Post office from hell!!!!

[DJH]

Nice that progress is being made, Daniel. Hang in there, mate!

 

[sheeplady]

Excellent news!

 

[ThemThereEyes]

Glad it's sorted out, and quickly too!

 

[Gingerella72]

A Miracle happened today...and from the least expected place I contacted about this entire mess.

You see last Thursday evening, I wrote a very detailed letter to the Governor's office. You can tell I am not shy about writing a long post, so imagine a long letter from me! LOL! OH YES, bless all of you for your concern and suggestions..........

SO....I get a response from the Governor's office, his secretary wrote and told me that as I am a Veteran and have served my Country, that issues like this one hit home hard for everyone in my position in life. She promised me per the Governor, that he would take the time out to actually make the call to have this issue cleared up. Today, I get an email, from the same secretary around 9:45 a.m, (I was not on my computer looking at my inbox at yahoo....) but I am informed that I should have someone at my home today and to let them know if not? I am thinking what is that? They going to send some special agent from the Capital here? A SWAT team maybe? Someone from the Attorney Generals office? Nope. It was the "number two" person working at the local post office....and they said they are more than sorry for the things that have taken place, they were instructed to grab the carrier that is in question and tell him to find the last package missing and bring it to my home.....so the carrier was out in the car staying there....and I have my box....it had been opened and re taped closed, but the item inside was not used, everything in order there. SO...I was so shocked I about was in a daze, speechless.....then I get a phone call. It was from the Governor of Michigan. Really. I was in tears...so was my Wife. He said it was an honor for his office to help out a veteran. He asked me if there was anything else he could help us with to not hesitate to call him. And that he was in contact with the VA and requesting to them if there was anything medication wise missing to be sure I would have that.

I am still just sitting in my room at my work desk. Not much is going to happen now to top that. Things do happen good and that was what we have only wanted. I have no idea what will take place at the Post Office now, but I think I will not have many problems again. My Wife is going to purchase a nice thank you card and send it out.

As overwhelming as this was all for me, geez, I could only eat one burrito for dinner.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Great news!

I've never had any problem with missing/stolen mail, but I did have a negative altercation with our mail carrier a couple of years ago. I was in my front yard doing yardwork, and my dog was outside with me. When the carrier walked up, my dog started barking. She did not advance, did not approach the carrier in any way, just started barking. I was right beside her. The carrier whipped out his can of pepper spray and sprayed her full on in the face, with me standing right there. I started screaming at him why did he do that, I'm right here for crying out loud, there was no need to do that, etc. He just stood there and smirked at me. I told him to get off my property. After throwing the mail at the steps, he left.

I was so upset I was shaking as I immediately went inside and called the post office to complain (after I cleaned my dogs face off of course). I spoke to the post master who promised to talk to the carrier once he returned, and would get back to me. This was on a Saturday.

Well no one got back to me on Monday, but we didn't get any mail. No mail again on Tuesday. No mail again on Wednesday. I finally called them and asked what was going on. Because of the altercation, our address had been put on a "potentially violent" list, so that is why our mail wasn't delivered. The post master said he had talked to the carrier and got his side of it, and explained that it is USPS policy to use pepper spray on an animal (or human) that makes the carrier feel threatened in any way and went on to tell me some horror stories of animal attacks on carriers. I told him I understood, but that I was standing right there and in no way had my dog attacked. The post master agreed that the carriers actions were extreme, and apologized, and if I would agree to keep my dog inside or in the fenced in backyard, he would take us off the "violent" list and service would resume and we could put this behind us. I wanted an apology from the carrier himself but didn't want any more to do with him (aside from this, he's an arrogant prick anyway) and made sure our dog was never in harms way again. It was rare for her to be with me in the front yard anyway. She actually died a couple of months after this happened and while it was unrelated, I'd love to be able to blame it on the full face of pepper spray she got.

 

[sheeplady]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Great news!

I've never had any problem with missing/stolen mail, but I did have a negative altercation with our mail carrier a couple of years ago. I was in my front yard doing yardwork, and my dog was outside with me. When the carrier walked up, my dog started barking. She did not advance, did not approach the carrier in any way, just started barking. I was right beside her. The carrier whipped out his can of pepper spray and sprayed her full on in the face, with me standing right there. I started screaming at him why did he do that, I'm right here for crying out loud, there was no need to do that, etc. He just stood there and smirked at me. I told him to get off my property. After throwing the mail at the steps, he left.

I was so upset I was shaking as I immediately went inside and called the post office to complain (after I cleaned my dogs face off of course). I spoke to the post master who promised to talk to the carrier once he returned, and would get back to me. This was on a Saturday.

Well no one got back to me on Monday, but we didn't get any mail. No mail again on Tuesday. No mail again on Wednesday. I finally called them and asked what was going on. Because of the altercation, our address had been put on a "potentially violent" list, so that is why our mail wasn't delivered. The post master said he had talked to the carrier and got his side of it, and explained that it is USPS policy to use pepper spray on an animal (or human) that makes the carrier feel threatened in any way and went on to tell me some horror stories of animal attacks on carriers. I told him I understood, but that I was standing right there and in no way had my dog attacked. The post master agreed that the carriers actions were extreme, and apologized, and if I would agree to keep my dog inside or in the fenced in backyard, he would take us off the "violent" list and service would resume and we could put this behind us. I wanted an apology from the carrier himself but didn't want any more to do with him (aside from this, he's an arrogant prick anyway) and made sure our dog was never in harms way again. It was rare for her to be with me in the front yard anyway. She actually died a couple of months after this happened and while it was unrelated, I'd love to be able to blame it on the full face of pepper spray she got.

Oh, my god, that's a horrific story. I've had dogs run up to me barking viciously while out walking (but stopped short of doing anything but barking), but it never occurred to me to pepper spray them, yet alone pepper spray a dog that is right there being controlled by the owner. In some ways, I wish that some of the pepper spray had hit you so you could call it an assault and could have pressed charges. That's just not right.

Our current carrier is a bit rude (she won't say hello back or ever say hello first) and used to cut through my flower garden to deliver the mail. A nicely placed trellis prevented further flower stomping. That's probably why she won't say hello because I put up the trellis and she has to walk 20 more feet around it. But never in a million years could I see her pepper spray a dog.

 

[randooch]

Way to bring the forces to bear, Daniel! Did the carrier in question get fired, and what about the other missing parcels you mentioned?

 

[John in Covina]

Write your congressman, the better business bureau, the postmaster, the FBI, the newspaper's letter to the editor. Any consumer protection agency you can think of and if there is a newspaper tv or radio station wite about the lack of resolution. Wite your county and city reps. Eventually a portion of them will wite your post master and let them know they are getting complaints. Heck write Obama, your Senators.

Sometimes if you write enough something will happen. Union thugs will come and break your legs.

 

[John in Covina]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Great news!

I've never had any problem with missing/stolen mail, but I did have a negative altercation with our mail carrier a couple of years ago. I was in my front yard doing yardwork, and my dog was outside with me. When the carrier walked up, my dog started barking. She did not advance, did not approach the carrier in any way, just started barking. I was right beside her. The carrier whipped out his can of pepper spray and sprayed her full on in the face, with me standing right there. I started screaming at him why did he do that, I'm right here for crying out loud, there was no need to do that, etc. He just stood there and smirked at me. I told him to get off my property. After throwing the mail at the steps, he left.

I was so upset I was shaking as I immediately went inside and called the post office to complain (after I cleaned my dogs face off of course). I spoke to the post master who promised to talk to the carrier once he returned, and would get back to me. This was on a Saturday.

Well no one got back to me on Monday, but we didn't get any mail. No mail again on Tuesday. No mail again on Wednesday. I finally called them and asked what was going on. Because of the altercation, our address had been put on a "potentially violent" list, so that is why our mail wasn't delivered. The post master said he had talked to the carrier and got his side of it, and explained that it is USPS policy to use pepper spray on an animal (or human) that makes the carrier feel threatened in any way and went on to tell me some horror stories of animal attacks on carriers. I told him I understood, but that I was standing right there and in no way had my dog attacked. The post master agreed that the carriers actions were extreme, and apologized, and if I would agree to keep my dog inside or in the fenced in backyard, he would take us off the "violent" list and service would resume and we could put this behind us. I wanted an apology from the carrier himself but didn't want any more to do with him (aside from this, he's an arrogant prick anyway) and made sure our dog was never in harms way again. It was rare for her to be with me in the front yard anyway. She actually died a couple of months after this happened and while it was unrelated, I'd love to be able to blame it on the full face of pepper spray she got.

Nebraska is a big place, find a quiet place and dig a hole. Have your friends deliever what goes in the hole. Fill it in, cover with leaves. Set it and forget it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm amazed at all these horror stories -- I suspect they're as much a function of where you live as they are of the Post Office itself. In forty years of using the mail, I've lost exactly two letters, have never lost any money, and have never had the slightest problem with any postal employee. My local mailman is efficient, pleasant and courteous, and has been known to chase me down on the street if he sees me when I'm not at home and has something I need to sign for. A good friend of mine is a career postal worker, and works harder, longer, and more physically-demanding hours, than just about any private-sector nine-to-five keyboard jockey that I can think of.

Just thought somebody needed to balance things out a bit. Horror stories might get the press, but the average postal worker is as honest and as entitled to an honest day's pay for an honest day's work as anyone out there.

 

[tonyb]

The only problem I ever have from the USPS is that our letter carrier sometimes leaves items meant for Unit A (my side) with the lovely people living in Unit B. I've brought this to the attention of the people at the local PO, who listen politely and patiently and say they'll mention it to the carrier, but then, a month or two or three later, it happens again. At worst, it's a minor inconvenience.

I've found USPS Priority Mail the best thing going. They get the parcels to their destinations as soon or sooner than estimated, in undamaged condition (it doesn't hurt that I write "HAT INSIDE, PLEASE DO NOT CRUSH" on four sides of each box), and at a price that can't be beat. I could do testimonials for them.

As to theft ...

Isn't that a federal offense? Aren't charges brought against any Postal Service employee who would do such a stupid thing as that?

Once, in another life, I worked for an outfit that expedited shipments of valuable stuff of almost any variety you might think of, and many that you wouldn't. People paid big money to get the stuff they entrusted to us to its destinations at quickly as possible, short of chartering a business jet, and on rare occasion we even did that. I used to tell new personnel that you can be any number of not-so-virtuous things and still have a successful career (such as it was) at this place, but one thing you cannot be is a thief. So don't even joke about it.

You can't have drunken school bus drivers, and you can't have thieving delivery people. Period.

 

[Dan Allen]

I also have had several items of merchandise lost in the mail. All of them were traced to the local post office but were not delivered. I called from local all the way up to the post master general to no avail. I have had merchandise return as undeliverable yet I have a PO box twenty feet from their sorting table?? Talking to the wife's aunt who is retired from USPS I was informed that basically the post office is not responsible for what they do, or what they don't do---what a racket. For this they are again going to raise rates. I guess the cost of the storage of our undelivered mail is going up.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Write your congressman, the better business bureau, the postmaster, the FBI, the newspaper's letter to the editor. Any consumer protection agency you can think of and if there is a newspaper tv or radio station wite about the lack of resolution. Wite your county and city reps. Eventually a portion of them will wite your post master and let them know they are getting complaints. Heck write Obama, your Senators.

Sometimes if you write enough something will happen. Union thugs will come and break your legs.

Well now, even as I am not in super great health, the arsenal is not too badly stocked at the moment...several shot guns, one very high powered Nitro, one 30-30, and two black powder 50 cals...however Unions really do not make me feel all that concerned.
It was nice to have something resolved, and I am still waiting to see what other things take place with the postmaster and the actual carrier.......

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I also have had several items of merchandise lost in the mail. All of them were traced to the local post office but were not delivered. I called from local all the way up to the post master general to no avail. I have had merchandise return as undeliverable yet I have a PO box twenty feet from their sorting table?? Talking to the wife's aunt who is retired from USPS I was informed that basically the post office is not responsible for what they do, or what they don't do---what a racket. For this they are again going to raise rates. I guess the cost of the storage of our undelivered mail is going up.

Seriously their Union does far too much in many ways, makes most of the postal workers think they are without accountability. In Michigan, I am sure the way things are now, the Union could very easily be removed from the state all the way. Not wanting to make anyone feel I am offending them but the Unions are actually doing far more harm then good.

What many postal workers fail to review, their own union leaders sold the postal workers down the river as it is....made a deal with white collar crooks in Washington to pre-pay retirement funds and gave the actual post office a dead line, so paying the billions into a fund left the post office broke, allowed the politicians to have a new source of "lets take some money from here now"...and would not care if the actual postal worker retires and gets the pension or not, everyone has their cut of the pie already.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Sometimes it's hard to believe that the Post Office and the IRS, which operates with an almost ruthless efficiency when you owe them money, are part of the same government. [huh]

Seriously their Union does far too much in many ways, makes most of the postal workers think they are without accountability. In Michigan, I am sure the way things are now, the Union could very easily be removed from the state all the way. Not wanting to make anyone feel I am offending them but the Unions are actually doing far more harm then good.

What many postal workers fail to review, their own union leaders sold the postal workers down the river as it is....made a deal with white collar crooks in Washington to pre-pay retirement funds and gave the actual post office a dead line, so paying the billions into a fund left the post office broke, allowed the politicians to have a new source of "lets take some money from here now"...and would not care if the actual postal worker retires and gets the pension or not, everyone has their cut of the pie already.

And it's interesting to note that postal workers are represented by no less than five different unions (two of them are for supervisors).

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Way to bring the forces to bear, Daniel! Did the carrier in question get fired, and what about the other missing parcels you mentioned?

I have only one package so far returned, but now I am sure some nasty things may come to those crooks....my Wife actually is a personal friend of the postmaster at the small town next to ours here, south of us......she will fill us in on the scoop of what is happening.....lol!

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Sometimes it's hard to believe that the Post Office and the IRS, which operates with an almost ruthless efficiency when you owe them money, are part of the same government. [huh]

You have that right! Geez you know it they had to depend on doing their job to be paid, you know things would be smoother running than it is now. Now I have to say not all postal workers are crooks.....

Oh I think this new rate hike is for helping fund more payroll......(top officials in the Postal Service need more Las Vegas money).....lol!