http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/17/just-wow-at-the-post-office-this-morning Comments On: Just Wow, At The Post Office This Morning by Kelly O en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Fri, 24 May 2013 23:30:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by very bad homo]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:07:58 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:24:10 -0800 The Stranger
I'm loath to admit it, but whenever I see an elderly individual trying to use the self-serve kiosk, I make a beeline for the regular counter. I've been burned on that count more than once.

@13,

And you could use them to buy just one stamp.
Posted by keshmeshi]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:08:17 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Babydaddy]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:18:42 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Fnarf]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:57:46 -0800 The Stranger
Bring back the vending machines! That was a style of self-service that really was foolproof. And it was quick!
Posted by Charlie Mas]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:42:23 -0800 The Stranger Posted by DJSauvage]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:38:19 -0800 The Stranger
1. The fact that a large number of people are incapable of using a self-service kiosk. This reflects poorly both on the incapable users and the folks who built the kiosk interface and failed to make it truly foolproof.

2. The fact that the post office has to assign a person to provide assistance to folks using the self-service kiosk. This, of course, invalidates the presumed benefit of having such a device.

3. The people who continue to attempt to use the self-service kiosk when they have proven incapable, yet will not admit their failure, move to the service line, and allow the people in queue behind them to conduct their business. Don't they recognize how rude they're being? Can't do it? Give up and talk to a clerk.

4. The whole post-modern oxymoron "self-service". If I'm doing it myself, then how is it service? This is all part of a business effort to save on costs by shifting the labor onto the customer.

5. The whole McDonald's-style effort to dumb work down to the point that absolutely no training is required and even the customer can do it. This means that new workers can be fully functional almost instantly, but it also means that there is no reason to keep experienced workers and that workers do not acquire skills, so there's no reason to pay them any more. This is how we get people who have had the same job for years and years and still make entry-level wages.

6. The people who berate customer service workers. Not only is this cruel (making a shitty job even shittier), but it makes no sense. It's not going to endear you to them and motivate them to serve you better. I will never understand why anyone would choose to antagonize the very people who they want to serve them.

7. An economic system that requires low wage workers to take shit from customers. Disrespectful treatment should not be part of anyone's job.

By the way, people can't work the self-service postal kiosk (or the self-check in at the airport, an ATM, the troubleshooter wizard on their computer, or any number of other self-service devices) primarily because they don't read the words on the screen. They are either too lazy or too impatient to actually read the screen so they respond to the question that they presume is on it rather than the question that is actually on it.
Posted by Charlie Mas]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:37:58 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Ian Awesome]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:31:11 -0800 The Stranger
http://oi47.tinypic.com/nd0m05.jpg

Same PS, same "automated self-service" machine". Taken Sept 5 because I thought it was sad and ironic that a "self-service" machine required a complete walk-through. If you need a walk through, don't use the self-service machine. Like self-checkout at stores, they're there for efficiency. The delightful staff behind the counter is definitely more your speed; they too need help from time to time.

- Transfer staff that are terminally bewildered, chronically dismal, slow over to the DMV or DOL.
- Postal employees need to do less up-selling and cross-selling and more FAST SELLING. No I don't need insurance on my $.44 letter. I trust you.
- Paint your post office. No money? Ask your community for help. I'd donate time and paint if we could do something besides ... beige ...
- Make it feel a little less like a waiting room in a cold-war-era doctor's office. See if Starbucks will do a pilot concept store with you.
- And bring back the vending machines where I can buy a stamp in less than 5 minutes of waiting in line, for christ's sake!
Posted by Brad in Seattle]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:20:40 -0800 The Stranger Posted by I miss the self-serve postage kiosks]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:14:06 -0800 The Stranger Posted by TVDinner]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:52:35 -0800 The Stranger
P.S. If you tell a rude person to shut the hell up, you are doing both that person and society as a whole a favor. Those people are bottom-feeding bullies picking on retail employees because they know the retail employee (or postal worker in this case) isn't allowed to fight back. It's cowardly, and they need to be called on it.
Posted by Apocynum]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:51:16 -0800 The Stranger
And that place has gone downhill since Barnes and Noble was kicked out...just sayin'
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:36:38 -0800 The Stranger
It also wouldn't kill the post office to have a couple more of those automated stations in every post office.
Posted by Collin]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:22:32 -0800 The Stranger
Kudos to the postal employees! We love you!
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:22:18 -0800 The Stranger Posted by happy renter]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:18:39 -0800 The Stranger Posted by seatackled]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:17:49 -0800 The Stranger