Recently I wrote a rant complaining about the post office. Go read it, because I'm not going to retell the story. So I was waiting for a long time to get this diamond. Then, I got a special order from my jewelry site that involved wooden beads. Since I did not have any wooden beads, I had to order them. I order all my beads from the same place, and I've never had any problems. I can even choose a "regular mail" option and the package will be left in the vestibule with the rest of the mail. Again, I've never had any problems.
A few days after I placed that order, I got a notice from the post office that my package required a signature, and since nobody was home, they would redeliver. All I had to do was call them and reschedule. Sounds very familiar. So I did. They never tried to redeliver. No notice, and definitely no package. I called again. The post office said "it should have been redelivered." Yes I know that. That's why I'm calling you, angry. So I rescheduled again. And again nothing happened. During this time, I had contacted the bead place (who has excellent customer service) and told them what was happening. They said they never requested a signature for delivery, so they don't know why the PO wouldn't deliver my damn package. They didn't say the word damn, but I know they were thinking it like me.
I was livid. I was out 2 packages and an untold amount of money. I called the National Post Office HQ and complained. They gave me the phone # of the local branch so I could complain to a supervisor. Guess what? They didn't answer the phone. Ever. By now, my neighbors could hear much screaming and cussing coming from my apartment. I got on the USPS website to see what else I could do, and they had a "contact us" section just for complaints. Gee, is it that common? So I wrote a very nasty email, including the words "I will never use the PO again." How that would even be possible, I dunno. But I was pissed.
Next day I get an email back with the message "I will contact them right away" and her name and direct phone in case I needed to contact her again. Later that day I get a call from the local branch's supervisor. I wasn't home so she left a message. Next day, I get my beads, left in the vestibule like they are supposed to be. I made this anklet and sent it off to the person who had ordered it (apologizing for the PO's delay). THEN I get an email from the diamond company saying they received my package that had been "returned to sender" over a month ago. I gave them my work address, and I got my package yesterday. I had been waiting over 2 months for it, and the company is based in the 'hat*, only a few miles from my house.
So I emailed an angry letter to a government agency and actually got results. The bead transaction is a done deal, and I am wearing my shiny new necklace as I type this. Who'da thunk it?
* This is what I'm going to start calling Manhattan, because I am too lazy to either say it aloud or type it out.
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The Future of Orion
1 day ago
9 comments:
I loathe the post office. I deal with UPS and Fedex all day and think they suck too. I'm starting a campaign to bring back the pony express.
Count me in.
I've never had problems with Fedex (but I don't use them that often) but I had a friend that worked for UPS and he strongly advised against using them. That's a bad sign.
I don't think I've ever HEARD of such a thing! No, I don't mean the crappy service. I mean the part about you emailing and having it make a difference!!! Wow!! Who knew such a thing was even POSSIBLE??
I'm still sure that I somehow fell into a hole in the space/time continuum.
And this is one of the reasons I like living in a small town. I know my postal carrier by name. There are only three people working at the window. If something gets screwed up, I know who to blame. It keeps my life simple. Living in a big place would cause me to turn into that person on the street corner that rocks back and forth and yanks at her hair all the time....not a pretty picture.
First, I want to say, love the 'hat.
Second, I want to see the diamond necklace!
Third, trivia about the fucking post office:
The USPS is often mistaken for a government-owned corporation (e.g. Amtrak), but ... is legally defined as an "independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States," (39 U.S.C. § 201) as it is wholly owned by the government and controlled by the Presidential appointees and the Postmaster General. As a quasi-governmental agency, it has many special privileges, including sovereign immunity, eminent domain powers, powers to negotiate postal treaties with foreign nations, and an exclusive legal right to deliver first-class and third-class mail. Indeed, in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the USPS was not a government-owned corporation and therefore could not be sued under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
okey doke...
The necklace isn't really worth a picture. It's a tiny brown/yellow sparkle in a silver setting on a tiny silver chain. I "made" it insomuch as I picked out the pieces and put them together, but it's not like my other jewelry that I actually MAKE.
You have triumphed over the post office. I love it.
One small step for des kind...
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