DECEMBER 14TH ~ A Kinda Boring Story
with A Great Customer Service Wish

I made it to the post office around 2 something today.  I had two medium boxes full of all kinds of things going overseas to my two sisters and their families.  There were a couple of people in line when I got there.  Great, I thought.

Before getting into line myself, I had to fill out new paperwork.  Each box took two of the bigger customs forms because a) they were over 4 lbs, and b) there was only space to list 4 items per form.  After hunting down extra forms and one false start listing items from the wrong sister’s box, I got it done.  When I finally got into line there were about 6 people in front of me.

Richard, at the counter, was incredibly helpful and wonderfully patient, and he saved me some money.  To save the $8, I had to switch the contents of one box into a brand new one.  Richard provided the box and had me step to the side to make the switch.  When I returned to the counter, the line was probably 25 and out the door!  Luckeee, I thought.

All the information on each of the 4 forms then had to be input into the post office system, which Richard did by hand.  OK, end of boring story.  I paid him, thanked him very, very much, wished him happy holidays and out – it took close to 1 hour all told. I didn’t count how many were in line, but it was a lot.

While Richard was inputting the data, I thought about the losses now being incurred at the post office with the changes in information delivery technology, and wondered how secure Richard’s job was.  I couldn’t imagine not having a bricks and mortar post office to go to. There was no doubt in my mind that here was a super valuable employee providing great customer service.  What a huge loss not to have him. I hope his future is secure.  He deserves it.

And so my wish today is that all hard-working providers of good customer service receive appropriate recognition, appreciation and a secure future.