2001-02-23 - 16:07:34
The Post Post: Light Post fun and Post Office ranting

Mmmm, chai. 2ndSecretary is going to get me hooked on the stuff. Too bad the caffeine is near nil. *pressing warm mug to cheek and closing eyes* I could purr right now, this is such an excellent morning.

I'm still on the silly lightpole project. No sweat! This afternoon I'm collecting someone to walk with me around the campus, and all I have to do is make circles on the map I made yesterday, wherever I see a lightpole. Then, I come back the the office, number them, and stick them in the system. A *really* great way to burn time.

The *ahem* mailing-system-challenged individual I ranted about yesterday has offered to send me a completely new shipment of (different) CCG cards, no charge, provided I send back the empty envelope from the mismailed shipment. I can already tell him, though, that the post office will NOT refund it.

For one thing, he didn't even go through a postal clerk to mail it. I can tell that because there's a "21¢ postage due" message stamped right on the front. (Yes, they DO always check to make sure it weighs less than an ounce; it's 21¢ per extra ounce after that). Further, he didn't insure the letter, OR make an effort to pack the cards protectively. This all gives him zero rights to claim refund.

I ought to know; I was a postal clerk myself for 4 1/2 years -- that was my college workstudy job. And I can remember feeling very sad and frustrated as a child when my aunt would mail me suckers and other candy and I'd get only the stick or bits of wrapper when the envelope arrived. It's just The Way Things Are. With the volume of mail that goes through the USPS every day, they can't handcheck every damned letter.

Ask non-United States residents sometime. I hear postal prices elsewhere are far worse than we have it here, so next time you're tempted to bitch about the mail, be nice. They work VERY hard at what they do, collectively, and they haven't the time to babysit those who don't make the effort to send things properly.

Oh, I didn't mean to rant! I'm actually very grateful that the guy is sending me new cards. I just hope he doesn't get upset when he asks for a refund and they tell him, Tough Luck, Sucker.

Anyway. I'm looking forward to the weekend -- tomorrow I get to see the pictures from the wedding I was maid of honor in last December, and Azash and I are going to go see "3000 Miles to Graceland" on Sunday. The critics are flaming it, but hey. It looks fun. Kevin Costner with a bow-and-arrow will always catch my attention. *grin*