Need to Vent - & Question

[Cleveland]

My other half is at work so I don't want to bother her with this. Ok, so I'm waiting on a package from the USPS. I know it's due for delivery today, so I get off work and decide to sleep downstairs next to the door. Yes I really want my package. Also note I have two large Akitas that bark and growl at anything that makes contact with that door. So if I were to miss the knock despite sleeping next to the door a knock would be met with a lot of noise to help wake me.

Well I awake and notice I haven't received my package. The mailboxes are community style all in one location. I check my mailbox and notice I have a generic sleep that says "sorry we missed you." I call and of course they are closed. I'm so livid right now it's probably a good thing they are closed. This has happened 3 times now. The first two I figured maybe I didn't hear the knock or barking since I was sleeping upstairs. Which I normally do hear but whatever I was giving them the benefit of a doubt. It's no way I missed it this time, which tells me they aren't even trying to deliver the packages.

I'm a go with the flow type of fellow. You mess up my food order I rarely will complain, but this....this is messing with my time. Now I have to find time to get to the post office and pick up my item....again......even though....I slept.......next to the door. And heaven forbid the idiots send my package back to sender.

Now I know what would likely happen when I'm finally able to speak to someone. Everyone will pass the buck, or they will say they made contact but received no answer. To that end I have some recourse but I hate....hate, using my job as leverage, especially to fight something I'm not even sure needs fighting.

So should I pick up the package and move on, or should I raise holy hell and push the issue. I'm not even sure what can be done, other than saying it won't happen again. Which part of me does want that acknowledgement, that yes we believe you, and yes we will fix the issue. Then on the other hand I don't feel like starting a war with our local post office.

Hmmm after typing all of this I'm kind of calmer. Go figure. For the record it was an arcade hit box controller in the package, for my video games. Yes I'm that upset over it. I need my outlets to stay sane.

 

[The Dude]

The problem with waging holy war against the post office is - they won't care. You can complain, but you'll just be talking to some drone who hates his job and won't be able to do anything about it. I'd be firm in telling the person that the driver on your route ought to be more caring about his (or her) job and actually make an attempt to contact people who are at home waiting for their video game paraphernalia. Tell them how disappointed you are in them - not how angry you are. That'll get a better response I think.

Then go out and start writing some parking tickets

 

[Dinahnana]

I think you are wasting your time with the Post Office Cleveland. Bryan is right they don't care I had a problem with my address a few years ago. I was living in a condo conversion and the developer changed the apartment numbers which confused the mailman so I didn't get any mail for weeks. I went to the post office and politely explained my issue. I would have gotten a better response from a brick wall. After that I talked to all the mailmen who handled the route but still had a problem getting mail. I had to go to the post office on a regular basis to pick up my mail.

It was a very frustrating experience I can tell you.

 

[Cleveland]

The problem with waging holy war against the post office is - they won't care. You can complain, but you'll just be talking to some drone who hates his job and won't be able to do anything about it. I'd be firm in telling the person that the driver on your route ought to be more caring about his (or her) job and actually make an attempt to contact people who are at home waiting for their video game paraphernalia. Tell them how disappointed you are in them - not how angry you are. That'll get a better response I think.

Then go out and start writing some parking tickets

That does sound better, and more inline with the right thing to do. The husband in me knows my wife would have told me to let it go. I was going to threaten to contact our public relations person and ask them to have the media run a few stories "Local PD vs USPS". Figured someone would have to take notice. But I hate asking for favors especially for something like this.

After typing all of this I feel a lot better. I knew my anger was clouding my judgement. Was really looking forward to my hit box controller. Now I have to wait until tomorrow at best if I'm able to go pick it up. Which I'm sure I will....but still

They wonder why the USPS is going under. And some people actually want more government control.....umm ok

 

[Googobucs]

You need to take your battle to the company you ordered the product from. If it's Amazon, be sure to leave a horrible review about the delivery service for everyone else to see including that you'll never buy anything again if they use USPS for shipping.

I would mention it to the post office as well. These days they are in competition to stay in business and package delivery is their life line, so your voice might actually be heard. Just don't count on it.

 

[anniemac]

Happens to me all the time. Course I live on a rural route and the poor mail lady has miles and miles of crappy roads and roadside mailboxes so I try to cut her some slack.

I've learned from living out in the woods to just go with the flow. FedEx is usually delivered 2 days after the expected published delivery date. UPS doesn't get here until after dark, usually just one day later.

There's nothing you can do about it except bitch and, like CM said, nobody cares anyway. LOL!

Breathe deep and think calming thoughts.

 

[cpdnd31]

Cleveland here is what i did : i had same problem but mine is a house and the dam mail guy didn't like having to walk back to his truck to get the packages - he would just leave slips.

The 3rd time it happened to me I let the supervisor at the postal service know. I played dumb. I said have postal rules changed or do I need to be doing something different to get my packages and explained why I asked her these questions. She was glad to help me, I think it made her feel good that I was playing stupid and not yelling.

So it was good from the point on.

 

[bigjohn]

I'm with Googobucs on this. The complaint should go to whoever arranged the shipping, they will most likely have a higher contact in the post office and get better results.

Maybe next time see if you can have it delivered to your work address. I do that all the time with Omaha Steaks (yum).

 

[Cleveland]

Oddly the mail lady at the front desk was more pissed of than me. I didn't even say anything other than "here to pick up a package." She saw the name of the guy who was suppose to deliver it, and noticed he didn't fill out the delivery slip form correct. Then while she was trying to find the package she couldn't, as it was at another location for some reason. She called the other location and told them they need to speak with him (the delivery guy), she began saying how he needs to get it together etc etc. By her tone and immediate frustration I'm guessing she has dealt with him before. She walked back over and began apologizing for me having to drive out to the wrong location to pick up the package as it was now elsewhere. She seemed so mad, I couldn't even bring myself to tell her the rest of the story. I just said thank you.

:yahoo: Got my hit box controller now though.

 

[dunover]

I understand this issue. Over here, self-employed delivery drivers for firms like Yodel and Green Line deliver packets on behalf of many online retailers - the difference is they get paid a fee for each package delivered, so it is in their interest to make sure you sign for it or they scan it 'delivered'. Royal Mail and UPS pay fixed wages so there is little incentive to rush, although in both cases non-delivery means the courier has to carry it about for the rest of the round and do paperwork later when getting back to the depot.
It's a royal pain in the a$$ when you just miss the driver or the bell (allegedly) doesn't work etc.
Glad you got it in the end.