2 cents stamps

Here is another session of me venting. The new postage rate went into effect on January 8th, 2006 (On a Sunday, which there is no mail might I add). That means, the next time you lick to seal the envelopes and the stamps, you had to fork over an additional 2 cents. How come the price of everything went up but my paycheck remained the same? Well, that’s the subject on another discussion. But what’s the big deal about the 2 cents you ask? Well, let me tell you why my good friends. It’s a pain in the butt!

I’ve just purchased a roll of stamps (which is about 100) just the past December. And, I purchased in the post office after waiting in line for about 43minutes and 17 seconds. Yes! I was counting. You would too after you wait in line for more than 13 minutes and the line does not move! When I was purchasing the stamps, at no time did the postal employee inform me about the rate change. You would think a reasonable (or helpful) person would remind me about the rate change so I can either can buy the new rate stamps (which is 39 cents), or buy additional 2 cent stamps in order to avoid the hassle of buy the additional stamps after January 8th. NO! Not government employees. They just do not care! They probably laughed at me after I left the counter and went “there goes another sucker who is gonna learned the hard way!”

So, since I still got bills to pay, I figured I’ll just go back to the post office (again) and get some more 2 cent stamps. No biggie, right? WRONG! I don’t know how the government agencies do it. If they run their business in the private sectors, they will be out of business just like that! Can you say “Customer Service”? Or “Customer Care”? Or “How can we help you?” It’s obviously not in their training manuals. After the rate change, you would think the post office will take premeditated measures of ensuring the general public can adapt the new post rate change easily and smoothly, right? I would think by making sure of purchasing the 2 cents stamps convenient and painlessly would definitely accomplish that. Ha!

There I was, walked into the post office. The line is at its usual length, which is about 3 times over the ropes by the counter. I figured, conservatively speaking, it’s about a good 37 minutes and 52 seconds wait. So, I looked around and found there is an automated stamp machine. Oh boy, what a break I told myself. An ATM machine for stamps?! That’s unprecedented! I happily walked over to the machine thinking this will save me at least 45 minutes. Guess what? Of all the different denominations of stamps displayed in the machine, the only kind that was sold out was….you guessed it! The 2 cent stamps! Upon learning my fate, I figure the only option I have is get back in line and take it like a man. That’s when I realized I’d just tendered my doom when I saw the line had grown longer!

Shocked, dismayed and heart-broken, I walked back to my car shivering. This can not happen to me. First there was no “Holiday bonus”, and then the USC lost to Texas at the Rose Bowl, then this? I went over to the same post office 8am the next morning and finally got my 2 cent stamps (100 pc to be exact). But, needless to say, this has not been a pleasant experience!