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v an M '" m. vomm EWMWOU - Gnu mu Guiiiiiuiiur a; Canada Post may be making inroads with the Canadian public in its recent get-tough stance aimed at getting its honse in order. . . . . But at a strictly local level here in Waterloo, its stock continues to be mired at an abysmal respect level. The reason? The continued fiasco surrounding "the wonder solution" Supermailboxes. The Crown corporation has been in the news a great deal lately, and we applaud many of its stances as it attacks the root of its evil deficit. It is attempting to wipe the slate clean try rolling back ridiculous past concessions and zeroing in on improving productivity while reducing costs-the only solution to the bureau- cratic nightmare it currently is embroiled in. Doing so involves many bold moves, not the least of which is standing tough with concession demands in the face of possible strike action by its workers. It has also stepped up security strategies (causing union person- nel to howl) and has prepared for a strike by training replacement workers. Canada Post has finally come to the realization that continuation of past patterns would undoubtedly lead to self-destruction in the face of private sector competition, and therefore it is taking a brace to ensure its survival. That doesn't mean we're going soft on our condem- nation of the two-tiered practice of mail delivery Canada Post has set as a major priority. We still think the idea of Canadians paying the same taxes and getting inferior delivery via group boxes, Supermail- boxes and general delivery in new urban subdivisions Fueling our disdain this week is the colossal confusion surrounding the installation and operation of announced Supermailboxes in various Waterloo sub- divisions. After a glitzy direct mail package to new homeowners annou'iieink the Supermailboxes would be in operation this week, various homeowners have been subjected to: o Delays and confusion in the debut of Supermailboxes while Canada Post hires an engineering firm to ensure they are flaw-proof. _ o Conflicting information as to whether residents will even be receiving Supermailboxes, or whether they must first work their way up through the group mailbox route. 0 Conflicting information on whether postal codes will be changed. q Erroneous announcements at general delivery out- posts " to the changeover date in delivery methods, a situation that unfairly has made tttf, employees at these stations look like village i lots when manage- gent decisions are in fact responsible for the schmos- e. a An overall 1tle,t on the part of Canada Post to instill confidence a gain support for its new program through efficient management and execution. Canada Post and its employees have long been favorite whipping boys of the Canadian public, more often than not for good cause. We'd like to hope that these radical grand designs will get us on_ the road let? stinks. Address " eeem-dmtee to "and” in“. " Eli St. E., Waterloo. Ont. NN tM. Telephone m. News and Sports line 83-321. N _ Waterloo Chronicle "tee ls located In the “my. White law office building (rear entrance. - fhtorr. Parking at the rear of the build”. Open loamy to My 0 mm. to ' pm. Long road back. to i;iiriGiri'G"aGirGriii, keiase, and that Canada iikGitittGtttor-ettpatttsemomttthttmehantte, the morethey donotataytheaame. Publisher: Paul Winkler Waterloo Chronicle is published every Wednesday by Fairway Press, a division of J EMCOM Inc., owner. Publishing address 225 Fairway Rd. s., Kitchener, Ont. ttga-tretort mamMI Sale-W: Billings“- . - “vanilla: Helen Smiley. Paula Hummel, Gerry lattice Chained Advertising; Maureen McNab Senior reporter: Melodee Mull-Ink Reporters: Mark Bryson (news) Richard O'Brien (sports) Circulation: Jerry Fischer Typesetting all (IO-m: Fairway Press 105301tu We're really excited around the office here at the prospects of dressing up the joint with a new phone system. Nothing absolutely confirmed yet, but things are definitely taking shape and before you know it we should have all the "bells" and whistles we now can only read about in those fancy pamphlets. So much for the good news. The bad news, or downside l believe they call it these days, is that the best phone system in the world isn't going to solve the biggest problem we have around here. Getting through to people. Do you have the same problem at your office? Is it Just because we're a newspaper and everyone thinks we want to sell them an ad or sniff out some dark, ugly secrets? Or is it common practice in today's cold, hard world of business to lie through your teeth when someone calls? Oh, how I long for the tin-can era, where there was only one line, no auxiliary lines, no hold buttons, no call-forward- ing. Remember Sarah, the operator on Andy of Mayberry? You'd ring her up and tell her you wanted to talk to Howard Sprague, the county clerk, and she'd get you Howard Sprague, the county clerk, not his secretary, not a recording, not some flimsy white lie excuse. Where have those days gone? Without question, they are gone. and so we are left with fancy space-age machines that do everything but straighten your tie. And we have people on tor near) the other end, who don't want to talk to you. Least not right away. Marvellous world, isn't it'? r--" to written I. N'm sorry. Mr. Flopesrs is on the other line, can he get back to you?" c The otherline at a mega-corporation? Sure. The real story is that Mr. Flopesrs ls practising his putting on his new indoor-outdoor. doesn't want to be disturbed. didn't even hear the phone ring, and, If his secretary is lucky, will pick up his messages before goinf out for his two-hour lunch. s "Me a non-Ink hum nnntnr in ho It his desk 2. "Mr. BTotnick doesn‘t appear to be at his desk right now, who's calling?" 0 Mr. Biotnick. the office socialite. is visiting around the office. disturbing everyone else, and isn't about to Interrupt his gossip session for some 'tuN11trhee ern... . J4 -diarGiiitiisjisGnd see it you too aren't being frustrated by some of these lame allbls. Each is followed by what no!!! is the ease. .. a .. s. "Mr. Hudson ls with e customer right now, he'll on back to you In about " minutes.” q Mr. Home“ doesn't want to buy In ad and he won't get back to you In an: generation. 4. "Mr. Bel-over In in I Mu. leave your name and number and he'll ttet beck to you." . Mr. Belmer he: never been In a meeting, but he - ”may (mu) are scrupulously going we: wiry me to make sure than an no this - I tomb-t Wuhan ugh because of the fact any“ out than at! everymte's trying to and the Elihu {In In them." I A . ' I / jif,it't i/lil,,,,,,?,,?! ii "thit? Who's calling'? Rick Campbell Chronicle Editor Canada Post communications otnetnle- m""" -iilurEirdriiirti- mailbox» In Want-loo. --atal PAGE I __-_ thinks his Acme Insurance Company has the most clever screening system known to man: _ 5. "Miss Periwinkle isn't answering her phone, she must have stepped out for a moment." q Miss Periwinkle hasn't stepped anywhere, but right, she's not answering her phone. . 7. "Mr. Hocus has gone for coffee, I'll tell him you called and he'll get right back." oMr. Hocus is at his desk, but he knows why you‘re calling and he'0 return your call at 4:59 Friday afternoon. then be inaccessible all next week too, until Friday at 4: 59. _ "iLiiiii. Kidney doesn'Gpveir to be at his desk, but I know he's around, can he call you back?" . He's in the can. Again. - __ -- _ - ti. "Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Jays is teaching classes until 3: 25 and then she has team meetings until six. she could call you then." q Miss J ays' volleyball team got smoked three straight yesterday and she isn't at all interested in seeing the results in the paper. 9. cur. Triptake is atU%eat-packing conven- tion in Kansas City this weekend." . You can (all: to Mr. Triptake right away if you have something to say he wtylts to hear. IO. "You can hold if you wish..." q Forget it and hang up, he/she simply doesn't want to talk to you, so save yourself the misery of listening to 12 minutes of piped-In music. No, all the sophisticated phone equipment in the world won't solve the problem of the 19tKts-- teiephonephobia. the fear talking to someone. anyone. on the phone without first doing a computer run on their background. their mother's background. and their first bom's tttaround. Call me square. but I think I would have more respect for business people, politicians. lawyers, teachers whatever if they'd just instruct their office personnel to tell the truth. rather than run interference tor them. Tell me to take a hike, or that you don‘t want to be bothered because your desk is piled high with work. or that the boss is out golfing for the afternoon, or is late again from his two-hour lunch. l'd respect that, because those things happen in the real world. And as [or those innocents who aren't lying when they say such tiling as "he's in l meeting," don't bother to phone me and bitch about me being unlair. Because you won't be able to reach me. Thursday is practice tar the company coll tourney. Friday is the tourney dn , but they're aret inclement weather, Mood,” is the rain date, s Tuesday is the awards banquet. Simply won't be here. Then Wednesday, It's on to Kansas City...