My mail carrier is being a dickface. Any suggestions?
12Okay, this is a long story, but I'll do my best to give all the details.
I buy and sell a lot of mini bike parts. Most are cheap, but some are extremely valuable. Unfortunately, a lot of the guys I buy from use USPS. In the past 4-5 years, it hasn't been an issue. My mail carrier has always left the packages in my carport, which is about 100 feet away and out of view from the road. Back in February or so, he started leaving my packages next to the mailbox at the road. While I live in a nice neighborhood with trustworthy neighbors, I've always lived by the motto "Keep honest people honest". In other words, don't make it so easy for people, that they decide to do something dishonest.
When I saw packages next to the road, I made a point to stop the mail carrier the following day and ask what's up. The next day, I went down the box and waited. I asked why he left packages next to the box and he said his E-brake wasn't working (rural carriers use their personal vehicles). He said he hasn't been able to get it fixed yet and he can't park on a hill to deliver the mail. Okay, I get that. I suggested he could pull up the driveway and honk and I'd come get the package from him without him having to get out of the car. I work from home and I'm almost always home that time of day. He agreed and I went about my day.
The very next day, I got a parcel notification in my mailbox. I must have missed him honking. I went to the post office and got the package. Two days later, I was watering the plants out front when the mail came. I waved and he stuck some stuff in the box and went on up the road. I went to get the mail and there was another parcel notification. Under the "available for pickup" time and date, it had that days date and their hours of operation. He didn't even bring the package on the route with him.
I went back to the post office and as soon as I walked through the door, the guy at the desk had my package on the counter. He asked if I was having my packages held and I said "Well, I wanted to ask about that...". I explained everything that had happened and he said he would look into it. I made sure to say "I don't want to get him into trouble, I just didn't understand what was going on. I don't want to piss off the people I rely on."
For the past two months, anything that was too big to go into my mailbox didn't even go into his vehicle. He would fill out cards and leave them. Still, it's better than leaving them next to the road. I continued to go get my packages.
My wife began getting irritated that the things she was ordering weren't being delivered. Then shit really hit the fan. She went off on someone down there and now, ALL of my packages are being held, despite fitting into the box.
I know that a formal complaint won't likely do anything. I have to be honest though, at this point, I'd like to drag his ass out of the car and pummel him. I'm normally a really laid back guy, but this is getting under my skin. I'm having to go to the post office 3-4 times a week to get shit that would easily fit into my mailbox, including everything I've ordered from Meh.
TL;DR My mail man is a dickface and won't deliver packages. What's my move?
- 41 comments, 113 replies
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Rent a secure mailbox.
@matthew You don’t have to rent a thing. This Post Office and this “carrier” are smashing the rules and REGULATIONS with this nonsense. I see the date is April, 2016. I’ll bet things have cleared up by now! I mean, now that ELIMINATING the USPS has come up for deadly serious consideration, and could happen yet. I had an almost psychotically snotty/hateful small-town Post Office and a dumb rural carrier who’d leave people’s packages on top of the row of mailboxes at the far end of the dirt road, where they’d fall on the ground, get rained on and run over. They’re so different now. I can see the strain in their faces when they’re forced to be not just civil (nice pun), but PRECIOUS in their treatment of us, and sometimes it almost gets the better of one or two of them in the course of a work-week, and of course we all better hope they don’t go back to GOING POSTAL in their effort to manage the strange measuring stick the Postal Service seems to have for what the rest of us merely consider stress. BUT they can be reported! It’s a myth that it does no good to complain. You go up a notch with each complaint, and may even find an office just above their heads where it’s clear that there’ve been too many complaints of too drastic a nature, and the higher-up is ready, even EAGER, to crack down hard. BTW, those jobs are the envy of millions. Most rural places, you have to know some people and be related to somebody to get one. Far more seekers than positions. I wonder why those who have the jobs hate it so???
Leave a snake in the mailbox.
@Ignorant Better than in a tree...
Find out if he has a family and where they live. You know, like wife and kids or even a pet. Casually bring this information up in a conversation. "How do you like it over on street? Yeah, I bet that area is perfect for your __, " He already knows you know when he's not at his house. Follow that by asking about your packages and why they're not being delivered. Also mention that your neighborhood is safe, so there is no reason to not leave the packages. Point out that you even have a security cameras watching the porch, carport, and mailbox. (if you don't have any, I suggest buying some) This will let him know you're always watching and will have video proof that he did not attempt to deliver the packages. Ask if his area is safe and whether he has any security cameras/system. Finally, tell him if there is nothing that can be done, you'll be taking the matter up the chain. (starting with the local postmaster) Hope that helps!
Edit: also, see this: https://about.usps.com/handbooks/sp1/sp1_c3_015.htm
333.3 Parcels
Parcels are to be taken out for delivery on the first trip after receipt. If a parcel is too large for the box, the supplier is required to attempt delivery to the customer’s residence if on the line of travel, or within ½ mile on the line of travel and retrace (total of 1 mile) to transact business, when necessary, to affect delivery. (Dismount, if necessary; see 333.4.) If the parcel cannot be delivered on the first trip, leave a PS Form 3849 in the customer’s box. A second attempt to deliver should be made if the customer desires....
When packages are too large for a box, they may be left outside the box if the customer has filed a written request with the Administrative Official and there are no safety, theft, or weather issues. However, never leave parcels outside boxes during inclement weather. ...
@medz Apparently that's all from a "highway contract route" handbook, but I've seen similar verbiage for the regular routes somewhere...
@medz Actually, it's funny you mention the security camera thing. I still have some of those fake security cameras I got in that Fuku about a year and a half ago... Maybe it's time to break them out?
@medz "Find out if he has a family and where they live. You know, like wife and kids or even a pet."
Because of the implication?
@spacezorro Yes. A veiled threat.
@medz I don’t really see resorting to threats as a wise move. Certainly not that kind of threat. Threatening to go up the chain of command is one thing, family is another entirely.
I like the one about recording the fact that he didn’t even attempt delivery and backstopping it with the citations from the regulations.
Yeah, ANY sort of threat would be a dumb, dumb move.
@jbartus @medz I assumed that was a joke, no?
@jbartus @Seeds Like a 2 year old joke.
/giphy duh
@medz @Seeds Why tag me? @Seeds is the one who brought it up again!
@jbartus @Seeds this stupid site auto-tags everyone under the original comment when replying now. I usually remove all but the person on the reply I reply to, but not that time…nor this time.
@medz @Seeds I see. For my part I’m just leaving @Seeds in place since I blame them (which is apparently fitting?) for my being tagged in the first place.
@jbartus @medz Yeah this auto “reply all” function is a PITA. Clearly @Seeds’s fault that meh didn’t have a poll to ask their users first if we wanted to spam everyone in a subthread. I heard a rumor they know how to make polls.
(not sure who to @ from meh so they don’t miss our grumbling here.)
A formal complaint might actually do something. I've known folks whose carriers have had their routes changed because of complaints. Can't hurt to try.
Check with others on his route to see if they are having issues with him too. If they are, a group complaint might hold more weight. If he isn't doing his job he deserves what he has coming.
@hallmike I posted it up on my neighborhood's website and it seems that at least one other person is in the same boat.
Definitely file a complaint from their website. I had to do that after getting nowhere, and miraculously, I heard from the postmaster rather quickly and my carrier issues were resolved.
I use a spray bottle of soapy water on them. Gets rid of lots of pests.
Edit: Oops, wrong thread. On second thought, maybe it would work.
@Barney I just spit my beverage all over my keyboard. Thanks for the laugh!
@Barney
@Barney I use one on my cat when he misbehaves, too - normal water doesn’t bother him, but the soapy water tastes bad to clean off.
@Durago Oh, if I had done that to my cat, he would have sought his revenge on me in so many different ways.
@Barney @narfcake
Is there any evidence that cats are mischievous?
http://theoatmeal.com/misc/frame/cat_kill
@narfcake @PlacidPenguin My knowledge about mischievous cats is rather limited. But I do know that they have a long memory.
@Barney @PlacidPenguin
There’s a good reason why I only have catshirts (and cat plushies) and not an actual cat.
/wootstalker https://shirt.woot.com/offers/plotting-your-demise
Plotting your Demise
Price: $19.00
Condition: Probably New
Also:
/image TeeTurtle Bad Kitty
@narfcake @PlacidPenguin My last cat thought he was a dog and now I have a dog who thinks she is a cat. Am I the cause of this?
@Barney @PlacidPenguin
Barking cat! Tree climbing dog!
@narfcake @PlacidPenguin One good thing about having a cat-dog is that he would always come when I whistled.
@Barney @narfcake
www.sendyourenemiesglitter.com
@DaveInSoCal
Each Meh employee should have a broom ready just in case. (Because vacuums won't help)
@DaveInSoCal I learn the best stuff from this group!
@mehbee http://shipabagofdicks.com
@DaveInSoCal Not cool Dave, not cool (The glitter, not the dicks)
@DaveInSoCal Heck anyone I'd send those two would think I was being nice..lol...the glitter, not so much! I'm still keeping the link though, just in case.
Watchgoat.
@KDemo to then eat said package?
For us, it took 2 formal complaints and our issues were solved. It's worth putting in a note or call to your Postmaster.
Before you file a formal complaint, make the effort to ask the guy about it. He's obviously aware of what's going on, so why not just ask him about it? Be polite, try to see things from his perspective, and try really hard not to call him "dickface." Even consider offering him a gift/reward - on a hot day, a cold beer (which he will refuse... probably) or a cold bottle of water (which he might accept).
Best case scenario you work things out and the guy does you the favor you ask of him. Because, honestly, bringing a package 100ft, honking and waiting, or even just remembering to honk when he leaves it on the roadside is a huge favor. In some cases the law actually forbids the postal carrier from walking beyond a set number of feet from the curb to deliver mail.
Worst case scenario, your overtures fail and you can still file a complaint. This time you get to point out how hard you tried to work it out.
@a13z And if being polite doesn't work, try threats of violence!
@a13z I attempted to talk to the guy on a few occasions. Those conversations have lead to no resolve. I've been nice so far. I haven't even raised my voice to him or anyone else at the post office. The fact is he lied and said he honked when he clearly has never done that. He lies and say he's attempting delivery and he isn't.
I posted about this on my Neighborhood's website. Apparently, he's dicking everyone. Maybe he just hates his job. At any rate, it's not our fault. Do the damn job or find a new one.
@capguncowboy and if if he's doing ot to your neighborhood he's doing it others, formal complaint and try to get as many of your neighbors to do the same
@medz I don't think he can get his packages while in jail...
@a13z
Good idea. Try not to be aggresive toward him. Maybe go as far as getting his e-brakes fixed for him, since that is his excuse.
@capguncowboy I can make you a button to give him to wear. With his name on it. You know, Dickie McDickface.
@capguncowboy oh man. Yeah you're facing an uphill battle. It sounds like you've got two options: A) formal complaint route and hope it delivers either better performance or a new carrier; B) non-confrontational work-it-out route where you abandon any sense of principles and just do whatever you can to get what you want.
I worry that option A) will lead to @lisaviolet's lousy experience below. Good luck though. I feel for you!
Move.
@Pavlov That was what I was going to say!
If you are willing to be persistent, you can prob get this fixed....unless your local postmaster is against you. By you may make an enemy of the carrier along the way. Not much you can do about that.
Be prepared to videotape and document everything. You may even want to set up cameras, and put a note in the mailbox stating it is being videotaped.
Start by calling your local PO and asking the Postmaster to call you back, or better, go there and speak to the Postmaster in person. Bring info about specific instances, as much as you can. Get other people along the route involved if possible, to replicate the complaints.
This may be enough, or you may have to repeat a few times. If it's not fixed, escalate by calling the county or regional Postal Consumer Affairs Office, or go in and speak to them in person. If you call, and their lines are busy, the call will likely forward to a Washington area 800 #. It's better to speak to the local people if you can. Each times, detail your complaint, and ask that your local Postmaster call you back. Keep repeating this. If you dont get the return call from the local Postmaster at your station within a few days, add that non-response to the complaint.
Also start calling the Washington 800 # and detailing the same complaint, each time demanding that the Postmaster at your local syation call you back. Keep repeating this, ever week or so if the prob continues. (Btw the 800# CS reps are subcontracted, not Postal emploees.)
Calls and complaints to the Washington 800# and the county or regional Consumer Affairs Office are tracked. The Consumer Affairs office will likely either be downtown or else at the regional bulk mail sorting office.
You might also be able to escalate using your Congressperson or Senators, and this might help even if you despise those persons. You might also escalate thru Twitter (not sure).
If you keep escalating, keep complaining, and after the first 2 complaints start at the Consumer Affairsa or the 800#, in time your problem almost certainly will be dealt with, as they track those complaint stats, and Congress gets them.
But pls start by giving your local Postmaster from your local station a chance to fix it.
The main thing is not to quit until it's fixed.
I'm pretty sure I've shared the story on here somewhere of Pierre, the long haired yellow tabby who hated the mailman and the mailman who wouldn't deliver our mail or the neighbors' if he saw the stupid cat.
We ended up offering to restrain the cat and his owners agreed that if he got maced by the mailman it would be better than having him put down for attacking the mailman again. He was a friendly cat, to everyone who wasn't a USPS employee.
@MsELizardBeth It's not the cat's fault he has good taste. In fact, it makes you think about what might be wrong with that mailman if the cat likes everyone else.
@MsELizardBeth This happened to me - our mail carrier was bitten by the neighbor’s dog. The mail carrier blacklisted every house on our street after that neighbor’s house, because she refused to walk or drive past the dog. So ~15 homes suddenly had to go to the PO every day to pickup their mail. Situation did not change until we got a new person on the route.
Rural postmasters are a bid contract position. The lowest bidder gets the cookies. But, this lowest bidder can be removed for failure to execute the contract: delivering your mail according to the rules.
Customer Service
(1-800-275-8777)
I had a similar problem when I lived in rural Georgia. I review products for several companies and get a ton of packages. I think my delivery gal just got fed up with her truck being full of Amazon products and various smelly (in a good way) packages full of soap making ingredients.
I talked to her....again....and again...and again. Finally I called the local post office. They didn't even take their own calls. I got routed to the national center. First call I was polite and seeking information and verification. I got a nice letter in response, from national, and about a weeks worth of packages. Then the crap started again. I also didn't have a vehicle at this point so could only get a ride to the post office about 2x a month. Each time I went in I spoke to a supervisor to try to get my packages to my door. Nothing helped.
I called the local number again, got routed to national again, and gave a LOT more strongly worded complaint. I got a call back from national, twice, a nice letter and then a follow up letter letting me know that there would be a staffing "adjustment". That adjustment placed a new rural carrier on our route and no further problems for the last two years I lived there. Added plus, our new carrier was a former truck driver and loved to shoot the breeze.
Here's the national USPS number:
Customer Care Center
Email: USPS
Call: 1-800-ASK-USPS
TDD/TTY Relay: Call 1-800-877-8339. Ask for 1-800-275-8777
Good luck.
Sarah
@sarahsandroid Having worked at a hotel that got a lot of truck drivers they are a hoot! they are one thing I miss about that job
I know how you feel. I have a lot of things delivered also. My normal mail lady is a gem, LOVE her. It's when the sub is delivering that there're issues. She will actually drive up my driveway, which is a mess right now, not honk, and turn around and go back down. Why even come up? I work at home so I can hear a horn, or lack there of. I also have a lot of dogs and totally understand people are scared of dogs. I've never expected or requested that someone get out if I'm not there. I've even offered to get the package out of the back for them and bring it up for scanning. I'm just saying I try very hard to be courteous, polite and considerate. Nothing I've done has made this lady happy..even my regular mail lady dislikes her. I hate confrontation and would much prefer to mutter to myself rather than make trouble. The last time I saw this lady, not only did she come up the driveway and just turn around and leave without honking, but she was flying down the driveway almost hitting one of my dogs. I literally lost my mind for a minute. When I came to I was on the phone with the post office, trying to not be rude to the person on the other end, ranting about how she better not come up my driveway again. I looked down and my husband is at the bottom of the stairs looking at me with shock..and a little fear..lol. He told the dogs, the mail lady just pissed off your mom, let's just stay down here for a few minutes. The post office lady was super nice, had dogs herself so she understood. She said that sub was transferring to another office in a few days and she'd make sure she didn't come up the driveway in the meantime. Extremely long, rambling story short..mail delivery can make nice people into crazy people and I hope you get this resolved soon.
Our mailwoman stopped delivering our mail without any notice. When we inquired at the post office about our mail we were told our mailbox was 6" too low. Now this box has been there for over 20 years but now it's too short. It only took one formal complaint to get our mail delivered. Formal complaints work. Just do it.
@Mehrocco_Mole if you have a new mail carrier or if the safety person sees your box they can stop delivery… Honestly I’ve still delivered mail to customers who have had boxes on the ground…
This frustrates me beyond words. Be a dick back.
We've had to make complaints, too. Never got very far. My husband works out of the home and we have supplies delivered here (sound familiar?). He deals in hydraulics and valves and stuff like that and the boxes can get pretty heavy.
Like you, at least one of us is at home all day. Our regular mailman brings packages to the door and will ring the doorbell. The sub will not. One day, I got to the mailbox shortly after delivery. There was a notice that we had a package. The notice said he'd come to the door. Uh, no, he hadn't. I took this notice and walked across the street to wait for him to come back down. When he did, I showed him the notice, being polite, but with a WTF? look on my face. His response? "It was heavy." But he turned his little truck around and got the package and walked it down to the entryway.
We pay for priority mail. Some of the things we order are custom hoses for the hydraulics. We don't ship the orders without the hoses. Husband had ordered quite a few and we were expecting delivery on a certain day. They didn't get here, but according to the post office website, they were at the local office. So, my husband waited for the mailman on the other side of the street. (I bet they love seeing us standing out there.) The supervisor at the post office had made the executive decision to not deliver the packages. Oh, boy, someone very near and dear to my heart was not a happy camper. He went down to the post office, had a little discussion with the supervisor and picked up his stuff.
Last year, I had a package showing as delivered to our house. It was not. Another package had been delivered and the post office website shows the time they were delivered. The one I didn't get was delivered a half hour after the one that was delivered. Oh, my gosh, the runaround. Just blades for my Silhouette. And I figured they'd been delivered to a house up the street, same house numbers, different street name. The stories from the postmen..."I talked to them, they never got it, now they've been evicted and the house is empty..." was one of them. A month later, on Memorial Day, we get back from a trip to downtown San Diego, and there was an envelope between the front door and the screen door. With a note "my kids brought the mail in and I just found this, sorry we've had it so long". Nobody had ever spoken to them and they most certainly hadn't been evicted.
Then we started not getting the two day priority mail we paid for out of Omaha in two days. The worst was eleven days later. Brian made complaints and was told "you'll get it when you get it". Now, he requests shipping be done via UPS (they just charge our account) since the post office isn't reliable.
I hope you have better luck than we've had.
@capguncowboy Egad, and I have you in the Mehrican exchange. I hope you got the box.
@parodymandotcom I got your package on Friday, I've just been so busy, I haven't had time to do anything yet! Thanks btw, it was awesome!
Well, I'm not sure what happened, but on Friday, our mail carrier actually delivered a package to my carport. Maybe it's because I complained? Maybe he was having a good day and decided to do his job ? No clue, but it was there. I'm hoping that this is back to normal now, but I have doubts. Maybe he just delivered it because it was for the Mehrican exchange ? Only time will tell.
I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I'll be sure to keep you guys posted about Dicky McDickface (Thanks @LisaViolet for your offer and for giving him a permanent nickname
)
@capguncowboy Maybe he got fired and you have a new mail carrier?
@capguncowboy any updates? It was interesting reading.
I’m curious have your mailman ever stuck to the packages in a bag and hung them from the flag on the mailbox? Our mailman does that occasionally when they don’t fit in the mailbox.
I’m dealing with similar issues with UPS and FedEx leaving packages by the steps or outside the garage which is around the corner from our front door and infrequently used. I’ve had packages soaked by rain because of this issue and I’m trying to figure out how to deal with it so I feel your pain.
@jbartus For those services, sign up for the free tracking accounts. Then, you can post standing delivery instructions for your house via their website or app.
@Pamtha what happens if they ignore the instructions? (Just set them up, didn’t have FedEx one, UPS is usually great just occasionally a pain.)
Thanks for the tip, didn’t know I could do much more than see what was inbound.
@jbartus I actually had my mail carrier leave some stuff hanging from the box in a plastic bag. That was almost 5 years ago, and he hasn’t left one there since.
@capguncowboy I get that quite often and also I’ve had them literally use large elastics to hold them to the mailbox. Really annoying especially when it’s valuable…
@jbartus if they don’t, stomp your feet and hold your breath??
Next time, kill him with kindness. One tasty cupcake per day. Give it 90 days. If that doesn't work, poison the 91st treat.
@JerseyFrank i was going to suggest the same (minus the poison)
He has no reason to not deliver parcels to your door… I’ve been a mail carrier for 12 years and been acting supervisor on and off for about a year… I bring packages to my customers back porch and text them they have a package. Or if it needs a signature and they aren’t home I’ll text and ask if it’s ok to leave packages with neighbors that are home… Maybe he’s lazy…
I am also having package delivery problems.
I live in an apartment complex. Before our current USPS person, the driver would enter the packages in a log when left at the complex office. Current driver refuses.
I recently had a package show as delivered to my box. But no package. I was told to check with the office. I did, but of course no joy. So I called the national customer service number.
When the post office manager called, I was told he was no longer allowing deliveries to the complex because of the office here losing them. I said, but mine was supposed to be in the box not the office. Three weeks later, I got a notification that the package was returned because I didn’t pick it up.
Now, the post office says our management is telling ‘untruths’ to the residents. Our office says the post office is hiding facts.
In the meantime, residents are getting no package delivery and missing mail in general. Suggestions?
@cahuston tell your apartment complex that you’re going to start sending rent checks in via the large flat rate mailers until they get with the USPS and sort this shit out. If you get your neighbors to do the same eventually they’ll get sick of having to go pick them up.
@cahuston I’d try to go over that post office manager’s head to the postmaster. A log sounds like a perfectly reasonable mechanism to ensure that the packages were tendered to the office and delineate the responsibility between the post office and apartment office. A lot better than the runaround you’re getting now.
@cahuston Sorry I didn’t reply sooner. Yes, all seems to have been restored. A few well placed complaints and my frequency of use of their service to send packages and it was corrected fairly quickly.
My carrier has hung a package on the mailbox a few times, but I spoke with him and he agreed it wasn’t the best idea.
I haven’t been able to catch him in the past couple of months, but part of me wants to make a point to talk to him. I’d like to tip him when I do and thank him for diligently doing the job he agreed to do, in the manner that he agreed to do it. Then the other part of me realizes how ridiculous it is to have to tip someone for doing what they’re supposed to do.
@capguncowboy we do it at restaurants, on cab rides, and in other such situations all the time, why not with the postal worker who comes by your house every day? Who knows, some day he might see something suspicious going on at your house and decide to say something rather than shrug it off because you’re a good customer and have cultivated a relationship with them. Life is fragile, you never know when you might end up in this situation:
http://www.wcvb.com/news/alert-postal-worker-helps-save-mans-life/37982776
@capguncowboy @jbartus Not the same.
We tip those workers because their employers are cheap jerks who want free labor and to guilt us into making up the difference with a fair wage.
The USPS pays decent, is unionized, and has no incentive to skirt the law to profit even more off the backs of their employees.
@capguncowboy @mike808 your reasons for tipping are not necessarily everybody’s.
@jbartus Ummmm … because it may be illegal.
“All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period.”
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22349/html/cover_025.htm
@rockblossom a law is only as good as its enforcement. I don’t think that’s one that gets paid much attention to.
I had a hilarious experience very recently regarding the law. Found my rural mailbox (it sits in a row of 12) stuffed to capacity with another person’s mail, all of a sudden one day. I freaked out that if I was getting another person’s mail, maybe someone else was getting mine, including very important stuff, because ONE of the pieces of mail was notification to pick up a registered letter. I didn’t find that one until the next day, AFTER I scraped out the whole mess and put it in the correct mailbox myself, just 2 boxes over from mine, as I pray s/he would do for me. The registered letter notice was stuck way far at the back, hard to reach from inside my car, and it looked at first like a dead leaf. The next day, I stared at it and realized it was mail. So I took THAT to the Post Office, with my breathless concern over whether it was intended for ME or my neighbor. What I GOT was an instantaneous stiff lecture on what the law states I must do when I find the wrong mail in my mailbox. It took several minutes to calm her down and steer her onto the subject. Boy, was she miffed, poor thing, when I told her I pray I won’t be fired for what I did, or put in jail for not being studied up on the law.
@capguncowboy @jbartus But this sounds a lot like how you cultivate a relationship with your Basic Protection Racket carrier. Don’t y’all see how weak we’re being, how slowly this frog is cooking? You’re helping! Don’t do that.
i used to do a package log but my apt managers trust me enough to just drop packages off… Also I do notice at other apt. The managers will miraculously find packages like a week later. Be persistent. Also you can see if a supervisor will gps track a package… When a mail carrier scans a package there is a gps ping sent out… So usps knows if they scanned a package in front of your driveway or maybe in your managers office.
@Kyung_Min package log miahahahha
@Kyung_Min The trouble is though the driver could scan it as delivered and then still walk off with it if they were dishonest.
Seems like there’s more to the story.
@601Thatcher Pretty sure the story ended like 2 years ago
@lichme you have no frame of reference here
@601Thatcher @lichme
Well did you look at when this thread was created?
Also, I’m interested to know how you found this thread, considering that you just joined.
@lichme @PlacidPengui What stuck out to me was “ all of a sudden I started getting my packages at the box” and “at this point I would like to drag him out and pummel him”. The carrier never said anything to him to get pummeled AND I joined because of this thread. Maybe calling and talking to the carrier would be a smart move?..!?
@601Thatcher He DID! I think you missed that part where @capguncowboy wrote he had spoken face-to-face with the carrier to inquire why the carrier suddenly was not delivering the packages like he used to. The carrier’s response during this initial conversation was the truck had a malfunctioning part-- a repair which should be the responsibility of the carrier/USPS to correct so that the mail carrier can properly carry out the duties he was hired to perform. @capguncowboy also had a face-to-face conversation with a postal clerk when no delivery attempt was made for the packages.
@capguncowboy, did you ever get resolution to the problem?
@601Thatcher I do not think there’s more to the story. Certainly doesn’t strike ME that way. I think you’re alone there, bubba. (Or WERE alone. Two years ago April.
)
@lichme What sticks out to me is your handle. ICK. Maybe you’re just trying to say LIKE ME. But seriously, he didn’t think to just call the carrier and have a Norman Rockwell heart-to-heart? How shortsighted, mean, and unimaginative the rest of us are! I think they could use you at the U.N. Keep the name.
@CarlyCorday Why did you join Meh just to necro this thread? Also, leave @lichme and their awesome name alone. Maybe try to read the room before jumping in with weird craziness. I’d suggest backing away from this thread and exploring the rest of the site, quietly, and get a feel for the place. There are occasionally great deals to buy, and often great conversations to be had, but it’s usually not a great idea to introduce yourself by necroing threads and casting aspersions on long-time members.
What made the carrier start delivering to/at the box? Good call tho
@601Thatcher Did you even read the thread you necro’d? It very clearly says in the OP, in the second paragraph, that the carrier’s emergency brake wasn’t working and therefor he wasn’t doing his job.
Your package says “deliver if no response” and they have 3 tines the volume. Eat shit
Necroplot twist: 601Thatcher is the mail carrier in question. Maybe also the mail carrier who was just arrested for hosting 17k pieces of mail at his house and car and hiring a dude to burn the mail, which would explain the sudden burst of free time.
/giphy undercover mail man
@djslack or related to the carrier in Florida that was too lazy to use the mailbox and just tossed them all over the recipient’s yard…
@capguncowboy I’m somebody now!! One of the few movie lines I still remember
Okay, I’ve had a few people ask about this so I’ll clarify:
Shortly after this email, I went back into the post office and spoke with the Postmaster about it. I had documented what packages were returned to the post office, and what days. I also relayed that I work from home, and I’m always here when the mail runs.
The following day, my packages began showing up here at the house. I haven’t had any issues since and he and I have personally spoken and patched things up. This past Christmas, I gave him an envelope with a $25 gift card in it. When I see him out and about he always asks how we’re doing and seems to be a genuinely nice guy.
To be fair to him, my driveway sucks. It’s only 85 feet long, but it’s on a pretty steep hill. He’s a rural carrier and drives his own vehicle. While the USPS does give him a mileage and maintenance stipend, he couldn’t afford to fix his vehicle at the time. I can’t say I blame the guy for not wanting to carry the packages up every day. He was frustrated at the number of packages I get and he responded poorly.
When we had our driveway redone last year, I had the crew put a level parking pad at the top so the mail carrier would have a flat spot to park his vehicle when he delivers packages. Despite this, he still walks the packages up. Maybe he came to appreciate the exercise.
TL;DR: All better now. Turns out he’s a nice guy after all.
@capguncowboy Good to hear! It sounds like you live at my house… also a steep drive. And… its getting pretty bumpy. I’m deep in the woods and the tree roots are pushing up all over the place and I’d have to have about 40 trees removed (around the power lines too) which is cost prohibitive. I’m in the process of packing things up to move now. Glad y’all got it patched up. I do find that it pays to leave a little gift for postal people, newspaper deliverers, trash pickup, etc. Doesn’t have to be much but they WILL remember that you did. I used to deliver newspapers when I was much younger with a small child in tow and I can tell you that I remember everyone and did go the special mile for those that were thoughtful of me… especially the little old lady that left me 100 extra pennies every month without fail.
@lseeber My wife actually put out a box of snacks and drinks for the delivery men (and women) this past Christmas season She attached a note expressing our gratitude. We knew that we’d have an increase of deliveries and wanted to say thanks. Overall, it was pretty well received.
Ughh… and it’s sideways. Why the hell does it always do that!?
We left it in the carport entrance so it would stay out of the weather. We’ll likely do it again this year with some better options.
@capguncowboy @oldcatlady should do that when her cat litter from Woot arrives.
@capguncowboy @sammydog01 Hey, the carrier is the one who landed me with two of my three cats. They were abandoned.
@OldCatLady Remind him/her of that when it arrives.
@capguncowboy Nice! I’ve done similar… at Christmas I leave my postal carrier a tin of baked good that I’ve made and a gift.
@capguncowboy @lseeber It’s YOU who is a nice guy. Nice enough for two, lucky for him. You may even have saved him from being a worse guy than he is, and boosted him up a notch. You might be an angel. Hope he noticed.
I had the exact same thing start happening back in early Dec… I’m VERY rural and complaints around here can really backfire on a person so I was trying to think about what to do (I really didn’t like my Christmas packages being left at the road… it’s quite a distance from my house and can’t be seen from here) and then it suddenly stopped. I don’t know what happened to change it, it just did. Possibly someone else did something about it. Not really an answer for you but, I thought it was odd that they started leaving packages at the road. And the first one… I didn’t know it was there for 2 days but had been waiting for it… it was a medical device.
@lseeber
hm.
@therealjrn heh… breathing tubes for a nebulizer.
@lseeber OUCH. 2018? The USPS must be feeling completely secure again, which can’t be good news for the customers. (We aren’t really customers. We are entitled to this service. It’s a beautiful thing IMO. I salute the Postal Service. Think about how much it DOES.)
Well, I just read a text from my across the street neighbor who saw some guy rifling through my mailox while I was out this afternoon. He came down to the gate and asked him what he was doing and the guy walked away. So I guess I need to figure out a way to get the security camera I bought at Christmas mounted and facing the mailbox.
@moondrake Until then, you might want to have your mail held for pickup at the post office.
@moondrake it might also be a good idea to notify the local PO that someone was possibly tampering with your mail. While it seems minor, it’s a federal offense.
@capguncowboy I had a deranged homeless stalker who actually submitted a change of address notice and diverted my mail to his address at the shelter, and the P.O. wouldn’t do anything about it except change it back. The guy was leaving me threatening notes and I’d come home and find him camped in my driveway. He called my workplace and told them the should fire me because I’d murdered someone. I called the cops and filed a stalker complaint and they shooed him off my property but said they couldn’t arrest him till he committed an act of violence such as “burned my house down or killed my dog”. I told them in that event I’d no longer need their help, I’d take care of it myself. They got all, now don’t be making threats, ma’am. I said why not? This guy’s been threatening me for months and they’d just told me there was nothing they could do about it, so obviously threats are ok under the law.
@OldCatLady The problem with that is, for how long? Odds are it’s someone in the neighborhood, so I could be stuck driving to the post office indefinitely. If it were the one closest to me I could live with it, although standing in line for 15 minutes every couple of days to receive my junk mail would suck. But it would be at my P.O., which is in a direction I rarely drive and is inconveniently located in a snarl of streets and traffic feeding the military base. I suppose I could get a PO box, but that doesn’t help with UPS and FEDEX deliveries, which are the ones that matter.
@moondrake @OldCatLady
I use a commercial mailbox place. It more or less receives and ships everything with every carrier. Included alcohol and pallet shipments.
And they do me favors. And are my friends.
They have a scan and notify mail service that I don’t use.
I never worry about my shipments.
OTOH I have to go get the mail/shipments. But that just doesnt bother me.
@f00l @moondrake Wow. You have an off-site concierge service.
@moondrake @OldCatLady
For about the same prices as a PO Box would cost.
I think some Post Offices allow box-holders to receive Fedex and UPS packages there. And also provide normal street addressing as any option to PO Box addressing.
With asking, I suppose, if one is interested.
@f00l @OldCatLady That’s a good point, as I recall EBay won’t ship to p.o. boxes.
@moondrake @OldCatLady
Many eBay sellers use Priority Mail. But not all. So the option to receive alternative carrier shipments at a PO Box is a big plus.
@capguncowboy @moondrake Where the hell do you live?
@moondrake @OldCatLady Get the camera for sure.
@f00l Most of my EBay shipments are small packages by regular mail from China, Thailand and India. Stones and gems for jewelry. I just got my first package from Bulgaria, ceramics glaze from a manufacturer I’d never heard of here in the US that makes some of the best glazes in the world.
@moondrake
I hanger no probs getting eBay sellers to ship to my commercial mailbox address. I do use the street addressing option.
@capguncowboy @moondrake It doesn’t seem minor! WFT? Look how we’re conditioned. Third World meek and apologetic, that’s us. Picture Bo Derek (sp) in Kill Bill Volume 1 or 2 carping “Oh you don’t owe her SHIT!” That should be us LOL.
I missed this the last time it was necro’d.
/giphy wat?
Not good.
@lseeber Uh oh.
@lseeber Did it ever change to good?
@therealjrn Yes, yes it did.
I’m a mail carrier. Talk to him again: problem is is that most of time people don’t have time, so leave a note saying; we are home please nocK on door and delive package … to this place, and this spot. Also the brake problem is bull because he should always be applying his brake even on a straight away street. If it was mailfuctioning that day that’s understandable but should not keep going… sounds to me u might have a big yard or ur packages need signing for. If they do some mail handlers see this and just with the time they have choose to skip and fill out a pink slip. It’s not right but if u express not out of anger but of how u someone is home and u would like them to ring a door bell or do a certain thing they usually do it. Unless u don’t have a regular on ur route that’s a different story
Drive a nail in the ground at their tire path in front of your mailbox. A few crippling flat tires and they’ll change their tune out of desperation.
Every time this thread gets necro’d, it just gets stupider and stupider.
HEY LATE-COMERS WHO DON’T READ–THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED.
Thank you.
@therealjrn
Was the issue resolved?
@PlacidPenguin Nope, but the problem was.
@therealjrn What happens to a problem after it is resolved?
@Limewater It goes into the problem solved pile.
My mail man and I are getting married next week. It was really the only suggestion that hadn’t been offered yet, so I thought outside the box.
@capguncowboy
mazel tov!
@capguncowboy
Ive got one for you I live in rural appalachia not to rural we got 2 gas stations and a dollar General. Anyways I put up a approved. By the postal inspector mailbox it was a pretty high end mailbox this is the first time this address has ever gotten mail (formally p.o box) so I stop the carrier ask what I gotta do she says call 911 get mailing address and put up box that’s it… Ok cool I do that put it up now my neighbor has a box that sat maybe the top of his 3 inches lower than bottom of mine and 2 feet away it all is well for a month or so then we get a card it says we are in danger of loosing mail service has boxes none are checked they wrote in the rule must be same hight as neighbouring box
I go to my phone look up regulations it reads something like 36to 46 inches either way box is made by the inspector general well approved so i think they are more in the k ow than my highway contract mail person so I ignore they sparcely deliver for 1 month then one day a package the exact size of my box was forced into I mean beat to fit I just imagine the punching repeatedly to make fit it didn’t hurt my package after I wedged it out. So I let it go then within a week i come down the hill (the box is at the end. Of a on labe branch with 3 houses ) and my nice probably 3-4 maybe 500 dollar mailbox was smashed the metal mailbox hit so hard it snapped the cast iron support and laid in the middle of. My driveway that was a month ago I’m just kinda sitting stewing ob it cant seem to shake it the icing ob the cake is she lives half a mile up road has what seems to be drug deals or some form of illegal activity commonly occurs there to much of one guy sitting in a car in the drive way i can only think of one reason for that im theorizing she had a hit put out on my mailbox but no proof only suspicion and a motive. And the fact no one else had any vandalism. Any suggestions I don’t want a war with naighbor and mail carrier sounds like a battle i can 4eally get shafted on thanks
@anymity …Uh…hai.
So you’re another random passerby that joined meh.com to resurrect a years-old post? I’m having difficulty understanding your story as it abruptly turned away from mail service to petty crime committed by your neighbor I guess? Why haven’t you alerted your local constabulary to the drug activity?
I hope you’re not a spammer because I want to hear more about your drug use and such.
My neighbor is the mail lady and apppearant drug dealer
@anymity That sounds remarkably convenient! How long have you been doing drugs? Which ones do you like the most?