The Post Office doesn't sell stamps

Brie

So I finally got round to going to the post office today on the way to work.  Only to discover that they were closed for lunch (I work on Fridays 2 - 4). 

So when work was finished I did a quick google and the same post office is showing on the PO site as being open until 5:30.  Great!! Plenty of time to get there.

And then I get there at about 4:40 and the chap serving says "you're the last customer for the day.  please let anyone know who comes in to queue that I won't have time to serve them before we close at 5".  Ah! So the website was wrong.  Not too pleased about having to do crowd control especially when the woman who comes in at about 4:50 has just one envelope that needs a stamp.  

And when at 4:55 I'm at the front of the queue I get the chap to weigh my first small parcel (small enough to qualify as a large envelope).  No problem.  And I get him to give me the price of the next which needs to go to Canada.  And he asks for me to hand him the parcel.  I explained that I still needed to address, put a card in (I had one to ensure the right weight) and seal so I would just like to have the stamps to go on it so I can pop it in a letter box tomorrow.  

Nope.  Can't be done.  All he can do is put a postage label on it and put it in the bag behind the counter.  He doesn't have any stamps.  He never has any stamps.  Other than first and second class which frankly one can buy anywhere.  He suggested that I go to a different post office which is a few miles away but can't confirm how late it might be open, whether they will have stamps or if it's open over the weekend.  

km1500

that's nothing - there's this cheese shop that doesn't sell cheese ...

swingaloo

Ignoring all the irrelevant stuff at the start of the post can  I ask why on earth you would go to the post office to send something you hadn't even addressed, sealed or put a card into? Why not get it ready then take it to the post office like people normally do.

comeandgo

You can get all the information regarding postal rates on line and then pay on line and have a post employee pick them up, stops you having to go into a post office at this time of year.

Emmia

comeandgo said:

You can get all the information regarding postal rates on line and then pay on line and have a post employee pick them up, stops you having to go into a post office at this time of year.

I was absolutely going to suggest this - buy the postage online, pick a collection date and they bring the labels. Why would you go to a post office. 

I don't really understand why you'd not already addressed and sealed the parcel up before getting to the post office though 

Brie

swingaloo said:

Ignoring all the irrelevant stuff at the start of the post can  I ask why on earth you would go to the post office to send something you hadn't even addressed, sealed or put a card into? Why not get it ready then take it to the post office like people normally do.

I've been making some cards.  They weren't ready so couldn't go in the parcels.  Also my friend has moved and another friend has her address but I don't so couldn't address that.  Honestly I'm mostly a normal person but sometimes things don't always work in a standard linear format!!

Brie

Emmia said:

comeandgo said:

You can get all the information regarding postal rates on line and then pay on line and have a post employee pick them up, stops you having to go into a post office at this time of year.

I was absolutely going to suggest this - buy the postage online, pick a collection date and they bring the labels. Why would you go to a post office. 

I don't really understand why you'd not already addressed and sealed the parcel up before getting to the post office though 

I've never bought postage online.  I work irregular hours so wouldn't be able to state a whole day I might be at home (assuming I can't say between 2 and 3:30 on Thursday or whatever).  And I've always gone to the post office.  I never suspected that a post office would not have stamps.  It's never happened before.  As for the rest - see my previous.

Brie

comeandgo said:

You can get all the information regarding postal rates on line and then pay on line and have a post employee pick them up, stops you having to go into a post office at this time of year.

Tried to look up prices and could not manage to find anything.  Also a minor problem in that I didn't know how much things would weigh and whether they would be classed a large letters or little parcels or whatever.  I don't send a lot of things anywhere so am not use to this so assumed I could depend on a service that has worked well for the last few decades.  I guess I was being silly.....

Debbie9009

I’m with you OP, I would expect to be able to go into a post office and buy whatever value of stamps I needed, so lesson learned for me too.

Cloth_of_Gold

It's ridiculous. A couple of convenience stores near where I live had a post office counter in them, so not a full post office, and you can buy any stamps you want there. So if they sell them you would expect any post office to have them.

Pollycat

Brie said:

comeandgo said:

You can get all the information regarding postal rates on line and then pay on line and have a post employee pick them up, stops you having to go into a post office at this time of year.

Tried to look up prices and could not manage to find anything.  Also a minor problem in that I didn't know how much things would weigh and whether they would be classed a large letters of little parcels or whatever.  I don't send a lot of things anywhere so am not use to this so assumed I could depend on a service that has worked well for the last few decades.  I guess I was being silly.....

I sell odd bits and pieces on eBay (maybe 30 or so in the last couple of months).

I have a note on my desk with the maximum dimensions for large letter (35.5 x 25 x 2.5 cm) and small parcels (45 x 35 x 16 cm) - info taken from RM website.

I weigh parcels on my kitchen scales.
I know how much each parcel will cost before I get to the Post Office.

I had a dispute with a person on the Post Office counter about the maximum weight of a large letter. She told me it was 100gm.
I knew that was incorrect and had to ask to speak to a supervisor to over-rule her.

Don't always assume people know better than you because they are doing a job and you are their customer.

I think it's odd that a Post Office says they "never have any stamps".
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