Posted by Leonard Steinberg on April 11th, 2014
The other day I witnessed the past and the future within a few blocks of one another in New York: The first visit was to the US Post office where I had to buy one postage stamp (I know, ridiculous!). Entering the office felt like a step back into the 60’s. A very friendly lady behind the counter offered help and I purchased the one postage stamp (to mail payment for a parking fine, which of course had to be mailed and could not be done on line via a credit card!) I was handed the stamp and a receipt the size of a lengthy grocery receipt……really? For one stamp? I asked the lovely lady why so much receipt for such a small item? Her response: “Thats the Post Office!” There should be zero wonder why both Republicans and Democrats met this week to discuss different ways of preventing the Post Office from extinction: of course their focus was based on cutting services, not improving efficiencies. Saturday delivery appears doomed.
A few blocks away on West 23rd Stree just of Madison Square Park, I rushed to CITY MD with a bad finger cut. I had thought of going to a hospital emergency room, but that thought faded fast as I recalled the antiquated third world spectacle that is the scene at most emergency rooms. I walked into CITY MD and discovered the future: a clean, open waiting area, with friendly attentive front desk staff. An informed, smart nurse took down all the insanely lengthy details, and soon a doctor was there to examine the damage. The finger was swiftly and expertly sewn back together and I departed with a signature and written details on how to nurse my finger back to good health. The following day I received a call to see how things were progressing. Really?
The reality is that ‘the old way’ of doing things is in great danger. There are elements of good old fashioned business that should never be lost or forgotten. In fact, many aspects of old fashioned business such as honesty (especially in real estate brokerage where ‘blatant lying’ is the ‘new honest’….and endorsed by those who remain silent)and personal attention need to be re-discovered as they too are at risk of extinction. Yet adapting and evolving to the ever changing needs of our society are as important. The Post Office should stroll down the street to CITY MD to learn a thing or two about the future.