Pantagraph.com | Letters | Customers like to hear music at post office

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

zorak wrote on Dec 6, 2007 11:37 AM:

" your right to listen to music ends where my ears begin. if you are so addicted to constant music in the background (as if you were in a movie or something) get your self an ipod or a cd player with headset. sheesh! its a no-brainer, you then get to listen to your music, and I get to listen to quiet. "

Antimuzak wrote on Dec 2, 2007 5:22 AM:

" It really is a disgrace that the post office has banned their transmissions of Wagner's Ring and Schoenberg at high volume around the clock. I really enjoyed it when I visited and I know that the other customers did also. Bring back the opera and serial music! "

imagine that wrote on Dec 1, 2007 7:55 PM:

" are they planning on bringing their own, the post office doesnt allow music, laughter and talking while you work. more work... less talk... "

StewSue wrote on Nov 30, 2007 7:00 PM:

" Gillian...interesting comment. It never ceases to amaze me how many people think that everyone has a computer. We love all of our customers at our office...old, young, rich or poor. However, we cater to the lower middle class and middle class for the most part. They are at our post office to pay their utility bills and are praying that it arrives on time. They don't have computers, IPODS, cell phones or DSL or HBO. Some don't even have checking accounts and have to buy money orders to pay their bills. They are just trying to feed their kids and pay for the essentials. Wake up and smell the coffee, Gillian and be thankful for your online life. "

To: Title of article wrote on Nov 30, 2007 1:29 PM:

" Strange, How come I have good rapport with the some of the clerks in Normal, Downtown Bloomington and the Eagle station? I have also been friends with postal people I met in Post Offices in Decatur and in Chicago. People are people, some are easy, some less so, to know and like. Just like the folks who are in line. Heavy public contact jobs are stressful by nature. Try to bear that in mind and see what a change in YOUR attitude does to change THEIRS. "

Just A Guy wrote on Nov 29, 2007 11:28 PM:

" So a place doesn't play Christmas music? Big deal. Maybe the employees are glad that the Post Office doesn't play the music. After the 10-12 hour shifts, hearing the same songs over and over again in various genres of music can get aggravating. I celebrate Christmas, but I don't want to hear Christmas music everywhere I go (much less the bell ringers, either). "

Peace Be Unto You wrote on Nov 29, 2007 8:46 PM:

" Let Kwanzaa music be heard throughout and spread the joy of this most sacred of holidays. "

Title of article wrote on Nov 29, 2007 8:37 PM:

" needs to be "Customers hate post office". The people that work there are the meanest and most depressing group ever. I am referring to the Normal P.O. "

My Ipod wrote on Nov 29, 2007 4:34 PM:

" Has like 14 days of music on it, so I am safe even at the Post Office. (latest addition - Pet Shop Boys - Disco 4) Still, being a bit older, I often feel that people in headphones in public spaces come across as being a bit antisocial. "

gamer_chickie wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:46 PM:

" Oh, and I don't have an ipod, went with a Rhapsody.....everyone has an ipod, I wanted to be different :) "

gamer_chickie wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:44 PM:

" I got Jimmy Eat World's Chase this Light on and I've been grooving to that. :) "

Gillian wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:38 PM:

" Do you know that there is really no reason to have to go to the post office. You can buy anything you need online from USPS.com...including postage for shipping packages and then you just schedule a free pickup at your front door. Have done it many, many times. Sit the box outside the front door in the morning and it gets picked up when they deliver the mail. Simple. "

Target doesn't play music? wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:35 PM:

" Uh-oh. That doesn't bode well for all the Slayer I always hear when I'm there. If they're not playing it.....then....?????? "

Give me a break Gillian wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:34 PM:

" Is that all you have to complain about? Gee, you must have a really nice life. If you miss the music that much, then hum or sing to yourself. I personally hate most of the music they play in public places. "

Adam to gamer_chickie wrote on Nov 29, 2007 2:45 PM:

" Whats rocking on your ipod atm? Right now: The Shins - Split Needles. "

Kathy wrote on Nov 29, 2007 2:35 PM:

" You're away from your car for two minutes so what you can do is leave the windows opened and turn the volume up to the max. That way you can boogie in line. If people look at you strangely you can say you miss the music and are dancing to your own inner tune. "

Adam wrote on Nov 29, 2007 2:20 PM:

" As long as I can listen to Belle and Sebastian in every store I frequent then yeah I'm good with music ;) "

gamer_chickie wrote on Nov 29, 2007 2:10 PM:

" I suggest an MP3 player...they are small and can go anywhere with all your favorite music! How cool would that be if you ripped one of those out, shared your music, and got the whole line jammin to your tunes! Sweetness! haha! "

FYI. wrote on Nov 29, 2007 1:35 PM:

" Actually Target doesn't play music ever. "

Lizzy wrote on Nov 29, 2007 12:58 PM:

" One of the things I enjoy most about going to work is that it's QUIET for the most part. Silence is golden. Places are too loud now-days. "

J wrote on Nov 29, 2007 11:35 AM:

" Cyndi Lauper has the very best christmas album ever made - you should listen to it... "

101.5 wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:44 AM:

" If I had to listen to 101.5 all day long, I'd go postal too. That's probably what happened - the employees got sick of hearing Justin Timberlake 7 times per hour. What a joke! "

drivers bureau wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:06 AM:

" I absolutely agree with the comments about personnel at the Secretary of State office. It could be the crush of business, the long lines, etc. but the folks who work in there need a MAJOR re-do of their personalities. On the other hand, what should we expect from an area of State government that has such a long history of corruption? "

what I like wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:01 AM:

" I'll tell you what I like- service! I couldn't care less about music; you might as well have a widescreen tv (showing FOX News, of course). I appreciate the efforts by Post Office personnel at the Main Post Office to speed people along by offering their help with small transactions (like the purchase of stamps). "

why ?? wrote on Nov 29, 2007 6:39 AM:

" would anyone spend that much time in the post office to even know if they are playing music or not ?? "

seriously?? wrote on Nov 29, 2007 6:10 AM:

" We're in a LOSING war started by a man you probably voted for (save us jesus bush), which has helped gas costs SKYROCKET, and you're worried about music at the post office? Seriously?? Where have people's brains gone? "

just a thought wrote on Nov 29, 2007 4:41 AM:

" Second-hand Christmas music is hazardous to my health. "

Scott wrote on Nov 29, 2007 3:19 AM:

" Actually Cyndi Lauper's Christmas is one of the best Christmas albums ever, That woman definitely can sing!, she's a truly great vocalist. "

where they~~ wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:58 PM:

" really need music is the drivers bureau. Maybe it would cheer them up; they are always grouchy. They are the rudest bunch of people I have ever met. Do they specialize in classes teaching them how to be rude and grouchy to people? I had one woman one day and she was so crabby and wouldn't even respond to my pleasant comments. I just looked at her when I was ready to leave and asked her, "do you ever smile?" Still no response. Best response to tell these grouches (any place) is "if you had a personality you wouldn't know what to do with it!" "

Tom wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:26 PM:

" Customers in retail stores complain about the msic all the time. Who's to say what is pleasant and what is not. "

wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:13 PM:

" I really feel that playing music at the postoffice will change our community *sarcasm*. HA but maybe it will keep people from going postal... Ok that was cheesy. But seriously Are you kidding me. Just sing to yourself. Or do what -Meh- said, bring an ipod. You may actually get to hear 30 seconds of a song while you wait in line. "

Actually wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:08 PM:

" it boils down to the fear of lawsuits filed by the "artists" for the royalties. Many retail businesses do not play radios just for that reason while others have "piped" music just to break the monotony. Sounds (pun) trivial but sadly true. "

Greed wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:18 PM:

" Buy for yourself a ipod. Personally I don't like the music. "

I Just Hope wrote on Nov 28, 2007 5:42 PM:

" I am not stuck in the Post Office long enough to notice if music is playing or not. "

Truth is wrote on Nov 28, 2007 3:27 PM:

" Nice try Gillian. I applaud your efforts. The plain and simple facts are that the postal clerks have listened to music for many years with absolutely no complaints. For whatever reason, the people in charge decided to change that. It's their way of making sure the clerks feel disheartened and defeated before they begin those 10 and 12 hour Christmas shifts with never ending lines of customers out of the doors. Autocratic employers are like that. Tomorrow they will give them a scrambled egg to let them know how much they appreciate them though. "

To: You won't get wrote on Nov 28, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Stamps? They still sell stamps? Teddy Bears, CDs, sports pictures, lapel pins, coffee mugs and shipping supplies, yeah, but stamps? How Retro! "

Idle Minds wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:59 PM:

" The Postal Service cannot deliver mail in the accurate and timely fashion it once did but it feels that it can critique music? I think not. If you are REALLY listening to the Musak, you desperately need to get a life anyway. "

You won't get~~ wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:20 PM:

" music because they aren't trying to sell you anything! Stores only play music to sell more to it's customers and it has hidden messages in the songs. What would you buy from the post office, more stamps? "

To: Little Mac wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:44 PM:

" Kenny G, Jessica Simpson, and a host of other talentless hacks....although Kenny G can play that sax....just too sappy for me. "

Anchor wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:43 PM:

" What kind of Godless world do we live in where there is no music in the post office!??!??! I am sure this debate is a hot topic in knitting circles all over the city! "

Way Off Subject wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:32 PM:

" This reminds me of a program I saw about 911. While the twin towers were burning and people were jumping from the buildings and hitting the ground below, the music system was still going in the plaza between the towers. A very eerie scene. Of course, my twisted mind now imagines a postal worker spraying the post office with bullets while the music plays. "

Melvin wrote on Nov 28, 2007 12:37 PM:

" Let's stop worrying about trivial issues such as crime, access to health care, traffic safety, terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and government corruption. Yep, it's time to focus on REAL issues, like whether there is music in the gosh darn post office. Thank God we finally have our priorities straight. "

LittleMac wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:54 AM:

" Personally, I miss Cindy Lauper and Willie Nelson butchering Christmas music. Does anyone know who has taken up the slack?? Or, are those two still at it? "

Dave wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:28 AM:

" When I am standing in line at the post office, the only thing I want to hear is: Next Please. "

Nice Letter wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:25 AM:

" This addresses a big problem in our town. Thanks! "

Otto the Busdriver wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:23 AM:

" Zeppelin rules! "

Meh wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:50 AM:

" Is this really such a big deal? Buy a portable music device like an iPod if you're so desperate to hear music. "

Canned noise wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:44 AM:

" I find the constant barage of noise offensive. Especially places that are already loud like stores & restaurants. "

Who wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:05 AM:

" is going to pick out the music? This is a U.S. Govt. facility. The other places you mention are private businesses, if you don't like their music you can jus quit going there. However, we all need to use the post office. If you had turned to me in line and asked me if I wanted to listen to music, I too would have said yes. However I would have chosen the Stones "Let it Bleed" or Led Zep's "Gallow's Pole". While someone else might prefer "Moon River" by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini and sung by Andy Williams. It would be even tougher at Christmastime. All religions (and rightfully so) would want their music played. My suggestion Gillian, If you want music while in line at the Post Office. Sing. I don't think you'll bother the other customers more than you already have. "