Post office rant...

[Dave_Obsession]

I just need to vent, and then I'll feel better

I hate going to the vast majority of post offices here in Melbourne. Not that the staff aren't friendly and helpful. It's not because they don't know what they are doing. IT'S THE QUEUES!

It drives me up the wall having to wait 20 minutes (usually more) in a queue so I can pick up a package, while seemingly every pensioner in the suburb wants help paying their water bill.....and then spends another 3-4 minutes chatting to the staff member about how their grandson works in the mines blah blah blah.....

Why can't they have separate lines for mail collection / postage AND for bill payments? That way all the oldies who don't know what BPAY is can still go and do their thing, without holding up everybody else who have got better things to do than stand in queues!

Most of us simply can't afford to waste that amount of time in a queue!
Waiting in a bank queue is bliss compared to a post office!!

I wonder if other AFF members share my viewpoint?

[Kryton]

Maybe go at a different time instead.

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by davway

Maybe go at a different time instead.

Doesn't seem to matter - unless you're there right on 9:00am, by 9:05 there's a queue!

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by davway

Maybe go at a different time instead.

Doesn't matter what time you go where I live it's the same as the OP described.

It always amazes me how slow a line can move in a post office

[cthomp]

Im with ya! especially when having things delivered from online whilst working full time its hard enough to get to a post office after work let alone wait in a queue!

Your idea about separate lines would certainly speed things up that's for sure.

[Racecraft]

no different than the 12 items or less turbo isles @ Coles etc...... FFS have a cash line, I don't care for waiting if you have 2 items but want to r00t around paying $7 bucks with your damn card!!!!!

signed
tanty tim

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

no different than the 12 items or less turbo isles @ Coles etc...... FFS have a cash line, I don't care for waiting if you have 2 items but want to r00t around paying $7 bucks with your damn card!!!!!

signed
tanty tim

i'm one of these people that rarely carry cash. i'd be surprised if i ever hold you up though. these days at my local woolies (not sure if its the same elsewhere), i can swipe my card, enter pin, and select 'sale amount' while the operator is scanning the items. when he/she is finished scanning, its all done ready to go. if there's not much of a queue at the self serve bit then i'll use that. you can save a few dollars on those if you don't have a conscience. instead of paying over $20/kg for postachio's(sp) you put in brown onions which are less than $1/kg.

[FGII-XR6]

at woolies you can't pre swipe at express checkouts I too get ticked off when in the express lane and wait for eftpos transactions express should be cash only

Originally Posted by prydey

i'm one of these people that rarely carry cash. i'd be surprised if i ever hold you up though. these days at my local woolies (not sure if its the same elsewhere), i can swipe my card, enter pin, and select 'sale amount' while the operator is scanning the items. when he/she is finished scanning, its all done ready to go. if there's not much of a queue at the self serve bit then i'll use that. you can save a few dollars on those if you don't have a conscience. instead of paying over $20/kg for postachio's(sp) you put in brown onions which are less than $1/kg.

[seduced_xr]

Originally Posted by prydey

i'm one of these people that rarely carry cash. i'd be surprised if i ever hold you up though. these days at my local woolies (not sure if its the same elsewhere), i can swipe my card, enter pin, and select 'sale amount' while the operator is scanning the items. when he/she is finished scanning, its all done ready to go. if there's not much of a queue at the self serve bit then i'll use that. you can save a few dollars on those if you don't have a conscience. instead of paying over $20/kg for postachio's(sp) you put in brown onions which are less than $1/kg.

you may just be the smartest person i know!.. i cant wait to do my food shopping this week lots of brown onions coming home

aenrt i lucky i have no conscience

[prydey]

Originally Posted by seduced_xr

you may just be the smartest person i know!.. i cant wait to do my food shopping this week lots of brown onions coming home

aenrt i lucky i have no conscience

best to do it when its busy. less chance of being noticed as there is normally always someone watching.

same with tomatoes. take home premium ones but pay for cheap ones.

you didn't hear anything from me though

[GK]

Originally Posted by prydey

best to do it when its busy. less chance of being noticed as there is normally always someone watching.

same with tomatoes. take home premium ones but pay for cheap ones.

you didn't hear anything from me though

May I pay the brown onion price for your wagon you've got for sale, or do I need to pay the pistachio price?

GK

[sleek7]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

no different than the 12 items or less turbo isles @ Coles etc...... FFS have a cash line, I don't care for waiting if you have 2 items but want to r00t around paying $7 bucks with your damn card!!!!!

signed
tanty tim

+1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The GF does this, buys 1 or 2 items and whips out the bloody bank/credit card!!!! Fortunately shes getting better since I have been drilling her about carrying around more that $10 cash all the time!

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

no different than the 12 items or less turbo isles @ Coles etc...... FFS have a cash line, I don't care for waiting if you have 2 items but want to r00t around paying $7 bucks with your damn card!!!!!

signed
tanty tim

I always pay with my credit card as I get reward points. Sorry about that, but it all adds up!

[Bundy]

Ha same here, I refuse to use the self checkout option, not only are they slow and painful and if you don't follow the prompts to the letter of go to quick, it chucks a wobbley and missy has to scan here super card to get it back online.

I've stood and in 12 or less line, 4 back and still got though quicker then the "I'm using the modern technology" self serve plebs. (woolies definately on a winner there, here's a thought, more STAFF everone's happy)

Stuff 'em I don't get a discount for doing it myself and packing my own bags!!!

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by bundy

Stuff 'em I don't get a discount for doing it myself and packing my own bags!!!

thats why i dont use them lol... they save money by not having to pay as many checkout chicks...

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

thats why i dont use them lol... they save money by not having to pay as many checkout chicks...

I for one am in opposition to this, as not only will less young people be allowed the opportunity to enter the workforce, but there will be less pairs of breasts to make my time in the queue less boring

[TheInterceptor]

funny cos around here theres morons with a lot more than 12 items in the 12 items or less line and people in self serve at their slow pace with the machine complaining that the item isnt in the bagging area and the people go wtf yeh it is and muck around till the machine craps itself needing a member of staff to get it going again with their magical card...

[[Tonko]]

After reading that, It gives me more respect for our local Post office. I'm in the boondocks but 5 second service, a yarn and a smile is worth it.

[Revolver]

I have virually the same problem working as a console operator at a servo. Not to put myself above the skills of the my colleagues, but I'm the fastest on the till that just comes with using it a average of 300+ times a shift for 5 years. I can & have operated the console without looking I know it so well.

However, Its that bloody eftpos machine. it takes forever. Espescialy with those new cards with a chip! Everyone remarks on it & is the only thing that ever creates a line up. & Whenever Im waitng for a card to approve, I ask for anyone who has cash to come forward, to pull the waiting time down, out of a line of 10+ people only 2 or 3 have cash. WTF? Seriously......

Carry cash on you, its quick, easy, you dont have the problem of your card not swiping & you cant find out the hard way that you dont have enough money in your account. You just look in your wallet, & "oh I dont have enough money, I cant get that" - this saves everyone troubles, you, me & the people behind you. What alot of people also dont realise is that every bank takes its eftpos lines down for scheduled maintaince, of which its customers (merchant & general account holders) are never notified. Of which the merchant (coles, a servo, etc) cannot conduct business on eftpos. Whether it be your bank or the merchants. When this happens, (& we always have signs up, but people never read) & it does decline, they say, "oh what do I do now?" & look at me to solve the problem, because they dont have cash! Its not like I can drain the fuel back into the servos tanks.

[GavL]

Originally Posted by Blue Beast II

I have virually the same problem working as a console operator at a servo. [...] However, Its that bloody eftpos machine. it takes forever. Espescialy with those new cards with a chip! Everyone remarks on it & is the only thing that ever creates a line up. & Whenever Im waitng for a card to approve, I ask for anyone who has cash to come forward, to pull the waiting time down, out of a line of 10+ people only 2 or 3 have cash. WTF? Seriously......

Why carry around $80 of cash to just pay for petrol when you can just pay on your card with all the money you have?

More servos should get card readers on the bowsers like at Mobil. No waiting in queues then

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by GavL

Why carry around $80 of cash to just pay for petrol when you can just pay on your card with all the money you have?

More servos should get card readers on the bowsers like at Mobil. No waiting in queues then

Must have missed the 3rd paragraph! For this reason:

Originally Posted by Blue Beast II

Carry cash on you, its quick, easy, you dont have the problem of your card not swiping & you cant find out the hard way that you dont have enough money in your account. You just look in your wallet, & "oh I dont have enough money, I cant get that" - this saves everyone troubles, you, me & the people behind you. What alot of people also dont realise is that every bank takes its eftpos lines down for scheduled maintaince, of which its customers (merchant & general account holders) are never notified. Of which the merchant (coles, a servo, etc) cannot conduct business on eftpos. Whether it be your bank or the merchants. When this happens, (& we always have signs up, but people never read) & it does decline, they say, "oh what do I do now?" & look at me to solve the problem, because they dont have cash! Its not like I can drain the fuel back into the servos tanks.

If the eftops is down, not even the ones at the pumps work. Im also talking in general for all purchases, not just servos. You'll be wishing you had cash then... Especially when you need it.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Blue Beast II

If the eftops is down, not even the ones at the pumps work. Im also talking in general for all purchases, not just servos. You'll be wishing you had cash then... Especially when you need it.

most servo's have an atm!

if i can't pay with a card because the server is down, then that becomes the servo's problem. even when eftpos is down, you can still pay by visa the old fashioned way.

i'm not one of these people who just puts a few dollars in each time. i fill my tank every time. i use 98 as well. sometimes thats heading toward $100. like RG and many others have said, its a lot easier to just have one small piece of plastic in your wallet. it is 2010.

[Revolver]

I have to say I'm a recent convert to electronic bill paying. It became mandatory when one of the stores I made regular payments at shut down & as far as im aware isnt another in a 20km radius from work. I used to cash my cheque (yes cheque, the owner doesnt believe Direct Debit...ugh) walk next door, put what I need for any DD's in my bank for the week, go upstairs to the PO & Store (also next door to each other) & pay my bills. Now its gone I see no need in waiting in line for 20mins of lunch time to pay one or two bills when I pay one over the net now anyway. So whatever i can do over the net, I do now. Saves everyone time & me fees.

Originally Posted by prydey

most servo's have an atm!

I'm not saying to pay with cash all the time, I use my card, but always have enough cash to cover just in case in the rare event (& it is rare, but can happen) that it doesnt go through. If your financial institution shuts it's eftpos lines down, any electronic transaction for you wont work. Full stop.

Originally Posted by prydey

if i can't pay with a card because the server is down, then that becomes the servo's problem. even when eftpos is down, you can still pay by visa the old fashioned way.

How is it the servos problem if a customer isnt prepared & has not other way to pay? I just keep going on with my work while they find a solution. If they decide to leave its filed as a drive off, reported to police, where they are contacted & in most cases are given the choice to settle the bill or be charged sometimes its both depending on the amount. More & more banks are no longer accepting manual imprints from merchants. Which has led to all sorts of problems when the machines go down.

Im not saying that eftpos is a bad thing, its easy & for the most part secure. but society has been so brainwashed into keeping our money safe that it leads to over-spending because you cant see it till your at the servo when it runs out, & your bashed to death because you only had $20 in your wallet.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by GavL

Why carry around $80 of cash to just pay for petrol when you can just pay on your card with all the money you have?

More servos should get card readers on the bowsers like at Mobil. No waiting in queues then

Yeah I don't understand why that never took off, having it so you can pay at the bowser like that is awesome. Stops me going in and buying useless **** i don't need like smokes

[WMD351]

The self serve checkouts are awesome.
I just wish I could stack the shelves and duck out into the bakery section, fire up the ovens and cook some bread for em while I'm at it.

[GK]

Originally Posted by WMD351

The self serve checkouts are awesome.
I just wish I could stack the shelves and duck out into the bakery section, fire up the ovens and cook some bread for em while I'm at it.

Right on!

I hear you man, I've often got a desire to mop their floors! Anything we can do to increase their profits and minimise their service to shoppers! LOL!

GK

[duaned]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

Yeah I don't understand why that never took off, having it so you can pay at the bowser like that is awesome. Stops me going in and buying useless **** i don't need like smokes

Agreed. Since these servos are like mini supermarkets now they think of themselves as one. All those last minute goodies and counter top items = extra profit so they love it when you enter their shop. I also enjoy the eftpos at the bowser with Mobil, but if Coles or Woolies had it, how is one to use their discount voucher?

[You Yangs]

I have asked Aus Post to have a separate line for parcel pick up for about 15 years so don't hold your breath.
It might change once the GOV sell the last big public service that we have left, but I fear if they move towards private ownership and show some mild form of EFFICIENCY then it will put half of all the Filipino's who call OZ home out of a job!

[Iggypoppin']

I recall a time I went shopping for some stuff for a camping trip. Grabbed tomato sauce, snags, onions, BBQ sauce, tongs, oil, foil tray, plastic knives, plastic forks, a red bull and asked the attendant for smokes. Now, I was in the 10-items-or-less isle and she refused to give me my cigarettes! "that's 11 items sir, I'm sorry".
I was a bit rude, slipped out a "are you effin serious?" because I was so shocked she was actually enforcing the rule. I then pointed out that as she had not given me my smokes, she could break the sale into two parts, two transactions, if she had to be pedantic.
She got a bit snippy. "don't talk to me like that mate!" etc. The steadily growing queue is getting a bit fed up so the bloke nearest me leaned over and politely told her to hurry the F up, we all got stuff to
do. She sighed like I had just inconvenienced her beyond belief and put the sale through. I left laughing; she really was a
nit picky idiot.
Post office is always full;it's one of those "Murphy's law" things. Post offices where built to be full of scatterbrained pensioners.

[Fled74]

Originally Posted by You Yangs

...I fear if they move towards private ownership and show some mild form of EFFICIENCY then it will put half of all the Filipino's who call OZ home out of a job!

Dude, not cool.