My local postperson has flat out refused to pick up any more of my books. Even though we live in the city limits, we have a rural route carrier( a chick in a truck). She has been extremely and increasingly rude over the last 6 months.Leaving nasty notes about the flowerbed around the mailbox (they make her sneeze), our cars are too close (I am sure they are at least 25 feet away) And that she is not set up to ship multiple items from the mailbox. I have tried calling to complain, but the behavior just gets worse.Should I just take pictures of all the nasty notes she leaves?Send a letter to the PMG? I am at a total loss here, I got a slip that said I had packages at the PO, so I go down to see if its my new book order,NOPE.It is all of my mailed books from last week with the stamps ripped off and the wrappers torn up.I don't have any proof she was responsible for this, but I have a bad feeliong about it.

Now, I have to PM those people and tell them their books have to be mailed out again.This time,they are going to the actual office. I can't believe the cheekiness of her! I really have a hard time leaving the house, and seriously, it isn't like these books weigh 40 tons.If I have a huge box, I just call fedx,and they come and pick it up. I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

frustrated, I want to cry.

Okay, rant over.

Any ideas?

Edit:maybe I should have put this in the USPS forum, duh!

Well, bless your heart!   I am SO SO sorry this is happening to you.  I thought I had the worst mailperson in the US but you have me beat.   What did they say at the post office when you picked up the ruined packages?? Did you ask them what happened to them??  Since they had not left that post office they should have SOME idea what happened.   

When I discussed my problem with locat PM I was told the carrier did not have to PICK UP any mail that they choose not to!! Amazing huh?  I have no idea if this is just a local thing or not.  My mailman informed me the the PO is a mail delivery service not a pick up service!  HUH?   Well, needless to say, I take all my packages to the PO.  However, you may not be able to physically do that. 

I know I haven't been much help in solving your problem but I wanted to let you know you've at least been heard!

If your packages are being tampered with isn't that a federal offense, whether commited by a PO employee or not?

The PO is not obliged to pick up Media Mail unless you already have a priority mail parcel that's going with it.  Check the regs.

OH LORDY> I didn't know they don't have to pick up anything they don't feel like picking up. Most of the stuff I send is going first class, so I don't know. I have just called the local PO, and said "hey,the lady with the red truck is at it again".They just say thank you for your call, and they will "look into it".I guess the fancy stuff like coming to you, and good customer service is limited to those within big cities.ARGH!!!!

Okay, FedX it is from now on, unless I get a request from someone with a PObox.Thanks for letting me vent! I guess I'll just paint my mailbox with a skull and crossbones.I wonder what she'll say about that?

muhahahahahaha

edit:Thanks for the link Cindy!

Coz>I am sure we have just the few bad apples.but it still sucks!

About the packages, the guy (who is new here) said, wow looks like it got mangled in the belt.Could be, but still makes me feel funny.Anyway, the books are not really damaged,just the packaging.lots and lots of tape is a good thing.

luckily I have a good PO worker (but then I'm not in a rural area).  although one time they didn't take the regular mail that I had sitting out there.  So does this mean they don't have to take it?  packages I can understand but letters????

If your local PO does not take your complaint seriously, you can complain to someone higher up.  If the Postmaster won't handle it, they do have a boss.  Send in a complaint via the USPS site.  Tell them you've contacted your local PO with no results.

You could try scheduling a carrier pickup.  It's free to do but you MUST have one Priority Mail package going out to do that.  They will take other packages at that time.

Carriers are not obligated to take outgoing mail from your mailbox.  Most do but some just will not.  I don't trust my outgoing mail to my mailbox even though my carrier is a sweetheart.  I drop it all in a blue collection box.

Pippa - if reporting her hasn't worked, maybe you should go in the opposite direction and try being super nice to her?  How about a plate of brownies or cookies with a note that you appreciate the great job she's doing in delivering all your boxes?  Perhaps a hint of a generous tip at Christmas?  I know you shouldn't have to bribe your mail carrier just to do her job, but it might work.  Since you can't fire her, you should try to get her to want to do a good job for you.  Unfortunately, reporting her seems to have just made her meaner and nastier.  

I understand where you are coming from Holly and I'm normally a very nice person.  lol  But I am NOT going to cook goodies for a mailperson who won't even speak to me or hand me my mail IF I'm standing right next to the mailbox.    And I am certainly NOT going to tip someone who drops my packages over the fence even when it says "fragile" and I am in the yard.     I understand killing her with kindness concept but while I'm a nice person, I am NOT that nice.   Maybe, Pippa is a bigger woman than I am!!  LOL

skulls and crossbones on the side of your mailbox is a great idea.  or maybe a pic of your creepy monster with big eyes icon.  it would put  fear into her that she shouldn't mess with you LOL. 

hope it gets better  :-)

I would seriously go higher up than the local PO. This person should not be a mailperson. She should be fired. I don't care if she doesn't have to take your packages, she should treat you and your mail with respect. It is her job. If she doesn't like her job, she should get a different one.

Make sure to let the higher ups know that you have taken your business elsewhere. The USPS already struggles, it doesn't need to lose more business because of bad employees. Take pictures of damaged and mishandled mail and send them in with complaints.

Is there anyone you live by, work with, see on a regular basis that can help with getting your stuff mailed? Paying much higher UPS or FedEx sucks. As someone else mentioned, maybe you can make sure to have one Priority Mail item and then call for a pickup.   

I would make photocopies of all the nasty notes, and send them certified mail to the postmaster.  Complaints tend to get taken more seriously if they're written.  Oh, and the postage thing is a federal offense, which since you can't prove, I don't know if you can do much with, but you can certainly bring up your concerns, and provide all the physical evidence you have to support your reasoning.  You might also ask about this in the USPS forum, they may know better ways to go about solving the problem than I do.  I'd also not leave any more packages until you get a new mail person.

I had a postal worker that wouldn't deliver any of my packages, even though she had them with her AND they fit in my mailbox.  She told me to my face that I would have to go to the PO to pick them up!  I COULD SEE THE PACKAGES RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!  I told her to just give them to me and she said no, she has to take them to the PO!!  What a PITA.  I was sooo angry.  We went into the PO and complained and the post master said he'd take care of it.  The mail carrier came to my door the next day, apologized and handed me all my packages! 

Sometimes I just feel like shouting EVIL!! @ her at the top of my lungs.I know that won't get me anywhere,but it sure does sound good sometimes.Since we have a business account with Fedx already (and those guys are soooooooo freaking nice!) it won't be but a couple of cents difference. The only prob is not being able to wrap books in the PBS wrappers,I'll have to use the FEDX stuff. And will have to make a special trip if I get orders from someone with a PO box.Hopefully, they will understand if it isn't mailed right that second,as I have to wait to get to the PO.

Ah, thanks for all the help guys. I feel better knowing I am not the only one with a PMS postperson,who really needs to retire gracefully.

As for killing her with kindness, I only ever see her out the window, she barely slows down and I am not fast enough to get outside to her.Oh well, at least during Xmas time, she is usually gone and a really nice guy takes her place.Thank Cake for small favours.lol

Pip, if you check some of the topics in the Postage forum, Steve has givent he number to call and find out the PO's POOM, like a regional manager, and you can complain to them that nothing is being done about this carrier. And I certainly hope you didn't throw away any of thost notes!!! Don't let loose of the originals, either! Make photos copies of them the first chance you get, because the local PM should be shown them, and if she/he does nothing,then go over his/her head to the POOM. You can probably search the forums and the word will come up in the mail forum along with the phone number, he usually has them both in the same msg.

Go to the postal forum and ask Steve about this. She should lose her job and the people in there have numbers and form numbers they can help you with. If she picked th epackages up and they're damaged at your post office it would be obvious it was her doing. I'd be worried I wasn't getting my mail because she'd was throwing it out. Send copies of her notes for sure to her boss and whoever else. I'd want her fired for this. All she had to do was let you know she isn't suposed to pick up media mail packages. Take a picture of your cars to show they're not too close and include those with your complaint as well.

Ops, Sherry beat me to it, she knows those things too. LOL

I lived in a suburban, not rural area, and once needed to complain about a carrier who wasn't picking up my outgoing letters for delivery.  I was told the same thing, that the carriers are under no obligation whatsoever to pick up outgoing mail, only to deliver it.  I never knew nor guessed that.  I totally lost all respect for the post office workers after that.  These were only little letters, too, not even parcels.  I remember when I was young and I had several overseas penpals, talking to my local PO workers about mailing options and stamps and they were friendly, kind and helpful.  THAT'S definitely a thing of the past.  My most recent experience was when I had left work early to make it to the PO before their closing time to pick up some mail they were holding, and I was IN LINE WAITING by 5:20, and at 5:30 they closed the windows and told the rest of us in line to come back again tomorrow.

I feel sorry for you, but there is no such thing as consideration and kindness nor customer service left at the USPS.

A little too much generalizing there. There are some really rotten apples in the USPS, but there are also some very nice, helpful people too. (I bet the USPS employees on this site would agree with me) . The people at the PO I just started going to because its close to our new office are fabulous and extremely friendly and helpful. I just watched one help a lady with a toddler pick out a box and pack it, making sure to help her get the stuff mailed as cheaply as possible, while another one kept her kid entertained. That was above and beyond the call of duty. My parents mail carrier will bring their mail to them (a 1/2 mile out of her way) when she sees a package from me because she knows I mail my dad his favorite cookies. Some are as overly exceptional as some are overly rotten.

Oh I agree- while I think my mailman is pretty bad, in contrast the people are my post office are great!!  They have smiles for everyone and a friendly word for all.   That is where my goodies will be come Christmas time.  I think in general the PO and their employees do a great job!   Like ALL jobs - there are a few deadbeats mixed in with the good! 

This is from the USPS site...maybe this will help?

Contact Customer Service

General Information / Complaints (24 Hour/Live Person)

The Integrated Voice Response (IVR) system is the telephone system that provides automated USPS information.Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) if you need to put your mail on Hold, if you would like to schedule a Redelivery, if you have a question, compliment, complaint, or suggestion , or help you find whatever you may be looking for, you go through the following options:

• Greeting - "Thank you for calling the United States Postal Service."
• Language Choice Press 2 for Spanish; if you press nothing, it defaults to English.
• You then go into the main IVR menu. The system prompts you for a verbal response (where you state the phrase and the system translates the vocal choice).
• The five (5) main IVR menu options and a couple of sub-options are as follows:
  1. Find a ZIP Code
  2. Get Mailing Rates
  3. Track and Confirm a Package
  4. Delivery Services
     1. Hold Mail
     2. Change of Address
     3. Request a Redelivery
     4. Post Office Information (Post Office Hours and Locations)
     5. Delivery Assistance (For Assistance With Delivery of Your Mail)
  5. More Options
     1. Change of Address
     2. Passport Information
     3. Buy Stamps
     4. Post Office Information (Post Office Hours and Locations)
     5. Other Information (For Complaint, Compliment or Suggestion) [this transfers to an Agent]

Live Person Hours of Operation-

• 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST) Monday through Friday
• 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST) Saturdays
• Closed Sundays and Holidays (2007 Postal Holidays )

Back to Top

Found this too.  They are suppose to pick up from the curbside box.

The United States Postal Service makes every effort to pickup and deliver your mail. Outgoing mail is picked up:

• For curbside delivery if the flag is up or if there is mail to deliver.
• For door delivery if there is mail to deliver.
• From the outgoing mail slot in a Cluster Box.

If you would like to hand your outgoing mailpiece to the letter carrier (and you don't need a stamped or dated receipt for the item), keep in mind that the amount of mail a letter carrier can pickup is limited by the space that they have available to them in their vehicle. All mail picked up by letter carriers must comply with normal weight and size restrictions:

• Correct postage must be applied to the item.
• The mailpiece must fall within the size and weight restrictions of the class.

If you are concerned that you may have too much mail for the letter carrier to pick it all up, you may either:

• Drop it off at a local Post Office facility.
• Request a Carrier Pickup (not available in all markets).
• Schedule a Pickup on Demand online.
• Contact your local Post Office for further help.

If your mailbox is located on the street, letter carriers should pickup outgoing mail if the flag is up. If your mailbox is attached to the house, letter carriers are not required to pickup mail if they have no mail to deliver. Mail cannot be delivered to or picked up from a blocked mailbox..

If outgoing mail was not picked up from a cluster box or your curbside mailbox, you may call Customer Service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to have them document the problem.

Thanks for the regs. My brain couldn't process all the gems from the druss earlier.Bombarded with info!!

My Pops says I should  put the video camera out for a week and see what happens. I really just wish she would retire so I don't have to be a meanie.Or maybe ........ nevermind, evil thoughts! lol

Again, carrier pick-up for parcels is only available for overnight, 2-3 day or international mail.

Here's the guideline:

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending.htm

You can put Media Mail under 13 ounces in the large blue mail boxes for pick-up.  Anything over 13 oz. has to be handed to a postal worker in person, or mailed via a kiosk.

Fedx is sooo much easier to deal with than the PO.They come to your house, the door even, pick up your stuff,give you a receipt,make you sign,and the bonus:the envelopes are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!