david2001
|
posted on June 3, 2001 12:36:23 PM
I have read much about mailmen crunching envelopes up to fit in mailboxes, thus damaging the contents. I have had buyers plead with me to "Plrease put in sturdy package, so mailman doesn't destroy it by folding it and/or crushing it to put in mailbox."
Our mailman is pretty good, but on occasion he has folded and crammed things in the mailbox so that you had to pull the thing off the wall to get the contents out!! All he had to do was stick the stuff in without folding!
WHY do they do this?
Has anyone ever confronted their mailman OR complained to the USPS about this?
|
kyms
|
posted on June 3, 2001 01:17:11 PM
I've complained about many things to my PO. Sadly, I don't even care about condition of mail anymore...I just feel lucky if it shows up before 7pm (if at all...)
|
MRBucks
|
posted on June 3, 2001 01:32:48 PM
david2001
You asked...
"Why do they do this????? "
It is called the "Dumbing down of America" and we will see a lot more of it as the massive group of graduates from the 80's and early 90's attempt to function as "Educated Adults" in the 2000's...
Look for it to get much worse...much faster... The schools are pumping them out faster than you can count them...
..Life is like email, sometimes 'some people' just don't get it...
|
thedewey
|
posted on June 3, 2001 02:11:53 PM
My mailman used to be TERRIBLE about leaving packages dangling off mailboxes, in full view, hanging only by a rubber band or two. Sometimes he'd rest the package on the open door of the mailbox, just balanced there with nothing to keep it from falling off or being stolen. ANYTHING to keep from having to get out of his truck and put the package safely on someone's porch. 
Once my husband saw one of our neighbor's packages (a Priority envelope) sitting in the middle of the road, where it had fallen. He picked it up and took it to them so it wouldn't get run over.
Apparently enough people complained about it, because the mailman's been doing a little better lately. 
I can understand that being a mail carrier is undoubtedly tiring work, but delivering packages safely is part of the job.
|
litlux
|
posted on June 3, 2001 02:45:44 PM
There is a way of living life that is different from the way the majority of oblivious Americans operate - I call making life "idiot proof". It doesn't always work, but this approach helps.
First, I ask myself what I can do to alleviate the problem. If the letter carrier is cramming mail into my mailbox, well, just maybe it is MY fault for trying to get by with a too-small mail receptacle. When I began selling and buying on ebay I bought a secure and very large mailbox and stuff is never crammed in, all but the biggest Priority Mail boxes fit it nicely. It is water and snowproof.
I pack all outgoing packages well, not just a handful of peanuts or a lonely sheet of deflated bubble wrap, but enough to make sure that the item is secure, that there are no rattles, and even a truck will have a hard time squooshing it.
And I tape all seams that could pop open.
Then I always use delivery confirmation, and email the customer right after it ships to be sure they are on the alert for it.
Works like a charm for the most part. Very few problems in thousands of transactions. A little "idiot proofing" sure saves me from a lot of hassles, and you don't have to listen to me complaining. (At least about the stuff I have some control over!)
|
spyked
|
posted on June 3, 2001 03:28:06 PM
I got a mail slot put into my door - big enough for even a thick 8X10 manilla envelope
to safely slide in without being folded and
small packages and boxes. That way it slips
INSIDE my flat without worry of being left out in the open outside.
I guess it also depends on your mailperson
aso - some have common sense and others lack it - when it comes to delivering the mail.
Delivering mail is NOT "brain surgery", but
you don't have to go to college to work for the post office - think about it...
-
spyke
I found Jesus! - He was behind the sofa the whole time!
|
eventer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 03:32:55 PM
You guys just have to learn how to deal w/postmen/women/persons.
A box of Whitman Samplers every Christmas & my mail is delivered to my door every day (everyone else on the road gets theirs crammed in their mailbox but me!). If I'm not home, it's safely tucked away for me.
Same w/my UPS driver..he actually brings it in my garage for me whether or not I'm home.
A little bit of sugar goes a LONG way! 
|
kyms
|
posted on June 3, 2001 04:49:57 PM
eventer- Do you live in a small community or a large city? I am in Chicago, and we usually have a new Mailperson every few weeks. I don't see how your suggestion could work for those of us in Large Areas.
|
gravid
|
posted on June 3, 2001 04:58:48 PM
I have started putting prints and photos between two pieces of 1/4 inch aircraft grade plywood and if they can bend that sucker I don't want to try to talk to them about it.
|
MouseSlayer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 06:54:31 PM
LOL eventer! You are soooo right!  I live in a very large city and usually have the same carrier. I gave her a big thing of homemade cookies for Christmas (I handed them to her myself) and I think she was shocked. I did it because for the most part she does take care of us, and I felt bad since I've really been working her to death since I started buying and selling on eBay. Ever since then she has made sure we're taken care of including talking to the subs about picking up my outgoing packages. Oh, and she hides my stuff on the porch when the car isn't here and so does the UPS guys.
We too have a door slot, but she keeps asking us when are we going to get a box. You see, we have a very protective dog and he goes nuts whenever she comes and takes the mail out of her hand. She's very careful not to put her fingers all the way in. What she doesn't realize is that now it's more of a game to him, but I don't blame her. So we're going to take care of her again, we went and bought a big mailbox, LOL.
~^~  Hippy wannabe  ~^~
|
david2001
|
posted on June 3, 2001 06:54:54 PM
Sorry, I don't believe I should have to BRIBE someone to do their job in a professional manner. Destroying items I am expecting in the mail is not my idea of good service. If a mailman sees something being sent in a padded envelope, shouldn't it dawn on them that there may be something somewhat fragile inside? So why bend the thing in half, right down the middle and cram it into a box so you have to further damage it to pry it out?
NOTE: My mailbox is not that small AND it's on a large front porch where items can easily be left. However, if they insist that it be put in the mailbox, they can stick many padded envelopes in their without cramming them or bending them in half---BUT they do it anyway.
It's incompetence and inconsideration, nothing more, nothing less.
|
gk4495
|
posted on June 3, 2001 06:59:48 PM
I wouldn't call it "bribing." It really isn't any different than tipping the waitress at the resturant. It is a way of saying thank you. In any event you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
|
MrsSantaClaus
|
posted on June 3, 2001 07:28:36 PM
We give our Mailman and USPS guy the same thing we give our main customers each year - a bottle of Goldschlager. It is cinnamon schnapps with gold flakes in it.
They love us
BECKY
|
cardmall
|
posted on June 3, 2001 07:31:50 PM
That's why I use a Mail Boxes Etc. - Everything gets delivered in a big box, and it gets sorted by the staff there. They know not to cram things to fit in my box, I'm there everyday and can pick up a package easily before it gets destroyed.
Mail Service at my house on the other hand is very inconsistant - Mail comes anywhere between 11am and 8pm, some days not at all. A different carrier every time I look, and they will fold or mangle to fit in the box (Why not just place on the doorstep)
Alan
|
eventer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 07:38:36 PM
kyms,
I'm in a suburb of a large city. Ours is considered "rural delivery", though, because it's an area mainly of horse estates & acreage. Even when my carrier is on vacation or off, he apparently tells the substitutes how to handle my mail.
david2001,
You can call it a bribe if you like but down here in the South, we call it "courtesy & good manners". When someone treats you nicely, you treat them back nicely.
I also try to remember my post office workers on holidays & I never have a problem getting my packages right in.
|
MouseSlayer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 07:43:22 PM
Oh thank you for reminding me eventer, I gave the post office staff a huge tub of cookies too. I don't know, would you consider Phoenix the South? I don't, but I was still raised that way. To reward kindness and hard work.
~^~ Hippy wannabe ~^~
|
outoftheblue
|
posted on June 3, 2001 07:44:26 PM
Seems like the PO can't get anything strait lately. We live in an apt complex and we seldom receive our package notices (we have to go into the office every other day or so and ask if the mailman left any packages for us.
They also have a tendancy to put mail in the wrong mailboxes causing us to lose money orders and checks and they can never get our priority mail box order right. They keep giving us express mail boxes instead.
|
eventer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 08:07:17 PM
MouseSlayer,
Well, Phoenix IS in the Southwest.
|
MouseSlayer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 08:20:50 PM
LOL, I was wondering if you would catch that eventer.
~^~ Hippy wannabe ~^~
|
eventer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 08:22:36 PM
|
thedewey
|
posted on June 3, 2001 08:42:39 PM
I can understand leaving little treats and goodies for the mail carrier as a sort of "tip" for good service (and I've done so in the past with other mail carriers), but I don't think a person should get shoddy mail service if they DON'T do it.
A tip is a reward for a job well done, in my opinion. Even when people go out to dinner, the tip is generally left for a waitress AFTER the dinner is over.
|
wbbell
|
posted on June 3, 2001 08:53:57 PM
The reason they cram stuff in the mailbox is simple. The carriers are overworked and in many cases are working overtime and doing two entire routes per day. Every package they can stuff in or strap onto the mailbox saves them a 1-2 minute walk to the doorstep. Those one or two minutes can make a big difference multiplied by 40 or 50 (or more) packages per day.
|
david2001
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:08:16 PM
Understood...
But I live in a city where the houses are about 5 feet apart from each other--house after house after house--and each mailbox (my own included) is roughly 3 feet from the front door--if that far.
The mailman can stand in the same spot and reach both the mailbox AND the front door. This is NOT the exception in my neck of the woods, it is the rule.
No excuse...other than carelessness.
[ edited by david2001 on Jun 3, 2001 09:10 PM ]
|
packer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:12:53 PM
Since I'm one of those postal workers you'all seem to be talking about,
I must respond.
I am the PMR of our small town PO. We have small, medium & large boxes.
Let me tell you it is no fun trying to cram all that crappy junk mail into a small box especially if they haven't emptied it for a couple of days. Its very frustrating when you have a hand full of mail and you come to a box that is already crammed to the brim. You got to set everything down and try to work the sucker in. AND...one more thing our mail doesn't usually come in order so I may have to return to that box or boxes several times before I'm done. GRRRRRRRRRRRR, I just want to scream and make it MANDITORY they pick their damn mail up EVERY DAY!!!!
85% of the damn mail is that credit card crap. You suppose anyone would even miss it if I just threw it away.
As a PMR, my job is to call anyone thats on the RR if a package comes in for them. If they are not going to be home to accept it, I fill out the pink slip for the carrier to leave.
We take care of our customers and their mail, no matter how painful it is sometimes.
There...thats my 2cents worth.
packer
|
cdnbooks
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:23:28 PM
eventer
You might get even better service if you would stop giving your postperson all those horsie pucks.....
Bill
|
david2001
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:40:07 PM
Packer--
In spite of my tone, I really do marvel at the fact that I can put an envelope in box on one coast and have it show up in another box on the other side of the country....all for 34 cents.
I also have to say that I have rarely had anything get lost or damaged.
I ghuess I am addressing, so to speak, the reckless cramming of packages that end up being damaged--when the mailguy could've just as easily put it in the mailbox unbent....or inside the storm door....or on the front porch.
|
overworked
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:43:30 PM
wow!
|
packer
|
posted on June 3, 2001 09:56:51 PM
To add one more thing. In a post office such as ours, where 30-40 years ago a small box was a gods plenty of space for mail.
But today with so much advertisements and magazines its darn near impossible to even get 1 magazine and a 1/2 dozen pieces of mail in one.
I think, at least for our PO they should rework all the boxes and make them LARGE, at least so you can lay a good size magazine in it flat. As it is we have to roll them up, just try getting 3 0R 4 of those in one box at one time.
I understand about your frustrations of them leaving your packages out unprotected or folding something when it clearly says "DO NOT BEND OR FOLD" there is no excuse for it.
packer
|
redskinfan
|
posted on June 3, 2001 10:21:00 PM
Yesterday it was pouring down rain and a priority package arrived for me (the large ones) and the mailman got out of his truck and walked it up to my front door and waited patiently as I put clothes on (people only come by when I'm naked) and handed it to me in person, all the time he was waiting he had it under his coat to keep it from getting wet. When I opened the door he told me he didn't want to just leave it because he was afraid it would get wet. It's a new postman. I hope they keep this one. They go through postal carriers around here like sticks of gum.
|
seyms
|
posted on June 4, 2001 05:46:01 AM
I use to be a mail carrier and can tell you that, in this case, bigger is better. Get a B-I-G mailbox and your problems will mostly vanish. However cooperative your regular carrier may be, there will be days when a sub will deliver your mail and couldn't care less about "do not bend, fold or yadayadayada". Just human nature at work. And free cookies for your carrier can not hurt! Either can the offer of a cold drink on a brutal day.
|
