United States Postal Service — Local services in Houston

I want to preface this by saying that I absolutely love and respect my USPS workers and all the hard work they do. Without them, my work wouldn't be possible. I appreciate them so much. I don't understand how some people can be so rude to them.

However, if you get a p.o box here, be sure to check that they remove the tape and actually open it. I opened my first p.o box here so I didn't know that tape across it means its closed. I just assumed they had some system I wasn't aware of. I had a p.o box for 3 months and received not one piece of mail. For 50$, I would expect some form of service. As a writer, this is very detrimental to my work. I have been waiting on international work as well as US writers work and received absolutely none of it and it is now lost.

No one could help me with any refunds and suggested I just close out the box to avoid a future headache. This was really disappointing as 50$ is multiple hours of my pay at my day job. I worked multiple hours to be able to afford opening this box and received no refund for an error on their part.

Lastly, Gaylon, the bald clerk with glasses here (mentioned in other reviews) is the rudest person I've ever encountered at the post office. He is mean and shows that he does not care about anything that you are going through even if its not your fault and instead a usps error, as mentioned above with tape covering my box for 3 months. I've had him multiple times and try to just smile and be kind and say thank you have a great day regardless of if he is rude to me, but regardless I am met with his bad energy. He only changed his demeanor when he saw that I waited in line to talk to his coworker instead of him because he is so difficult to work with. I've hated my job before too and I get it, nobody gets paid enough to bring sunshine and rainbows everyday, but come on man. You shouldn't be talking to people that way. That karma will come for you.

Nicole is the nicest clerk here and she is always so kind and has the best energy and I really appreciate her. She was the only person who actually tried to help me and sympathized with me for losing 50$ for a service I never received.

Again, I love USPS. I hope they never die, their service is so necessary and I appreciate them, but I cannot in good faith come back to this post office again. I should have listened to all the reviews and...

These stars are for the super lady who helped me. I agree 100% that something hinky is going on here though. I sent a small painting in an insured, priority mail package to an art gallery. The package was clearly marked with "fragile", "insured", "priority", yet it never reached its destination. I submitted a claim for insurance, but it was rejected twice because they said the package had been delivered. I had notified the gallery director when to expect delivery and she was in there the whole day, but never heard or saw the carrier. I assumed the package had been left on the porch and was stolen. I called the USPS 800 number and that person was extremely patient and helpful and suggested I file a complaint with the University Post Office, which she helped me do. Because I did that, I was contacted by Tara at the University Post Office who said she would investigate. Over the next few days, Tara called me several times to give me a progress report. She discovered that the package had been scanned at a DIFFERENT ADDRESS! And of course, no one had seen it. Tara even went to the address to ask about it in person! Because Tara went out of her way to help me, this story does have a happy ending: I was paid for my claim! But I still want to know if this carrier was investigated or reprimanded for their shoddy and irresponsible work. Or if they might have my painting hanging in their den of thieves. It pathetic, but I will never send anything important again without paying extra to get a "signature required". NOTE: If you have a problem, see Miss Tara at University Station! She's awesome! I give her FIVE stars. To the carrier who created this mess and wasted all our time, you can take those...

Regarding PASSPORT APPLICATIONS This post office is horrible. The whole experience is frustrating. First, you are required to make an appointment online. When you show up on time with all your paperwork ready, you stand in line. But when you get to the front, the clerk will verify your appointment time and then tell you to go sit in the corner until they can get to you. What are they required to do first? Service EVERYONE in line. There has to be NO ONE in line for a designated passport clerk to leave their post and take your application. It’s like being in a really bad sitcom. And you’re the star. You sit in the corner and watch while the two clerks make idle chit chat with each customer until the line just happens to build up again and they can’t leave their post. They are laughing and having a good old time ignoring you in the corner. This happens over and over again like an I LOVE LUCY episode. Just when you think NOW? Someone walks through the door and they can’t help you. At least 50 people were served before there was a slight break and then she poked her head out from the counter Ms SO and So? Like she didn’t know where I was. She knew where I was. I asked why make an appointment at 2 when the 50 people served had no appointment at all. 3:30 before I was seen. And they acted like this was normal. Haha haha. Laughing all the way. What a horrible not customer driven experience. They just don’t care. Following procedures?? What a...