US Postal Service has their Thumb on the Scale

I went to the local Post office today with a large envelope with 7  letter size pages inside. I needed to put postage on it.  The line was too long, so I went to the automated machine to buy the postage since there was no line there.  I put the letter on the scale and pushed a few buttons. It asked me to verify the weight: 1 lb. 1.2 oz.  That couldn't be right.  A regular first class letter can easily handle 4 page under an ounce.  7 pages, even with the large envelope couldn't weigh more than 2 ox.

I took the envelope off the scale and the weight registered exactly 1 lb. I put the envelope back on and it weighed 1 lb. 1.2 oz. again.  I started over again and got the same results.

I got in line and waited about 10 minutes to get to the clerk.  I explained the situation and asked them to take the machine out of service so that others wouldn't be overcharged for using the machine.  They said they would get around to it when they had time. Right now there was a line that had to be taken care of.

I got the correct postage from the clerk, mailed the letter, and left the post office.  I called the weights and measures department of the State department of Agriculture.  They informed me that they have no jurisdiction over the Postal Service. They suggested that I call the Postmaster.  Of course, the Postmaster never answers the phone.  There is always the complaint form at the USPS.com site.  I remember the last time I used that and it took weeks. Oh well, caveat emptor at the USPS.

UPDATE

I went to the Post Office again today, Feb 2, 2015.   It has been about a year and a half since my last visit.  Whatever I have written above can still be said for today's trip with the only exceptions being that the letter weighed 3.4 ounces, but the machine said 1 lb. 3.4 oz.  I've heard that the Post Office was slow, but this takes the cake.   Criminal.

I have now contacted the Postmaster, Customer Service, Consumer Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, Fraud Division, and Postal Inspector. All to no avail.  I guess the US Post Office is immune to these criminal activities. I have also tried the local Law Enforcement, State Law Enforcement.  The only thing I can think of that remains is the FBI.  Seems like a waste of resources to bring in the FBI, but I don't think I have much choice. More later when I get some results.

US Postal Service

Complaint registered on-line to the USPS:

I went to the postal substation in zip code xxxxx today. I had a large envelope filled with 8 1/2 x 11 inch papers. I had it addressed and ready to mail. I went up to the postal clerk and asked,

"What are my options on mailing this?"

She said "Express mail at $18.30"

I had expected more, but unfortunately it stopped with that.

I said, 'Isn't there Priority Mall also?"

She said "Yes, $7.95". and again stopped with that.

I said, "How much is First Class?"

She said, "It is over 13 ounces, so it can't go First Class".

"OKAY",I said. "Isn't there Flat Rate Priority Mail?"

She said "Yes"

"Well, how much is that?"

"$4.95"

"Where are the flat rate envelopes?", I asked.

She pointed and I went to get one.

This is ridiculous.

I expect that a postal clerk would know the options and give them to me instead of me having to drag options out of them one at a time from the most expensive on down. This is not good customer service.