 30 minute affair. Bought a $10 scale on ebay years ago. Pack, weigh, print from home. Drop it off in the big hole next to the APC machine. Online postal rates save a few percent and offer free Delivery Confirmation. Saving time and stress makes me happy.

Haven't been successful doing international shipping from the counter (customs forms still need to be scanned). Someday.


Edit: I also only shop at grocery stores with self-checkout, and I only get gas at places that have pay-at-the-pump. Humans are inefficient. Machines are my friend.
 
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