Giveway winners, your packages are in the mail. If you're in the US, you should get them in 2-3 days. I am sorry for the delay!
That's the main point, and you can stop reading now if you like. :) But if you're interested in details and a bit of commentary on the US Postal Service...
After I'd received the giveaway winners' addresses, I went to the post office to pick up Priority Mail packaging. I discovered that they do not stock the flat-rate padded envelopes I needed. I was told to order them online. I placed the order, and day after day passed with no envelopes arriving in my mail. Last week, I made two more trips to the post office; the second time, a clerk took pity on me and brought me four envelopes from the back. (It's now been two weeks since I placed the order, and it still has not arrived.)
First... the Postal Service stock other flat-rate Priority Mail packaging; why don't they stock the padded envelopes? They tout their online postage services, but in order to use those services, I need the flat-rate envelopes. Why set up a service and then make it difficult for people to use?
Second... why does it take so long for online orders to be sent? Amazon can get me my order in two days via the Postal Service, but the Postal Service can't get me my order in two weeks via the Postal Service. WTH?
It's irritating. The Postal Service's service needs some work. But it's hard to place too much blame. I'm aware they operate under the burden of government control but without the benefit of government funding. They are, in essence, a for-profit company that is controlled by the government. That is a terrible situation to be in. For-profits and government agencies have polar opposite business/ management models. From what I've seen, any government-controlled company that can turn a profit is just short of miraculous.
Anyway... I'm way off topic here. But as someone who has a business degree and has worked in both the for-profit corporate and government-funded worlds, I find the Postal Service's situation interesting (and unfortunate).
Yay for it being here soon! <3 I'm excited!
ReplyDeleteAnd about the darned Postal Service:
The one we have near us has only boxes. Nothing fancy, just boxes. And just the two smallest sizes of boxes at that! I can hardly even fit a pack of cards in one of them. I know our post office is small, but you'd think in a farming town you'd have boxes big enough to fit things farmers might get/receive/need to mail.
They've also been changing their hours stupidly lately. The post office itself is only open 9-4. M-F. The window is only open 9-12. I know it's a small farming town but some people work! Geez postal service, it's like they're just trying to anger everyone lately!
I went off topic as well....but in the end it still sends the same message: GEH POSTAL SERVICES! :)
That's the type of thing that government agencies do. They have no incentive to be open additional hours. It doesn't work so well for a company that's trying to make a profit, though.
DeleteI guess it's the same everywhere. The thing I'm most disappointed is the part of postal office that handles the foreign packages. Even when it's traceable I can see that it's stays in the custom for a week, when it's just some metal details for my jewelry or simple shoes from china for 20$ And you even can't right any complains because there will be no good of it because it's partly a government business. And as we now, government doesn't react to complains about it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sending something internationally adds an additional layer of complexity... and a lot of waiting!
DeleteI have thought the exact same thing! I use the padded envelopes for my Coffin Kitsch etsy as it's the most cost effective AND it's padded! Ugh. JUST GIVE THEM TO US ALREADY!!!
ReplyDeleteThe padded envelopes are great. I don't understand why they stock four sizes of Priority Mail boxes but not the padded envelopes.
DeleteI really shouldn't laugh, but I am. When my husband was deployed I was at the post office every week to mail at least 3 boxes of stuff. I was also mailing tools because his unit wouldn't buy them. In one instance I had to send 2 pipe bender-things (I truly don't remember what they're called) and a 4-ft level. I couldn't find a box that would fit these items, so a postal employee told me I could tape several smaller boxes together. We all had a very big laugh at my over 4-ft stack of taped boxes. I too ordered things online and it took forever. When they finally showed up though, I had enough boxes to get me through the deployment.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I used to make an almost daily trip to the post office, and over time, I saw some really interesting packaging creations. :) It's great that you can order free supplies online, but they sure take forever to arrive!
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