My mailman hates me

mopsie

We just moved in a year ago and we haven't been giving him a Christmas "bonus".  I don't know if mailmen expect to get tips from their "customers" - I know my mom and MIL tip their mailmen, but those mailmen actually walk their routes and drop the mail in a slot in the door.  Our mailman stays in his truck and puts it in a mailbox at the end of our driveway.  Not that that's any reason not to tip him, but it's not like we ever see him or talk to him.  So on Christmas eve day, he came up to our door to have DH sign for a package, and I gave him a candy cane.  I asked DH if we should give him some money for Xmas and DH said, "Why?  He's just doing his job" and something about how government employees get paid pretty well as is.  

 Ever since then, I think my mailman has had it out for me.  We used to get our mail in the morning, now I swear he changed his whole route just so we get ours last (ok maybe not, but it seems like it!)

So today I pulled into my garage just as he was driving past our house.  He followed my car into the garage and said "I can't reach your mailbox because of all the snow.  If you don't clear it so I can reach it, you're not getting your mail".  We have SO much snow, and the plows have shoved it all up in front of our mailbox so it's completely unreachable.  So I don't blame him for not being able to reach it (I wouldn't expect him to step in 5 feet of snow to get to it), but I don't understand why he can't just bring our mail to our door?  Only half of the houses on our street have mailboxes - the mailman delivers the mail to the front door for the ones who don't.  So it's not like he HAS to deliver it to a mailbox!  I asked him if I can put a plastic bin outside in front of the mailbox so he can drop the mail in there, and he said no.

I called the town and asked them if they can come remove some of the snow, and they said they'll "do their best" to do it.  It's also a safety hazard because it's piled so high we can't see in either direction as we back out of our driveway.  So hopefully it'll be cleared, but they said they can't make any guarantees.

So if they can't clear it, should DH go out and spend hours trying to pick at the heavy, dirty snow in front of the mailbox?  Or should I put a note asking the mailman to please deliver it to the front door until the snow melts? 

AvidVertigo

Nope...I am pretty sure they have to deliver your mail.  If not, call the post office and ask about it.  Maybe they can hold it for you to pick up too.  I dunno, he sounds like a lazy bummmm.  Sorry he is not being nice!

DMCinderella

My mail lady is the same way. Though, I don't think she hates me yet. She delivers packages to be 3-4 days a week so I know it gets old to her. She also drives around to mailboxes and will drive right past your mailbox if she can't get her truck to it. Take for instance yesterday...we just got done with a big snow storm. It's like 4pm and I got no mail. I call my mom and she says that she got mail delivered and they walk and deliver in her neighborhood yet my mail lady couldn't get to everyone yesterday with her truck and called it a day. I'm waiting for her to come around today (still hasn't as of 2:15) so I can see if she makes a stink about snow being in front of the mailboxes

Dreamsicle23

I don't have an answer, but my mailman is a douche too.  Several times he has folded and crammed an envelope that clearly says "PHOTOS: DO NOT BEND" into my tiny mailbox.  I called and complained at it still happened.

I would call the local office and talk to the carrier manager person and see what their policies are. 

triplea1819

I am in NH, and we have to clear a path to our mailbox.  If the mailbox is unreachable they do not have to deliver. it is the home owners responsibility to clear the way every time there is a snow storm. 

I would say your DH needs to go clear a way after each snow storm.  If you do it each time it is not too bad.  

mopsie

I just called the post office and told them what happened.  They said the mailman has to deliver to his designated delivery point, which for us is the mailbox.  If he can't deliver it, it will get held til the next day, or until he can reach the mailbox.  There is no way for me to pick it up, either, because they're "not staffed to handle people picking up their mail".  I guess DH will be shoveling our mailbox tonight!!!

AvidVertigo

Mopsie, I would gladly be your mail-lady!  I'd gladly accept your candy cane!

bumpuser1691848

mopsie:

I just called the post office and told them what happened.  They said the mailman has to deliver to his designated delivery point, which for us is the mailbox.  If he can't deliver it, it will get held til the next day, or until he can reach the mailbox.  There is no way for me to pick it up, either, because they're "not staffed to handle people picking up their mail".  I guess DH will be shoveling our mailbox tonight!!!

What?! So do they not hand out the little cards that say "We missed you" or "Your package was too large to fit in your mailbox"? Cause if they did, they would have to have someone there to give the person they package.

miaomi

FYI:  The US Postal Service is not a goverment owned service.  It's privatly owned and the workers aren't gov't employee's.  They do get paid well, but I just wanted to give you the heads up.  A lot of times people comment, my taxes pay your job.  Not so. 

kategw

I think, by law, a path must be cleared for the mailman.  In this instance, I don't think your mailman is being a douche.  If I were him, there isn't a chance in hell I'd be delivering mail to doors where people don't clear a path the the mailbox. 

mopsie

miaomi:

FYI:  The US Postal Service is not a goverment owned service.  It's privatly owned and the workers aren't gov't employee's.  They do get paid well, but I just wanted to give you the heads up.  A lot of times people comment, my taxes pay your job.  Not so. 

Good to know.  Thanks  

gemmal24

I work at the P.O., and even though I'm not a carrier, I get to hear this stuff all the time. Here in SoCal, our carriers are not required to get out of their vehicle - in fact, it is not recommended due to safety concerns. They also have to have a clear, safe path to a safe, working, up-to-code mailbox to be required to deliver that mail. If a box is blocked or down for any reason, or if the door doesn't shut, for example, then the carrier brings the mail back to the office and holds it for 10 days. After those 10 days, if it's still blocked or not fixed, then the mail is returned to sender.

I'm not saying I agree with these things, but these are some of the regulations that they're supposed to follow. And as for the bonus - I've never heard of our carriers getting money at Christmas. Fudge, yes. Money? No.