I'm a web geek. Most of my transactions, communication, daily mundane tasks are all done online. This includes printing postage for packages via UPS or USPS. 

I sell various items of mine on ebay, and have been for 11 years now. At the time, I use paypal to generate my UPS and USPS postage, tape it to my packages and off they go. The process of filling in the web forms and printing out the package is streamlined. Its fast, and works great.

On some occasions with USPS, I can easily place the package in my mailbox and put the red flag up. I get home from work and the package is gone and on its way. Very simple, I like that. On other occasions if I have a package that will not fit in my mailbox or it needs to go UPS, I have to drop off my already paid for package at one of the many post offices or UPS retail locations. This is where the problem starts.

At the Bay View post office, there is no "drop off" area to place the packages. I am forced to wait in line, with my ALREADY paid for package to hand to the clerk. I have waited in line at this post office many times, and probably totalling hours just to hand a package to a clerk, stating its "ready to go". The clerks are nice about it, and I appreciate that, but why do I have to wait in the normal line to hand you a package that is already paid, it just wont fit in the bin.  I asked if I could just "drop off" the package since its good to go and I was once told I have to walk all the way around to the back of the post office, knock on a door, wait around for nobody to answer, and then as I am walking away someone finally asks what I want. I am further told that I cant drop packages off back there. On another visit I asked If I could drop off this package thats ready to go and I was  told I have to wait in line...huh? Whats the purpose of purchasing my label online if I have to wait in the line to hand it to you?

Just today I had to drop off a paid for package at a UPS retail store. I walked in, and there was a line of about 10 people. I am on my lunch break, and I planned for this to be a quick stop and drop. I politely walked to one of the clerks and asked, "Can I drop this off, its all ready to go." The clerk gave me the wait your turn look and said, "if you dont care if it gets sent tomorrow, fine, leave it". I did, and as I was walking back out the door, people in line were giving me a wierd look for walking in front of them.

Ok. Now... Here is an infantile solution for all of this. Designate an area for packages to be placed that are ALREADY paid for and ready to go. Its that simple. I dont need to talk to anyone about it, Its got the postage, it needs to be shipped. A sign or a bin labeld "Good to Go" or "Pre-paid postage here" would work great!

Now, this isnt a rant about all of the Post Offices and UPS locations in the area. There are plenty of them that already have drop off bins or designated areas to leave your package, and its much appreciated; these places "get it". I dont understand why the others simply dont get it....I'm glad they aren't designing web sites.