Postal employee weirdness.

[trustedbasset]

What is it about some postal employees?

i could just brush this comment off but for some reason it got under my skin.

I use a lot of carrier pick up. I do not have a mail box but I do have a PO Box at my local office. 

I live in a duplex so the neighbors have a mailbox and our addresses are the same. 

Any way I went in to compliment how the Cartier does their job, they have been so good. The postal clerk said she didn’t think I could receive carrier pick up because I have a box. 

She said she would have to ask her boss. 

I said I don’t see why not. I pay for the box and the labels and she said that’s different. What? 

I called the main Post Office number to preempt any trouble. The customer service agent said if they give me trouble about it just call back and we will open an investigation.

Okay,  why would someone say that to

their customer? 

At least ask your boss first before intimidating the customer. 

This isn’t the first postal employee that I’ve run into with no customer skills.

[a_c_green]

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@webwanna wrote:
I think in this case the individual has a PO Box and NO home delivery.  It probably isn't a legitimate address.  That is why there is only one mailbox and the OP isn't on it.  So, technically the Post Office clerk was probably correct that it is against policy for the mailman to pick up packages there.

Perhaps whomever leased 1/2 the duplex to the OP never received proper approval by the city.  Some areas are only zoned for single family homes.  That's why I mentioned the zoning issue in my earlier post.  Sometimes it's not wise to poke the sleeping bear.  You might not want any sort of investigation... 

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Well... the PO Box reference still has nothing to do with it, as that's for delivery only. Nor, for that matter, would the USPS care exactly whose mail is being picked up at such-and-such an address, as long as the mailpieces are valid for shipping like anything else.

I agree with you that the pickup location does have to be somebody's delivery address, since the carrier is supposed to be collecting that mail during his or her regular rounds past that location.

[trustedbasset]

Darn, your right! It isn’t. I just got myself and my lovely landlords in trouble.

[trustedbasset]

I’ll just tell them I’m a long lost relative!

[tracdea1]

Unknowingness. Incompetence. Whatever. It's everywhere.

[inhawaii · Accepted solution]

[mypostingid15]

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@true-blue1 wrote:

We drop off packages at multiple post offices since it just depends where I have to go that day. We also have them picked up at our mailbox. There is one post office employee what wanted me to have all my packages picked up or take them to the next bigger town. I just stated to him this is a post office right so I can take my mail to any of the post offices I choose. He just did not want to handle all the big heavy boxes selling bigger items. He gets lots of complains from customers. For that all the other employees are very nice any super helpful if I have questions or need extra help. I am not letting one bad apple spoil it.

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Technically I think you have to take it to the post office with the zip code printed on the label. You can't print a label in Pennsylvania and ship it from Michigan.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@mypostingid15 wrote: ... Technically I think you have to take it to the post office with the zip code printed on the label. You can't print a label in Pennsylvania and ship it from Michigan.

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The "Shipping from" ZIP Code is primarily used to ensure that correct postage is paid. From the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM):

4.6.3 Deposit of Mail

Mailers must deposit or enter mailpieces with metered or PC Postage indicia according to the following conditions:

• Mailers may deposit Priority Mail Express (including Flat Rate), Priority Mail (including Flat Rate), retail First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service — Retail, retail Media Mail, Library Mail, and USPS Retail Ground with a postage evidencing indicia at any postal facility, preferably within the area of the customers’ local Post Office. Zone-priced pieces must have postage affixed to each mailpiece that is calculated to include the amount due as specified in 4.3.1, taking into account the weight and the zone from the ZIP Code of the office where the mailpiece is deposited to the ZIP Code of the destination address.
• Mailers must deposit all presorted price mail at the authorized mailing office.
• Mailers must deposit all mail not specified in 4.6.3a and 4.6.3b at a postal facility within the ZIP Code shown in the indicia.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/604.htm#4_0

[webwanna]

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@trustedbasset wrote:
Darn, your right! It isn’t. I just got myself and my lovely landlords in trouble.

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Probably not in trouble.... as long as you don't put up a fuss.   I just wouldn't mention it to that clerk again or anybody in mgmt at the post office.  It sounds like your mailman is happy to pick up your packages so just let it be and maybe give him a tip at the holidays.  

[muttlymob]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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I suspect that this would apply even if it wasn't a duplex -- carrier service should be available to that address since it's on the carrier's delivery route.

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Not really, no.  At least for rural carriers, the address has to be part of the route in the official books.  Not just physically located along the route.  If an address is not officially on the delivery route and does not have a mailbox, the only mail that would get delivery to that address is Express mail.  Carriers don't deliver to locations without established mail receptacles.

The official USPS pages for package pickup are vague, but it looks like maybe the free pickup has to be an established address already on the carrier's route.  It is less clear as to whether the paid pickup service could be used by people who don't have a mailbox or get delivery to that address.

[nobody*s_perfect]

When scheduling a carrier pickup, after entering the pickup address you have to click on the "Check availability" box before you can proceed.  I don't see how it would be possible to Schedule a pickup at an address where it's not available.  

[trustedbasset]

I have a Rubbermaid bench that opens up and I leave explicit instructions where to pick them up. Never do they ring my bell. When it rains I just put the packages in a plastic bag. 

I live in a rural area. So rural that the closest neighbors can’t be seen. 

There are fields and woods all around. I don’t have to worry about theft. I leave my door open and my keys in the car. 

Im really spoiled.

[trustedbasset]

Oh and I have a very mean chihuahua for protection. I mean really mean. 

[twnpopcards]

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@trustedbasset wrote:

What is it about some postal employees?

i could just brush this comment off but for some reason it got under my skin.

I use a lot of carrier pick up. I do not have a mail box but I do have a PO Box at my local office. 

I live in a duplex so the neighbors have a mailbox and our addresses are the same. 

Any way I went in to compliment how the Cartier does their job, they have been so good. The postal clerk said she didn’t think I could receive carrier pick up because I have a box. 

She said she would have to ask her boss. 

I said I don’t see why not. I pay for the box and the labels and she said that’s different. What? 

I called the main Post Office number to preempt any trouble. The customer service agent said if they give me trouble about it just call back and we will open an investigation.

Okay,  why would someone say that to

their customer? 

At least ask your boss first before intimidating the customer. 

This isn’t the first postal employee that I’ve run into with no customer skills.

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As long as you have a verified postal address the carriers are required to pick the items up if scheduled pickup is available in your area.  I use it all the time and have had a lot of issues with counter staff and certain substitute carriers not picking my items up even though they delivered mail.  The counter person told be that I should consider myself lucky when they do pick it up and even luckier if the carrier scans the items.  To say I was upset is putting it mildly and i asked to speak to the Carrier Supervisor, who as usual when she answers the phone was not available.  So I left a message and of course did not receive a return call from him which I later confirmed was because she never gave it to him.

I filed a complaint online about what had been stated and received a call the next day from the Carrier Supervisor who logged in and fixed the scan to show when it was picked up and to also let me know that this complaint had been put in the employees permanent file.  He also gave me some news that really made it worth all the trouble she had caused, numerous times in fact.  He was going to be promoted to a different larger PO where they have always had issues with packages not being sent out on time, including overnight items.  She was going to get the promotion to his position but after my complaint and the fact she stated that she didn't feel that customers should be able to require pick up and scanning every day, she was given a suspension and lost the promotion. 

Unfortunately she is still there and still does the same stuff and never forwards messages, it just caught up with her again when my packages were not picked up and she just happened to not send anybody to get them.  I called later that evening (it was a Saturday) and surprisingly got an answer on the 3rd call (Yes I am persistent).  It was the carrier supervisor and even though it was after 7 pm he send a person out to get the package immediately and I also asked him if I was leaving messages for the wrong person since he had not returned any calls in weeks.  He said the only reason he answered the phone so late was it was the private line and he figured somebody had a big problem.  Needless to say, once again he did not receive any of my previous messages so he told me going forward to ask for the postmaster if she said he was not there as one of them is there 95% of the time.  He said if she refused to put the call through to file another online complaint and that would take care of the issue as she would either be transferred or demoted so she never answered the phone.

I just spoke to the postmaster again yesterday for lack of a pickup and she sent someone out at 8 pm to pick it up, scan it and forward it immediately to the sorting station as it is USPS policy that they cannot have ANY packages or mail left in their possession when they close the PO for the evening.  There is actually an inspector who checks for any mail each night before they lock up for the night and if he locates any the postmaster has to take it to the sorting hub personally.  I am sure it is different in smaller cities and Post Offices but I have found that filing the online complaints help and if i do not get a response in 48 hours I refile the same complaint which gets immediate attention as the Postmaster gets a rip in their file for the complaint not being addressed.

I know this went off target a bit, but I just wanted to share the power that the consumers really do have with the USPS.  They may not be funded by the government any longer but they still do answer to Congress, so if you have an issue that does not get handled, contact your local Congressman as most will reach out for you and that does seem to light the fire under the problem makers boss.

[trustedbasset]

I have filed complaints in the past. I had a carrier that was not picking up and forgetting a lot. She even swiped a neighbors dog and was arrested for it. This was at a different PO. It sure does give one confidence. 

[dinpavent0]

Actually the post office I go to are the best post office workers and know me by my first name and my mailman is the man...lol Anyways, its the customers that go there that are the worst!! Every single time I actually have to stand in line there I get the biggest pain in the butt people in front of me. I can't tell you how many times people bring in packages and they are not taped, have no address on them, etc and they are completely confused and upset why the post office worker can't take the package that way and write out a label and tape up box for them, some don't even bring a box. Or they fight with the workers about why isn't their mail there right this minute, why do I have to come back? Well the package hasn't even made it there yet.
There is one other post office I go to occasionally and the one worker that is always there is one of those that just wants you out of there and don't want to work.