posted on November 26, 2000 10:51:46 AM new
Geesh, the USPS service sounds horrible!
In Canada they deliver right to our door, even when I haven't had a chance to get the 12 inches of snow cleared off the sidewalk.
If I have a parcel, they ring the doorbell & hand deliver it, if I'm not home, they leave a card for me to pick it up at the PO.
My worst complaint over the years was when the Postal carrier was cutting across my lawn during the spring thaw. It's hard on the grass!
posted on November 26, 2000 11:00:29 AM new
WOW! I thought I had bad service, just because my carrier always leaves my mailbox open for the wind to blow my mail around. Sheesh, some of these people sound like the Carriers From Hell. Hey, maybe we should start a new Carriers From Hell thread.
posted on November 26, 2000 11:37:42 AM new
My mailpeople are solid gold. In my area (suburb of Los Angeles) they go door to door, and have to put up with a ton of kooks and some downright dangerous people. Frequently the papers have stories about LA Mailpeople who are robbed at gunpoint in the bad parts of town around the time that government checks come out, so I don't blame them for sometimes doing the minimum---in their minds, it may be safer. I get my mail just fine. All in all I think it runs better than eBay does. I never used to give gifts pre-ebay but now I have so many packages that I am planning on a Xmas cookie gift + $$$ of about $25 to my regular carrier and also a gift of cookies to all the ladies at my local PO who are patient with my hundreds of packages. I sympathize with those whose mailpeople are "lazy" but there may be more than laziness to it, it may be safety or just time constraints.
posted on November 26, 2000 11:59:11 AM new
The town that I live in is so small that we don't even have mail delivery. The PO even closes for lunch.
The number of employees at the PO where we all pick up our mail is one full-time (the Postmaster) and one part-time. The service here is better than in any city or suburb I've ever lived! I know when the best time to do a large mailing is, so I go then. Both of the women that work there work hard and are incredibly helpful. They even have spread the word around town that I'll take packing materials off people's hands (free popcorn and bubble wrap).
Did I bake them a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies last year? You betcha!
posted on November 26, 2000 12:02:05 PM new
I just have to jump into this one. I've been a rural carrier here in the Northeast for over 20 years. We have a set of rules to follow which cover service to the customer and safeguarding our own safety. City carriers have a different union and a slightly different set of rules. They do indeed work under time constraints and must explain before they leave the office any overtime they anticipate. Depending on the type of delivery to an area the rules will vary . For instance, if you were to have a conversation with your carrier you could learn a lot. Most people don't see past the end of their own mailbox and have no idea what another person's job might entail. As a rural carrier I can tell you that if a box is blocked delivery cannot be made. That means, it could be blocked by trash cans, children's toys, vehicles, ice, snow, etc. It is up to the individual homeowner to keep their box clear. No, no one expects you to patrol the street. However, by your own admission you must park your vehicles on the street, so.....
Its true that we rural carriers do take packages and letters to mail and will return change the next day. It is in our manual to encourage customers to affix their own postage and contracturally we don't affix postage during the Christmas season. Again, having a chat with your carrier would be helpful, in my opinion.
To base your opinion on what you describe as a brief period of employment is very shortsighted. Somewhat akin to meeting an obnoxious person from say, Timbuctoo, and then judging all Timbuctooians as obnoxious. That would be an uninformed judgment, to say the least.
In my office,located in a large city, we strive for accuracy and dependablity. I know that the mail is important to my customers. I also know that they are reasonable people who wouldn't want me to jeopardize my safety or that of my vehicle for them. We are held accountable by our employer for any injury or incident. We must follow the rules set by our employer or face disciplinary action. Again, communicating with your carrier would be helpful.
As to assuming that your complaint would not be listened to, if you were to voice that complaint in a reasonable, rational way there's no reason for it not to be listened to. I believe that communication is very important. That way understanding of unfamiliar things can be fostered. By description your work experience was not that of carrying the mail. That is quite a different job than working inside. It can often be a challenge trying to follow the employer's rules and keep all the various personality types living on the route happy. At times its a delicate balance.
As to the size of anyone's posterior, to draw attention to that is just plain rude. Certainly a professional letter carrier would never make such a judgment.
posted on November 26, 2000 12:03:09 PM new
What is really sickening is that the USPS has a total and complete monopoly on the delivery of ordinary mail. That includes letters and checks. If the letter or check does not have to be there yesterday, it is illegal to mail it any other way except by post office. And when they hold it for a week or two (not if they do) and it is late, tough stuff.
Remember, they are the post office, they could give a rats a$$ about you. Its the guaranteed paycheck that counts! Customers are a mere annoyance that interrupts their perpetual coffee break with pay!
posted on November 26, 2000 12:12:30 PM new
C'mon. If you've had a bad postal experience that doesn't give you the right to discredit the entire service.
posted on November 26, 2000 12:12:49 PM new
My suggestion to you is simple. To safe you time, anger, and frustration. The USPS has its own little rules and so on and so forth.
What ever the price for a PO box in your area is, you need to go and get one so you do not have any problems with anyone else besides USPS. This will give you the piece of mind that your mail will be there when you go get it and it will not be held somewhere. if you are conducting business (ebay or not) you owe it to your customers to have a PO box so you can receive payments and such.
The other thing you can do is have everyone who sends you anything use another carrier that will send stuff to you for 33 cents. Oh wait a minute, there is no one else !!!!
posted on November 26, 2000 12:21:03 PM new
That's right, no one else is doing it for .33. Let's ask our neighbors to the North how much it costs to mail a first class letter there, hmm?
Letters can be sent through FedEx or Airborne or UPS. I think their pricing might be something of a shock to you. Sending a letter for .33 is still a bargain.
posted on November 26, 2000 12:38:51 PM new. If you've had a bad postal experience that doesn't give you the right to discredit the entire service.
No.
But it's a very sound basis for a complaint about government enforced monopolies, particularly for someone living in an area where avoiding a bad employee can be very difficult.
posted on November 26, 2000 12:43:40 PM new
Postal employees -- particularly carriers -- are unsung heroes. Like many other things about the Uunited States, we can easily take them for granted. You go, mlld03! I'm with you!
posted on November 26, 2000 12:53:15 PM new
Its regrettable that you've had a bad experience. However, to paint everyone within an organization with the same brush is unfair. Since most of my day to day dealings are with individuals I try to treat as I would be treated. Having an open mind is an essential tool.
posted on November 26, 2000 01:19:31 PM new
Rates for Post Office boxes
#1 Box 3" X 5.75" $14.00 per year
#2 Box 5.25" X 5.75" $24.00 per year
#3 Box 11" X 5.75" $44.00 per year
they also have a #4 Box 11" X 11" and #5 box at 22.5" X 12"
I rented the #1 box---and get packages, books, magazines etc. The packages get a counter pick up notice--except for paperbacks books---they fit in the small box just fine--I empty the box about once a week
There is a note at the bottom of the postal box form that says
"If the volume of your incoming mail repeatedly exceeds the capacity of the box that you are using, we may require you use caller service, change to a larger box (and pay applicable fees) or apply for service through one or more additional boxes"
posted on November 26, 2000 01:33:11 PM new
If UPS and FedEx were allowed to carry ordinary mail and were also subsidized with taxpayer money, they to could deliver first class for .33, but if they had all that they would probably do it for cheaper. Why...competition....
posted on November 26, 2000 01:46:43 PM new
The whole complaint theory is mute for me.
I live in a small rural area, and if i complain, I get my Christmas cards for St. Patricks day.
It's a monopoly, and a scam.
Now, they are raising rates for worse service.
I use to have a friend who was bartender tell me that a postal carrier would come in, and he spent 10:30 - 2:00 in the bar everyday, THEN delivered the mail.
Also, using FedEx and UPS will not cover you for mail fraud, so that doesn't apply either.
posted on November 26, 2000 02:07:23 PM new
BTW FYI There has been no government subsidy to the PO, from taxpayers or otherwise, since 1991.
Again, if your anger over a situation is such that you are compelled to complain here, why not complain to the proper person or persons in order to have the situation rectified ? It almost seems as if there is some fear about getting the correct information.
[ edited by mlld03 on Nov 26, 2000 02:09 PM ]
posted on November 26, 2000 02:25:23 PM new
Don't forget, no matter how many complaints you send in, the postal worker will still get away with it scott free, because of their Union. And they use that Union to the max around here and get away with murder.
posted on November 26, 2000 02:47:24 PM new
mlld03 most likely does not belong to the union you are referring to...they have their own separate union and from what I understand they don't want to belong to it either, although I don't know mlld03's stand on that. If ups and fedex get their way one day with the first class delivery and you live in rural areas you can just about forget getting delivery to your home. All they are going to want is the big cities where most of the revenue is generated. Not a good deal in my books.
posted on November 26, 2000 02:53:40 PM new
mark090
Do they receive tax money? I have been told that the usps doesn't and don't have to answer to the people.
However in my opinion, since the government is the people of the United States of America, and the usps uses our government properties and such (where do they get their pens?) I believe we do have a say in the way they conduct business and work performance.
Not to mention us as their customers! We can take our business elsewhere!
The "new" clerks at my po have a tendency to be not so friendly to me at first until they wake up and smell the roses that I sell on eBay as a business. Soon they are actually providing customer service! Amazing.....
Without people like you and me they would be out of a job no matter what the union contract states!
posted on November 26, 2000 02:54:28 PM new
mlld03 most likely does not belong to the union you are referring to...they have their own separate union and from what I understand they don't want to belong to it either, although I don't know mlld03's stand on that. If ups and fedex get their way one day with the first class delivery and you live in rural areas you can just about forget getting delivery to your home. All they are going to want is the big cities where most of the revenue is generated. Not a good deal in my books.
posted on November 26, 2000 03:25:38 PM new
I was not saying all postal employees are BAD, tho is she. I have had many wonderful people deliver my mail, ELSEWHERE. I have lived in one of the wealthiest areas, and I know this is one of the poorest...there is a definite difference in the service and attitude of both. As far as how to handle this since I have worked with the dept., I know it is a bunch of burocratic bullshij...I kind of wondered if anyone had tried holding them up to what they are being paid for, legally, ya know? This is first class mail someone has paid for to be delivered in that fashion, not bulk rate.
Talking to her? Hubby did yesterday. She informed him of her decision...he is going to talk to the postmaster at her office in the morning. If necessary, visit consumer affairs the following day. I am amazed so many people have had obvious problems, too, and decided to take it "lying down." This is how they get away with crap like this. I am also thinking of contacting our local representative on this...the entire neighborhood is treated like a bunch of redheaded stepchildren (no offense meant,) and I for one do not intend to cater to her candy azz.
posted on November 26, 2000 03:35:41 PM new
Wow, I'm not familiar with a member of any postal-affliated union getting 'away with murder'. Please enlighten me.
It is accurate to say that not all postal employess are bad. Its also accurate to say that not all of our customers exaggerate a gripe into a problem requiring a Congressional hearing, mostly through misinformation.
posted on November 26, 2000 04:21:36 PM new
I have really, really, really tried not to jump in on this one, but I can't stand it anymore!
I worked for the USPS (not USPO) for 15 years and I will be the first one to stand up and say the organization is far from perfect and has lots of problems. But, escandyo, if you will just go back quite a few posts to the post by flink, you will have the answer to your complaint. Carriers are not allowed to leave their vehicles to deliver mail to to boxes located on the street. I'm only talking about carriers with mounted routes like yours, not carriers who walk from door to door.
I find it extremely disrespectful and ignorant to call your carrier lazy for doing her job the way she is expected to do it. Is this policy stupid? Yes, it may just be. But guess what? If your carrier ignores the policy she can be disciplined! Please explain to me why your carrier should risk this just because you continually block access to your own mailbox?
You say USPS jobs are cushy? Sure, there are employees who take advantage of the system and show up just to collect a paycheck and could care less about the quality of their work performance. Just like any business! But if someone had claimed my job was cushy, I would have been more than happy to let them try it out for a day, let alone for 15 years.
I detest being in a situation where I am forced to defend the USPS, so I won't. But I will defend the many hard-working employees who are just trying to do their job in an efficient and conscientious manner, (like mlld03), while having to deal with ignorant and impossible management personnel and policies and disrespectful customers.
Escandyo, for your own peace of mind, make an appointment to sit down with the Postmaster of your office and discuss this issue in a calm and respectful manner. The PM can give permission to your carrier to deviate from policy if he feels it's warranted. But your carrier's hands are tied without that OK from management.
Edited to try and sound more rational and not so upset. I don't think it worked, sorry!
[ edited by mapledr1216 on Nov 26, 2000 04:27 PM ]
posted on November 26, 2000 04:38:34 PM new
Thank you, Mapledr1216. You've stated succinctly what I've been trying to get across. I've noticed that many of the points I've made haven't been responded to. Perhaps because there are no logical rebuttals to be made? It is very easy to sit back and complain without going to the trouble of learning and understanding the whole situation.
I know that I care about my customers, as do many of my fellow carriers, both rural and city. I also know that many of my customers care about me. Serving on the same route for as long as I have I've watched small children grow and go off to college. I've watched older people retire. Sometimes I like to think of the small part I've played in their day to day lives. I don't need a Christmas tip to provide careful service. I do appreciate a 'thank you' when I earn one. I'm able to derive self-satisfaction for a job well done.
posted on November 26, 2000 04:52:00 PM new
True Story (name change to protect the jerk): "Romeo" the postal clerk that thinks he is gods gift makes old lady customer cry. She has MS and is trying to fill out the form and he is mad because her hand is shaking. She goes out into the parking lot crying. She fills out complaint form and hands it in.
Next day "Romeo" tries to climb over the counter to punch out a insurance man for asking for explanation on delivery confirmation. Boss comes out and has to yell 3 times at "Romeo" before he will back off.
Next day I'm the lucky one to get stuck with "Romeo". I have Postal Money Orders to pay for my shipping. He throws my boxes back at me and tells me to go to another clerk. I fill out a complaint form and turn it in. Another clerk whispers to me that the boss and "Romeo" are friends and the complaint form will probably get shredded.
Next day "Romeo" starts on his co-workers. Makes one girl cry and another one so upset she went home. The bosses see everything but do nothing.
I finally get the address in Washington and write to them. Finally, 6 months later, they must have figured out that "Romeo" should not be working with humans because he is put at another post office on the graveyard shift loading trucks.
"Romeo" also parks his car in the handicapped parking with a "For Sale" sign on it.
"Romeo" cornered me a second time in the parking lot and laughed telling me that he doesn't sweat the small stuff, because the Union protects him. I replied that I've seen him in the parking lot on his day off in his speedo shorts and not sweating the small stuff is the Perfect Motto for him.
My home delivery mailman is another story. He is the BEST, most hardworking, dear hearted fella I've ever seen. He is so honest he gave me back my $10 christmas present to him last year telling me that he was not allowed to accept money. I went out and bought him $10 gift.
posted on November 26, 2000 05:13:39 PM new
Thanks heygrape, your example is exactly the point I am trying to make. Every company has good employees and rotten employees.
Thank heavens I never had to work with "Romeo"! Does management show favoritism and let some employees get away with horrible work practices? Of course! Have you ever worked for a company where this didn't occur? Congratulations to your PO's customers for doing something and getting rid of someone who had no business working with the public! Valid customer complaints will be heard if they are made to the right folks. And I'm not saying it's a speedy process!
Does the carrier union ever protect the rotten employees? Of course! In my office, the bums were the only ones who even belonged to the union! Unfortunately, this is common practice for many unions, not just the NALC. So why blame the good employees for this injustice? It's not their fault!
Believe me, the good employees aren't any happier about the situation than you are. Every crummy employee in an office just means more work for the conscientious ones!
[ edited by mapledr1216 on Nov 26, 2000 05:15 PM ]
posted on November 26, 2000 06:02:43 PM new
"Romeo" is still here. The Union and the bosses won't let him be fired. He's still bragging and strutting his stuff, just at a different branch.
During the time I was the only one fighting back, my boxes were coming up missing and damaged at the rate of 5 to 10 a week. One customer even emailed me that his box had 2 distinct footprints and it looked like the box was actually stood upon. I had never had a claim before and I've not had any claims since "Romeo" left.
But, this is nothing new here. The City Officials make the Postal "Romeos" look like angels. Remember the Daley Machine in Chicago? Well, this is even worse.
