Astoria NY Post Office

[merm]

I'm curious to know what people think of our local post office here. Personally, in all the places I've lived in the United States I don't think I've ever experienced so many problems with the local post office. Some of my main complaints are:

1. Extremely long lines. Yesterday I counted more than 30 people in line, and there were only 3 people working the windows helping customers. It took me a half hour to get to the front of the line to pick up a package. There are towns that are 1/10th our size that have 3 workers at the window - what gives?
2. Poor sorting. I'm getting other people's mail almost every day. I can only imagine how much of my mail is going to other people in town.
3. Package deliveries. Everywhere else in the country you get 3 notices that a package delivery was attempted. Here you get one, they don't try and "redeliver" (despite the fact it says they will redeliver on the slip they leave at the door), and the slip sometimes comes a day or two after the delivery attempt.

I'm a pretty "smart" USPS customer; I do all my shipping online, I buy stamps from the machine or online, but sometimes you just have to go in there for some reason and talk to a real person - like to pick up a package. Every time I go in there it's a huge deal that takes almost an hour of my time (by the time you factor in the walk to the PO) - I think that's a bit over the top.

Anyone else have thought about our USPS?

[BigBryan]

You should have seen the old one that was blown up literally by rumour has it either some yugoslavian faction or the greek mafia. It was the pits and was on the corner by the Deli next to Grace Lutheran and a Carvel.

For the next couple of years we had none and were serviced through adjacent Post Office stations and all services including deliveries were dreadful.

Finally after the Ditmars Movie theatre closed down and a renovated club/resteraunt didn't make it - we finally got our new modern Post Office.

Isn't it wonderful ? I guess my vote is somewhat dissapointed - your definitly right about the lines and the efficiency of their service there.

[megc]

How long ago was this?

[lanseaux]

I'm with merm here - I really hate our post office.  I haven't had too many problems with things going astray, although I've both hand-delivered and hand-received mail to/from neighbours that was mis-delivered.  My biggest complaints are points 1 and 3 -- I've waited up to 45 minutes to get a package, and my experiences with their package delivery procedures drive me crazy.  I wish they would have a separate package pick-up window.  I think that would speed things along considerably.

Then again, alternative package deliveries aren't much better when no one is home during the day.  UPS and FedEx drive me crazy, although I think for a fee ($4?) you can have UPS packages rerouted to the UPS store on Ditmars.

[Harlan]

I'm curious to know what people think of our local post office here.

Yeah, it's pretty slow and the lines are long. They seem understaffed. The people seem relatively competent, though. I haven't had problems with package deliveries failing, and I appreciate that it's much easier to pick them up locally than if you get sent something via UPS or FedEx and have to figure out how to get to freakin' Maspeth. Also, the new automatic machines are relatively nice and fast, and most people seem to be intimidated by them so there's rarely a line. I do wish there was more than one automatic machine, though, as sometimes you do find yourself standing in line behind someone who isn't intimidated by the technology but really ought to be. :roll: Overall, I can't say I'm satisfied, but it could be rather worse...

[Harlan]

Then again, alternative package deliveries aren't much better when no one is home during the day.  UPS and FedEx drive me crazy, although I think for a fee ($4?) you can have UPS packages rerouted to the UPS store on Ditmars.

I talked to a UPS person recently who said that this was bogus, and that you couldn't do that because UPS Stores are franchises. Previously I had talked to a UPS person who said you could do it for $5. I don't know who to believe.

The only good reason I've yet heard to have a doorman... (Or shut-in elderly neighbors who will accept packages for you.)

[merm]

I wish they would have a separate package pick-up window.  I think that would speed things along considerably.

Other than recommending that they need more staff manning the windows (which they clearly do), I think this is the #1 thing they could do to speed up the post office lines for most of us.

My favorite is when all the customers in the line start revolting. Yelling at them inside to put more people on the window - for the record it usually works. They move someone to the window until the crowd is pacified and then drop back to the normal slow-motion mode.

[mirki2]

I wish all the post offices were equipped with the self-service machines so that you wouldn't have to stand in line to send an overnight letter or a package. You could just press on the computer screen what you need, weight the postal item, pay the postage and drop the parcel in the mail ... without any assistance from the postal clerk

[daisy]

My big pet peeve is half the time the self-service machine isn't working so you have to stand in line anyway.  Then you get up to the window after an hour only to find out they're out of stamps or the special envelope you need to send it in.  People on the line complain all the time, it's always an annoying experience for everyone, and makes me wonder if it's the customers who should be known for shooting up the place rather than a disgruntled employee.

Other post offices have separate lines for purchasing envelopes and stamps and picking up packages.  I only go to the Astoria post office if I have a package to pick up, but if I can - I have these sent to my job, which is much much much more reliable.....

[JustDesserts]

If I miss a UPS package, I usually call the 800 number left on the sticky note to reschedule delivery.  It's great! 

[megc]

My favorite is when all the customers in the line start revolting. Yelling at them inside to put more people on the window - for the record it usually works. They move someone to the window until the crowd is pacified and then drop back to the normal slow-motion mode.

Did I post this here?  I'll post the text (again):

Today I had to send a pile of documents to [un-named government department] to stave off the State from wreacking havoc upon me (aka robbery), and that involved standing in the l-o-o-o-n-g line at the Post Office. My mind was more on going over my documents rather than being annoyed by the line (well, I was a baby bit annoyed - it's the Post Office!). However, one cranky lady was NOT happy with the way the line was moving, and took it upon herself to let us all know, by screaming "OPEN ANOTHER WINDOW!!!" A little bit of time went on, and she repeated her screeching, "OPEN ANOTHER WINDOW!!!" Shortly after that, they opened another window! Surpise. She was the next person in line and when the bell went "ding" to notify the new open window she walked over and immediately said "This is terrible! All these people in line...!"

And then proceeded to ask, sweetly, "Do you have the LOVE stamps?"

Gave me a good chuckle.

[Gleason]

As new people move into the community, there will be naturally more mail and packages. Personally, I avoid Astoria postal facilities like the plague

And yes, I hate to say this, but as there is more development (I just ducked) the infrastructure (schools, trains, hospitals, etc. etc.) will always lag - another example of poor haphazard planning. Expect that lines at the post office will simply get longer and longer each year.

It is, on second thought, an insidiously clever system because it actually makes us want to gladly pay more taxes (and not think that we are supporting someone's (a campaign donor?) money making venture) to make a problem (in this example, an inadequate postal facility) go away.

If we knew the true cost of these ‘development’ proposals in OUR pocketbooks and OUR time we would not be so quick to acquiesce to them. These are the hidden costs that more than offset any benefits as they cynically wave that bloody shirt ‘affordable’ before our eyes.

We should insist that a complete community impact assessment be made every time we are presented with a glowing architectural rendering. (Hey what about having the Board of Ed sign off on a project only if there are seats for kids, but again, how many kids make campaign donations?)

That being said, go down to the bulk mail post office a few blocks south of Queens Plaza. Go to the front postal station across from the Tom Cat Bakery. Never a line!!!!

[merm]

As new people move into the community, there will be naturally more mail and packages.

Of course! It's all so simple to me now. It's over-development that causes the long lines at the post office! :roll:

Why didn't I think of that...

[megc]

I've lived in a lot of places in this country, and I've found that the Post Office kind of sucks everywhere!  :lol:

[Gleason]

Holiday pop quiz!!! Get your pencils!

1. When was the last post office in Astoria planned?
2. What was the population of Astoria (way back) then?
3. What is the population of Astoria today?

I know, the last one is unfair, its trick question. NO ONE knows that!

oh, and megc, go to most of the PO in Manhattan: Yorkville, Farley, et al. Higher population, a hell of a lot more mail, but much much faster lines. It was PLANNED to be that way! Manhattan people, rather then being passive bystanders, have developed the nasty habit of actually going their their community boards and elected officials and DEMANDING services at a certain level!

Amazing, isn't it? So guys, how about going beyond talking and doing something about it cause it ain't gonna change unless you do.