Hampton’s Allison Park Post Office No. 1 in customer satisfaction

On your next visit to Hampton’s Allison Park Post Office, cue up the “Cheers” theme.

“I’ve likened it to working at the local tavern,” Chuck Levine said. “I’ll have the same people come in and get to know them by name. They know you by name. So it’s comfortable working here. It’s a neighborhood atmosphere.”

His neighborhood is No. 1.

The personable attitudes displayed by Levine and his fellow clerks have led to Allison Park compiling the most point-of-sale surveys completed with 100% overall satisfaction scores since September in the U.S. Postal Service’s Pennsylvania 1 district, which covers roughly the western three-quarters of the state.

“My clerk staff is outstanding,” Peter Borsh, Allison Park officer in charge, said. “They’re customer-oriented. They treat them like family and neighbors, because they are. They’re our neighbors. We’re part of the community. And that’s what we strive to do, is lead in this community.”

The building’s location at 4746 William Flynn Highway, a heavily traveled stretch of road near the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange, contributes to a frequently steady stream of customers, many of whom clerk Jeff Bastin has gotten to know well during his 16 years in Hampton.

At least one gentleman tends to visit on a daily basis.

“This is part of his routine. Sometimes he won’t have anything to mail. He’ll come in just to say hi and see what’s going on,” Bastin said.

He enjoys saying hi in return, delivered with a smile, perhaps a joke and the hope that he’s helping to raise spirits.

“I can read people’s faces. I can almost read their minds,” he said. “I know how to make them feel good and try to have a better day.”

That can be a particular challenge sometimes.

“I had a woman crying in front of me the other day,” Bastin said. “So all you can do is listen and give them a shoulder to lean on sometimes.”

Whatever he’s doing, people notice.

“He is the epitome of the community center. I don’t know if there’s a person in Allison Park who comes into the post office who doesn’t know Jeff,” Levine said. “He’s a good role model for us.”

Levine made a career transition to the Postal Service after 36 years in the restaurant industry, where he had plenty of experience in the value of patron satisfaction.

“I liked the transition here, and then it makes it really easy when I work with people who have the same mindset for customer service,” he said. “I think we work together well as a team.”

Also on the team is Rickki DeVaughn, who has similarly kind words for her colleagues.

“They’re great,” she said. “I’m very blessed to work with them.”

The Postal Service’s point-of-sale customer experience survey is intended to help the agency modernize and meet the changing needs of the public, as part of a 10-year Delivering for America comprehensive plan. For more information, visit about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america.