The Best Invention Ever!!!

[oliegirl]

The automated postal machine at the post office. Instead of having to wait in a HUGE line of people mailing boxes and packages, I just swiped my credit card and got my stamps! Woo Hoo! God Bless the USPS!

[Buccaneer]

I have been using that exclusively for over a year now, esp. when I started selling stuff each week on eBay. The only complaint I have is that you can't get two extra services (like Insurance and Delivery Confirmation). My wife had two boxes to mail out yesterday. There were over 25 people in the regular line and only 1 in the self-serve line. Are majority of people that stupid to not know how to use self-service?

[timmynausea]

I have been using that exclusively for over a year now, esp. when I started selling stuff each week on eBay. The only complaint I have is that you can't get two extra services (like Insurance and Delivery Confirmation). My wife had two boxes to mail out yesterday. There were over 25 people in the regular line and only 1 in the self-serve line. Are majority of people that stupid to not know how to use self-service?

The only time we wait in the real line is when shipping something overseas because you can't use the machine for that. I doubt all those people were doing that, though.

[Butter_of_69]

There were over 25 people in the regular line and only 1 in the self-serve line. Are majority of people that stupid to not know how to use self-service?

Have you ever been to the self-checkout at a supermarket and watched people try to figure out how to use it?

The answer is: yes.

[Buccaneer]

But at the P.O., there is usually someone there to help. When my wife was on it yesterday, a P.O. was helping here every step of the way even though she knew how to do it. At the grocery store and at Home Depot, I have always seen an employee right there to help in case of any problems.

[Butter_of_69]

Whenever I have been to the post office, there is no one to help with using the self-service thing. That kind of defeats the purpose of the machine, doesn't it?

[oliegirl]

But at the P.O., there is usually someone there to help. When my wife was on it yesterday, a P.O. was helping here every step of the way even though she knew how to do it. At the grocery store and at Home Depot, I have always seen an employee right there to help in case of any problems.


I guess I must be really smart then, b/c I had never used one before but managed to figure it out all by myself! :eek:

[PilotMan]

My wife would disagree with you on this one. ;)

[Buccaneer]

So, besides international shipping and multiple extra services, why aren't more using the machine? It really is very simple.

[Klinglerware]

Have you ever been to the self-checkout at a supermarket and watched people try to figure out how to use it?

The answer is: yes.

I don't mind the stamp vending machines, but for some reason, I cannot bear to use the self-checkout aisle in the supermarket. I still don't like the idea of doing the work they pay their cashiers/baggers to do and which they are charging me for as part of the retail mark-up.

If there were a discount for self-checkout I wouldn't mind so much, but utilizing self-checkout seems like paying the retailer to do their work for them...

[Butter_of_69]

If there were a discount for self-checkout I wouldn't mind so much, but utilizing self-checkout seems like paying the retailer to do their work for them...

I think the idea is that if you have a few items, it's faster to go through the self-checkout line... which it is if you know what you're doing. I don't think they're necessarily trying to make you do their work for them, just trying to shorten lines.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I don't mind the stamp vending machines, but for some reason, I cannot bear to use the self-checkout aisle in the supermarket. I still don't like the idea of doing the work they pay their cashiers/baggers to do and which they are charging me for as part of the retail mark-up.

If there were a discount for self-checkout I wouldn't mind so much, but utilizing self-checkout seems like paying the retailer to do their work for them...
At the grocery store I go to, you can use the self-checkout, but they have employees to bag the stuff for you. I think that's a pretty decent deal.

[Klinglerware]

I think the idea is that if you have a few items, it's faster to go through the self-checkout line... which it is if you know what you're doing. I don't think they're necessarily trying to make you do their work for them, just trying to shorten lines.

I know, it's just a personal issue for me. In fact, the counter-argument is that using self-checkout saves you in terms of time and productivity by not having to wait in line. (Although, I don't see much of a time difference between the self-checkout line and the 10 items or less express aisle most of the time.)

[Subby]

Fritz told me this was the best invention ever:

http://www.jmate.com/data/pictures/features/p-z/TheHistoryoftheHelloKittyVibrator02.jpg

[stevew]

Fritz told me this was the best invention ever:

http://www.jmate.com/data/pictures/features/p-z/TheHistoryoftheHelloKittyVibrator02.jpg

Gotta love the hello kitty vibrator.

[Mustang]

http://www.tulsatvmemories.com/imag2000/mrmicro.jpg

I thought this was the greatest invention ever???

Hey good lookin', We'll be back to pick you up later!

[Critch]

The Greatest Invention Ever is TiVo. Fact!

[oliegirl]

My wife would disagree with you on this one. ;)


Well, there are lots of other reasons that I am really smart, this is just the most recent example ;)

[Craptacular]

But at the P.O., there is usually someone there to help. When my wife was on it yesterday, a P.O. was helping here every step of the way even though she knew how to do it. At the grocery store and at Home Depot, I have always seen an employee right there to help in case of any problems.
The ones at Home Depot suck ... well, that's pretty much in line with the rest of their service.

[ice4277]

Can you do Priority Mail at the automated counter? I send stuff out Priority quite often but haven't really looked into using the kiosk to do so.

[Buccaneer]

Can you do Priority Mail at the automated counter? I send stuff out Priority quite often but haven't really looked into using the kiosk to do so.
Most definitely. I even done Registered Mail once.

[Desnudo]

I don't mind the stamp vending machines, but for some reason, I cannot bear to use the self-checkout aisle in the supermarket. I still don't like the idea of doing the work they pay their cashiers/baggers to do and which they are charging me for as part of the retail mark-up.

If there were a discount for self-checkout I wouldn't mind so much, but utilizing self-checkout seems like paying the retailer to do their work for them...

Now you are waiting the extra time in line and paying for the retail mark-up that they charge to cover the cost of installing self-checkout machines. ;)

[JeeberD]

Gotta love the hello kitty vibrator.

I thought it was the Hello Kitty Tampon Applicator...

[MikeVick7]

I think the best invention ever is the internet. Cause with the internet, I've virtually eliminated every need to go to the post office. :)

[albionmoonlight]

I don't mind the stamp vending machines, but for some reason, I cannot bear to use the self-checkout aisle in the supermarket. I still don't like the idea of doing the work they pay their cashiers/baggers to do and which they are charging me for as part of the retail mark-up.

If there were a discount for self-checkout I wouldn't mind so much, but utilizing self-checkout seems like paying the retailer to do their work for them...
I agree. If stores had started with self-checkout, and a fancy upscale store came out with the idea of having people to scan and bag your groceries for you, people would be raving over that and probably pay a premium for it.

Also, as a former bag boy, I like to keep the sector employed.