There was a good deal of confusion at the Edgartown Post Office Tuesday morning, where the service windows did not open until after 11:15 a.m. The retail window hours are posted as 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Customers were unable to mail packages or buy stamps. Many found their post office boxes still unfilled.

“We apologize to our Edgartown customers for any inconvenience caused by the delayed opening of our office on Tuesday,” postal service spokesperson Stephen Doherty said in an email. “We are putting steps in place to make sure that this type of miscommunication doesn’t repeat itself going forward.”

Customers were visibly confused and displeased. Jane Chittick of Edgartown was waiting in line for the windows to open just after 11 a.m.

“This is a post office. Why would you expect mail?” she asked ironically.

Edgartown postmaster Lisa Panaccione temporarily opened a side window to distribute packages for pick up. She declined to comment on the issues aside from repeating, “We’re short-staffed.”

At about 11:20 a.m., Ms. Panaccione opened all the windows to begin helping customers. When Ms. Chittick asked about the delay, Ms. Panaccione said she could not elaborate because the issue was a “personnel matter.”