We all dread the trip to the post office. It is likely one will stand in line, watching surly, unmotivated government workers dragging through their day only to discover there is something wrong with the way you’ve labeled or stamped something, and you have to do it all over again. Help is here! It’s a slow period in Raleigh right now, but that simply gives us time to share some tips. Today, we’re talking mail.

Best Post Office

I haven’t visited all of the branches in the entire U.S. Postal Service’s system, however I think one would look long and hard for a branch that outperforms the one at Avent Ferry Road and Gorman Street. While the facility itself is worn and outdated, the place is otherwise a first class operation. Tony, Romeo, and the occasional third attendant are so pleasantly helpful that even Nordstrom could learn a few things from this crew. Not only are they accommodating, they are fast. The line in this branch sometimes trails out the door into the foyer, but don’t worry. It moves quickly (so long as the customers ahead in the line have bat brains) unlike that at the neighboring DMV office.

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If you aren’t in southwest Raleigh, but can get to the Crabtree branch, it offers a decent secondary postal experience. However access and parking are a problem if Crabtree stores weren’t already in the day’s plans.

Horrible Post Office

There are many bad post offices, but only two come to mind immediately. They are the Creekside location (27609, adjacent to the “super”Kroger at Six Forks and Wake Forest Roads), and the Cameron Village location (27605, across from Harris Teeter). I sometimes think that driving my letters and packages to the recipients, in person, would be more pleasant than dealing with these hideous prehistoric creatures.

In a Pinch?

Sometimes you find yourself in a pinch and need to find the area’s latest mail pickup spot. That can be found at the USPS’ Triangle distribution center, near RDU Airport. Their last mail collection is at 8pm nightly, but only via the mail slots inside the lobby (the drive up boxes offer no advantage). Be careful, though. This office is in a remote location and while there usually are 2-3 other customers around, this seems like a prime place for evildoers to do that evil thing they do.

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