Local USPS office won't answer the phone

[armorer951]

Anyone tried to call their local postal service office by phone lately?

I called the listed USPS local number 5 times in one morning last week between the hours of 0900 and 1100, to check on the status of a package that was being held there. Each time, the phone rang until the call was dropped and I received a busy signal, indicating the call had ended.

About 30 minutes later, one of the employees called me from the same office.....on the same number......confirming the package was there and I could come down and pick it up.

So what's the deal? Aren't they required to answer the telephone?

 

[crazyphil]

Were you calling on the 4th of July?

 

[5Wire]

Maybe they recognized you via caller ID. How to block your phone number from caller ID | Komando.com

 

[Sistema1927]

My local post office has a listed phone number, but it doesn't work. The last time I had a problem the office manager gave me his cell phone number for future problems. I made sure to save it in my phone.

 

[JcMack]

The local PO phone # is programed in my home phone. I used to call them (always got thru to someone) when I questioned a tracked delivery issue. Last time I tried I found out it's now an 800 #. There's 5 PO's within 6 miles of me and they all use the same 800 # now.

 

[Watchdog]

Anyone tried to call their local postal service office by phone lately?

I called the listed USPS local number 5 times in one morning last week between the hours of 0900 and 1100...Aren't they required to answer the telephone?

Postal employees are supposed to answer the phone, yes. That said, I'd have a tough time deciding where to start listing the reasons they sometimes can't/don't. So I won't go into that right now.

I'd look at it this way if I were you. Since you ended up getting the information you wanted, I'd consider it a case of all's well that ends well.

 

[jbtrucker]

Electronic answering service or email here , I called and left a message concerning a package . They called 3 days later and never could find it , package was delivered crushed a month later

 

[Muss Muggins]

I’m not convinced a local post office is equipped to deal with phone calls. My experience is that there’s not an operator or a secretary or an administrative assistant at those offices. Personal visit is the most productive . . .

 

[pawngal]

I would expect my local PO to take care of the customers that are waiting, not the phone that is ringing.

 

[S-W4EVER]

Our local Post Office is in the “do more with less” mode. Nice people but they sure stay busy.

 

[GaryS]

I've never had a reason to call all post office. Maybe that makes me odd.

 

[Chuck24]

If it makes you feel any better, I worked there and I couldn't get them to answer the phone either, even the carriers emergency number when we broke down on the road. Truth is, when cuts were being made, people who did things like answer the phone were the first to go. Most of the managers and supervisors are out on the road delivering Express or late arriving priority packages, which just leaves the clerks who usually can't break away from the window to answer the phone.

 

[Absalom]

I would expect my local PO to take care of the customers that are waiting, not the phone that is ringing.

I can confirm that this is the most likely scenario.

A while back I was helping a friend sell off a collection online (not guns ), and we spent quite some time mailing off packages at the PO. When the place was empty and only one window open, and the phone rang in the back, you could hear someone pick it up after just a few rings. But when there was a long line and all three clerks were out front, you could often hear it ring for what seemed like forever in the back.

Small-town PO’s aren’t staffed for a full-time phone answerer.

 

[vonn]

Hard to get any phone calls through to any operation that deals with the public now days.

 

[dockmurgw]

Another one of the many benefits of living in rural small town America. Our post office consists of one post master and one carrier. They always answer the phone, and visiting the counter always turns into a social visit.

 

[NYlakesider]

I’m not convinced a local post office is equipped to deal with phone calls. My experience is that there’s not an operator or a secretary or an administrative assistant at those offices. Personal visit is the most productive . . .

When I lived in the city this local branch PO had 3 desk people. At lunch time they shut down for a hour, locked the door for so they could all eat together.. There supposed to be there to take care of the mail, never could figure out why 2 could eat and the third could do business, rotate as necessary.

FWIW many people would use that time to take care of postal business. It was run like a club for overpaid employees as best as I could see. Also when the desk was open they were far from friendly and not too efficient.

 

[GaryS]

Which explains why packages sometimes show up seemingly at random at my house. That is, the regular route carrier has already left to do his route and then something comes in that needs to be delivered.

Online commerce seems to be a two edged sword for the USPS.

If it makes you feel any better, I worked there and I couldn't get them to answer the phone either, even the carriers emergency number when we broke down on the road. Truth is, when cuts were being made, people who did things like answer the phone were the first to go. Most of the managers and supervisors are out on the road delivering Express or late arriving priority packages, which just leaves the clerks who usually can't break away from the window to answer the phone.

 

[Sistema1927]

I've never had a reason to call all post office. Maybe that makes me odd.

In my case, the mailman continued to deliver my mail when I had a vacation hold. Fortunately my neighbor saw it the first day and gave me a call. He also collected my mail each day. I tried to call the PO, but found out that the number posted online was not working. Upon return I visited the PO, spoke with the supervisor about the problem (substitute carrier neglected to look at hold instructions) as well as impossibility of getting through on the phone. That is when he gave me his cell phone number.

 

[mtgianni]

I am not sure ours has a phone. The ladies I see in there are busy when ever I am in there. I would expect they have been instructed to not answer it unless they have nothing else to do. It probably would be in the postmasters office and no one else should go in there anyway.

 

[moosedog]

Being old has it's advantages. I have found that when calling any business's, agencies or organizations, there's some things not to do.

Never call on Monday. People are trying to catch up on all the incoming from the week end when no one was there. Also it's one of the bigger days for people to call in sick or come in hung over. Really.

Never call during lunch hours. People are working short staffed for several hours and at the Post Office, it's rush hour.

Never call on Friday afternoon as everyone is headed for the door as soon as possible. Also another day that people like to call in sick on.

And never start with "I have a problem". I say hello sir or mam no matter how bad I have to bite my tongue.