How many of you would complain to the USPS if...

Your mail-person, on a regular basis, does stuff like this:



I mean... it's nice if I'm not home so I don't have to pick it up at the post office (which is not in a convenient location at all) or wait a day or two, etc.

But... isn't the chance of mail theft a greater risk?

Also... is that *legal*?

 

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If you're in an area that you should be concerned with mail theft then yes you should be reporting it.
If you're in a rural, low crime locale then I'd say your mail carrier is offering you a nice service.

 

That is against regulations, and you should report it if your area is at risk of mail theft, like @masterswimmer said.

Eh, in the Bay Area, something like this happens:
When I get home, there is no package at the door. I am at home for some time, then go out to the store, and there is a note on the door. The postal carrier couldn't be bothered to knock, but just left the note there.
Oh, well. In the Bay Area, it's hard to expect many people to do their job.

Was the package at least well hidden, to evade some observant eyes?

 

It was in my mailbox, so I guess so.

 

When my dad ran Airborn/DHL he called this cheating. The only reason they do this is so they dont have to try and attempt again the next day. If it's a locking mail box I'd be ok with it. Otherwise report it.

You're lucky in a way. Half the time when my postal carrier has something that is signature required they dont even attempt it. They just say my business was closed so then I have to go pick it up the next morning at the post office. Lazy.

 

A complaint to the USPS...no. He left it open for you to reply. A polite note to him/her to share your concerns would be enough to let them know you would prefer not to do it this way. But that is me, not you so you have to make that decision.

 

This goes back to the heart of my thread Smalltown USA. We are on a first name basis with our mail carrier and leave him Christmas goodies when it's the season. This sort of thing happens in our neighborhood all the time. Haven't heard of anyone raising a fuss over it.

 

I wouldn't necessarily complain to the post office. I'd end up with a note near my door or box asking them not to do it anymore. If they still do it, then I would complain.

My area was relatively safe, but transients have quickly started growing in the area (I think Sacramento started shipping them to the area) and I would much prefer to just wait for the following Saturday and pick up from the post office.

 

It is an offense that could get your carrier fired if you complained. It is legal for your carrier to sign for you as there is no law against that but it would be illegal for your carrier to sign your name. That's forgery.

Before I retired from the Postal Service I had to deal with this very issue. I won't go into details but the principle is the same. Having dealt with this issue of a carrier signing for the customer is a serious offense. I know what I'm talking about and I know the people involved in this. If you complain it will become a mess for all parties.

@tommyc03 and @TyCobb said it best. You need to decide as a blanket policy, do you want your carrier to sign for you? If not, I would strongly suggest that you either speak to your carrier or leave a polite note addressed to your carrier in your mailbox. Simply thank them for their service and ask them not to sign for any parcels but rather leave you a delivery notice.

You can then take the notice to the post office the following day and pickup your parcel. You can also sign the delivery notice and fill in the required information and it will be redelivered as per your request. One last option open to you is to go to the postal web site and schedule delivery of the item when suitable. Hope this helps and best wishes in resolving this.

I will add that in my case the carrier was put through (you know what) and was out of work for over three months while an investigation took place, with no pay.

Your carrier is trying to make it easier on you by signing and delivering the parcel, which saves the hassle of you having to picking up but they have no idea what's inside or the value. You would be surprised as to the number of complaints I received when a notice was left but that is the correct procedure.

 

The mail person did write "Hope that's OK." I believe that you should tell him/her that it's NOT ok, and you'll raise heck if it happens again! But then again, he did draw a smiley face....

 

They tried to do you a favor, no reason to be a jerk about it like some have suggested. If you don't want them to let them know and that should be the end of it. I'm pretty sure you're in a small town or out in the country since they even took the time to write a note. Making a formal complaint without ever talking to them is a great way to get retaliation where you just get missed delivery slips from now on as they can't be bothered to try and deliver anymore type thing.

 

where I live out in the boondox, Midwest rules apply, we know our mail man by name, and we trust him, our neighbors watch out for eachother, and we all own a gun, we don't have a crime problem. I personally rather them leave it(as he does) as to drive 10 miles to make a special trip to waite in line at the post office.

 

My mail carrier asked me if I wanted her to sign for my packages, and I love her for it. It's saved me hours of frustration waiting at the post office. It seems to be a friendly gesture and I don't know why you'd complain about it. That sort of thing is what makes it so there are rules for everything preventing people from doing nice things that help others.

 

It *is* a friendly gesture, but if it would ever get lost or stolen, I wonder if I'm on the hook for it.

 

Exactly, it was signed for.

 

I would do exactly as @Collecting Nut suggested and settle it directly with the carrier first. Only consider escalating if that doesn't do the trick.

 

Agreed. I will say something to the carrier directly; I don't want to get her in trouble.

 

Letter carriers are like the folks who serve you clean food in a restaurant. With the stigma of postal workers and workplace violence... I’d be wary of reporting. It’d be a different story altogether if stuff didn’t get delivered or left on the doorstep in a downpour. I probably watch too much of those “Fear Thy Neighbour” type programs on tv, but, yeah, people are crazy... I had a tweeker just the other day ask me if I wanted to stab him in the neck. Not today was my reply.

 

Are you sure the mail carrier signed for it? Might've been a neighbor.