I find that post offices can be radically different in terms of the mood they convey and the service they provide. Years ago the PO in Newton, where I'd used to live, was dingy, surly and depressing, with dingy, surly and depressing workers. Then they moved it across the street into a new, bright, pleasant building with new, bright and pleasant employees. Maybe you should experiment and see if they would be kinder and more generous there. Just out of sheer and morbid curiosity, you know.