UPS Store hassles
Dear UPS store,
I was forced to use your services today because the regular Post Office failed for several reasons. So, take that to heart: at least you are better than the post office. Of course, you cost more, so I should hope so.
You have several benefits over the post office, such as longer hours, and quality of service. You have more pleasant employees that are willing to answer questions clearly. Your services are easier to understand, which helps, too (the post office has too many options). The same was true today; your employee was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the experience I had was still regrettably poor.
I brought in a bag of clothes I needed to mail. I asked for an appropriately-sized box, and found one. But then the employee informed me that "You can't package that here." This was weird and confusing and I actually had to ask for clarity twice. It didn't occur to me that it was possible that packaging wasn't allowed at this packaging store. There were no other customers and a conveniently-empty table behind me. But no, it was true. So, I bought the box, then TOOK IT OUTSIDE IN 15-DEGREE WEATHER, PLACED THE BOX DOWN IN THE SNOW ON THE NEW YORK CITY SIDEWALK AND PACKAGED ALL MY ITEMS. This took five minutes or so; I needed to assemble the box and tape it up (I had brought my own tape), and then get all the items to fit nicely. It was cold and windy. The parts of the sidewalk not covered in snow were very icey. Then I brought the finished box back inside and shipped it. Nothing like two separate transactions to get a lot of change. And the bottom of the box was wet.
So, your employee correctly enforced your policy (although a smidgen of empathy or apologetic tone would have been welcome), but YOUR POLICY IS ABSURD. That is all.
Oh wait, one more thing. When I was outside I got the added bonus of listening to another employee, a driver, having a conversation next to me on his phone. A representative snippet: "Of course I'm sexually frustrated ... I'm ready to bang, but when she's in a bad mood, she doesn't want to, even though I still do." What a catch, this guy. It's tacky and amusing that he didn't try to move a few steps away or anything. It really added to the ambience of BEING OUTSIDE IN THE FREEZING SNOW.
Sincerely,
Jesse
