Mark's Notebook

Out Of Order

Example number 1 - the Milpitas Post Office.

Today, I went to the Milpitas Post Office to mail my quarterly tax payment. There were several cars waiting in line to turn left into the driveway, and several cars waiting to turn right into the driveway. Every time a car came out, another went in. Why would the post office be so busy today? I had to park on the street in front of the next building.

Inside, I found that the line was long. Also, there were lines for both vending machines. Everyone in line for the vending machines had a dollar bill in his or her hand. That is, they wanted to buy 2 cent stamps! But not only were there no 2 cent stamps in the machine, but both machines were out of order! Each person in line dutifully studied all the contents of the machine, discovered the "out of order" sign, got in line for the other machine, and left the next person in line to go through the same exercise.

No wonder the line was so long and the parking lot was full! Everyone wanted to buy 2 cent stamps and no one could get them in the machines. The line was full of people who might have been in the post office for only 2 minutes otherwise.

The Milpitas is normally my favorite post office because the lines go quickly; the employees are friendly and competent.

Example number 2 - Taco Bell on Blossom Hill Road.

Mary and I went to Taco Bell while running errands on the way to church tonight. The soda machine was out of both ice and cherry Pepsi. There were no napkins. Mary to wait for them to pull napkins for us ... while our tacos were getting cold.

Call me a Whiner ... except that these were not unoccupied businesses. There were lots of employees on hand at both who could have fixed things. I am going to file complaints at both web sites and see what kind of response I get.

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Last updated Tuesday 13 May 2008