US Post Office

I was against the shut down of the post office, but now after more than two years of encampments in front, I wish it would close down and turn into something useful.
To enter the beautiful landmarked building, you must pass through a rather permanent tent city that smells of urine, smoke, and general funk. Under many of the tarps barely hides a chop shop for bicycles.
Enter the lobby and take a ticket. Expect to wait forever, so enjoy the 1930s-​era mural and the other fine archetectural details.
When it is your turn, expect mean service. Expect to be lectured. Expect to have people in their 20s step in front of you and get their complicated problems taken care of first.
I support USPS, but this place is not worth saving. Save the building with better tenants.

The reviews are true. The service here is slow even if you are there before they open. I commute so I came here because it was close to the downtown Berkeley Bart station. I thought it was convenient, but turned out it was anything but convenient. I just wanted to send in my (completed) passport application and unfortunately I had to leave before doing that. If you have time to kill, you can sit back and enjoy the historic awnings as the building is on the National Historic Register, otherwise expect a 30 minute to hour wait even for simple services.

Lady behind the counter was completely unhelpful when I had a missing package. People are perusing the planned shutdown, I hope they do it early

Firstly, you should know a few things about me before disregarding this post because it doesn’t mimic the majority of the negative reviews.
1. For a lazy millennial, I frequent the post office regularly. Yes I know there’s apps that will package and ship stuff for you on demand.
2. But I’m EXTREMELY picky and strategic about how items are shipped and packaged– which is why I’ll trust ²⁴⁄₇ «on-​demand medical healthcare» from an iphone app but will not let my outgoing mail be picked up by some hipster courier who puts a 0.8lb scarf in a LARGE-​priority box because he doesn’t know that shipping by weight instead of flat rate can be the better choice in that case.
**Also fun fact and life-​trick:
You can save money by folding a flat-​rate envelope into a pouch (you can google how-​to since I’m getting off track). This method fits more than a standard small flat-​rate box and almost as much as the medium flat-​rate. #YoureWelcome
3. Although I am retail/customer’s service’s worst nightmare with my princess attitude, high expectations of service, friendliness, helpfulness, etc– You’re welcome to check my other Unilocal reviews and Twitter rants for proof of my inner retail-​diva. But I am also an empathetic person, especially to government employees who work in the armpit of downtown Berkeley where USPS regulars range from college students, mothers and business professionals, to homeless men that urinate on the property, and the hippie bandwagoners «protesting» outside in tents. Depending on what hot button issue is relevant that week, some of the «demonstrations» from the tents outside can be pretty noisy.
People claim that the employees here are rude. No. They are helpful and give adequate information but friendly conversations or becoming too close with patrons is discouraged for their safety. USPS employees here not only have to explain the same tedious procedures to impatient patrons in a crowded, hot building, but they also politely deal with homeless locals who have known to come in and cause chaos,
As if there patience isn’t worn thin already, The employees here are also kind and helpful to the «princess type» people (like me, but in appropriate public/​retail scenarios) who obnoxiously cut lines because they’re in a hurry (aren’t we all) and fail to get a number, read the big posted signs, sigh loud and rudely, and then slam their package on the counter next to a fragile elderly woman who has been patiently waiting and following social order.
However, the employees and the service offered at this location are nothing short of efficient. If you go to the Fedex Ship and Print across the street, this USPS will feel like the Buckingham Palace in comparison, and you’ll feel like Queen Elizabeth herself. I’ve been going to this location for the past three years. This office has never lost a shipment of mine, I’ve never had an employee show me any frustration or rudeness– even on Fridays and before Christmas Eve when the place is packed. The people working here are actually really friendly if you take the time to treat them like humans. Many times I have put items to ship in my own boxes. Instead of accepting the package and shipping it by weight, the employees here take the time to explain cheaper options and delivery services.
I can recall at least 4 separate times in the last year when I went to USPS literally less than 5 minutes before closing and had to ship by weight. After looking up prices, the employee (s) told me that it would cost less and be delivered quicker if I shipped through priority flat-​rate mail. Even though it was well after closing time, each single time the employees helped me pack my items from the original boxes into their selection of flat-​rate boxes— which are always in stock at this particular location. Also during one of these 4 occasions, I saved $ 40 when I was trying to send books because the employee was kind enough to tell me about media-​mail. $ 40 as a college student is honestly a week of groceries. If the employees were rude and didn’t care about providing a fair, quality service then they would just take my package and ship it normally instead of explaining media mail and helping me pack heavy books into a new box.
I am very pleased with the structure of this USPS– a number system like at the DMV is efficient and fair, The flat rate and express shipping supplies are always fully stocked so customers can help themselves while they wait, this location offers passport services and hold mail, The full service kiosk in the back of the building is helpful for people who only have a small errand like buying postage and printing shipping labels or even mailing a package.
USPS exceeds standards considering the location. Most importantly, they get my mail where it needs to go. If you’re expecting royal treatment then you should send a «peasant» to fetch your mail because this is a government agency run for and by the people, not an elitist class running on wine and corruption.

Nice postal service building, terrible customer and mailing services.
You’re better off with UPS or FedEx. USPS isn’t interested in helping even when they lost your packages more than once.

I live a couple blocks from this place but don’t even bother going here unless I’m forced to pick up a package because I wasn’t home. Even then, I dread the experience and have to prepare myself mentally and spiritually with some silent contemplation and prayer before the short walk into this living nightmare.
Long story short, go here if you want to (1) experience the worst customer service on the planet (2) feel like getting verbally abused for no reason (3) and interact with angry women who seem to hate their own life and want to go out of their way to make you hate yours.
It’s unfathomable that some of the women here are allowed to hold a job when they would be fired on the spot anywhere else. I vote Democrat and understand the intention behind why unions were originally formed; however, when unions protect people with that level of incompetence and guarantee them a pension on tax payer money, I completely understand the Republican side of the argument as well.
Please do your sanity a favor and go to the post office about a half a mile up on Shattuck Ave (between Vine and Ceder). Besides saving 20 mins on average, you’ll be a much happier and better person for it.

My tracking information told me that my package was being held at a post office, so I went to this one to ask her if there was anyway to find out which post office it was so I could pick it up. The lady who helped me was incredibly rude, completely unhelpful, and didn’t even know that the USPS website has options for electronically submitting a request for pick up at a post office.
I think it says a lot about this post office that the employees don’t even know the services provided on the website. Also had to wait forever because only 2 people were working.

All this effort put into keeping this post office open and I supported it, too. It’s a beautiful building and it should be preserved, but I think we’d be better served if it were all automated. It’s the worst service I’ve ever encountered aside from SF DMV.

I personally had a good experience with the lady who helped me. I forgot what her name was, I just remember her being Latina and we exchanged a few Spanish phrases. She’s very straightforward, but don’t misinterpret that as disrespect because she truly does want to help you, but also wanting you to get in and out of that place as soon as possible! Went there to get my passport done. It’s a walk-​in process, and I was in and out after 30 minutes even though I was the second person to be attended, which is pretty fast! Try to go on weekdays if you can, it is very empty, especially in the mornings. Fill out the application as thoroughly as possible and bring the necessary documents.

Mother of God this Teresa lady is mad at 930am!! Seriously, a tinnsy bit of courtesy wouldn’t hurt!
I needed to send someone a prepaid envelope addressed to myself and I’ve done this procedure before. This lady is just tossing the envelopes at me, sneered at my questions about addressing the envelopes, the pricing and the delivery time, and would cut me off before she would finish listening to my questions (btw, she would answer the wrong question if you get cut off)…
Teresa is just completely rude about the whole transaction. I think I usually get another lady who is w lot more agreeable. As I walked out, even the lady at the other window looked at me apologetically since her colleague was being excruciating difficult with her attitude. Ugh, if this wasn’t the closest office to my place, I would not come back unless they replace the rude employers.

If I could give this place negative stars, I would. Bring a coffin and your patience because you’re gonna be here forever

This is the worst post office ever. I’ve been trying to call hundreds times and the phone just keep ringing. It’s just ridiculous how people ignoring service. Someone should try to fix things out.

Went to this post office to pick up a package and the lady yelled at me for five minutes for not having a state ID, asking why I wouldn’t have one being already 17 years old and asking what my parents were teaching me. When I asked what I could do now since my package (which had my passport, by the way) couldnt be picked up, she told me to walk myself over to a DMV and get myself an ID. I had to repeatedly tell her that I was up here for college and didnt have the means to get an ID until my parents came up before she would tell me anything about what I could do, and she still would only tell me to talk to a supervisor, with a huff and more scolding. Literally was so mean I cried when I got out of the building.

This is the WORST US post office ever! I hate this location… extremely long wait & horrible customer service. The employees are VERY RUDE! If I could, I would give this location minus stars.
Only good thing about this place is location.

WORST usps service ever in my life
The staffs in this building have very very negative attitude to the customer and they don’t care about your package. They are very slow working speed and if they want to take a rest, they just go into the back of the counter and chat there.
They has inefficient waiting line. You have to take number always even if you just pick up the package. They should make a separate line for just picking up.
I waited one hour there with the notice paper to pick up my package. The paper said I can pick up the package after June 14^th 11am. I came there at 12 pm and she said we couldnt find the package. I asked her what should I do? and she said I dont know just call the delivery guys and ask them.
wow, why the customer has to do that? USPS has responsibility to deliver safe and secure. but she said we dont have responsibility and if you want it? find out yourself. It literality means i dont care lol.
Honestly not even worth one star. Hate this place.

This is the single worst establishment that anyone could ever imagine setting foot into… all of the previous reviews summarize everything that is wrong with this post office. The people working there should not be interacting with the public. Period. The service level here makes the DMV seem like a 5 star restaurant.
Under no circumstance should anyone voluntarily go to this post office… walk across Berkeley in your bare feet while chewing on glass to get to another post office if you must — you will have a better experience than coming here.

The most worthless collection of people on earth. Instead of being grateful for somehow still having any sort of job (I can’t even grasp the idea that somebody deemed them fit for hire, in the first place) at all, the employees are utterly useless and apathetic. I hope to see the day where the workers end up becoming some of the very same homeless people that hang around both in & outside of the building.
Look at all of the other basically identical reviews. The most frustrating thing is that nothing gets done. It’s ridiculous that these people are allowed to so blatantly not care. This place is a total disgrace,
−7000÷5 stars

I have been to this post office like 3 or 4 times now. The first time, I got so lucky and one of the Mexican ladies working there (she was not even working in the window) helped me with everything. She was so kind and patient. I was sending a package to Spain and she looked for the right size box for me, let me use the tape, scissors, labels and anything I needed. If it wasn’t because of her it would had happened to me what I experienced in my next visits: the slowest service I’ve never seen. If there’s more than ten people, be ready to spend at least an hour in the office. You also have to be lucky with the lady you get, my third time there one of them was really rude to a customer.
I would just say that the environment in the office is a little bit depressing.
The only good thing about this post office is the location, which is only 10 minutes walking from my house, that is why I keep coming here when I need to send something. I just make sure I have enough time to wait.

For a busy downtown Berkeley location this post office is terribly under-​staffed, which translates into excessive waiting times, frustrated visitors, and unhappy postal workers who have to deal with the fallout.
As an example: I dropped by here around 3:30pm and was greeted by a line of close to 20 people. There were several active employees flickering through the windows, but only 1 of them was processing the requests of those standing in line. More and more people were coming in by minute, and the poor woman of course couldn’t keep up with us all. Their supervisor came out, and when a man from the waiting line asked her if she could send more workers to help at the windows, she said «Nope!» — they are all in the back unloading the mail truck that has just arrived. The man next to me almost exploded in frustration, threw his number to the floor and walked away. A few others have left. The rest of us spent over 1 hour waiting for that one poor employee to process us all.
If you’re headed for this post office, it has been better in the mornings 9−11am, but if you have to visit this place in the afternoon don’t expect this to be a short visit — you may be in line for at least an hour, so bring your lunch and a lot of patience along.

This is the worst post office I’ve ever been to. I’ve only been here twice, and had equally bad experiences both of the times. The employees I have been talking to, have been so rude and haven’t been service-​minded at all.
The first time me and my friend went there, we had to wait for a very long time. There were about six employees behind the counter, and one were just sitting there behind her computer. Me and my friend just wanted to ask a quick question, but then they told us straight away to step away from the counter because «they had money there».
The other time I went there, there were two employees behind the counter. After waiting around 10 minutes, one of them yells «Sorry lady, but we’re closing now. BYE!» and waved at me. I got really surprised, but asked if I could ask a quick question. The woman behind the desk said that they had work to do and that they were closing, and then she yelled «BYE!» again, like I was the most intrusive person ever.
I do not recommend this post office to anyone — It would be difficult to find worse customer service than you do here!