I hate my Post Office

QuarterCollector · September 15, 2010 2:36PM

So I come home from a long day dealing with inmates (scum) and I find a box on my porch. I was expecting a package but as I approached I knew it couldn't be that package. That package, I told myself, contains about 10K worth of coins and was shipped Priority Mail with Insurance. There was know way my postal carrier just left it unattended and unsigned for on my front porch. As I read the shipping label I decided it was time to call Hugh Wood.

Anyone else have horror stories?

llafoe · September 15, 2010 2:41PM

That's horrible! What's your mailing address and when will you expect your next $10,000 package?

sebrown · September 15, 2010 2:42PM

Oh many horror stories! I opened a PO box to alleviate the problems, but that hasn't solved anything. I'm in a small town and the old saying holds true.....it's hard to find good help! I could write a book about my postal issues!

sebrown · September 15, 2010 2:43PM

<< That's horrible! What's your mailing address and when will you expect your next $10,000 package? >>

SaorAlba · September 15, 2010 8:46PM

Actually I live in a fairly small town, and I have far more good stories than bad ones. Like the postal employees calling me instead of returning stuff because it had the old address in another town and the forwarding address order expired long ago. Of course I pay some of them off, a few stamp collectors in the mix there and I give them the many many stamps I get from all over the world.

fcloud · September 15, 2010 9:29PM

My post office is great. They know what I get in the packages, and they watch for my stuff to make sure everything is good.

Too bad they are not all like that.

ambro51 · September 15, 2010 10:28PM

If you get frequent high value packages, or letters.....it is in your best interest to get (rent) a post office box. The cost is small, the security is excellent and it will also avoid anyone knowing your exact street address.

ianrussell · September 15, 2010 10:40PM

<< So I come home from a long day dealing with inmates (scum) and I find a box on my porch. I was expecting a package but as I approached I knew it couldn't be that package. That package, I told myself, contains about 10K worth of coins and was shipped Priority Mail with Insurance. There was know way my postal carrier just left it unattended and unsigned for on my front porch. As I read the shipping label I decided it was time to call Hugh Wood.

Anyone else have horror stories? >>

Consider talking to your local post office and try and talk to the actual delivery person too. See if it helps (obviously don't say it's $10k in the package; just tell them that you've had things go missing before and you prefer a card be left). Follow up confirming the conversion in writing (and keep a copy).

Unfortunately, even with the above "warning", the Post Office will do what they do. Can't control them. :-(

- Ian

ambro51 · September 15, 2010 10:49PM

The problem happens in that todays postal system, there are a great number of 'one day' replacement carriers....folks who moonlight, or come in from another Post office, to fill in for vacations or sick (or pissed off) carriers....

these folks DONT know the routes, make dumb mistakes, etc etc.

When you complain, all you get is 'Oh that was the temporary carrier' and the postmaster fluffs it off like that.

So, like I say, IF you want security, get a post office box.

Moldnut · September 15, 2010 10:59PM

Thats why I paid off my mailman long ago.

Teva · September 15, 2010 11:31PM

Just curious do you tip your postman well at christmas???

BillJones · September 15, 2010 11:47PM

Some post offices are just a pain the rear, and I've learned to avoid those. Even if I have to drive a little further to mail something to avoid certain post offices I do it because I get sick of hastles every time go to certain branches.

I have maintained P.O. boxes for my coin business for many years, and when you can do that, you can pick and choose your post office of choice.

ThePennyLady · September 16, 2010 1:39AM

I got so frustrated with my old p.o., that after 12 years I finally just changed to a new post office which meant of course I had change all my stationery, invoices, business cards, subscriptions, etc (what a big pain in the rear that is!). But I had finally reached the point where I had had enough of the ineptness of some of the pople at my o.d post office. One of the things they did was continually put insured packages (requiring a signature) directly in my box - I would take the package and have them scan it any way so the sender would have record that I received it, and made repeated requests to the p.o. manager to be more careful. Of course he would apologize and assure me it wouldn't happen again - but it always did!

Othertimes when they did put the pink slip in my box for an insured package, I would have to stand in line waiting for my turn at the counter to ask the postal worker to retrieve the package, only to find out they couldn't find the package! They ended up having to to call the guy who wrote out the pink slip to find out where he had put the package. Geese, more time waiting..... And when I would try to pick up a registered package, the postal worker with the key to the registered cage often would be "out to lunch" (even though I would come at different times of the day! This meant, of course, more time waiting..... I sure waisted a lot of time just waiting around in that post office!

notwilight · September 16, 2010 1:47AM

<< Just curious do you tip your postman well at christmas??? >>

Actually, the postman probably thought he was doing the OP a favor, saving him a trip to the post office to pick it up.

I don't have any horror stories but I opened a private mail box (much more convenient than the PO and they will accept packages from any carrier) when my 9 yr old neighbor kid rode up on his bike just after I arrived home one evening and handed me a registered package that his mom had signed for. Inside was about $40k in gold buffalos. I wasn't concerned really but figured she would be if she know what she had signed for. Of course I never told her. --Jerry

Moldnut · September 16, 2010 1:50AM

<< Just curious do you tip your postman well at christmas??? >>

Yes, I do and I never have any issues.

dizzyfoxx · September 16, 2010 2:23AM

<< That's horrible! What's your mailing address and when will you expect your next $10,000 package? >>

MarkInDavis · September 16, 2010 2:34AM

We routinely put a vacation hold on our mail when we travel. Got home a couple days early and checked the mail. I have a locking mailbox with a slot that mail is inserted into. Below the slot on the box there is a big sticker that says "Vacation Hold through XX/XX/XXXX". When I went to complain to the local postmaster (anybody who sees my mailbox knows my house is unoccupied), he said that they had been doing it this way for years and nobody had complained. He finally came around and saw how it might be a bit of a security issue, but it was a total revelation.

I did once have a coin I was expecting delivered to a house about a half mile away by mistake. Fortunately, I got a call from the recipient and got the coin.

mrearlygold · September 16, 2010 2:35AM

We have a great relationship with our post office. Besides being a consistent spender with that organization, my Wife hand makes pastries every holiday season and we give the postal employees a lagniape at those times.

Needless to say we rarely have to get in a line there

Be nice to them. Have you ever listened to some of the things people say to them? Some of these people stand in line for 30 minutes only to ask how much does a single stamp cost.

tahoe98 · September 16, 2010 3:01AM

...you never know when a "newman" will deliver your mail.

GrumpyEd · September 16, 2010 4:09AM

<< I would have to stand in line waiting for my turn at the counter to ask the postal worker to retrieve the package, only to find out they couldn't find the package! They ended up having to to call the guy who wrote out the pink slip to find out where he had put the package. Geese, more time waiting. >>

Interesting, that happens to me too. I thought I was the only one and figured it wasn't common. They go back and look then return looking puzzled saying "I don't see it" which makes me think "oh NO it's lost" but later they find it.

LindeDad · September 16, 2010 5:14AM

Glad to say that I do not share your opinion as mine has given me excellent service.

MsMorrisine · September 16, 2010 5:18AM

<< Just curious do you tip your postman well at christmas??? >>

tip?

regular service shouldn't require a tip nor bribe.

the little extras.... a bribe certainly wouldn't hurt.

DNADave · September 16, 2010 5:19AM

Just wait till 911 changes EVERYONES address along your route. For a year now my postal carrier has been writing on my mail, over top of my new address, with the old one, so she'll know where to put it.

BaseballAbs · September 16, 2010 5:50AM

I think i would hate your post office too. Where did i put your address?

My post office and mailcarrier has given me great service.

lcoopie · September 16, 2010 5:52AM

$10,000

I was thinking registered mail might have been a better choice.

Prethen · September 16, 2010 6:04AM

$5,000 is max allowed for Insured if I remember correctly.

I hate my Post Office

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