• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

[2011] My USPS carrier boycotts delivering packages to me in December

Weimaraner

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
1,475
Reaction score
23
Location
Michigan
I think I am perfect example of why the USPS is going belly up. Today I went to get the mail and found a note that my mail carrier couldn't deliver a package to my home due to "icy walkway" and I have to come pick it up at the post office at their customer unfriendly 9-5 hours. This struck me as odd since our driveway is clear all the way to the garage entrance where I sometimes get UPS packages and have received USPS packages (I had a wonderful carrier for 8 years who was laid off last year due to competence). What was also interesting is I was home all day with a sick child and no one honked the horn or rang a doorbell. And the other supposedly "icy walkway" - it didn't bother the florist who delivered flowers to my front door. THis is deja vu of last December when the carrier kept leaving notes about being too afraid to leave packages that will be stolen and requiring me to pick up at the post office. Day after day - the notes - even when I had a babysitter waiting inside perfectly willing and able accept my Christmas deliveries. Seriously I have to wonder if they take stolen packages out of my carrier's paycheck to make her so anxious to deliver anything to my home in December. At this point I would just be happy if the carrier would just whip the packages out the window into my yard so I can just get my Christmas presents in time.:D
 

NWL

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
1,297
Reaction score
0
Location
Montana
Unfortunately, some carriers are the laziest folks on the planet and would rather spend the time to write and leave an official note using one of the approved reasons for their inability to deliver your mail instead of just delivering your packages. For me this was more of a problem when I lived in suburbia back east. Here in rural Montana, I have the best post office and the most dedicated carrier. My carrier calls me in the morning before she heads out and tells me she has packages too large for my box, then asks me if I want to come in to pick them up, have her wrap in plastic and leave inside my gate, or meet her at the box. I'm keeping my fingers crossed my local folks get to keep their jobs!

I recommend you call your local post office and make a complaint each time your carrier does not deliver your mail when the conditions are good. Your carrier may not ever smile at you again, but if they get enough complaints about their service, it should improve. Good luck!

Cheers!
 

Weimaraner

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
1,475
Reaction score
23
Location
Michigan
Hmmm has your carrier ever thought of moving to Michigan? Your sounds great! Last year, I complained about the "theft" excuse round around and I think that's why it's now just too icy. :wall: There are some definitely great USPS workers, just not at my house. There was one that I accidentally overpaid $1 and he held on to it until I came back about a month later. Of course, he seems to be missing lately so I wonder if he got the ax too.
 

sfwilshire

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
4,158
Reaction score
252
Location
Clinton TN
Resorts Owned
Tristram's Landing, Tree Tops Gatlinburg, Mystic Dunes, Sheraton Vistana Spas & Fountains
(I had a wonderful carrier for 8 years who was laid off last year due to competence).

Mail carriers have a no-layoff clause in their contract, so there must be more to the story than that.

I agree that you should report any issues to the local management. They may not be aware of such things if nobody notifies them. Carriers are allowed to skip deliveries if they can't safely make them (such as uncleared ice) but you may be able to arrange for an alternate delivery location, perhaps at the end of the cleared driveway.

Sheila
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
29,169
Reaction score
18,464
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
We've had to report DW's office carrier for not either (a) returning mail for next day delivery if the office is closed or (b) putting it in her P.O. Box which he knows darn well that she has. The postmaster has had this clown on the carpet more than once over his intransigence about simply doing his job- delivering mail.

Perhaps the OP can take a photo of this 'icy' walkway to show the postmaster.

Whatever happened to "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

The home carrier however, is a prince! He shows up on time. Makes sure the mail is protected, will leave oversize packages with a neighbor if no one is home, waves as I see him driving through the neighborhood and keeps an eye o n the place when we are away. You can't ask for more.

Jim
 
Last edited:

NWL

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
1,297
Reaction score
0
Location
Montana
Whatever happened to "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

The home carrier however, is a prince! He shows up on time. Makes sure the mail is protected, will leave oversize packages with a neighbor if no one is home, waves as I see him driving through the neighborhood and keeps an eye o n the place when we are away. You can't ask for more.

Jim

I believe our rural carriers take their assignments seriously. They are great. :cheer: The urban carriers could learn a lot from them.

Consolidate the urban USPS and let the rural USPS continue to do the great job that they do! :clap:

Cheers!
 

sstug

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
242
Reaction score
0
Location
Melrose, MA
I laughed so hard at your post, but mostly because I can relate 100%. I experience similar issues constantly. Now when I order things online and get the tracking information I can see the package has arrived at the P.O. and is "out for delivery"...but it seems to just sit on that truck for many days before they are able to actually deliver it. The P.O. is about 1.5 miles from my home. On one occasion when I had to go have them track down a package that had been out for delivery for a week, they explained there was only one driver for the whole city. Melrose is 5 square miles...I could drive it many times over in one day.

Then I have to wonder why UPS and FEDEX are able to deliver packages very efficiently, but the USPS cannot.

Now they often don't even put my mail in the mail slot and just stick it between the doors (when I open the door it falls on the ground).

As much as I understand they are understaffed, for goodness sakes, they can't even do the basic job anymore. I think it is total laziness and incompetence.

I have complained a couple of times in the past (after insured packages were left without a signature and were stolen several years ago) but I try not to complain because I am afraid they already have me on a special list.

I used to be so impressed with the USPS, now I am just disgusted. I guess it all comes down to the individual carrier.
 

glypnirsgirl

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
2,814
Reaction score
33
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
I used to be so impressed with the USPS, now I am just disgusted. I guess it all comes down to the individual carrier.

It really depends on the carrier regardless of what system it is.

We get great postal service at all three places: home, office, post office. All of the carriers are older and experienced. When one of the regular carriers goes on vacation, I can almost always tell because of the change in service.

If something that I order is going to be delivered by UPS, I have to have it delivered to my office because packages coming to my home will not be delivered for days. And the UPS office is way out of my way if I have to go pick something up.

My office UPS guy is great. He delivers quickly. If the office is locked, he leaves it with our building manager.

Many rural mail carriers are not USPS employees. They are on a contract for delivering the mail with the USPS rather than being employed by USPS. Basically, they are self-employed sub-contractors.

elaine
 

beanie

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
591
Reaction score
0
Location
Seaside Heights , NJ
Then I have to wonder why UPS and FEDEX are able to deliver packages very efficiently, but the USPS cannot..

The post office delivers something close to 27 million packages for UPS and FEDEX a yr with their "last mile " program. its unfortunate that this seems to be a bad carrier ( I carried for 8 yrs myself and worked with a few out of the 65 carriers ). I don't believe consolidation is the answer .
 

RonB

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
939
Reaction score
158
The best way to complain is to do so in writing through usps.com. The station manager is required to respond in writing. Bookmark the complaint page, and use it every time you have a problem. If you have a tracking number, and it says "out for delivery", call early AM and speak to the manager, and ask him/her to make sure the pkg is left at your house that day. Packages are scanned early in the day as they are sorted to individual routes, and sometimes go to the wrong route, so ask to have the carrier check to make sure they do have the package. It will probably be several hours before the carrier leaves the station.
There are many problems at the Post Office - especially at Christmas. They are short handed for sure. Most carriers do care, but there are some real doosies too. :annoyed: The number of packages they have to handle can easily double or triple at this time of year. Many UPS drivers in my area get helpers at this time of year, but letter carriers do not. Some do give up portions of their routes so that they are not out too late, but sometimes there's just not enough help, and the carrier is out until they finish. In this area carriers have been out as late as 11:30PM on rare occasions. :eek:
Good luck ~ Ron
 
Last edited:

vacationhopeful

TUG Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
12,760
Reaction score
1,700
Location
Northeast USA
I got a POST OFFICE box years ago when I noticed I only got mail only once 3 or 4 days at my new home in 1981. At my old house, I got mail every day. I asked my new neighbors and complaints were made to the Postmaster. He checked the mileage on the carrier's jeep and us neighbor's kept a eye out for the jeep. Yes, he drove by our houses everyday and pickup letters if the Flag was up. On his days off, we got mail.

5-6 months later, after sample mailings to people on his route, they got a warrent into his house, found a week plus worth of first class mail and a wood stove he was burning the junk mail in. He basicly was delivering the 1st class stuff once a week or so; would zip thru his route, go sit at his home, and back to the PO at the end of a normal day.
 

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
44
Location
Las Vegas, NV
We have a wonderful mail carrier. She has been our carrier for last 12 years. If it doesn't fit in the mail box, she brings it to the door. But we can sure tell when she is on vacation or off for a day or two. The guy who fills in for her either shows up very late in the day (4 to 5 PM) or not at all. Our regular lady is here everyday by 12 Noon. He has been filling in for her for past few years so its not like he doesn't know the route. We are in a retirees's park in SE Florida, route isn't that hard to figure out.

Suzanne
 

jackio

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,207
Reaction score
1,240
Location
Long Island, NY
Resorts Owned
Sand Pebbles, Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Hawaiian Sun Holidays
My husband (now retired) was a letter carrier for over 34 years. His patrons were like family to him. He made sure their packages were delivered on time, and out of the elements. His customers used to ask the postmaster to hold their mail when he was going on vacation because the sub would always screw it up.
Unfortunately, automation and the drive to save money has forced the carrier to become impersonal. They are told that if they get out of their truck to get to a mailbox that is blocked (maybe you have company that afternoon and they parked in front of your mailbox?), they will not be covered (or will be disciplined) if they fall or injure themselves while they are delivering. They are told if they see any ice, and choose to walk on it, they will be in trouble if they fall. They make the routes longer and have placed scanning bars on mailboxes to make sure the carrier gets there at the same time every day. My DH said the problem with that is, what can he tell the patron whose husband has just died when she meets him at the mailbox to tell him her news? Sorry I can only give you 16 seconds because I am due at the scanner in 1.5 minutes? Or if he had stomach trouble that day and had to drive back to the post office for a bathroom visit? (No scheduled toilet breaks - wait for your /1/2 hour unpaid lunch).
This is in no way to try to excuse the behavior of the lazy carriers, and there are many of them out there. DH called them "roadrunners". They cut corners and do the absolute minimum. I agree that the best solution is to report the unsatisfactory service. They take the complaints seriously.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,877
Reaction score
7,741
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
Its only going to get worse. From the AP --

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing bankruptcy, the U.S. Postal Service is pushing ahead with unprecedented cuts to first-class mail next spring that will slow delivery and, for the first time in 40 years, eliminate the chance for stamped letters to arrive the next day.

The estimated $3 billion in reductions, to be announced in broader detail on Monday, are part of a wide-ranging effort by the cash-strapped Postal Service to quickly trim costs, seeing no immediate help from Congress... They could slow everything from check payments to Netflix's DVDs-by-mail, add costs to mail-order prescription drugs, and threaten the existence of newspapers and time-sensitive magazines delivered by postal carrier to far-flung suburban and rural communities....

The cuts, now being finalized, would close roughly 250 of the nearly 500 mail processing centers across the country as early as next March. Because the consolidations typically would lengthen the distance mail travels from post office to processing center, the agency also would lower delivery standards for first-class mail that have been in place since 1971.
 

Pat H

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,469
Reaction score
67
Location
Sun City Hilton Head
Resorts Owned
Brigantine
In PA I had a rural carrier who was a contract employee. That meant no benefits, had to use his own vehicle, etc. He was wonderful. Ihave a great female carrier here in SC. She is a postal employee. She puts packages by the door even though it means getting out of the truck. Now the sub is another matter entirely.
 

ondeadlin

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
1,643
Reaction score
7
Location
Dexter, MI
Just a matter of time until the postal service is privatized IMO. We'll all probably get better service - but we'll also all pay more, too, especially folks living in rural areas.
 

pkyorkbeach

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
533
Reaction score
0
Location
CT
We have a great carrier....received eight packages yesterday sent via USPS.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,877
Reaction score
7,741
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
The more fundamental problem with the postal service is that its function, the practice of physically delivering pieces of paper, is obsolete. Folks who use it for that purpose should pay the real cost, not 44 or 45 cents.
 
Last edited:

chriskre

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
4,818
Reaction score
384
Location
South Florida
Resorts Owned
DVC- SSR, Poly,
Wyndham Las Cascadas
HGVC Tuscany
RCI Pts VV Parkway
Enchanted Isle resort.
Marriott GV
Wow, I'm amazed at all the negativity about the USPS.:eek:

I've gotta say that as an ebay power seller I ship thousands of packages a year and I'm completely amazed that 99% of them arrive at their destination in good to great condition in record time. The ones that usually go missing are usually shipped overseas. :rolleyes: I couldn't even do my online business without the good postal service we have.

I think we take the US Postal system for granted in this country. My family lives in the Caribbean and they don't even receive their mail at all. It's all stolen.:annoyed: Rarely will they even get a letter let alone a package. They have to use a private postal system to receive mail.

I really think that despite a few bad carriers we have very hard working, understaffed, overworked employees who for the most part do take their jobs seriously and do a great job despite the terrible conditions.

This time of the year is so busy that they actually have to hire private cargo jet carriers to help with the load. My brother works for one that moves most of their employees for the Christmas mail rush to the heartland.

I have nothing but praise for our WONDERFUL postal system. I hope they don't change it. I think if they do we'll be sorry. :(
 

vacationhopeful

TUG Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
12,760
Reaction score
1,700
Location
Northeast USA
...I have nothing but praise for our WONDERFUL postal system. I hope they don't change it. I think if they do we'll be sorry. :(

I too use the USPS for my business. This closing of 50% (1/2 half) of all mail distribution centers will seriously effect delivery and sorting of the mail in a timely fashion. The people I deal with can barely handle posting a envelope with a check, many use some form of a money order. Without a checking account or VISA card, they can NOT do online banking. Many do not have a car. Having a simple letter take 5 days to arrive will make their payment late. The illusion that people can buy stamps and money orders at 3rd party vendors (check cashing stores) will only decrease their disposal income even more.
 

pgnewarkboy

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
2,770
Reaction score
1
Wow, I'm amazed at all the negativity about the USPS.:eek:

I've gotta say that as an ebay power seller I ship thousands of packages a year and I'm completely amazed that 99% of them arrive at their destination in good to great condition in record time. The ones that usually go missing are usually shipped overseas. :rolleyes: I couldn't even do my online business without the good postal service we have.

I think we take the US Postal system for granted in this country. My family lives in the Caribbean and they don't even receive their mail at all. It's all stolen.:annoyed: Rarely will they even get a letter let alone a package. They have to use a private postal system to receive mail.

I really think that despite a few bad carriers we have very hard working, understaffed, overworked employees who for the most part do take their jobs seriously and do a great job despite the terrible conditions.

This time of the year is so busy that they actually have to hire private cargo jet carriers to help with the load. My brother works for one that moves most of their employees for the Christmas mail rush to the heartland.

I have nothing but praise for our WONDERFUL postal system. I hope they don't change it. I think if they do we'll be sorry. :(


Well said.
 

Ken555

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
14,968
Reaction score
6,097
Location
Los Angeles
Resorts Owned
Westin Kierland
Sheraton Desert Oasis
Unfortunately, the USPS is a money losing business. That needs to be fixed in order for it to be sustainable.
 

beanie

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
591
Reaction score
0
Location
Seaside Heights , NJ
Unfortunately, the USPS is a money losing business. That needs to be fixed in order for it to be sustainable.

it would of actually made a 600 million dollar profit over the last 4 yrs had it not been for the 2006 lame duck congress forcing that ridiculous pre-funding of their retirement system for 75 yrs over 10 yrs at a cost of 5.5 billion a yr .:doh:
 
L

laurac260

I seriously don't understand the postal system. We live in a township. Not rural, though it used to be, but a suburban area that has yet to be annexed by anyone. The school system has 18,000 kids, so we aren't exactly a tiny place. Our assigned post office is a good 30 minutes drive on county roads, past cows and cornfields. I pass a post office to get to ours, it is 4 miles from my house. There are atleast 3 post offices within 10 minutes from my house, but no, we have been assigned a zip code for a town that is 30 minutes away. :shrug:
 
Top