Post Office Woes! (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

Anyone else have this problem?
Yesterday my wife was coming from the back yard and observed the mailman putting a box in our mailbox, then drive off. She then went to retrieve the mail and observed a box jamned insde, so much so she could hardly get it out. When she did the box was crushed to almost half it,s size.
Upon opening, it was my package from TF member Gary Binder of the plastic Romans he did conversions on.
Each figure was individually bubble wrapped however 3 of the first 5 I opened were damaged so I stopped.
Went to the post office this morning box in hand, showed it to the head postmaster explaining the story. She contacted the carrier who stated that,s how he received the box. Even tho my wife witnessed him putting it in the box.
Long story short. They basiclly told me I should of had insurance, even tho I said it was the carriers fault for jaming the box in the mailbox.
I was referred to consumer affairs which I did and was told they will get back to me. I,m sure I will here the same from them, "You should of had insurance".
What,s so frustrating is I have no recourse. I kept hereing from them, why would he do this (mail carrier). That,s why I,m at your office to find out why. And after his excuse that he received the package that way, I told them you should fire him for being an idiot if he didn,t use that excuse.
All the times I send and recieve packages this is my first encounter with this sort of problem and I will not insure every package I send and incurr that extra expense because of the incompetance of one mailman. And I,m sure even with insurance I would have to jump thru more post office hoops!
I better wait to take my blood pressure!
Gary

 

[mikemiller1955]

Anyone else have this problem?
Yesterday my wife was coming from the back yard and observed the mailman putting a box in our mailbox, then drive off. She then went to retrieve the mail and observed a box jamned insde, so much so she could hardly get it out. When she did the box was crushed to almost half it,s size.
Upon opening, it was my package from TF member Gary Binder of the plastic Romans he did conversions on.
Each figure was individually bubble wrapped however 3 of the first 5 I opened were damaged so I stopped.
Went to the post office this morning box in hand, showed it to the head postmaster explaining the story. She contacted the carrier who stated that,s how he received the box. Even tho my wife witnessed him putting it in the box.
Long story short. They basiclly told me I should of had insurance, even tho I said it was the carriers fault for jaming the box in the mailbox.
I was referred to consumer affairs which I did and was told they will get back to me. I,m sure I will here the same from them, "You should of had insurance".
What,s so frustrating is I have no recourse. I kept hereing from them, why would he do this (mail carrier). That,s why I,m at your office to find out why. And after his excuse that he received the package that way, I told them you should fire him for being an idiot if he didn,t use that excuse.
All the times I send and recieve packages this is my first encounter with this sort of problem and I will not insure every package I send and incurr that extra expense because of the incompetance of one mailman. And I,m sure even with insurance I would have to jump thru more post office hoops!
I better wait to take my blood pressure!
Gary

I think we have all heard this from one time or another...their first question is...

"did you have insurance"...

when I order a pizza from Domino's...I'm never required to purchase insurance...if my pizza doesn't arrive...or arrives damaged...I don't pay for it...

I never understood their "insurance"...I paid them to deliver it...why do I need to buy insurance that they will do what I paid them for...

sorry...you're not gonna get any satisfaction from escalating your complaint...they got us over a barrel...

 

[johnnybach]

Gary - You have done the right thing by giving the PO a chance to respond first. I don't know where you are - but if in the UK - there is some recourse. If you are in ther USA - Maybe there is a similar body to the one I outline below.

If you are still dissatisfied with the PO's response (in the UK) - you can contact the Consumer Council for Postal Services (CCPS), 28-30 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1 OTT. (Tel: 0845-6013265).

This body can investigate the complaints procedures of Royal Mail, Post Office Counters and Parcelforce for residential and commercial customers

I also believe that there is a booklet available at Post Office counters which gives details of "how to complain" when things go wrong - including how to contact CCPS. - Might be worth a read.

If successful with the CCPS - they can make the Post Office reimburse for losses or costs involved.

Wherever you are - look for this kind of organisation - and follow it up with a call - Good Luck - johnnybach

 

[Mitch]

Gary...

Disgraceful and I would not let it end keep at them until they are so sick they compensate you. I worked one Christmas at a Royal mail sorting office whilst in my first year at Uni to say they were a shoddy, slack bunch would be an understatement. they kicked and chucked mail around and, I saw three play catch with two parcels marked fragile. A six week job lasted me less than seven days

Its a wonder we get anything in one piece!!!!
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

A real shame is all I can say. Although we have a big mail box, they just stuff things in and sometimes I find stuff on the ground.

The only thing I can say is next time use Fed Ex Ground or UPS. In addition, that is why I never have anything sent to my home but my office.

 

[Leadmen]

In Michigan the post office brings the box to your door if it doe's not fit in box. My postal lady said they do not stuff boxes or leave them on the road by the mailbox. I have no problems with delivery. I guess we have a different policy. J

 

[gk5717]

I talked to another supervisor who was very sympathetic, but she stated the harsh reality was because of no insurance I would not be compensated, PERIOD.
One bit of good news, I did open the remaining figures and there was damage but I should be able to repair some of it and the damaged figures remaining I can live with.
BUT IT,S THE POINT!
John, they always deliver my boxes on the door step, this guy, not my regular carrier, was running late and to cut corners stuffed it in the box.
Gary

 

[mikemiller1955]

Gary...

I hate to tell you...but they will make you jump through hoops and barrels and ultimately you won't get a thing...I don't understand why we have to insure anything...you are already paying for their delivery service...

your seller left the box in their care...and they damaged it...

why do I have to pay insurance to make sure you do your job right...

I would rather you origianlly charged me more and provided liability instead of rubbing your incompetence in my face with an additional insurance option...

when a moving company moves your furniture...they assume all liability...you don't pay them insurance to guarantee it's delivered safely...

good luck...but they are not going to do a thing except run you around til you're blue in the face...

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Postage rates from Canada are double the US postal rates, so it hurts to compete against US sellers with their cheaper postage. But insurance is cheap - about $2 per $100 with the first $100 included free. Over the years I've had 3 items I sold broken and one gone missing. I made one phone call for each item and each time within 2 weeks had a full settlement including a refund of the postage. Never had a fight with the post office. But the postal rates are higher because Canada Post cannot operate at a loss.

Terry

 

[Rob]

This sort of thing where an item is jammed in is so bloody annoying, poor service and very frustrating. The amount of pictures or calendars that I've received folded in half so they can fit through letter box is infuriating. We shouldn't have to go through a claim/ insurance procedure , we should get a decent service where the Postman shows consideration for the customer who pays good cash . Can I suggest to anyone this happens to that they should ring their delivery office and rant and rave at the manager who will in turn pass this on to Postman. However I must confess that having worked in the PO for many years and seeing some of the things that went on I rarely post anything by normal mail, I always pay for a superior service.

Rob

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

The USPS does not have to answer to anyone, so they can basically do what ever they want. The customer is never right and they are always right. Even if you use their insurance you have to wait 90 days to file a claim. Then you get to fill out a stack of paperwork and if they do approve your claim you wait months to get a check. I always use Stamps.com for all of my mail. Plus if you use their insurance most claims are paid in less then 10 days. Why can't the USPS do that, because they are an entity of the Federal Government. They posted looses of over fifteen billion dollars last year, while privately run FedEx posts earnings of over two billion dollars.

 

[Scott]

............................They posted looses of over fifteen billion dollars last year, while privately run FedEx posts earnings of over two billion dollars.

You gave a solution to the problem right here.

 

[jazzeum]

To balance their budget, there has been talk about eliminating weekend service and closing post offices. For example, we have a post office in my town of around 3,000 people. About 10 minutes away there is another post office for another town with a similar amount of people. I don't think you need two post offices for that. If we need to raise rates and cut costs to eliminate these massive losses so be it. The alternative would be closing down the post office or drastically eliminating service.

 

[Combat]

Given the amount of mail the Post Office handles, I've generally been pleased with them (although I probably just jinxed myself). I've found packages from UPS and Fed Ex stuffed in bushes, sitting in the driveway where they could be run over, behind my house etc. I'm not exactly sure why they feel the need to scatter them around. In most instances they don't even leave a delivery slips and I find them by chance.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Given the amount of mail the Post Office handles, I've generally been pleased with them (although I probably just jinxed myself). I've found packages from UPS and Fed Ex stuffed in bushes, sitting in the driveway where they could be run over, behind my house etc. I'm not exactly sure why they feel the need to scatter them around. In most instances they don't even leave a delivery slips and I find them by chance.

finding your deliveries sounds like an Easter egg hunt...

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Just dropped off about 40 packages both overseas & domestic at my PO distribution center. I hand the new women on the dock my stuff. She has a fit because the domestic and overseas boxes aren't sorted to her liking, but were sorted the way they should be. She then throws one of my boxes across the loading dock like a Frisbee in a fit. When I ask her what the problem was she states "If you don't like it tell my supervisor, this isn't my permanent spot". No since in saying anything, because they could careless. Plus if she was reprimanded my future mail may be swimming with the fishes. This is the problem when employees know they can get away with anything and have no risk of being fired.

 

[Wraith]

Just dropped off about 40 packages both overseas & domestic at my PO distribution center. I hand the new women on the dock my stuff. She has a fit because the domestic and overseas boxes aren't sorted to her liking, but were sorted the way they should be. She then throws one of my boxes across the loading dock like a Frisbee in a fit. When I ask her what the problem was she states "If you don't like it tell my supervisor, this isn't my permanent spot". No since in saying anything, because they could careless. Plus if she was reprimanded my future mail may be swimming with the fishes. This is the problem when employees know they can get away with anything and have no risk of being fired.

Wonder if the prospect of getting nicked for criminal damage (or the US equivilent) might check the attitude a bit. If I saw someone playing frisbee with a package I'd just handed to them, they'd be following it.