As a postal employee and former postal supervisor and station manager... I KNOW what I am talking about and I KNOW what works.

If you just want to bit*h and complain... just keep talking to your friends and neighbors and posting your problems on the Chipboard.

BUT....

If you want ACTION... keep reading...

You can fill out all of the "Complaint Forms" and call all the "Customer Service Reps" you want and talk to ALL the local "Station Managers" you want to... and you'll be able compare your efforts to the famous "Rope Trick" that has been discussed on this Board. Many of the "Customer Service Reps" are not postal employees and probably are not even in the same town you are in. The Albuquerque "Customer Service Reps" are NOT postal employees. They are minimum-wagers at some office in Phoenix, Arizona. Think they care?

If you want ACTION to your misdeliveries and late delivery problems... There is ONLY one thing to do....

Keep a personal Diary for one week, detailing EVERY postal problem you experience. If you have misdeliveries, make a Xerox of the front of EVERY misdelivered mail piece and note the date of the misdelivery on the Xerox copy. These copies are important if you don't want to come across as a complainer who is just "making stuff up to get the carrier in trouble". If your neighbor brings over a piece of YOUR mail that was misdelivered to THEIR house... Ask the neighbor to date and initial the envelope of the misdelivered piece.

Then, make a copy of your Diary and all of your copies of the misdeliveries. Send them along with your complaint letter to the POSTMASTER in your town. I would spring for an extra $1.80 and mail it to the POSTMASTER via Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. It HAS to be to the POSTMASTER.... no one else. If you write or talk to ANYONE ELSE, you will be wasting your time!! Explain the problem with the FACTS and DATES from your Diary. Without sounding threatening, let him know that you are prepared to go over his/her head if the problem is not solved. If he asks you to "keep a diary" , tell him you have ALREADY done that and he ALREADY has the facts to correct your problem NOW.

BTW, WHAT NOT TO DO - Don't sound like a total FRIGGIN' IDIOT and tell him you are sick of your tax dollars going to such a poorly run operation. The USPS does NOT received ONE PENNY in tax money...

Here's what will happen... you will receive a letter back from the POSTMASTER apologizing for the problem and that it will be rectified. He will then severely REAM the Station Manager (and threaten to cut their incentive check amount) who will then REAM the Carrier Supervisor for your route who will then REAM the Carrier for your route who will then REAM the Substitute Carrier for your route. . The carrier will probably have to personally take all mail for your delivery address up to the Supervisor or Station Manager DAILY and have it personally inspected for accuracy.

DO NOT STOP keeping your Diary... Log every delivery problem and let the POSTMASTER know EVERYTIME it happens. CALL his office and tell his secretary you would like him to call you back. I promise you will not have to do that more than once or twice.

BUT, if all else fails.... you can always send a package containing ALL of your detailed correspondence with the POSTMASTER to your Senator or Represenative.
This will get the POSTMASTER's (and therefore EVERYBODYS) attention very quickly!

Been There / Done That,

Steve in Albuquerque