Keaau PO - If You’re Part Of The Problem...

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

If you’re part of the problem, you may not be part of the solution.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve waited in line at the Keaau post office three times for approximately three hours.  The last time I baked in the sun on a particularly hot day.  One of the workers retired and they haven’t hired anyone to replace her, so most of the time only one window is open for the 30 or so people in line.

Yesterday I returned again, this time with an umbrella, but our post office still hadn't implemented a schedule that would allow two windows or even three to open when more than 10 or 15 people are waiting, or hired another worker to replace the one who left - - they came up with an entirely unexpected solution to the daily, self inflicted disorganization.  A small tarp the length of the building has been erected!  They thought our biggest concern was standing in the rain or blazing sun?  I can bring my own umbrella and solve that problem on my own.  What I need is for government workers to look outside their workplace door and ask themselves, since we won’t deliver mail and packages to our customers, should we add insult to injury, and make mail recipients drive here to pick it up, but first stand in line for an hour?

If their solution means we wait just as long - - is it really a solution?  If you heard the temperature in hell was going to three degrees cooler would you say, well that sounds like an improvement?

[Rob Tucker]

You are making a case for switching to a private mail box site.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

... switching to a private mail box... 

I have a cluster mailbox right down the street from my home.  The problem arises when I have a box shipped to my address, especially when Amazon splits an order into multiple shipments. I try to minimize this by buying locally as much as possible, but often the items I need aren’t available on island.  If I had a private box, I’d have to drive about 10 miles for all of my mail, so that would be an even bigger problem.

[kalakoa]

My solution is called "a friend's house" and I use a payment system called "bring them beers".

Still waiting for Amazon parcel lockers; have given up expecting the Post Office to fix anything, I'm already not getting all my mail.

[eightfingers2.0]

My solution is called "a friend's house" and I use a payment system called "bring them beers".

Still waiting for Amazon parcel lockers; have given up expecting the Post Office to fix anything, I'm already not getting all my mail.

What are all those lockers for in front of the post office?

[Obie]

Local Local $30.00/ month longest wait time has been 5 minutes usually in and out.

[randomq]

What are all those lockers for in front of the post office?

Friends and family?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

What are all those lockers for in front of the post office?

I don’t know for certain, but I’d guess it’s the same as the lockers at the HPP cluster boxes.  If you get a parcel in the mail the carrier can place a numbered key in your mailbox.  The key opens a locker with your parcel.  I assume the lockers in front of the post office are for PO Box holders at the post office, so they can pick up parcels without waiting in line.

Local Local $30.00/ month longest wait time...

Thanks Obie, that might work for some but since I get most of my boxes delivered in a locker at my cluster mailbox, which I can walk to, it would take more time and money to drive somewhere to pick up all of my boxes.  

I received mail & boxes at my current address without much inconvenience for 20 years.  When COVID changed everything and the wait time at the PO increased, I assumed it was due to safety protocols, etc. which was fine, we do what we have to do in an emergency situation.  But now it’s worse, and from what I can gather it’s because the retired worker has not been replaced.  The workers at the PO say very little when I ask them about the situation.

If you receive mail at the Keaau Post Office, and have noted a similar difficulties please contact Rep. Kai Kahele’s office next week and ask him to look into the problem.
https://kahele.house.gov/contact

[terracore]

Amazon has only shipped one package to me via USPS since I've stopped giving them a PO box address. I get the UPS packages delivered to our house via procedure in other thread for $19.99/year.

My PO Box is in Hilo and the service was okay for years but the shenanigans have started there too. Recently they put a package in a parcel locker which is normally great, but they put the key into somebody else's box. Fortunately the recipient of new work boots brought them back to the PO and I eventually got them.

I frequently get second or final notices that packages are going to be returned because I didn't pick them up, but I didn't get the first or second notice. Several times I've had to go in with tracking numbers and have them fetch packages that are in the back and they've never put the pickup slips in the box. Or at least not into MY box. I whined about their incompetence to their supervisor but he was only interested in talking about tracking down "who did it" rather than fixing a systemic problem.

They put up shade cloth last year to cut down on the sunstroke from people waiting outside.

The UPS store in Pahoa is open. I was going to get a box there but their cheapest option is over $500 for the first year for the smallest box. They don't have any discounts like pre-paying for a year. When I asked about their high prices she basically told me that their boxes were "in demand". Based on the situation in Pahoa I believe it. I can see their prices only going up from here. Looks like a second location is already needed.

[kalakoa]

If you get a parcel in the mail the carrier can place a numbered key in your mailbox.

This happened to me once. I've had the mailbox over 10 years.

their cheapest option is over $500 for the first year for the smallest box

Rent, utilities, minimum-wage staff ... it adds up pretty quick.