USPS gets lazier or shorter

[val2525]

I'm not sure which it is. EVERYTHING I order for home delivery, I put "leave at front door if not home". I have a gated patio, and a sheltered area at the door, so things are safe there. Go to my mailbox just now and there is a notice from the USPS that I have a parcel at the PO for pickup.

It's the padded PM mailers I ordered. WTH? If it's the short lady relief route driver (she can't unlatch the gate hook), she just tosses unbreakbles over the gate. The USPS person who ends up delivering the Fed Ex Smartpost stuff does the same (breakable or unbreakable). Usually though, if I know something is being delivered, I'll leave the gate unlatched.

But they can't deliver their own supplies? Stuff that withstands wind, rain, dust, and a toss (if you're short) over the fence? The supplies that are marked as being from the USPS? The smaller than previous orders batch of supplies? Really?

Um, no.

I requested a redelivery on Monday.

Yeah, I know. It's petty.

/rant

[atdahop]

Happened to me last time I ordered the padded flat rates.  I only ordered 15 and got the notice in my mail box.  Could have left it on my patio.  Had to wait on line for 40 minutes and boy was I seeing red.  In my case we don't have a regular driver so it's just a case of laziness on the drivers part. 

[zoesam]

They all are! I had to chase after the UPS guy yesterday after he dropped off a Macy's box yesterday. I really wanted to keep it, but it was a misdelivery. Same thing happened with FedEx a few months ago. I had to call & deal with having them pick that one back up. FFS, we're home all day, wait 30 seconds so we can answer the door & tell you the pkg is not for us.

[Deleted]

It's mail people everywhere. I LOATHE the PO so I've started only ordering things that can be squished into my mailbox. This is severely limiting, as you might imagine.

The parcel delivery people are mental. I have a nice sheltered verandah, no gates or latches, but nooooo, they won't leave anything. And they don't knock. And they don't leave a notice. If I expect something I have to keep calling the PO to see if it's there, otherwise they'll send it back ASAP.

[Shirley U Geste]

Posts like these make me really appreciate my tiny PO even more.

We don't get home delivery so it is a bit of a bother to go each day to get the mail, but they give fantastic service.

They know that as a sub-station staying open and keeping their jobs is dependent on the volume they do, so they go out of their way to provide old fashioned service.

[val2525]

The PO I usually go to is awesome. It's closer to me than my PO. My PO, not so hot.

[titus730]

I'm so grateful for my USPS and UPS delivery people. I get wound care supplies often along with stuff I order from Amazon, etc. They will knock and wait for me to answer or will leave the boxes.

[Deleted]

We have a tiny PO. They are very dependent on volume to stay open, so the carriers and staff go out of they're way to help. Our delivery lady comes down our rural road to check for out going mail even if we don't have anything delivered. The bf does the snow plowing and landscaping there, so everyone knows each other. Kinda nice.

[Deleted]

Sorry your PO is a pain. I have a very small local branch and everybody that works in there is fabulous, from the carriers to the post master. I am in the office 6 days a week and I know every person by name. Maybe because they are so small and I am a regular they are biased towards me and take good care of me. My home delivery guy is the bomb. He puts all my packages under the carport out of the weather when I'm not home. He puts the packages in a spot where they can easily be seen once I drive in. The post master has told me many times how much she likes the people that eBay because it keeps their volume up.

[Deleted]

Like Shirley, I have a small rural PO. We don't have home delivery, PO box only.

When I drop my packages off, if there are others in line she always says "all set"? And reaches out to take them.

I get a few dirty looks, but I can't believe what people will do while standing in line. Clutching items that need to be packed, trying to figure out how to write a check for the PO box rental, etc.

[Shirley U Geste]

When I drop my packages off, if there are others in line she always says "all set"? And reaches out to take them.

I get a few dirty looks, 

Same here Linda. When I get the dirty looks I just tell them 'online postage, saves you time and money' and head out the door.

I doubt most of them get it, many out here don't have computers and from the amount of them that come to the PO with stuff in their hands they have no idea how to package anything to mail. Our Postmistress has the patience of a saint to deal with some of these people.

A good PO or mailperson is worth their weight in gold.  

[blissfullymiserable]

Printing labels on line at usps isn't rocket science. I'm always surprised to see the long lines for the counter and even APC. Usually after the holidays my post office is relatively quiet but this year it's still bustling. Maybe we have more winter visitors in the area than previous years. I'm in winter visitor central.

[val2525]

I doubt most of them get it, many out here don't have computers and from the amount of them that come to the PO with stuff in their hands they have no idea how to package anything to mail.

I'd like to see the post office CHARGE for packing stuff. Their competition does, why shouldn't they? It might speed up the lines, too.

[Shirley U Geste]

Good idea.

You need help in packing something then it will cost you $5 or $10 extra, depending on the size of the package.

It would certainly help keep the lines faster at Christmas.

Hmmm, so many of my neighbors here are guilty of that I should set up a packing service during the holidays. Good way to make a few bucks and heaven knows I have enough boxes to pack for everyone in the neighborhood.

[val2525]

You should. You could even print the postage out and take it to the PO for them (for an extra fee of course).

If the PO didn't want to charge for the service, then let a non-profit like the nearest school or girl scout troup set up a table during the holidays and offer the service for a fee/donation.

[val2525]

Ha. PO delivered my mailers today. Gate was latched so he dumped it over the gate. Which is fine. I'd have unlateched it had I known it was being delivered today instead of Monday as requested And it's a plain lift latch, not a lock.

[kritter]

Apr 5, 2015 4:01:18 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

 Good way to make a few bucks and heaven knows I have enough boxes to pack for everyone in the neighborhood.

I was cleaning in my dining room yesterday and the reality that I am a box hoarder has gotten my attention.

I never throw out a box because I think I might need it to ship something.  No matter how big the box is, I keep it.

Even thought I will probably never have anything to ship that is "that big", I keep the box because I just might need it.

I need a box intervention. 

[Shirley U Geste]

Every time they came out with a new size box I would order some, so I have boxes that I don't think they even make anymore.

I didnt realize how bad it was until I organized my storeroom and kept finding boxes of boxes and more boxes. I gave a bunch to my PO but I still have more then I will probably ever use.

That said I just ordered 100 PFRs, I use lots of those. Which is why I probably why I have so dang many boxes.

[kritter]

I have been going through the shoe boxes at a rapid pace. I cut them down to fit the length of the shoes so it is a nice fit.

I need to quit this Ebay gig so I can dump all these freaking boxes.