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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Medford Post Office too busy to answer the phone Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 25, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 27, 2014 at 4:54 PM Posted Sep. 25, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 27, 2014 at 4:54 PM » Social News Why do postal employees never answer the phone? I have tried several times only to hear it ring and ring, then I hear a receiver lifted, and I wait and wait for someone to say something, and then the receiver is hung up! I finally had an operator ring, and we both listened to the receiver lifted and then hung up. The phone operator can't do anything about it, but he did commiserate with me. My dear late husband worked for the Postal Service for 28 years, and he always treated the public kindly and with respect. — V.S.P., via phone When we called the 541-245-8540 number listed for the Medford U.S. Postal Service branch at 325 S. Riverside Ave. multiple times, the phone would ring almost a dozen times, then a message would tell us to enter our remote access code. Obviously not helpful. Workers at that location said they were simply too busy with their regular duties and waiting on patrons standing in line to answer the phone. They said they would need an extra employee just to answer the phone. If they did answer the phone, they said they would only handle questions about post office boxes and passports anyway — not issues related to carriers and deliveries. Passport applications are handled at the branch, which also has post office boxes. Some of the workload and confusion at the branch could be alleviated if people who receive paper slips about held mail and packages would go to the U.S. Postal Service Carrier Annex, 173 Ehrman Way, to pick up their items, workers said. Despite a prominent sign posted near the entrance, people with slips still wait in line unnecessarily at the Riverside Avenue branch, then get angry when they are told to drive across town to the Carrier Annex, workers said. Many questions about services can be answered if people call 1-800-ASK-USPS, or 1-800-275-8777, the national U.S. Postal Service help line. However, be patient, since you must navigate an automated system, and won't get a person on the line. Meanwhile, a call placed to the Ashland U.S. Postal Service branch at 120 N. First St. was answered almost immediately. A worker there said they do try to answer the phone most of the time — and as quickly as possible. If they don't answer, they might be working away from the phone or on another line, the worker said. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 25, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 27, 2014 at 4:54 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501