A while ago, I realized that my local post office had taken the clock off of the wall. In its place was a gigantic hole, making it clear that a clock used to be there. It took me all of about two seconds to realize, “I usually have to wait 20 minutes in this god-forsaken place just to pick up a package, so of course they’re trying to keep people from realizing how long they’ve been waiting.” Turns out, it wasn’t just my post office that removed its clocks.
Of course, to fix the long waits, it might be easier to, you know, hire more people rather than trying to psych people out by messing with their perception of time.
I should note that now instead of a gigantic hole in the wall, they’ve hung a basket with a stuffed animal you can buy. And the wait is as long as ever.
Posted in Consumer Commentary
jk April 11, 2007, 2:37 am
Did the bear talk to you, like Teddy Rukspin, to help to pass the time? That would be fun. (Ruxpin?)
Perhaps they are selling bears to raise money for a new and improved clock. Or to pay for additional payroll for addtional employees….
Merle April 12, 2007, 12:36 am
You could spend a lot of time at the window talking to them about how much you miss the clock, and how you fear that the clock will cause you to miss appointments. Loudly.
That would be cruel, of course. But still…
Paul April 12, 2007, 3:34 am
At least they still have AOL discs.
Greg April 12, 2007, 1:43 pm
What are they going to do with all the clocks?
I like the post office mentality though. “We know we can’t provide good service so we’ll do what we can so you don’t realize just how bad it is.” I think I’ll adopt the same for my company and see just how long we stay in business.
Paul September 18, 2007, 1:18 pm
Of note, yes, my post offices still don’t have clocks. I realized this last weekend when I was in line and felt myself getting much, much older.