I recently came here for passport services, my first time in about ten years. It was easy to make an online appointment and I was hopeful that everything would go smoothly. You know where this is going. A 30 minute appointment actually took two hours, mainly due to one employee named Ursula. She was disorganized and seemingly in no rush, in spite of a huge line and only one other employee behind the counter. She was working with a customer when I arrived, and when it was my turn I assumed I'd be next, but she took a couple who were 15 minutes late for their appointment instead. Fortunately for me, this turned out to be a good thing, because two other employees magically returned from lunch and I was assigned to one of them. All in all, although I accomplished my mission, this was an unnecessarily frustrating experience. read more

I have tried to email this branch but never received a response. I have called but was never able to reach a representative. I have urgent business with this branch and am very frustrated. This branch gets a grade of F in my experience! read more

Because you cant give negitive stars. WORST POST OFFICE AROUND, Package arrived at post office Monday at 4:18 in the morning Due to be delivered on Monday. Out for delivery Monday 9:11 (they couldnt deliver because it rained), although the delivered regular mail and several packages Out for delivery Tuesday at 10:31 (not sure why they couldnt deliver) Wednesday - Went to postoffice, Met with "We have it out for delivery, It was scanned on the truck." (no update on the website stills says out for deliavery on Tuesday) Not delivered with the mail on Wednesday. Guess I will have to be at the post office when they open on thursday and see if there anyone with any professionalism or competence left. AND THEY WONDER WHY WE SUPPORT ELON MUSK CUTTING GOVERMENT JOBS read more

By far the worst usps store ever. Took them over half hour to open the door and even the the lady inside even even care. She pretended not to see us and just stood there. read more

I had to stop by the post office after work today to mail out a couple of packages. This post office in the Elmwood area has plenty of parking spots available. I walked inside, I was a bit confused to see no one working at any of the counters. After about a minute of waiting, a clerk called me over to the counter to help me. Marianne was very pleasant. Probably the most pleasant post office worker I've ever come across. She put additional tape on my package, so it can survive the long journey ahead. My transaction was smooth and easy, she was so friendly and in a lovely mood. Marianne is a great model of proper customer service, others should learn from her. You can also apply for your passport from this post office as well purchase shipping and packaging materials. read more

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They do not open at their advertised time. Lines are forming outside and the staff are inside looking at people waiting and milling around.

I love this Shield Street Post Office, I truly do; and my regular mail man is terrific. But it happens it infrequently, like today, that despite my best efforts, my out going letters don't get picked up. in the mide of last night, I wrapped several stamped letters in clear cellophane, it was raining - and stuck this package of them part way under my mail-box lid, with the stamps clearly visible. sometime between 4:00-5:00 someone ignored these letters waiting for pick up, and stuck my in coming mail in another box on a column. what do I have to do to ensure that my out-going mail is always picked Up? Adrienne (Adie) Van Dyk 46 Princeton Street West Hartford, Ct. 06110 &60-944-1729 read more

There is an old lady, working as one of the staff in this office, so rude..., instead of using words, she just shouts at customers to explain very simple routines .... read more

Uh felt very uncomfortable here. Was told by a worker that I'm clearly not from the United States and didn't go to school here. I have never sent mail and this was my first time so I was unaware of where to put the To and From, because I had been told usually I could be provided a sticker to fill it out. Guess not. My partner who is white had to step in a correct her that schools no longer teach how to send mail. Funny enough, I was born and raised in west Hartford. No foreign accent, was speaking in clear plain English. read more

Zero stars isn't an option or I would. For 17 years my business gets no Saturday mail delivery 8-12 times annually with no notification. I have a Saturday employee scheduled each Saturday to collect the mail and prepare and make a deposit along with other duties. I have gotten no meaningful response from the "manager", clerks, the carrier(s) or on line. The on line portal will not even accept my query. It states that my e-mail address and phone number were incorrectly formatted (they were in perfect format according to the document instructions). Literally, the consumer taxpayer has no recourse. I just waited nearly an hour to speak with the "manager" who told me "next time it happens, give me a call here at the branch and we'll get you the mail". Imagine how many times in 17 years I have done exactly what he proposed. No one answers the number on Saturday. 860 953-4908 or 860 953-4920. It's been 17 long hard tortuous years with no resolution in sight. Take it or leave it. read more

Who writes a review about a post office? .... Me! I'll tell you why. I had a package from China accidentally sent to my old address and it was forwarded. I went to the Lasalle Road office and they did not have it and I was sent to this one (Shield St). I was not about to lose money and not have my package. When I came here, I was greeted by a nice guy named Stu. I explained the situation and I was nervous I had lost my package forever. Stu was seriously the nicest guy ever. He looked in every spot he thought it would be. The other employee seemed annoyed with me, but Stu wasn't. He really made me feel great about myself. He literally turned my mood around before he even found my package (which yes, he found my package!!!). This review is actually just about Stu. I see other reviews here saying the wait is very long. But when I went, it wasn't. And even if it was, I would go here, just so that Stu could help me. You go Stu. You are so so so wonderful and I appreciate you. read more

The worst USPS staff I've seen! Rude, impatient, unprofessional!!! Just shouting and screaming to customers... if you can, try other services read more

I have no idea what's happening with this location but I've had two consecutive packages that haven't been delivered or even attempted and I've been home. First it was this past Saturday, I was expecting my package and was ready to run downstairs to meet the mail carrier once I heard the buzzer. What happened? I saw him get off his truck without my package and all he had was a slip to pick up my package saying he had no access to the building when he didn't even buzzed! Then today, I was expecting that same package after requesting a redelivery and NOTHING. I had another package that was supposed to be delivered today and I just got the notification that they couldn't complete the delivery because the business was closed. I live in. Residential building so I don't understand what business was closed when this is a regular building. Yet again, I was home and no one is even buzzing downstairs to be let into the building. At first I thought it was a fluke, now it's intentionally being lazy and irresponsible. I will be taking this to corporate and go above the post office because they don't answer their phone and clearly they don't care enough to do the one and only job. I will report it to whoever I need to because this is unacceptable. I will be filing a formal complaint and getting local politicians involved since based on the reviews, nothing is being done about this place to remedy their gross negligence and incompetence. It is about time somethingis done about such terrible service. read more

A place for passports I've heard and read lots of horror stories about post offices. Slow service, snooty employees and crummy merchandise. Occasionally I run into a good one that's worth Yelping about. A friend of mine was leaving the country for the first time and needed a passport. Since she lives in West Hartford we decided to give the Elmwood Branch Post Office a try. This is a nice, new looking post office with lots of parking and I'd noticed the huge passport posters plastered all over the windows while driving by. I've had my passport for a while so I didn't remember all the details of exactly what to do but I did have most of the paperwork filled out. You can get the form off the Internet but I was sure we forgot or screwed up something. We went and stood in line and after a short wait this fellow came over and we told him what we needed. He said fine and took us in the back and took the picture. Quick and easy. Then he checked over the forms, had my friend sign in a few places, asked us how quickly we needed the thing and then took the money. I have the feeling that the guy helping us was the "know everything" person of this particular PO. While he was helping us other employees were asking him questions about where things were or how to do something. He was great at multi tasking and seemed to be holding three conversations and doing two things at once. It seems every office or organization has someone like this that keeps everything running smoothly. The guy will probably never get promoted because he's too valuable doing what he's doing now and the whole place would collapse without him. We got the passport and it was amazing quick and easy. I wouldn't say the fellow helping us was particularly friendly but considering he was doing five things at once was certainly polite and very efficient. He inspired confidence that he absolutely know what he was doing and things wouldn't end up being messed up. Some visits to certain post offices are nightmares. I've seen some employees act like they were doing you a huge favor just acknowledging your existence. However others are friendly and pleasant places. Elmwood PO is an example of quick and extremely efficient service and a great place to get a passport. A place for passports read more

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They don't actually deliver most mail to our address. Latest comment from an employee when my wife asked them if they have any postcards for us at the post office (because they constantly redirect our mail back to sender for no good reason) was, "sorry we can't check for postcards because there are too many that come through here, we'd have to sort through thousands of postcards." This really stinks for us since we are travelers and post cards from friends mean so much to us. *** When I was in the Army I sorted and delivered mail for a large number of people and I would never tell a customer flat out I'm not going to try to deliver their mail. *** Also I thought mail sorting no matter what shape or size was their job. I guess it isn't. Not at this location anyway. read more

If you have nothing but time on your hands, then by all means, spend it here in line. If you enjoy watching the sole clerk on duty walk off for mysterious stretches of time to chase down answers, lost mail, and paperwork while a line of customers is left abandoned, then please, come here! If you want to see a living example of bureaucratic inefficiency and government-issued sadness, this is the place for you! If you would like to be promptly attended to, or if you want to complete a transaction in a reasonable amount of time, do not come here. If you want to experience an efficiently managed front end that supports the changing flow of customers throughout the day, do not come here. If you think you're going to swing through on your way to work to send a package and still have any hope of arriving on time, think again. I recognize that the U.S. Postal Service is in a bad place, and what I'm experiencing may be a result of cost-cutting measures. However, the customer experience is downright insufferable, and I'm grateful to have other options for shipping packages. read more

I've been waiting to write this review for five years. Now that I no longer go here, I can finally tell you how totally awful this post office is. The three clerks who typically work (I think they rotate between five) are slow, conversational, and constantly pushing other products to customers when there is a line. Sometimes they allow you to pick up your packages ahead of the line, sometimes you wait about 50 minutes. Waiting is excruciating- for some reason, people feel that it is their right to 'bargain' on the cost of stamps, or repack/unpack large international packages. Inexplicably, the clerks allow this and further hold up services. And sometimes they lose packages completely. I've lost about three in the last three years. Not many, but it's a little ridiculous considering their entire job is to deliver mail. They lack confidentiality in their services. Most recently, I had an address change and the package was not redelivered, but sent back to the sender. Your tax dollars at work. The sole star goes to the post office delivery people who have been kind enough to work with my curmudgeonly needs and have helped me with constant package theft and bureaucratic incompetence. It is for this and so, so many vast other reasons that I encourage you to seek your services at UPS and FedEx. I still haven't received my insurance reimbursement for claims I made in April. Hopefully, my other post office won't be as awful, and if it is, I'll gladly patronize other businesses. read more

I live in the Federal Street, Elmwood area and have the worst mail delivery.

Worst service ever. I've come here for probably over 20 times because it is the closest to my house. Not long ago I started going to another one near work. Not til then did I realize how horrible this USPS is. First of all, it is always so busy, whenever I go the line goes up to the door and sometimes even outside. The staff has no regards for time and takes their sweet time. Also, the staff is absolutely inconsiderate,cranky, and rude. I asked for an item to be dropped off because the line goes all the way to the door and also I have prepaid label on it. At other places they gladly take it but here they told me to wait with a cold attitude. Left this place once that took place. Will avoid this USPS from now on. read more

I don't know what's wrong with the carriers who work out of this office. Possibly the worst in the state. I'm generally a fan of the USPS, but it's gotten so bad I'm compelled to comment. We have lost packages (and they offer no help), mis-delivered packages and letters (I hand deliver to my neighbors or ring doorbells looking for my mail), we went 3 days without delivery over the last week. There is something seriously wrong. read more

First time at this particular branch and I was optimistic because of the other reviews. As soon as I walked in, I was offered help. The second person behind the counter was just as helpful and kind. I would go back. read more

Went to get passports done. Walked in and the line was about 5 people in front of us. Moved through the line and got all the passports done in quick fashion. Less than half hour with three passports done. Shout out to Stu who was friendly and knowledgeable. Go expecting a wait (since these things do take time) but you might be pleasantly surprised. read more

A pretty decent experience - I've been here three times in the past week thanks to Amazon (I'm on a book selling/shipping roll!). It seems like no matter what time of the day I show up, there's a line 10+ people deep. It's discouraging, but what's more discouraging is that there never seem to be more than two folks working. Short-staffed facility aside, the staff is friendly and efficient, at least in my past several experiences. Even though there are post offices closer to me than the Elmwood branch, I'll continue to come here, even despite the long lines. Two words: AMPLE PARKING. Furthermore, the location is great - tucked on Shield Street off New Britain Ave, you can treat yourself to Pho Boston or the stinky aisles of A Dong after your mailing errands are complete! read more

they claim they delivered my package and they never did. i contacted usps even went down to the post office . only to be told it says delivered well it wasnt. read more

It seems there are always at least 5 people in line but it is staffed by very nice and helpful staff. Parking isn't a problem which is a plus over the other West Hartford post office. read more

answer the damn phoooooone - how are you going to have a phone number but just never answer, like it's convenient for me to have to come into the actual office for a question that takes 1 minute. read more

To me, post offices are a necessary evil. This particular post office is my least favorite of the two post offices in WeHa. I've had a lot of frustrating experiences here, between the line, the employees and just the confusion that is the post system. Customer service is like pretty meh here. I do find myself going here more often than the other post office in WeHa because it's open a little later than the other one. If I could have my pick, I would probably go to the post office on LaSalle. However, realistically speaking, I will still frequent this place often. read more

A Priority package was misdirected to this office. The address was for Brookings, Oregon. Who knows where they delivered it. Drawings, letters, irreplaceable stuff. I believe completely inept personnel work here. The delivered to an address that does not exist and even though I had tracking could not tell me where my package went. read more

Really not bad, as far as post office go. Maybe I go at convenient times, but I've always been in and out pretty fast, and parking is easy.

My mail infrequently arrives from this location. When it does, it's typically destroyed (ripped in half, envelopes opened). Packages are also frequently delivered yet never appear at my door step, even though Fedex and UPS dont seem to have this problem. I would discontinue service if i could. read more

Went there about a package I DID NOT receive and was basically dismissed. I called the supervisor who said "it's a good carrier" who delivered it so I have no recourse and basically hung up. This is an awful place. read more

Not a problem. It can get a little busy, but I don't think they do a bad job keeping the wait down. They're not a bad staff either.

I've been coming here since 2007 since it is my local post office to pick up my packages since I live in the Asylum Hill part of Hartford. I know that most have griped about this place in terms of service, but really the one on Washington Street is 10 times the worse. The workers are friendly though tired of the everyday dealings of customers. But if you go with a friendly attitude and always ask the questions BEFORE you pack your stuff to send if you're unsure of how to send it, then they will be much more appreciative of you not wasting the time they must sometimes get through to each person. The only reason of course is the inevitable line that most weekends and Monday mornings that will accumulate. Also avoid lunchtime because everybody takes at midday. Common sense helps. read more

This post office has the worst service I have ever encountered! They have broken packages by throwing them into my hallway, marked packages as delivered that did not deliver, lost packages, did not forward my mail after completing a change of address, etc. read more

If I can give this place a zero star I will! The carrier was removing my name out the mailbox. Until I had enough and went to report her! Once I went in the front desk were all nice and friendly! The supervisor called me and I explained my situation, she was rude, arrogantly speaking to me Which made me furious! Supervisors should be professional ready to fix the situation and that lady was not professional at all!!! From now on I will go above the supervisors, if I have a complaint to make!!! read more

Terrible experience. Short staffed. One guy working the front when I can in. After serving the customer in front of me, he goes to the back without saying a word and after 10 minutes of being gone another staff member came up front sorting packages. I asked if someone was working the front and he irritatedly responded about being short staffed. Finally the guy comes back and can't find my package. After another 10 minutes, while listening to the other staffer, now too running the front, yelling at customers for having the wrong packaging, the staffer working with me found my package on a truck. In the end, I did get it. But what a terrible post office. The trend of our broke State and endless layoffs. read more

Usually I have a really good experience whenever I go to the post office, or let me clarify. I have a good experience when I go to my local branch. However, that was not the case today. I don't know if it was because of the fact that this isn't my regular branch and the postal workers inside did not know me, but my experience here was really not all that good. I woulnd not necessarily say it was horrible but it certainly was not great either. The first problem was the really long line. Simply put there were just not enough clerks at the counters!! Only one woman was at the counter with a line of customers practically going out the door. The customer who was standing in front of me and who apparently comes here quiet often said this is a routine issue all the time in which there are not enough clerks working the counter. We actually comisserated for a little bit about this before another clerk did eventually open up her window. However that was not until several minutes later. Maybe it was the time of day. I went early in the morning, probably when other people are thinking the same thing. They probably would just want to get there post office errands out of the way early before anything else. Next time I know to go at a different time of day, maybe in the afternoon. Hopefully I would not have to return back to this particular branch anytime soon however The next issue was the odor inside. Usually I'm not an impatient person who has trouble waiting in long lines. With the odor issue however, added on top it really was very unbearable for me. It smelled really damp and even musty. I know it's a post office and it is not always going to smell like a bouquet of flowers but they could at least put some air fresheners in there or something. It really smelled kind of gross, and it was not very clean either compared to my regular branch that I go to. Here, the counters had old tape stuck all over them and the carpet and rug areas also looked like they hadn't been vaccumed in weeks! The floor inside the post office itself was kind of dirty, but the floor in the lobby when you first walk in was downright disgusting! Yes, there is snow which is being tracked in from the outside, but you do at least have to mop the floor every couple hours, or at least wipe up the exces s water so no one slips and falls!! Both the clerks there also looked clearly annoyed and like they really hated working there. I probably would not really like working there myself either if I had to stand on my feet all day long inside of that smelly and musty post office. But even if you don't like your job, at least fake it for my sake and pretend to be nice. Neither of the clerks were very friendly at all and one was even kind of a little impatient towards another customer there. That customer did not seem to really understand what was being said to her, but one of the clerks could have been a little more helpful and more polite towards her I think. She was not really downright rude to her, but she could have been a little nicer.. Based on my experience here, I really don't' think I could even stretch a three star rating. The long lines, dirty/musty atmosphere inside and the less then friendly attitudes from the postal clerks really make this more of a two star rating for me. That is kind of unfortunate because it's the lowest rating I have given on Yelp so far to date, but it is the only fair rating to give based on my experience there. read more

If I can give this a zero I would. Worst customer service and rude. Women behind desk was rude and not helpful. She was complaining and disrespectful. Apparently this location opened up late also. She refused to deliver my package at one point when I got aggravated. Do not go here if you have another option. read more

If I could rate this facility with 0 stars, I would without hesitation. Worst US Postal experience of my life. For the past month, I have been receiving mail at such an alarmingly infrequent rate so much so that I had an important package sent to me via 2-day delivery priority shipping so I could follow the tracking number. Based on the scan history of this package, it physically appears to be "Out for Delivery" over 48 hours ago with no updates since. Basically it's gone off the grid and no one can give me a reasonable answer as to why. I have since visited this location in person promptly at 9am when they open with the hopes of physically picking up this package only to be told "it's out for delivery" and "your carrier will be delivering it." On this same day, I spoke to my carrier who told me the exact opposite "I do not have anything for your address." I am running around in circles with no direction as to where this package physically is. The customer service is abysmal. The supervisor Kevin is about as helpful and caring as a cinder block. He made me hold on the phone for a solid 30 minutes before I finally hung up in frustration. He has zero concern for the location of package that is clearly misplaced on their behalf and doesn't seem to know how to operate a phone to call his customers back after promising multiple times that he will do so. This is now the third important piece of mail to my knowledge that I have not received in the past month- one of which was a new credit card I might add. Dare I say something shady is most definitely going on? You would think that they would be able to successfully find a package with a tracking number, but clearly that is too much to ask. I have even called the 1-800 customer service number with hopes I could have some explanation, but they're as unapologetic and unhelpful as the employees at this location. I am so beyond dissatisfied with my experience with this particular branch that I've asked all family and friends to address mail to my place of business which is in a different city. The lack of accountability and nonexistent customer service is beyond unprofessional and it is truly disheartening knowing that this is the type of service (or lack there of) my tax dollars fund. I highly suggest you take your business elsewhere and to more deserving delivery services. read more