WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Hot Topics => Topic started by: ralberts630 on Jan 10, 18, 09:51:10 PM
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I'm sure you, like me as well as our local postal employees, are less than pleased with the situation we face picking up packages from the post office.
I'm wondering if we could all band together to make known our dissatisfaction with our local post office having become overwhelmed by the enormous increase in package volume. The decision of the USPS to contract (and some believe subsidize) Amazon and other online retailers has over burdened the local station and its employees.
I had a brief conversation today with Ron, our local Postmaster. He expressed great frustration with the situation and let me know that he has repeatedly lodged requests for assistance with superiors, though without recourse. Ron cited the fact that the office is both understaffed and under-sized to handle anywhere near current package volume. He also mentioned that unlike a letter which is handled only once, a package requires handling six times. Another employee told me that today alone there are 600 blue cards to distribute. 6 x 600 = 3,600 transactions today by a staff of four (if they are all present).
Ron suggests that local citizens contact our Congressman to report our dissatisfaction with the poor service we are receiving from the USPS. Perhaps we should circulate a petition.
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I'd also suggest complaining (loudly) to Amazon.
The USPS reports the status of packages as "delivered" when they reach the post office, and "ready for pick-up" when they're actually processed.
Amazon doesn't allow the extra day for a package to be processed once it gets here, instead patting themselves on the back for "delivering" in two days.
We need to tell Amazon that their packages are a day late, and that we're not happy with the missed deliveries.
Probably wouldn't hurt to point out that service Amazon (and USPS Mail Innovations and FedEX Smarter Mail) use should be priced more appropriately, especially if the shipper delivers themselves in some zip codes (where it's cheap) and not to places like Wrightwood.
I wouldn't mind paying Amazon a little more for Prime if they delivered via the other package services.
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Though I would never expect door to door deliveries, why cant we have "down at the corner" mail boxes with oversized boxes to store packages?
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Though I would never expect door to door deliveries, why cant we have "down at the corner" mail boxes with oversized boxes to store packages?
My bride used to live off of 138 and had her mail going to one of those group boxes. They get broken into quite regularly.
Better to have to go to the post office.
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....and of course, I ran into those suppliers who dont want a PO Box number. I tried to include PO Box number, 9 digits zip and street address but there are those suppliers who insist on a strictly street address with no ability to use a 9 digits zip....
In fact I tried to order replacement screws from Andersen's window. They dont deliver to a PO Box ...lol...its really going to break Andersens if some screws get lost....go figure.
Anyway where can I sign up to be part of the class action suit?
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I received a form from the post office (that I've yet to fill out) that allows you to use the P.O. street address for deliveries. Course, you'll still have the delay problem. Cheryl o7o
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....and of course, I ran into those suppliers who dont want a PO Box number. I tried to include PO Box number, 9 digits zip and street address but there are those suppliers who insist on a strictly street address with no ability to use a 9 digits zip....
Can't fix ignorance, and too many people out there are unaware of UPS Mail Innovations and SmartPost. Covered California gave Kaiser my physical address as my mailing address and the reverse.
So let's say your addresses are:
Leftfield
PO. Box 1234
Wrightwood, CA 92397
Leftfield
987 Tree Street
Wrightwood, CA 92397
I've found you can do this:
Leftfield
987 Tree Street #1234
Wrightwood, CA 92397-1234
This is a hybrid address, I've said before that everyone thinks hybrids are cool.
I usually go one step further: mail stop numbers are common in a corporate environment and usually survive mailing systems unmolested, so this is the way I usually write my address:
Leftfield
m/s 1234
987 Tree Street #1234
Wrightwood, CA 92397-1234
The great folks at our post office are quite good and recognizing a box number "hidden" in the address. Two of these addresses will usually get past any shipping department with at least one box number present.
No guarantees, but this appears not to fail. Credit for the idea goes to the fine folks at our post office, I just embellished a little.
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I have come to the conclusion that trying to motivate the USPS to bring relief to our situation is hopeless. In the meantime I have expressed my dissatisfaction with Amazon in the following email.
011218
Due to Amazon's contract with the USPS all packages ordered are delivered to the small post office in the rural mountain village where I live. ALL shipments are delayed by a least one day because the post office is overwhelmed with an enormous increase in packages, with limited physical space and personnel. There is no mail delivery here; all residents must pick up mail, and now packages at the post office. To put things in perspective: yesterday I was told by one of the four employees of the post office that they had 600 packages requiring distribution that day alone. Each package is handled 6 times in handing it over to a resident. 6 x 600 = 3,600 transactions in one day for for employees--900 transactions per employee. I'm sure thousands of small rural post offices are experiencing similar overload.
This is totally ridiculous. Austensibly Amazon contracted with USPS to reduce delivery cots, and the USPS offered very favorable rates to win a very, very large contract -- business as usual. The reality is that Amazon, in its greed to squeeze out every penny of profit, entered into an agreement with a federal organization well-known for over-promising and under-delivering. Amazon executives likely knew the result would be shipping delays and causing customers to spend countless previously unnecessary hours of effort to receive packages. Meanwhile, USPS in utter arrogance has determined there is no need to provide additional resources to small post offices.
As a loyal Amazon customer I am outraged at such corporate greed and off-loading of responsibility, a very poor reflection upon a company for whom I previously had great respect. I am re-evaluating my Prime membership and, in fact, seeking other ways in which to purchase products. Write me off as one dissatisfied customer. Consider the cost of lost business. Multiply all this countless thousands of other customers that Amazon's shipping policies have also undermined trust in your company.
Amazon made a serious mistake in contracting with the USPS, one that result in significant sales declines. I can only hope the company can look beyond trifle savings in order to rectify this situation and once again earn the loyalty of satisfied customers.
I will be circulating this communication to the 5,000 residents of our community and forwarding it to our congressman and state attorney general.
Rick Albertson
Wrightwood, CA
323 896 1951
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Rick... Great letter. You might also send it to the U.S. Postal Commission. I'd also send it to Michael Hiltzik (sp?) at the L.A. Times. He handles consumer issues. Cheryl o7o
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I have come to the conclusion that trying to motivate the USPS to bring relief to our situation is hopeless. In the meantime I have expressed my dissatisfaction with Amazon in the following email.
(text removed)
A couple of suggestions:
This isn't a problem unique to Wrightwood, but every small town that does not have letter carriers. It affects more people.
Include all the consumer reporters.
Send a copy of the letter via U.S. Postal mail to every member of the Board of Directors and to the top executives at Amazon.
List here: http://quotes.wsj.com/AMZN/company-people (http://quotes.wsj.com/AMZN/company-people)
The directors may have staff, but the messages won't get lost in Customer Service or Corporate Communications.
Part of the problem: if we lived in in Rancho Cucamonga or any other town with regular letter carriers, our packages would be delivered the day USPS reports delivery on-line. For small towns like ours, they're reported delivered when the hit the post office, not when the blue slip hits our boxes. That's an error that the USPS could fix.
I completely agree that a letter or package isn't delivered until I can physically get it -- a day after USPS says I can.
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I wish I could find the article but the USPS is only allowed to raise rates a tiny percentage a year unlike say, UPS or FedEx. The USPS has to fund their employees retirement about 75 years in advance which is NUTS!.
"Federal law currently limits the USPS from raising rates by more than the rate of inflation on market-dominant products, which generated more than 70% of the service's $69.6 billion in revenue in the 2017 fiscal year ended Sept. 30. The minuscule increases -- the price of a first-class stamp is rising a penny to 50 cents next year -- haven't been able to offset steep declines in first-class mail volume as communications continue to shift online. The service delivered 58.75 billion pieces of first-class mail last fiscal year, down from 95.9 billion in 2007." 12/17 P Ziobro per the PRC
https://www.vox.com/2017/12/29/16830128/amazon-trump-twitter-postal-service-feud
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Lwt42 - I have tried to use your proposed answer to this dilemma in the past. Sometimes it works but there have been cases where the supplier's online form wont allow me to use a PO Box or nine digits zip code. Most cases they dont provide phone support. For example, when my cell crashed, I tried to take advantage of Verizon wireless online discount prices but they wont deliver to a PO Box. So for me, its back to square one..... :-\
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Lwt42 - I have tried to use your proposed answer to this dilemma in the past. Sometimes it works but there have been cases where the supplier's online form wont allow me to use a PO Box or nine digits zip code.
First, never use "PO Box" -- it always triggers a change to processing that those of us in small towns don't want.
That's why I use "mail stop" or "m/s" because shippers know about big companies like Boeing and Kaiser and how the internal mail works there. It's not a post office box, it's a routing code.
I try to get my box number into the address three times. If they won't let me put in the +4 on the zip, that's okay, it's two other places. If the strip the box number off the end of the address, I've still got the mail stop.
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I subscribe to USPS's Informed Delivery so I receive scanned photos of incoming mail. ...still waiting for the envelope containing gift cards to show up from Friday. ???
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I subscribe to USPS's Informed Delivery so I receive scanned photos of incoming mail. ...still waiting for the envelope containing gift cards to show up from Friday. ???
Informed Delivery only works for "PO Box ####" addresses. If you use "123 Anna St. Apt. ####" or somesuch, Informed Delivery doesn't see those.
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Understood. This was an envelope with the PO Box ### only.
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Recently had a package returned to sender eventhough I used my hybrid address. Not sure what else I can do. I was also amazed to see an Amazon package arrive in 2 days but now it's been sitting at the PO for 2 days. Last but not least I have yet to use one of the boxes outside and get stuck waiting in line everytime. Any idea what criteria they use?
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Recently had a package returned to sender eventhough I used my hybrid address. Not sure what else I can do. I was also amazed to see an Amazon package arrive in 2 days but now it's been sitting at the PO for 2 days. Last but not least I have yet to use one of the boxes outside and get stuck waiting in line everytime. Any idea what criteria they use?
A couple of years ago, I started working on Amazon, and eventually got an agent to "de-prioritize" USPS for my packages. It might take several conversations (and getting an agent on the phone is a little bit of a trick). You might need a senior agent.
Occasionally, small packages still arrive by mail -- if the postage is cheap. They usually fit in my mailbox.
I always use the "hybrid" address because you never know how an Amazon Marketplace seller is going to address or ship a package, and you never know when the company uses a third party for fulfillment.
Lately, I've been putting m/s #### on the "company" line when ordering, as that doesn't seem to go through the standardization.
Also, Patty retired, which means we probably have a new person sorting mail. They'll learn.
Amazon's site always shows the tracking number, so you can go to the Post Office and ask.
No idea how they decide to use the outside lockers.
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First come, first served on those lockers.. Remember, there are like 100 lockers and 3600ish PO Boxes here. Even if those lockers are all empty, the chance of you getting your package in one, is pretty small to begin with. Subtract those lockers that are already in use, and the odds are even worse
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I'm wondering if the new lockers have really been explained anywhere? I don't understand how or when they're used. It's Oct 2020, and still have not had to use one? My packages are always to be picked up. Why are so many empty, with Keys sticking out? I'm not complaining, just wondering.
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Does anyone know of any out of the way post offices or postal service places that aren't crowded? I've already tried Phelan but left after the line of +15 didn't move for almost 10 minutes. I have a ton of items that require counter service and UPS is way too expensive.
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Theres a post office out by big rock
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I've never used it but maybe Valyermo?
http://www.hourspostoffice.com/USPS%20Post%20Office%20Valyermo/93563/Valyermo/41023 (http://www.hourspostoffice.com/USPS%20Post%20Office%20Valyermo/93563/Valyermo/41023)
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Why do we have to put up with this ????? We pay the same rates as people who get home delivery!!!! We have a Post Office that refuses to use the boxes outside. Hundreds of people have to go in during THE COVID. Our cases are growing by the day. You can't tell me it would not be more efficient to deliver to the outside boxes all at once than to run back and forth, thus allowing people who need counter help in !!!!! >:( >:(
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Are you sure they are "refusing" to use the boxes outside? Just today, I saw two different people use keys to retrieve their packages
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I'm only picking up my mail a couple times a week now, but every time I walk by those outdoor boxes, I see several with open doors, with keys in the locks (once the recipient has retrieved his/her package, the key can't be removed, that has to be done by a postal employee). So that means the boxes ARE being utilized. There are not enough employees to compensate for this extremely busy season. They are doing the best they can under these trying circumstances.
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I stood in OUTSIDE line of 20 people today. Nice spacing and MUCH better than the Petri dish in doors. Becky said it was started by one customer who got it going. She and Ron were the only employees there today, to do putting the mail out, finding new incoming boxes from the racks of packages delivered into the back . Their third employee was out with arm difficulty. No wonder. I watched the action out the back and they got another deliver truck, Nothing but packages. Please be kind to out post office employees as they are on the verge of collapse, and it's not their fault. It won't get better before Christmas .
Keep the outside line alive and bring a coat, Yo Mama
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I contacted our assemblyman Tom Lackey today asking for help with the PO situation. Apparently PO upper management has decided that WW does not need any more employees. Here is the email I sent to him. Please add your voices to the residents who are trying to help our PO employees get through this challenging time. And contact other government officials. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
The town of Wrightwood has a population of approximately 5000 people. Our local post office does not deliver to our homes so everyone has to pick up their mail and packages at the post office. Our post office has been losing employees and is currently down to 2 employees! They are receiving approximately 600 packages a day in addition to the regular mail. The line is approximately 45 - 60 minutes long every day. They have been asking for additional permanent employees but their upper management has determined that they don't need additional help. The employee who works the counter had to close the counter today so she could go to the bathroom and grab something to eat - at 1:15 pm. She had been standing there for hours. We need our government representatives to look into this situation and do something immediately. The town of Wrightwood would appreciate any support you can provide in this matter.
Link to Lackey. https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD36&inframe=Y&fbclid=IwAR2GhrV0SwWHd4czkFtWKRPB35LCQceZM0FjFYViTCdN6jjEirWIuOFsD9Q
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I just got back from the post office and was so sad to see Becky in tears. :( Those employees are our neighbors, friends, and part of this community all year long. They are overwhelmed and have no help. I felt so bad for them. I wish there was more we can do.
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Send emails to our government officials. Also to david.a.partenheimer@usps.gov
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I contacted our assemblyman Tom Lackey today asking for help with the PO situation. Apparently PO upper management has decided that WW does not need any more employees. Here is the email I sent to him. Please add your voices to the residents who are trying to help our PO employees get through this challenging time. And contact other government officials. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
The town of Wrightwood has a population of approximately 5000 people. Our local post office does not deliver to our homes so everyone has to pick up their mail and packages at the post office. Our post office has been losing employees and is currently down to 2 employees! They are receiving approximately 600 packages a day in addition to the regular mail. The line is approximately 45 - 60 minutes long every day. They have been asking for additional permanent employees but their upper management has determined that they don't need additional help. The employee who works the counter had to close the counter today so she could go to the bathroom and grab something to eat - at 1:15 pm. She had been standing there for hours. We need our government representatives to look into this situation and do something immediately. The town of Wrightwood would appreciate any support you can provide in this matter.
Link to Lackey. https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD36&inframe=Y&fbclid=IwAR2GhrV0SwWHd4czkFtWKRPB35LCQceZM0FjFYViTCdN6jjEirWIuOFsD9Q
Thannk you! I just echoed your same comments. This is unacceptable
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Thanks Lynn! I was at the post office yesterday and got a receipt for my transaction. I just noticed at the bottom of the receipt is printed: "Tell us about your experience. Go to: https://postalexperience.com/Pos or scan this code with your mobile device (code is printed) or call 1-800-410-7420.
Lets do all these options from contacting Tom Lackey to emailing and/or calling the 800 number. Also it wouldn't hurt to attach a photo to your correspondence.
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I really feel sorry for our local postmaster. Within 2 hours of me filling out the complaint form on usps.com, he was calling me. It went to voice mail because I was driving at the time. I'm sure USPS forces the local postmaster to respond to each complaint. Great, now that poor guy has to sit on the phone all day answering these complaints. I'm sure he understands we are on his side.
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I contacted our assemblyman Tom Lackey today asking for help with the PO situation. Apparently PO upper management has decided that WW does not need any more employees. Here is the email I sent to him. Please add your voices to the residents who are trying to help our PO employees get through this challenging time. And contact other government officials. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
I'm all for contacting Assemblyman Lackey, but he's in the California Legislature, and the U.S. Postal Service is a Federal Agency. Doesn't mean he can't help, just that he isn't over the Post Office.
Contacting Paul Cook (outgoing California 8th District Representative) and Jay Obernolte (incoming Representative) is appropriate.
I know that complaints to Robert Lovingood helped when our post office was being robbed, so contacting his successor (Cook) is probably useful.
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You'll find all of the top-level USPS officials at this link: https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/pmg-exec-leadership-team.htm (https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/pmg-exec-leadership-team.htm)
Headquarters is at:
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, D.C. 20260-0004
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Paul Cook resigned as of Dec 7. I don't know who will be replacing him or who is even in charge of that situation? Appointed or elected?
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Col. Paul Cook (ret.) was elected to represent the First District on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in March 2020 and began his term on December 7, 2020.
http://www.sbcounty.gov/bosd1/contact/Offices
District Office
12474 Cottonwood Avenue, Suite A
Victorville, CA 92395
760.995.8100
760.995.8105 - Fax
Monday-Friday
8 AM - 5 PM
Paul Cook resigned as of Dec 7. I don't know who will be replacing him or who is even in charge of that situation? Appointed or elected?
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Thanks! Now I remember. The November election seems so long ago!
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Paul Cook resigned as of Dec 7. I don't know who will be replacing him or who is even in charge of that situation? Appointed or elected?
By resigning before the end of his term, his replacement gains a tiny bit of seniority over the rest of the new members of Congress.
I would still write (on paper, with a stamp) to Congressman Paul Cook, on the assumption that it will reach Congressman Obernolte.
Doesn't hurt to write to Supervisor Paul Cook either. The Supervisor will still have contacts in Washington.
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Does anyone know of any out of the way post offices or postal service places that aren't crowded? I've already tried Phelan but left after the line of +15 didn't move for almost 10 minutes. I have a ton of items that require counter service and UPS is way too expensive.
The Pinon Hills PO is better than Wrightwood or Phelan for wait times...usually. I frequent the Pinon Hills PO and sometimes experience a short wait time depending on what I need to do. The longest I can remember waiting is approximately 10-15 minutes, but that is not very often. Usually I am in and out in just a few minutes.
The Pinon Hills PO is located on Oasis just south of Hwy 138.
The Valyermo PO is not open for regular business to the best of my knowledge. I believe they have very limited hours but I have no idea what they are. I know a person that lives in the Mile High area and he often uses the Wrightwood PO when he needs to send a package or needs or, in person services.
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Heard there is going to be parcel pickup hours on Sunday morning. ???
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The pick-up window is still open now at 12:45 pm. I think it is one of the employees from another location. She must be working overtime. It is windy and cold in that parking lot. Bless her heart - she is working hard!
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1:10pm and they are still there! Yes, what great service. And yes, a sign says they'll be open tomorrow (Sunday) as well for pickup.
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I find that amazing and wonderful. Someone must be listening to the complaints!
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WW Postmaster Ron is listening. Now we have to get his higher-ups to listen as well. Lots of emails sent their way. Time for them to act on our behalf.
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Took about 20 minutes to get my packages this morning around 8:30. Not bad.
I also noticed that the USPS website has a notice saying that they're severely understaffed due to COVID.
I'm guessing the postal workers who aren't out are getting a ton of overtime.
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Yes they are getting a bunch of overtime, but per one I spoke with, they would rather have more help. They are exhausted.
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Yes they are getting a bunch of overtime, but per one I spoke with, they would rather have more help. They are exhausted.
Agreed. Despite my frustration, I think they're doing a great job with so little staff.
Not sure where "more help" is going to come from if the shortage is nationwide.
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I dropped off some goodies for the workers yesterday. ;D
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My daughter dropped off goodies from me. (I can't go in there at this time.)
I picked bags of cheese sticks, as they are individually packaged, and then packaged in a sealed plastic bag.
Gotta be safe somehow, and it's something that's not cookies.
Hope it gives them a little happiness, or sustenance.
Thanks to them for what they do. ?
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Gotta be safe somehow, and it's something that's not cookies.
The virus is just not transmitted this way. No worries about cookies.
Regards,
--Wes
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It was a gift. ?
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My mom told me that the other day when she was in line to get support, the postmaster was having a breakdown about how overburdened the post office is. I feel so bad for them :(
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I have been trying to reach the post office . . . 760-249-8882 is constantly busy. Suggestions?
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I have been trying to reach the post office . . . 760-249-8882 is constantly busy. Suggestions?
They rarely answer the phone. Going in is the best if you can do so.
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Have you tried 760 249-5053
I have been trying to reach the post office . . . 760-249-8882 is constantly busy. Suggestions?
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Where I used to live, you'd go in the Post Office, and you could hear the phone ringing in the back. No one ever answered it.
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Ok. THANKS!! That worked!! My phone said 760 249-5053 belonged to an individual but on my 2nd try, I got through and I think I have a resolution. Whoo-Hoo!!