Stupid Post Office. A rant.

So I haven't checked mail for a week. Well, I practically haven't left the apartment for a week! Yesterday the post office was closed, and you know? I don't drive into town just to check the mail unless I have a reason to think something will be waiting there for me.  

But yesterday I was told that a package might be on its way. So, I made a special trip into town this morning... only to find that whatever package was there had been SENT BACK. Because I haven't checked mail since last Thursday. The desk clerk said, "If it's express mail, we send it back after four days." Guess what? Four days since the last time I checked mail was YESTERDAY and the post office was CLOSED. Apparently, there were still people working in the post office sending back packages, however... 

Thank you postmaster, that REALLY makes sense: If it's important enough to pay extra to ship it quickly, it's a good idea send back before the consignee has a chance to pick it up. Because it's REALLY important, so ... ? After four days, you, postmaster, decide that it couldn't have been that important after all? Because you, postmaster, want senders to know when their consignees aren't diligently checking mail? Because in any given four-day period, everyone can absolutely find an hour to two out of the workday to stand in line at your miserable post office? 

Ground mail, by the way, will sit there until we pick it up - weeks later they'll still have it. It's only the express mail that the post office sends back. Because if you, the sender, want to send me something; and if you, the sender, want to make sure that I get it reasonably quickly; the post office believes that it is the most sensible plan to send it all the way back to you on the other side of the planet, if I don't happen to have the time or knowledge to pick it up within four days of its arrival on Guam. 

Seriously, who with a PO box checks mail every four days?! "Oh, I check mail every day because there's nothing on Guam as enjoyable as battling construction traffic and wasting gas and then enduring the pandhandlers by the door so that I can stick in my key and look into an empty box! Or even better, a box that contains junk mail! Yes sir, that is what I call a well-spent hour." 

Right. 

So, I'm disappointed - for Nick and me, because we didn't get the package; and for the sender (the post office couldn't tell me who it was) because they'll have the package returned and feel bad about our not getting it. And the sender will have to either pay to ship it again, or just give up. Either way, when they shipped it they felt happy because they were doing something nice for us, and when the package is returned they'll feel bad because their effort and expense were wasted. 

Stupid, stupid post office. Here's a clue: People pay money to send packages because they want to put them into the possession of the consignees. Think about it. Now, post office - short of actually delivering mail, since that's out of the question - how could you do your job so that people get the packages sent to them? How about by NOT SENDING BACK THE PACKAGES BEFORE THEY ARE PICKED UP?!

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT THERE AND NOT SEND BACK THE PACKAGE!

Would that really be so hard?!

Meh, I can't even find a contact address to send a complaint to the postmaster - which I actually would do, because this is beyond ridiculous. This is a breach of a contractual obligation. 

So, to whomever sent that package: I am sorry that it is being returned to you. I truly, truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. Guam is so isolated that any connection to home is a treasure... Thank you for the thinking of us here!