Is your post office okay about your hobby?

[AgentOfAnarchy]

Hiya guys, I just wanted to know about peoples experiences with the post office. I think most of us trade fairly regularly so we must be down the post office somewhat often, i'm just looking for some reasurance xD
I have pretty bad social anxiety which I am really working on because the job I am training for requires good relationship skills xD anyway normally I wouldnt go to the post office alone, but facing fears and all. Since I started pin trading about a month ago the people in my post office have been nothing but rude, because I didnt know how to post to america and so on.
Well today was kind of the last straw, the woman was being kind of short but it was saturday afternoon what did I expect? Her co-worker then says "I am so fed up of this girl" to which the woman serving me responded "I know, ive given her some customs forms now." Because the 10 seconds it took to fill out the custom forms they give at the desk is apparently too much. Although its only a 15 min walk to my post office, there are others I could go to with a bit more travel because to be honest I am dreading going back. Has anyone else faced similar situations? Is it worth changing post offices or do most get annoyed with seeing repeat 'offenders?'

 

[imp]

I'm lucky that my local post office is pretty easy to deal with, but I can relate to the social anxieties and I too have to work past them every day to do my job. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more about it.

 

[swim2sea]

My postman loves to see what pins I get when I get a package and he totally gets my pin addiction. He brings me supplies and boxes from the PO so I never have to leave home to ship pins to people. I only send UK pins by Priority Mail since too many of them don't seem to arrive and it's not worth the hassle of going to the PO. I do everything online and my postman picks them up. It's easy and convenient.

 

[AgentOfAnarchy]

Thankyou Pargani that is very kind. I want your postman swim2sea xD

 

[disneypinqueen]

You should complain to the postmaster about the blatant rudeness. Geeze! There's no need for that! Maybe the next time you go in, you could get multiple customs forms so you have them filled out beforehand to make it EASIER ON THEM when you mail one off to the US. Don't let them bully you by having to change post offices either! Sounds like they need a little Disney Magic in their lives!!!

 

[SoraPandora]

The people at your post office sound terrible! Don't let them make you feel bad. It is their JOB to help you. How dare they talk about you as if you're not there in front of them. That is just not right.

The women at my small, local post office are very friendly. I used to mail a package almost every other day, when I began trading. Then I learned how to print out postage on the computer, so now I rarely to the actual post office anymore... just to the mail box. When I do go to the post office, its usually because I have a package going to another country.

The first time I filled out a customs form (describing the contents of my package being "Disney pin - gift - worth $5", my mail lady didn't say anything... but after a few more times, she became curious and asked if I sold Disney pins for a living, and I said no and explained to her about pin trading. She became very interested, and now she's all smiles and questions when I come in to mail another package.

If you really feel self-conscious going to the post office, I'd recommend you ask one of the workers to take a couple of customs forms home with you. (They let you do that in America, so I don't see why they wouldn't in the UK.) That way you can fill out the form ahead of time, and just let them fill in the weight if you're not sure about it.

 

[ashkai]

The delivery worker is, I believe, very easy going in most ways. Although bad ones they will let packets from several days build up and whenever they feel like delivering said packets (days later) will be when I go "gracious me, what a pin day!"

My local office branch of the USPS is shady and snide. My spouse and I both have social anxiety issues as well. They are a riot with forms just like yours! they seem to take a packet - will not scan it in or process for at -least- two days. This is when I hand them said pre-paid packet to them at the office directly. Hate to think what would happen if I let Lax the postie take charge of it.

A place near my work has a staff that hated the sight of me... claimed rules and regulations that do not exist, and were also pretty evil. I don't know what happened but one day the woman (it's -always- the same one) just started being nice. Now it is the only post I try to drop things at as they actually process it within a few minutes vs the week that nearest-to-home branch takes!

Obviously, I'm not in the UK, but if the other offices are within a reasonable distance or somewhere you pass anyway - I would suggest trying it. Might save a ton of grief.

 

[AgentOfAnarchy]

Thankyou all for the kind words and its nice to hear that some people get along with there posties. They just talk over you all the time and it makes me want to sink into the ground. Oh well, they have blessed me with some customs forms that I can fill out prior so I will try the same post office again, gotta get used to rude people I suppose.
I dont think I have ever complained in my life xD I get worried about my words hurting others, so going above them would probably cause me more grief in the long run.
I am sorry to hear about your eperiences ashkai but im glad you have found a better alternative.

 

[allenmay8]

Solution: Print shipping labels at home, and just drop them off at the post office.

I did the same thing for a long time, but eventually got tired of waiting in line, and dealing with the post office workers. It saves a lot of time and money!

 

[Psycho Pixie]

no idea how it works in the UK. but that rudeness level deserves some massive complaints to the managers.

As to getting over people/social anxiety.. I actually really understand where your are coming from. I started having major panic attacks and axiety attacks at my job back in 2010. Interestingly enough, my therapist, after having me take time off work and getting me steady on some meds... told me to use my Annual pass to DLR weekly. Go, interact with people, deal with the sounds and the sights. She used disney as a part of my therapy. And pin trading allowed me to overcome many of my developed social issues.

Perhaps a local mall on a less busy day to start with will help you start being more comfortable? and then as you get used to that, casual interaction with employees.

 

[AgentOfAnarchy]

Thankyou pixie, I am glad to hear that you overcame your issues
I now shop alone, although I cant say I like it xD I also collect comics books so I have managed to make friends in that area that helps, admittedly all my friends are now 30+ men and im a 20 year old girl but beggars cant be choosers and they have helped a lot I will deffinately work on casual interactions, thankyou

 

[GrayTiger]

I actually don't ever go to the post office alone thanks to similar issues... I'm very very sorry that you've had such horrid experiences, those are exactly the kinds of things that make me unable to face the world. :/ I wouldn't go back to a particular post office if I got treated that way. I might see if there's a way to make a complaint, there is NO excuse for that kind of rudeness! They're complaining about doing their JOB. That isn't right!

 

[SoraPandora]

I started having major panic attacks and axiety attacks at my job back in 2010. Interestingly enough, my therapist, after having me take time off work and getting me steady on some meds... told me to use my Annual pass to DLR weekly. Go, interact with people, deal with the sounds and the sights. She used disney as a part of my therapy.

OMG.

Can I start seeing your therapist, immediately?

:wat:

 

[AgentOfAnarchy]

I agree xD "Im sorry, I have to go to disney. Dr's orders...."
Totally how I get away with eating all the cake in the house.

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

Never a problem with my postal office either. They know me by name now. LOL

 

[tiggeriffic]

You should never be treated so poorly at the post office or anywhere. Please just know that it's not you, it's them. They're having a bad day and take it out on someone nice because they can get away with it. I feel sorry for them living their lives so unhappily. You seem like a great person. Have fun with pin trading!

 

[Masamune]

The workers at my post office kept changing for a while, until they hired someone permanent. During that time, everyone was pretty nice. There was one girl who didn't seem to know what she was doing, but at least she was polite whilst she tried to figure it out!

We have a permanent guy there now, and he's pretty nice. He automatically prints off receipts for me now, as usually you don't get printed receipts unless you ask for them. I also get hand-written receipts, which he stamps. Honestly, since posting to America went up in price, I don't trade AS much these days. I've done lots of trades recently though, but he's yet to ask why I'm sending so many packages to America.

I would definitely complain about the people in your post office. They sound vile! Make sure it's an annonymous complaint though. They could end up being even more rude to you if they find out you made a complaint.

 

[Disneyqueenuk]

If you need any help with how to prepare a package for international shipping, shoot me a PM or an email.

I have my local post office well trained, they order in rolls of customs labels for me and when i am getting low I let them know. I also have sheets of airmail stickers so all they have to do is weigh and tell me what the price is.

I used the customs label as an additional seal over the back of the envelope.

I must take in pins to let them see as they keep asking what I am sending and are intrigued by it all.

LIke I've said happy to help you get used to it.

Yvonne

 

[pinnochiolover]

Definately make a complaint about their rudeness - they are there to serve you and assist you! Even if you do have to do customs stickers at the counter, they dont take long, and quite frankly other customers take far longer with their transactions.

You say you experience social anxiety, I'm the same, I am crap at socialising, and when I meet people I get tense because I dont know what the hell I am going to say to them. I personally have found that people can immediately get nasty with me or rude because they think I've taken an instant dislike to them. Basically they are interpreting my body language incorrectly, I'm actually very anxious about speaking to them. I've been like this all my life and I know its not easy to get past.

I always ask for customs and airmail stickers so I have a stash at home so I can do all that at home before going to the PO. The PO workers at my branch have always been very friendly and polite, at first they assumed I was a business because of how often I was sending packages! They always say to me "Do you need some customs stickers". Once youve done it a few times, it will get easier.