Tuesday I was waiting in line at the post office behind a man I went to school with. We didn’t speak, I don’t even know if he realized I was behind him, maybe if he did it would have simmered his temper but I’m not sure; he seemed rather comfortable being an ass. I was shocked at the degree of his belligerence for the gal that works there. Sure, he beef was really with Canada Post but she was the only one able to absorb the wrath and he let her have it with both barrels. Michelle worked for us for a bit and she’s sweet, doesn’t deserve to be crapped on by irate customers who slam her over the price of postage. And this isn’t an isolated incident. It seems every time I’m in a line up there, someone is blowing steam in the direction of the person behind the counter about the price of their parcel.
That person serving you is no more responsible for the increase in postage, or the rules that accompany it, than you are. She is there to do a job and does it with a smile despite the attempts to wipe it off. I’ve never seen Michele grumpy, and if she was a hateful so-in-so at her post, then she’d have to expect a bit of rude repartee, but she takes it all, well-practiced in the art of deflection. I was impressed how she kept her cool as she was pummeled with absurd and angry comments like, “No wonder I can’t get a job!” (I assumed it was a resume being sent?) “No wonder people send things by courier!” and “I won’t be using the post office again!”
He threw the envelope on the counter with disdain. If I worked there I would have Frisbee’d it back, but then I’m all talk and maybe I'd have to eat crow to keep the job, but really, how much would I have to put up with before I snap and come back with a semi-automatic to settle the score? How much crap is a person supposed to swallow and digest for the sake of a paycheque? No, I'm not condoning violence but maybe there is a reason behind why some go off the rails, maybe they've taken it too long, letting it rot their gut until the poison spills out.
As the rude guy was heading for the door I said loudly, “Wow Michelle, is that what you have to put up with?” Michelle didn’t say anything but her look spoke volumes. My wise mother would have said, “Good riddance to bad rubbish” as she kicked his sorry arse outside and a part of me wanted to run after the guy and give him a lecture, shame him into cooling his jets. I'm much better able to defend the underdog than fight my own battles and boy was I ready to duke it out. I was fuming inside. Not only was his attitude uncalled for he was attacking an innocent party, when he should have been screaming at someone higher up the postal department ladder.
I have no opinion about postage. It is what it is and mailing is an integral part of my business so I go with the flow which is so much less stressful than against. Sure I complain about the high cost of mailing after every increase, but never to the staff at the post office! I want those people to like me, smile when I come through their door and have a pleasant experience during the transaction, not to mention I thank my lucky stars we have a post office when they seem to be a dying breed.
Everything has gone up. Bread used to cost .75 cents.....now its four bucks or more depending on the organic versus non-organic wheat. Do I complain? No, what’s the point? It’s all relative and you have to deal with it! So deal or squeal people, but don’t take it out on the person behind the counter! Somehow the post office takes the biggest brunt of customer complaints. The price of gas, coffee and eggs can soar through the roof but a stamp seems to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back!
Those same people go to the liquor store and eat, or in this case drink, the increases without a word. Same with cigarettes and all the crap people stuff into their faces. A bag of chips is nothing but air, a few dozen slices of potato with a hefty price tag. Folks pay more for chips than a stamp and shove them into their gizzard and not say a bloody word! Canned pop will kill you, there isn’t one ounce of food value, is loaded with chemicals and some drink two liters a day without a comment, but their world comes to an end to buy a stamp?
The groaning and bitching, “How things used to be”, and all the talk about having to “remortgage the house just to send a letter”, or “I won’t be able to afford to eat tonight”. So funny and original of you, not! Don’t quit you day job because you’ll never make it as a comedian!
Stop picking on our postal workers! If you’re disgruntled, write the people that run the joint, stick it to Deepak Chopra, he’s the big cheese. Leave Michelle and her coworkers alone. And on top of that, one woman that he was speaking too that was standing off to the side was vigorously shaking her head in agreement, egging him on. Sure, gang up on poor Michelle like a bunch of bullies. And that is what it is, plain and simple, bullying!
And I heard what she said to him. Butterflies could have sailed our of her mouth as she quietly explained that the envelope was costing an extra dollar than the quote he’d received previously because he’d stuffed another sheet of paper in it, tipping the scale. He knew why it was costing more; he was probably pulling a fast one and got caught trying to slip it through. Probably hoped she wouldn't weigh it.
Anyway, I’ve seen and heard things in the post office before and my father worked there his entire career so as a child, I listened to all the tales of rude customers at the dinner table. Obviously nothing has changed but the tone is getting a bit more intense. Dad mostly complained about people pounding quarters on the counter to make him hustle to the wicket. He never had people throw things at him.
Today, it seems a captive audience is a target if you’re in a foul mood. So please, please, be nice to the person behind the counter, any counter. That’s someone’s daughter, wife, mother you’re browbeating, and not to discriminate, men get pummeled too. These people are only doing a job; they don’t set the prices or make the rules. They are there to serve you, lighten up and show a little respect! Pick on someone your own size, me for instance! I know people read this from the Bay and I'm itching to write the guys name, put him on a wall of shame for all the town to see. If I catch you acting in this manner again, I will, so sue me!
That’s my rant for today!
That person serving you is no more responsible for the increase in postage, or the rules that accompany it, than you are. She is there to do a job and does it with a smile despite the attempts to wipe it off. I’ve never seen Michele grumpy, and if she was a hateful so-in-so at her post, then she’d have to expect a bit of rude repartee, but she takes it all, well-practiced in the art of deflection. I was impressed how she kept her cool as she was pummeled with absurd and angry comments like, “No wonder I can’t get a job!” (I assumed it was a resume being sent?) “No wonder people send things by courier!” and “I won’t be using the post office again!”
He threw the envelope on the counter with disdain. If I worked there I would have Frisbee’d it back, but then I’m all talk and maybe I'd have to eat crow to keep the job, but really, how much would I have to put up with before I snap and come back with a semi-automatic to settle the score? How much crap is a person supposed to swallow and digest for the sake of a paycheque? No, I'm not condoning violence but maybe there is a reason behind why some go off the rails, maybe they've taken it too long, letting it rot their gut until the poison spills out.
As the rude guy was heading for the door I said loudly, “Wow Michelle, is that what you have to put up with?” Michelle didn’t say anything but her look spoke volumes. My wise mother would have said, “Good riddance to bad rubbish” as she kicked his sorry arse outside and a part of me wanted to run after the guy and give him a lecture, shame him into cooling his jets. I'm much better able to defend the underdog than fight my own battles and boy was I ready to duke it out. I was fuming inside. Not only was his attitude uncalled for he was attacking an innocent party, when he should have been screaming at someone higher up the postal department ladder.
I have no opinion about postage. It is what it is and mailing is an integral part of my business so I go with the flow which is so much less stressful than against. Sure I complain about the high cost of mailing after every increase, but never to the staff at the post office! I want those people to like me, smile when I come through their door and have a pleasant experience during the transaction, not to mention I thank my lucky stars we have a post office when they seem to be a dying breed.
Everything has gone up. Bread used to cost .75 cents.....now its four bucks or more depending on the organic versus non-organic wheat. Do I complain? No, what’s the point? It’s all relative and you have to deal with it! So deal or squeal people, but don’t take it out on the person behind the counter! Somehow the post office takes the biggest brunt of customer complaints. The price of gas, coffee and eggs can soar through the roof but a stamp seems to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back!
Those same people go to the liquor store and eat, or in this case drink, the increases without a word. Same with cigarettes and all the crap people stuff into their faces. A bag of chips is nothing but air, a few dozen slices of potato with a hefty price tag. Folks pay more for chips than a stamp and shove them into their gizzard and not say a bloody word! Canned pop will kill you, there isn’t one ounce of food value, is loaded with chemicals and some drink two liters a day without a comment, but their world comes to an end to buy a stamp?
The groaning and bitching, “How things used to be”, and all the talk about having to “remortgage the house just to send a letter”, or “I won’t be able to afford to eat tonight”. So funny and original of you, not! Don’t quit you day job because you’ll never make it as a comedian!
Stop picking on our postal workers! If you’re disgruntled, write the people that run the joint, stick it to Deepak Chopra, he’s the big cheese. Leave Michelle and her coworkers alone. And on top of that, one woman that he was speaking too that was standing off to the side was vigorously shaking her head in agreement, egging him on. Sure, gang up on poor Michelle like a bunch of bullies. And that is what it is, plain and simple, bullying!
And I heard what she said to him. Butterflies could have sailed our of her mouth as she quietly explained that the envelope was costing an extra dollar than the quote he’d received previously because he’d stuffed another sheet of paper in it, tipping the scale. He knew why it was costing more; he was probably pulling a fast one and got caught trying to slip it through. Probably hoped she wouldn't weigh it.
Anyway, I’ve seen and heard things in the post office before and my father worked there his entire career so as a child, I listened to all the tales of rude customers at the dinner table. Obviously nothing has changed but the tone is getting a bit more intense. Dad mostly complained about people pounding quarters on the counter to make him hustle to the wicket. He never had people throw things at him.
Today, it seems a captive audience is a target if you’re in a foul mood. So please, please, be nice to the person behind the counter, any counter. That’s someone’s daughter, wife, mother you’re browbeating, and not to discriminate, men get pummeled too. These people are only doing a job; they don’t set the prices or make the rules. They are there to serve you, lighten up and show a little respect! Pick on someone your own size, me for instance! I know people read this from the Bay and I'm itching to write the guys name, put him on a wall of shame for all the town to see. If I catch you acting in this manner again, I will, so sue me!
That’s my rant for today!
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