My brain just almost exploded..... need some advice from jimq

CDsNuts · January 30, 2008 2:26AM

So my mail carrier knocks on my door today, I come down almost immediately, and he's already put the peach slip in my box and ready to get back into his truck and go up the block to start his rounds for the street. His system is that he drops off everything that needs to be scanned first, then delivers the rest of it to everybody. I open the door and his truck is in the middle of the street blocking traffic. I come out to get the package and he says "I gotta move, I can't be blocking traffic." I tell him that I'll meet him up the street.

I walk up the street to pick up the package, and he says "I waste a lot of time at your house," to which I reply with a chuckle thinking that he's joking. Here's the rest of the dialogue:

Him: "It's not a joke, I have a schedule to keep and you're always getting packages."
Me: "I'm sorry I get a lot of packages. What do you want me to do?"
Him: "I don't mind all the packages, but a lot of them are registered or insured and it takes time to scan all of them."
Me: "Well, I buy stuff from people and it's up to them how to send it."
Him: "That's the first time I've ever heard that. That's a new one on me."

Now, there were a series of things running through my head to say, many of which sounded like "Just do your f-ing job", but my main concern is that my mail will get screwed with. It definitely required every ounce of restraint in my body to not fly off the handle. The guy has always been a little off in the head, but I've always treated him with respect and I also tip him $20 around Christmas (never get a thank you) because he usually does a pretty good job. I really don't want to deal with this guy on a regular basis any more, but I guess I have no choice. Do I have any recourse here?

Lee

samspop · January 30, 2008 2:30AM

Contact your local Postmaster. I have had to do the same thing. Let the Postmaster know you want to remain anonymous, but would like to voice concerns to him based on the conversation you had with the letter carrier.

Good luck!!

Blackborder · January 30, 2008 2:31AM

My advice is to remember this story if you ever get the urge for national health care.

BobaFett72 · January 30, 2008 2:33AM

wow what a jerk.
shut up and do your damn job you lazy bastige.

good luck in your future dealings with this clown.

Rogermnj · January 30, 2008 2:33AM

Definitely not worth it to report a complaint, it could only lead to him screwing with your mail.

Its not like he is going to go back to the post office, get repremanded by his boss and say, Gee, I should be more considerate..

Only other option would be to get a PO box and then not worry about it.. But since you are a poker player, you are probably to lazy to go to the post office everyday to pick up mail..

perkdog · January 30, 2008 2:35AM

Honestly the guy has no leg to stand on, that is HIS job and he needs to realize that. I highly doubt he will screw with your mail, its a federal offense to mess with that, I am shocked you throw the guy a $20 tip and he would even mention anything to you! As far as contacting the postmaster as an "anonymos" person- forget that, he will totally know it was you who complained.

julen23 · January 30, 2008 2:36AM

you need a man in touch w/ the lord.... best alt evah

i hope this helps

j

CDsNuts · January 30, 2008 2:37AM

Yeah, screw it. I'm getting a PO box. This headache is the last thing I need. If he had any idea he just delivered almost $2000 worth of stuff to me who knows what the hell he'd do. The guy's a nutcase.

Stingray · January 30, 2008 2:41AM

storm888 · January 30, 2008 2:43AM

"...I highly doubt he will screw with your mail,..."

////////////////////////////

I do NOT doubt it for a minute.

Under NO circumstances would I ever complain against
one of "those people."

perkdog · January 30, 2008 2:46AM

UMMMMMMMM, your right, I should know better, although it is considered a federal offense to screw with someones mail there is prolly no easier way than being the delivery man to get away with that. I change my stance, a PO box is the safest way to go, smart choice.

rpcoletrane · January 30, 2008 2:46AM

I have a bad temper, I would have busted his f%$K*%g head open and went to jail!

BigDaddyBowman · January 30, 2008 2:59AM

I think you should put a snake in your mailbox...and when he opens it to put your mail in....he will $%$% his pants...thats payback!

OAKESY25 · January 30, 2008 3:13AM

THAT IS INSANE.. but I agree.. I wouldnt say anything either.. for fear of retaliation

my mail man is awesome.. guy in his early 30's like me.. big baseball fan.. knows i get cards all the time..
next year I plan on tipping him one of my mantle post cards.. I was gonna this year.. but wasnt sure
if he would dig that.. but I talked to him and he was totally into it.. maybe I will give it before next yr.. maybe a random act..
he is the best mail man I have had..

Alfonz24 · January 30, 2008 3:21AM

Maybe you should buy USPS insurance on your deliveryman.

This would be on top of the insurance bought on the packages.

Which is on top of the postage you paid to just deliver the package.

jimq112 · January 30, 2008 3:30AM

Lee -

The easiest thing for you to do would be to make an appointment with the postmaster or station manager if you have a large post office. Go there in a good mood, the managers get complaints all the time and generally are on the carrier's side. Explain that you buy expensive items on ebay and other places, and your carrier is giving you a hard time about having to deliver them. DON'T tell him what they are. You don't ever want the mailman to know you buy sportscards or jewlery. Ask him to have the carrier leave you a 3849 notice for all parcels whether they require signatures or not, and you'll come to pick them up once a week or whatever.

You can go there one day on lunch break, etc, or when you ship things you've sold. Call first, they'll have them ready for you and you can pick them up. No risk of loss, weather damage, theft etc.

You might also mention how much you spend monthly on packages that you ship with USPS at that office, and explain that you really have to re-think how you ship things, if the carriers think it's such a problem to deliver packages. The revenue at each office is part of the equation that results in how many clerk hours are budgeted for that office, and how much of a bonus the manager gets when bonuses are given. They really hate to lose revenue.

If the PM or SM doesn't want to work with you or treats you like crap, then go to the usps.com or use 1-800-ask-usps and explain exactly what the carrier said, what you offered to the PM or SM, and what they said. When you make that online complaint it's a bigger deal than if you go to the local office. The PM has to answer all online complaints including a plan for how they're going to fix the problem.

When we get a service issue complaint, the Postmaster makes sure that we all know about it and who caused it. It doesn't make for a good day.

Also don't tip your carrier. They get paid plenty good enough for the work and education involved. If he thinks that he doesn't owe you good service (note our name change united states postal SERVICE) then you sure don't owe him any tip.

jimq112 · January 30, 2008 3:32AM

<< "...I highly doubt he will screw with your mail,..."

////////////////////////////

I do NOT doubt it for a minute.

Under NO circumstances would I ever complain against
one of "those people." >>

Umm, some of us aren't all that bad. But you're right, never mess with your lawyer, your doctor, or your mailman. They could really hurt you if they wanted to.

BobS · January 30, 2008 3:37AM

Jerry: What do you do for a living, Newman?
Newman: I'm a United States Postal Worker.
Jerry: Aren't those the guys that always go crazy and come back with a gun and shoot everybody?
Newman: Sometimes.
Jerry: Why is that?
Newman: Because the mail never stops. It just keeps coming and coming and coming, there's never a let-up. It's relentless. Every day it piles up more and more and more! And you gotta get it out, but the more you get it out the more it keeps coming in. And then the bar code reader breaks and it's Publisher's Clearing House day!

Just remember, when you control the mail, you control... information.

Ichiro51fan · January 30, 2008 3:42AM

<< My advice is to remember this story if you ever get the urge for national health care. >>

Man, that could be the single funniest & best post I've seen in a very long time! While I know there are some good postal employees, the sad fact remains that it IS a governmental agency. Translation = inefficient, no accountability, all-around bad business practices when compared to private industry. I don't want to politicize this too much, but this indeed should be a harbinger of things to come if this country elects Hillary or Obama in November. Both are HUGE big government people... Hillary's stance on commy health care (I mean "socialized medicine") is well known and people should be very wary that it won't stop there... with either one of them. If you want even more inefficiencies, wated time & money (yours), by all means, vote for one of these jokers.

Anyway, I completely agree with most of the other comments here as well. While this jacka$$ certainly deserves to have a complaint filed against him for his pathetic, lazy attitude, I'm quite sure that absolutely nothing would happen to him as a result (again, no accountability). Your mail might "mysteriously" start disappearing or being delayed or damaged, but the liklihood of him being repremanded would probably be less than my chance of pulling 50% PSA-10's in any one of my submissions (a practical impossibility).

I think opening a PO Box is the right call. Better yet, go with one of those boxes at a UPS store or similar. Sure, they cost a bit more, but at least you wouldn't be feeding more money into a corrupt monopoly

Ichiro51fan · January 30, 2008 3:53AM

jimq... your post was quite interesting. I'm assuming that you are actually a postal employee (or were one)? I have to admit, it is nice to see a bit of accountability being introduced into the USPS. I have to say that what I have seen directly over the past 15 years led me to believe otherwise. I just keep seeing certain things that would have put a regular company out of business a very long time ago. These things lead to wasted time and money for me (and many others I'm sure).

Regarding the incentives you cited... quite interesting. I really get the impression that most of them could care less if there's a line going out the door... but maybe that's partly due to understaffing coming from a higher level? I've even tried to use that automated shipping machine (can't remember the exact name) to save time, and it's great when it works, but I swear it is down 30-40% of the time at my local PO.

Anyway, I truly hope that the things you spoke of will begin to increase the efficiencies of the USPS. I shudder to think how much time and money is being wasted nationally be people waiting in huge lines at the PO...

jradke4 · January 30, 2008 4:01AM

jimq...he is our resident USPS expert and employee there. not to mention a great guy. you can tell by his logo!!!

Allen · January 30, 2008 4:01AM

My mailman sucks too. I have called the post office several times and explained to them that they are the ones who are going to end up writing a check when he loses an expensive package. The people at the post office hate me because they know I am sending items registered and they hate to use that brown tape and fill out the papers.

larryallen73 · January 30, 2008 4:21AM

Thanks for the info Jimq. Good stuff.

FYI, reminds me of back in the early 90's when I bought a ton of cards mailorder (from SCD mostly). The UPS guy was always delivering so we got to talking that it was mostly sports stuff, etc.... Turns out he was first cousins with Jerry Roster (former Brave who was brought up in the Dodger system) and he had some old Dodger memoriabla. I felt confident it was real since it was random players not high dollar players. I think I paid $200 for a game worn Joe Ferguson jersey from '72 (or '73). It's still hanging on my wall today. It's really sweet. I still that UPS driver around town sometimes. Great guy.

bifff257 · January 30, 2008 4:55AM

<< My advice is to remember this story if you ever get the urge for national health care. >>

"Man, that could be the single funniest & best post I've seen in a very long time!"

fandango · January 30, 2008 5:16AM

swallow your pride, he is the middleman in your obsession....you piss him off and you may start to "lose" some cards....

clydecoolidge · January 30, 2008 5:37AM

It's a sad state of affairs these days when you have to worry about the saftey of your purchased items (or yourself for that matter), if you in any way upset the person responsible for the "customer service." I hope things work out for ya, and yeah, PO box would probably be the way to go.

WinPitcher · January 30, 2008 5:53AM

Lee if you worked in a service type industry and said that to a customer don't you think that you would be brought on the carpet? IMO get the PO box and after you have it talk to the Postmaster and tell him why. Guys like that do not deserve the jobs they have .

Steve

CDsNuts · January 30, 2008 5:58AM

Already got the PO box today. I decided not to go any further in terms of complaining to his supervisor. I'm done with this crap and really don't want to think about it any more. I really just can't believe he complained about me getting insured packages, like I'm doing it to make his job harder.

The more I think about it, the PO box makes sense if you get a lot of cards. It's another pair of hands not touching your cards, and another mode of transit that your cards don't go through. That's worth $100 a year to me.

Tabe · January 30, 2008 6:29AM

<< Already got the PO box today. I decided not to go any further in terms of complaining to his supervisor. I'm done with this crap and really don't want to think about it any more. I really just can't believe he complained about me getting insured packages, like I'm doing it to make his job harder. >>

I think you owe it to your neighbors to report the guy. This guy shouldn't have a job delivering mail.

Tabe

RipublicaninMass · January 30, 2008 6:40AM

I alomst had the same thing happen, my Postman CONTINUALLY write tyhe wrong available date on the pink slip. I think he has an old calender. I RUSH to the PO and they say, "well it must still be on the truck"

rube26105 · January 30, 2008 6:42AM

i second that emotion

<swallow your pride, he is the middleman in your obsession....you piss him off and you may start to "lose" some cards....>

middleman might start to lose some teeth too,

they can track down exactly who delivered what to your house carrierwise,so if thers a crook or someone in the po screwing with your mail,they can track it down pretty quick and stinky be out of a job,im sure he dont want to lose his govt job, who does?
my mailman is cool,he brought me 6 baseballs/2 cards, brass stuff from guru,and 10 boxes of po boxes and envelopes that you can order thru the po phone #, hes a cool guy

jimq112 · January 30, 2008 6:45AM

<< I alomst had the same thing happen, my Postman CONTINUALLY write tyhe wrong available date on the pink slip. I think he has an old calender. I RUSH to the PO and they say, "well it must still be on the truck" >>

If he has it with him, it's not available at the PO till he gets back. Safe rule of thumb = pick it up the next day. Also you can call the PO and request delivery on a day you'll be home when he comes by, if that helps.

goose3 · January 30, 2008 6:49AM

I can't believe that no one has suggested you go postal on the guy.

and I second the comments about Jim. He is THE postal Guru!

TheVon · January 30, 2008 6:59AM

I always thought there were a lot of sellers that wouldn't ship to PO Boxes for some reason . . . does anyone else recall seeing that in ebay listings?

goose3 · January 30, 2008 7:06AM

I have a PO box and have had one for nearly 5 years.

There are only a couple of minor PITA's when having one.....

Some places won't ship to PO Boxes because they use UPS/FEDEX, yet my paypal confirmed addy is my PO Box......

At Xmas time when I get a package, they put a slip in my box and I have to wait in the infinite line to get the package.

Other than that, no complaints, no lost packages.

DavidPuddy · January 30, 2008 7:06AM

Lee,
The PO box will save you many a headache.

I left last July on Vacation; 8 days, so I filled out the online 'hold my Mail' form, and printed out the conformation number. Guess what? I got home to find my mailbox stuffed to the gills with mail (many cards) and of course it rained at least 3 of the days I was away.
You guessed it, moist cards! I was so pissed. I drove straight to the PO and showed him some of my now worthless cards to the postmaster. He found the 'Hold my Mail' form and called the carrier as I was standing there. He apologized for the carrier’s mistake.
Lesson learned, NEVER buy any cards prior to leaving for vacation. And install a waterproof mailbox.

NickM · January 30, 2008 7:20AM

A P.O. Box isn't a guarantee either of safe delivery. I lost out last year on about $100 of stuff that was scanned as being delivered but never made it into my box. Probably not coincidentally, on at least one of those days, mail for the box below mine was put in my box by mistake.

Nick

MCMLVTopps · January 30, 2008 7:43AM

My 2 cents...

First, you are making a HUGE mistake by not complaining to the Postmaster from which this loser works. The Postmaster is the only one with the authority and power to help you. In essence, your being quiet enables this dork to continue to mess with you whenever he wants. He is a Federal Employee and must follow the rules and regulations provided not only in employee regs, but also in the Domestic Mail Manual. I would guess you are not the only person he messes with on his route. Getting a Post Office box will not solve your problem, nor will it necessarily enhance your delivery experience, as you now must make the trek to the Post Office to pick up your stuff...you are playing into his hand.

Somebody (maybe Winpitcher) asked about the drawback to having a P.O. box. The hassle here is that no deliveries can be made to a P.O. box by FedEx, UPS Express, Airborne Express. ONLY USPS express mail can be delivered to a P.O. box. Additionally, unless you get one of the biggest P.O. boxes available, you are still gonna get pink slips to have to return (if you go after business hours), or stand in line to hand over the little pinkie to get your stuff.

You MUST call the Postmaster and ask for an appointment to meet with him/her to discuss the situation. In that meeting you should ask for the Postmaster's Supervisor (name and phone number). After doing so, you should advise the Postmaster that the very next incident of this nature will find you speed-dailing his Supervisor. In the remote event you take that action, you are then to inform the Supervisor that you are writing to both the Postmaster General of the US, and your Congressman....TRUST ME, they hate to deal with Congressional inquiries.

You are entitled to have the service paid for, not to have to endure some loser with an attitude. Be calm, yet make your point with the Postmaster. You may even ask for the carrier to be reassigned from your route. Documentation of events is ESSENTIAL to making your point. On this date, blah, blah, on this date, blah, blah. More is better. Be fair, be honest, but make damn sure the Postmaster is well aware you will no longer tolerate for a nano-second the comportment of his employee. Don't be threatening, but make him aware of the serious of the issue, and that you will not hesitate to take further action, of which you prefer not to do. Be prepared to take the action to the next level.

This idiot delivery clown pitches up the mail on your route prior to jumping in the super jeep. If you condone his actions, he could easily toss a padded envelope in the trash along the way and you'll never be wiser. IMO, this slug should be fired, post haste, however, I suspect the union will try to protect his sorry ass.

If you take no action, you are opening yourself up for continuing, ad nauseum BS from this guy. Stand up for your rights, this isn't Russia!! DO NOT be intimidated!!!!

Would like to hear back either here or via PM that you have resolved this and the Postmaster has rung this clown's bell BIG TIME.

GL,
Al

zep33 · January 30, 2008 7:58AM

You wouldn't have to worry about this at all if you would just quit the hobby

F1ferrari · January 30, 2008 8:22AM

I once had a mailman that left the wrong mail in our street's mailboxes ALL the time. Every day most the entire neighborhood would be running mail to each other's houses. I spent weeks of calling our local postmaster, and it would get better for a day or two, but then return to the same old situation.

I finally decided enough was enough, and I put a cat in the mailbox one Saturday evening. Funnily enough, after that Monday our mixed up mail problem never returned. I guess a crazy cat left in a mailbox for 2 days flying out at you might encourage you to do your job right or find another career.

BTW, the cat wasn't injured, just hungry, and I never heard the first thing from the Postmaster about that little stunt.

Allen · January 30, 2008 8:27AM

I complain to the post office when my mail man screws up because if they ever loose a $10,000 registered package I will just tell them to pull the record on the number of complaints I have made. They had a chance to fix it and they still do a half arse job so write me a check.

onlyanumber · January 30, 2008 10:11AM

I had a mailman complain to me that I had too much stuff coming in. I decided to buy multiple copies of investors business daily for about three weeks and circled every company in the 'more information requested' sheet and sent them in...for my neighbors. He never complained to me again. Nothing sucks worse than delivering 85 annual report packets/10Q packets/etc to multiple people on the same route for them on a regular basis...

alnavman · January 30, 2008 10:26AM

I'm running into a similar problem with my mail....here is what the USPS online tracking says: We attempted to deliver your item at 11:33 AM on January 28, 2008 in XXXXXXXXX, OH XXXXX and a notice was left. It can be redelivered or picked up at the Post Office. If the item is unclaimed, it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later. First of all NO NOTICE WAS LEFT, which has happened before, in fact the only reason I received that package was a friend at the post office recognized my name on the package and brought it to my attention when I mailed some items......So this time I checked yesterday again and went to the post office like it says and guess what, no package and no one knows why.....Again today no package....sounds like a PO is the way to go for me also.....

the sad thing is that my regular mailman is usually pretty good with deliveries, its when someone else is delivering when problems crop up.....

Blackborder · February 3, 2008 12:31AM

<< You wouldn't have to worry about this at all if you would just quit the hobby >>

I've been considering this.

nam812 · February 3, 2008 12:44AM

<< The more I think about it, the PO box makes sense if you get a lot of cards..... >>

And the wheel makes a lot of sense if you own a car. Can you make a few more obvious statements? Welcome to the world Einstein.

BobaFett72 · February 3, 2008 12:56AM

Hey Nick! your feisty this morning....must be the intending DOOm of the giants crippling loss to the Pats! <poke poke poke>

I honestly dont care one way or the other, but if the Pats LOSe then i wont have to deal with a silly parade in Boston, on election day. ugh!

nam812 · February 3, 2008 1:00AM

I'm an Oakland Raider fan Leo, so for me football season ended back in early September.

WinPitcher · February 3, 2008 1:06AM

And the wheel makes a lot of sense if you own a car. Can you make a few more obvious statements? Welcome to the world Einstein.

Wow.

Steve

CDsNuts · February 3, 2008 1:09AM

nam's just pissed because I outted him as a cross-dresser. Nothing to be ashamed about buddy.

nam812 · February 3, 2008 1:15AM

Tried picking me up near the inner harbor is more like it.

ryaneversole · February 3, 2008 2:19AM

Yeah - I have constant trouble with mail people. Not only does it seem like they put off delivering my mail, but they also give me double the junk mail (just too damn lazy to give my neighbor his!), leave stuff at my door that they aren't supposed to, they deliver even tho I filed a HOLD, and they like to handle my packages with NO care. I bought a 1963 PSA 9 card in November and it came snapped in half and all beat up. Argh.

My brain just almost exploded..... need some advice from jimq

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