Non-machinable/hand cancel
Purchased a pop-up Mother’s Day card that had a heart button it at HomeGoods. Paper in card’s plastic wrap said “hand cancel only.” I am familiar with this term as someone who has been using the US Post Office for 5 decades.
Took it in to my local post office and presented it to the clerk and said “this needs to be hand cancelled.” He asked what I meant by hand cancelling and why. I explained that that it what the card plastic wrap had indicated. He was still confused so I clarified, “it’s non machinable.” And again he asked me, a bit frustrated, “what does that mean?” He proceeds to tap on his screen and starts asking me the usual “anything liquid, perishable, fragile, hazardous, etc….” At this point I’m thinking he’s processing it as a package and going to tell me it’s $8+ to mail this less than 1 ounce card. A few more clicks on his screen I see the “non-machinable” option pop-up on the screen under first class options about 10 seconds before he does. I believe it was $1.27 and I was on my way.
Am I wrong to think that he should have been at least familiar with what the terms hand cancel and non-machinable are or am I asking for too much in this day and age? Not a young guy but have only seen him at this branch for the past 9 months or so so don’t know how long he’s been with USPS. Edit; fixed typo.