US Post Office – North Austin

My mail carrier, Richard is the best, ever! I’m new to Austin and from the day that I moved in, Richard has been my one man welcome committee. He doesn’t just deliver my mail – he delivers the best customer service along with it!

Did not want to tell me what two stamps cost so i had to get out my phone and add up.

Typical stereotype of everything we hate about the USPS. Long lines, apathetic employees, old facilities, and they never open on time. 8:30 means 8:45.
None of the people that work here look like they actually live in the neighborhood. Just federal government workers getting overpaid and waiting on that 1 hour lunch break.

Went here to pick up package at the designated time listed in the missed mail receipt left in my door. Rang the bell for service every 10 – 15 minutes for about 45 minutes with no response although I could hear them talking behind the door. Finally the customer behind me got frustrated and held the bell until they yelled and had no choice but to stop whatever they were doing and answer. I understand being busy but really, 45 minutes? This is not my only bad experience with this office but the most recent. My mail carriers have always been friendly and polite but everyone at this actual office is the opposite. I wish there was a worse rating than 1 star.

As bad as a post office can get

Yes… There really is no one helping us in line at post office… Been standing here for five minutes with no live person… see photo

Second time in one week my package was not delivered. The first time I was standing out front of the house doing some work when the mailman came and did not have my package, even though it was marked «out for delivery». He returned 20 minutes later with my package and apparently it was left on the wrong street. Unfortunately, I wasn’t home today to intercept and verify so I just don’t have the package.

I have been to this post office many of times for my mail needs. To pick up mail before 8 am, there is a dutch door that can be used from 7:45 am to 8:45 am. There is a door bell to be used, so that the employees can be notified when someone is at the door for pick up. The many times that I have used that services, it seems that NO ONE has the time to answer the door. Plus, there has been other customers there as well waiting. The wait could be a couple of minutes to ten minutes or more. I get it, the post office can be busy, but if there is a service for the public to use, at least be on top of it. Another thing is that I had to drop off a package and asked for receipt. Which I did get. But, I misplaced the receipt due to moving. My mistake, you say, I get that. So, I called the 800 number that is on the post office website and they stated that I could go by that post office because that have the transaction in the system where that could print another receipt for the day and time you were there. So, I did what I was informed I could do by the person that was answering post office phone number and questions. I get to the post office and they stated they can not do that and did not know why I was told that they could do that. I asked why is there miscommunication between how services can be done etc. The employee did not have answer. So, at this rate, I am not pleased with this location.

I called to find out when I could take my 5 month old to get a passport and they said Monday-​Friday until 3:30pm. I get there on Friday and they say we’re not doing passports today. We don’t have anyone. My husband travels all the time for work and finding time when we can both be there is difficult. I also woke him up from his nap to make it in time. Annoying. Govt ran operations are a joke.

Broke the mailbox at my current apartment complex, and asked me if there’s video evidence like we have nothing else to do. I fixed the mailbox, and it became really hard to open and close, 2 days later, they broke it again. What a joke. They said they’re stopping my mail because I «threaten» them that I will stop getting ads from the mailbox so it’ll be really hard for them to deliver. oooooo, not getting the mail is scary.

The women who worked here were disgustingly rude. I don’t understand how it is acceptable for them to treat people the way they do. Constantly rolling their eyes, and being hostile for no reason. I work in a restaurant I understand horrible customers, but these women were rude for no reason. I mean sitting down all day, getting a fan and cool air, not having to do any manual labor, life must be tough.

«Woohoo! As good as it gets!»
That’s Unilocal’s tagline for a 5 star place. As far as post offices go, this really is as good as it gets. In fact, I’ve been in it 5 – 6 times for a variety of things and every time have left thinking «Gee, that was pretty painless.» Which is the exact opposite of what I think *literally* every time I leave other post offices.
«Amenities»:
–Passport applications (no pictures)
–Money orders
−−24÷7 self-​service kiosk for stamps and what not
–A seemingly good selection of stamps
–Tape for boxes
–Lots of greeting cards, decorative envelopes, etc.
–Ample parking
–Comparatively pleasant employees and, again comparatively, fast moving lines

Worst post office ever! They lost your package and does not even apologize for it! And you are responsible for your own lost! What?! Fuck! Especially Shara who works there doesn’t care about your package or concerns at all! She is not helpful and very rude! If you get choices, don’t ever choose usps but rather ups or fedex!

I’m giving this place two stars because of previous positive experiences with employees I no longer see there anymore (the relatively young dude who is an ex Marine, I believe is one example). I’ve been going here on and off since the mid 90s.
This is a really convenient USPS location right in the middle of my neighborhood. It’s really easy to drop mail in the drive-​by boxes and the parking lot is easy to negotiate. Good place to get a passport.
Perhaps this review should be qualified by stating that, overall, USPS has seriously declined over the past decade (and probably before) in terms of customer service and package handling/​tracking standards. This is probably due to the right wing drive to de-​fund every governmental and quasi-​governmental agency that isn’t predicated on making war or spying on the public at large. What makes it worse is that each post office seems to operate according to different protocols. More on that later.
That said, the best comparison I can come up with for the customer service here is: Jail. Yes, I know that might sound strange to some, but if you’ve ever had the displeasure of spending a night (or longer, of course) in jail, asking to use the bathroom or have them loosen the handcuffs is generally met with being completely ignored or laughed at and made to wait for no reason other than petty vindictiveness. On the customer service spectrum, this post office falls just to the right of jail and far, far to the left of the DPS, the Tax Office and your average ghetto pawn shop with bars at the counter.
This may be second nature to a lot of people these days, but if you go to a USPS location pretty much anywhere now to mail a parcel, even if you use one of their pre-​sized envelopes or boxes, you’d best be prepared to bring along a roll of packing tape, some scissors (they might try to charge you for using scissors), scotch tape and padding (such as bubble wrap). If you don’t, it’s possible you will stand in line for 25 – 30 minutes with your box and when it’s your turn they’ll tell you that you need to buy all of those things which are «in the corner» (just behind everyone else’s derrier in line). This is conveyed via mono-​syllabic orders in a couldn’t-be-bothered tone of voice. Fine. But if you leave the counter for a millisecond to retrieve all or one of these items, it’s «NEXT!» and you get to wait again while you package your stuff (in my case a single item about 3“X6″ and less than ½ lb) at the non-​existent packaging station. No thanks. You’ve lost me, North Austin Post Office.
All that said, I went to the Lamar location (just south of 38^th) and they gladly let me use their packing tape and scotch tape with only a mild hint of disdain. That’s much preferable to me, as at least at this location they have a clearly visible shipping materials section and a nice long packaging/​forms station where you can do their work for them while you wait in line.
Minor caveat here. I opened this review with a statement about the USPS being underfunded and left to rot. This probably affects their ability to hire customer-​service oriented individuals and/​or provide for the «services» (like helping you pack your items to spec) and «products» (like 3 inch strips of packing tape), but if they are going to adhere to such rigid (and non-​stated) policies, they need to put a big sign up near the entrance to the post offices that tells you exactly what is expected of you when mailing a parcel. The days of the friendly postal clerk who will help you package stuff up is fast approaching its end, and finding a post office where they will do this anymore is a crapshoot. Good luck.

DECEMBER, 2014: I think the self service kiosk in the lobby is currently broken. I tried to mail a kid’s book today and it said it was 2 pounds!
I would highly recommend coming at non-​peak hours and standing in line. The staff is generally nice and honestly I have never had to stand in line that long.

Not an unpleasant experience for a USPS.
A little ways off the highway but easy to get to and ample parking (at around noon today).
There were only a few people in line and they got through quickly.
The person that took my order for the priority mail wasn’t rude (which is the feeling I usually get from postal workers).
If I lived closer to here, I would use this post office more often.

Nothing special about this post office. It is on the smaller side, but they do passports here as well, so you need to make sure that you get in the right line towards the right side of the inside entrance. I have waited in the passport line by accident. They have a self serve scale and postage printing machine that you can use if you are paying with a card.
I have a box here and it was relatively easy and hassle free to get one. There almost always seems to be a line and only 2 people working the 4 available spots, hence my 3 stars. Lines, happen, but if there is ALWAYS a line, then more tellers should be added.
Getting a passport is also relatively hassle free if you have everything ready. I renewed mine here. They do seem to be very helpful to those that don’t have everything. You can get pictures taken here if you don’t have that ready when you bring in your paperwork.

This is my favorite post office bar-​none! The staff are its greatest asset. They are so helpful and friendly. They’ll offer advice on sealing your packages and also guide you in the best methods to send your items at the cheapest rates. While juggling their front counter duties, they also manage to handle gazillions of passport applications. More people visit this post office to submit passport applications than any other post office I’ve ever visited. And I used to live in Washington, DC!
Here’s a tip– The desk is open until 1:00 PM on Saturday afternoons. If you use the self-​service postage kiosk or already have your envelopes stamped, you can still get them in the mail by dropping them off here before 5:00 PM.
Oh. Keep in mind the entire parking lot across the street is available for post office customers. No need to deal with the cramped parking lot in front of the building.

This is my favorite post office. Its tiny, but if you time it right (during the day) there is no line. I always use the automated machine, so I hardly have to wait.
It gets the job done!
If you dare go after 4pm, be ready to wait. Made that mistake once.

Just discovered this location and was thrilled at first because it’s so close to school. Then I walked in and realized it’s also the Austin Metropolitan Area passport Mecca. There is one guy with a very distinguishable mustache who is ALWAYS working and almost as frequently on crack. If you have your shit completely together, he gets you in and out in seconds. But if you have so much as a question, he treats you like you’ve failed at life. Go to the one on 45^th/​Lamar if you want a slightly more relaxing mailing experience.
Note: as of today, their self-​serve mailing machine is not working.