Does USPS deliver your packages or make you pick them up from the PO?

This morning I got a "Sorry We missed you" note from USPS in my mailbox. I got the same note on Monday and was able to pick up the package at the post office pretty much right after I got the note. This makes me think that USPS worker doesn't show up by my house with the package but rather writes those notes before they leave to service their route expecting me to stop by the PO and pick up the package myself. This is not anything new for me, been going on for as long as I can remember. Is that a normal USPS practice or something unusual? I'm a bit hesitant to bring this up to the PO manager as I don't want to have my packages "accidentally" dropped a few times en route to my house.

It all depends on what time you get to the post office, and what time your carrier gets back after his/her route. My carrier will attempt to redeliver the next day unless I call the post office to hold on to it for me so I can pick it up. I assume there is a limit to how many days in a row they will try and redeliver.. But they will attempt it at least twice.

That does not happen to me. Since there is pretty much always someone at home when USPS comes by. So, he always has our packages with him and we don't have to get them at the PO.

this happened to me few times and I feel the drivers are super lazy or they dont want to do their job right.... I guess govt jobs are super chill as they are not responsible for their actions..

I live out in the sticks so they pretty much leave any packages on my porch. Unless I need to sign for them then they'll deliver the next day.

Bluemax wrote in post #13422620
That does not happen to me. Since there is pretty much always someone at home when USPS comes by. So, he always has our packages with him and we don't have to get them at the PO.

The thing is, there's usually someone around my house as well. I definitely see a correlation between the size of the package and whether they bring it or just put a note in my mail box. They usually deliver a thick envelope under 1 lb., but if it is a box or an envelope with a textbook I get a note. From the comments in this thread I see that I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess I'll try asking senders to use UPS / FedEx as much as possible, and maybe lightly touch the subject next time I'm at the PO.

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #13422668
The thing is, there's usually someone around my house as well. I definitely see a correlation between the size of the package and whether they bring it or just put a note in my mail box. They usually deliver a thick envelope under 1 lb., but if it is a box or an envelope with a textbook I get a note. From the comments in this thread I see that I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess I'll try asking senders to use UPS / FedEx as much as possible, and maybe lightly touch the subject next time I'm at the PO.

Again, that does not seem to be the case for me. I receive about 20 packages a week and they vary in size considerably.

I suspect however, that you may be right. When I lived in Canada, that happened to me all the time. I had numerous packages delivered and one time in particular, I was stepping out as he was putting the note in my mailbox. I asked him if I could get the box right away but he told me that it was at the PO. So, then he never had it with him to begin with.

Maybe I just got lucky with our postman here.

Bluemax wrote in post #13422684
Again, that does not seem to be the case for me. I receive about 20 packages a week and they vary in size considerably.

I suspect however, that you may be right. When I lived in Canada, that happened to me all the time. I had numerous packages delivered and one time in particular, I was stepping out as he was putting the note in my mailbox. I asked him if I could get the box right away but he told me that it was at the PO. So, then he never had it with him to begin with.

Maybe I just got lucky with our postman here.

Yep, I think you nailed it. Using those notes is a pretty easy way for my local delivery man to weasel out of his duty...I guess moving might be the solution to this problem

Your situation is unusual. When a parcel shows up on your carrier's route, he or she performs a possession scan. MOST packages carry a similar designation as first class mail which must go out for delivery that day. I doubt very much that the carrier on your route doesn't take your packages. Similarly, why would the carrier take a package to your home, attempt delivery and place a slip on your door AND take the package back when it could just as easily been delivered.

Something's not ringing completely true with your story. If you feel you're not getting good service, call the local USPS station and speak with either the office post master or a supervisor. Be advised that whoever you speak with will have little to no customer service skills, but should address your concern with the carrier assigned to your route.

dave

snyderman wrote in post #13422835
why would the carrier take a package to your home, attempt delivery and place a slip on your door AND take the package back when it could just as easily been delivered.

because a USPS cannot leave any unaccounted for mail (including large packages) outside of the designated mailbox. The package either needs to fit in the mailbox or the package needs to be handed directly to somebody at the home. A carrier cannot just leave a package on your doorstep.

That is the policy. That is not to say that all carriers follow that policy, because out in the sticks I'll bet they leave packages all the time. Often times it is up to the sole discretion of the carrier (USPS, FedEx UPS, etc) to determine if a package can be safely left untended for when placed in a location other than a mailbox.

snyderman wrote in post #13422835
Something's not ringing completely true with your story.

Dave, I think the situation is fairly straightforward. Basically, a carrier gets my package, but instead of carrying it to my home he/she writes up "sorry we missed you" note and puts it in my mailbox. He then can mark the package in the system as if I wasn't at home. That allows the carrier to avoid carrying the package and to just bring the little slip of paper with him/her instead. If you have any other explanation how one can be at home and continuously get "sorry we missed you" notes from USPS, while getting FedEx/UPS packages just fine, I'd love to hear it.

interesting. I don't think your carrier has that kind of control over what he/she puts in their put-put truck... I think they have to take everything... by law...

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #13422899
Dave, I think the situation is fairly straightforward. Basically, a carrier gets my package, but instead of carrying it to my home he/she writes up "sorry we missed you" note and puts it in my mailbox. He then can mark the package in the system as if I wasn't at home. That allows the carrier to avoid carrying the package and to just bring the little slip of paper with him/her instead. If you have any other explanation how one can be at home and continuously get "sorry we missed you" notes from USPS, while getting FedEx/UPS packages just fine, I'd love to hear it.

Ok, I'm hearing you loud and clear now. You have a lazy carrier. That person SHOULD try to deliver your package and those who care about their job as a carrier do make the effort to deliver rather than simply putting a slip in the box as if the package doesn't fit. Leaving a slip is doing his or her job, but it doesn't really get the job done to the satisfaction of the customer.

Are you on a rural route and possibly on a road with a box across the street from your residence? If so, that carrier might only go down the OTHER side of the street without access to your driveway.

Again, you may wish to call the local delivery office and hope that an arrangement to deliver packages can be met.

dave

ewheeler20 wrote in post #13422951
interesting. I don't think your carrier has that kind of control over what he/she puts in their put-put truck... I think they have to take everything... by law...

I don't know. The thing is they usually put today's date and when the package would be available for pickup on the slip. I assume they tell should you to pick up the next day when they do have the package (so that you don't show up at the PO while they're still out) and pretty much all the time the slip says that the package is available for pickup on the same day delivery attempt was made. (often I can open the mailbox shortly after mailman stops by, get the slip, take a 10 min walk to the PO and get my package. Unless the carrier rushes back to the PO right after they stop by my building I don't see how they could have the package at PO that fast).

snyderman wrote in post #13423068
Are you on a rural route and possibly on a road with a box across the street from your residence?

Dave, I live in an apartment building in a fairly densely populated area. Maybe carriers have too many packages around here...

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #13422668
The thing is, there's usually someone around my house as well. I definitely see a correlation between the size of the package and whether they bring it or just put a note in my mail box. They usually deliver a thick envelope under 1 lb., but if it is a box or an envelope with a textbook I get a note. From the comments in this thread I see that I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess I'll try asking senders to use UPS / FedEx as much as possible, and maybe lightly touch the subject next time I'm at the PO.

I had the exact same thing. So I complained and problem got resolved. However, with UPS it's even worse. I complained nothing happened. Left a note even when I was standing right in front of the building waiting for him!!! The guy just wouldn't deliever!!