The Doors are Fixed!

I'm happy to report that the doors at the Newark Post Office are now fixed!

Can you help fix the doors at the Newark Post Office

Let me know if you can help - I can be reached at ken.grant7(at)gmail.com

80 minutes of observations...

I just spent about an hour and 20 minutes at the Newark Post Office, taking notes on the lines.

Here's some of the basic information:

Time of arrival: 11:20 AM

Number of Customers in line at arrival: 7

Number of Postal Workers at Counter: 2

Number of customers who got in line between 11:20 AM and 12:40 PM: 55

Number of people who walked in, but left before being served: 15

Average number of Postal Employees at Counter: 1.3 (normally just one handling postal matters while another handled passports and occasionally another would call out for anyone who did not have to pay for anything)

Average number of people in line: 11 (as few as 7, as many as 15)

Below is a look at the twitter feed during my time at the post office (start at the bottom and go up for the most recent)

kengrantde12:38pm via HootSuite

Ok, observed for an hour and 20 minutes- time to get to the next thing- will do this again soon#netde #NewarkPO

kengrantde12:29pm via HootSuite

Now 15 people in line, 2 postal workers- avg wait time seems to be 20+ minutes now#netde #NewarkPO

kengrantde12:15pm via HootSuite

Of the 15 people I've seen walk out, most leave shortly after seeing the line, some after standing in it for 15 minutes #netde#NewarkPO

kengrantde12:04pm via HootSuite

Lunchtime, one postal worker handling passports, one handling other customers, 13 in line #netde #NewarkPo

kengrantde11:49am via HootSuite

12 in line, one at counter #netde #NewarkPo

kengrantde11:45am via HootSuite

So far 8 people have walked out without service #netde #NewarkPo

kengrantde11:38am via HootSuite

Ok, the first person who entered after I got here just made it through the line #netde#NewarkPo

kengrantde11:32am via HootSuite

This is nice - a few people in line are here for passports and are offering each other tips#netde #NewarkPo

kengrantde11:30am via HootSuite

One Postal worker at the counter, nine people in line #netde #NewarkPo

kengrantde11:26am via HootSuite

So far three people have either left the line or walked in, saw the line, and walked out #netde#NewarkPo

kengrantde11:19am via HootSuite

Two Postal Workers at counter, 7 in line#netde #NewarkPo

I have a few ideas for improvement - but I want to gather more data before offering any suggestions.

I'll do some follow-up next week.

Some great information about the U.S. Postal Service

Click Here for a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Postal Service from the CATO Institute.

Background

I live and work in Newark, Delaware.

According to my Foursquare check ins, I've been to the Newark Post Office at 401 Ogletown Road more than 140 times in the past couple of years (mostly checking the P.O. Box for work).

The plaque on the building says that it was dedicated to public service in 1975.

So, here's the thing:

It seems like time comes to a screeching halt for people who have to get help at this post office.

Here's a couple of recent examples:

Both of these videos were taken in January, 2013 - and, I would say, are the "normal" experiences for many of us.

During one of those excursions, I offered my twitter friends the following updates (start at the bottom and go up)

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:44am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office update: now 10:43 and I have my mail (photo:ow.ly/i/1kaTQ ) #netde

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:40am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office update: Video link #netde ht.ly/1QMcCc

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:38am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office update: 2nd in line (of 12) - 3 people working the counter #netde

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:36am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office update: sixth in line and 3 people now working at the counter- #netde

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:33am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office Update: now 11th in line, three people have walked in and left after seeing the line

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:30am via HootSuite

Newark Post Office update: both workers have left the counter to go in the back #netde

kengrantdeJan 03, 10:29am via foursquare

Ok, it's now 10:28, I am the 14th person in line with 2 workers at the counter - let's see how long this takes #netde 4sq.com/UIJeDl

I started thinking - can't we do better? Shouldn't we be able to get through a line at the Post Office about as quickly as we can get through a line at WaWa or the Library (to name two random places within walking distance of the Newark Post Office)?

I will not claim to know the answer - I think some research is needed - for all I know my experiences are simply flukes and the Newark Post Office normally runs like a well-oiled machine and people spend less than 2 minutes in line.

First step, measurement:

I plan to spend some time at the Newark Post Office to gather statistics - number of customers, time in line, number of Postal Workers at the counter, etc.

Updates coming soon, your input is welcome.