Even BoGoHoes Get The Blues
Earlier this month, I took a new job that I’m very happy with. That was probably tempting fate, but the move from Nacogdoches to Converse, TX went pretty smoothy even squeezed into a week. Until I tried to change addresses. For 3 weeks, I had mail delivery like Kevin Costner in The Postman.
Three full weeks to get mail completely baffles me because, see, I was once a bogoho. As in Buy One, Get One, Half Off. I worked in direct mail for almost 10 years before going into education. I’ve mailed bills, ads, magazines, catalogs, all kinds of presorted standard. I’m not unfamiliar with postal regulations, address changes, or bar codes. I’ve weighted pallets for Pete’s sake!
Course that’s been awhile, so I have to ask what is a normal transition? Is this what you should expect if you change your address?
September 27 – filed change of address before moving that weekend
October 4 – went to Converse Post Office to request key, told would be available Monday, placed hold on mail
October 7 – went to Converse Post Office to pick up key, told would be available Thursday
October 8 – on hold 45 minutes to file complaint with Post Office
October 10 – still no key, told to try Tuesday, started calling to track down and pay bills online
October 14 – Local postmaster calls, says key will ready Thursday
October 17 – no key, told will be available on Saturday
October 19 – handed key, told to ask postal clerk about mail hold
October 21 – take mail hold order from box back to post office to start delivery
October 25 – electric disconnect notice, call center says ‘mail returned’
It probably doesn’t help that I also spend a lot of time reviewing processes. I would ask what took so long? If Converse is largely a rental area due to the military bases, then why isn’t the Post Office prepared for these changes? And why weren’t they holding mail while making this change as they suggested, and I requested? Where the heck do you suppose my mail ended up?
It’s tempting to just go online and in my case, probably past time. But I haven’t done that, not because I’m scared of tech, but because I get tired of fixing screw-ups. Why do I have to be the one providing customer service? Like when I finally stopped using Amazon after calling overseas to track an order placed in November, published in February, and still not delivered in April.
Customer service probably doesn’t want to know, but I’m curious. Before I become a complete hermit, maybe you can tell me. When do you walk away and stop trying to fix? Do you have a point where you just stop bothering and do without?
kathybryson 