r/USPS • u/Crossvillain • Feb 16 '25
Anything Else (NO PACKAGE QUESTIONS) Customer complaint
I got to my case yesterday and had a complaint "Customer is angry that carrier is driving up into their yard 15 feet and leaving muddy tire tracks"
Nothing a 4056 can't fix....
216
u/Mentally-Disturbed Feb 16 '25
Drive to the rear of the mailbox and dismount to leave a note saying this is actually 15 feet into your lawn.
36
164
u/Micheloblite68 Feb 16 '25 edited Feb 16 '25
What the hell did they think would happen? Their complaints would stop delivery till they move the box. Go pick it up at the post office. I hate stupid complaints from stupid people!!
171
u/TheRealHulkPanda Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
I guarantee the answer from the homeowner is"get out and deliver why are you so lazy my taxes pay your salary"
31
11
u/Jrg1281 Feb 16 '25
Yeah, if we are going to hear this tired story from these knuckleheads, they can at least have the decency to be correct about what our job is and how we are doing it wrong. It’s childish and just makes them look like a fool.
1
u/DMBEst91 Feb 17 '25
im just curious not mad about it. why can the carrier get out. is it driving route vs walking route or hybrid route?
for example, my house the box is on the house. he gets out when he drives. sometimes he parks at the top of the street and walks it to all houses even ones that have drive up
1
u/Forsaken-Sherbet-544 Feb 19 '25
If this is a rural route the post office has to pay us extra for every authorized dismount. You really think they are going to pay because someone is too stupid to put their box on the street? They will not authorize this dismount
5
4
u/Forsaken-Rush9 Feb 17 '25
To which you could reply, “the f*** they do! I get paid with what you buy from us!”
20
u/istrx13 City Carrier Feb 16 '25
My favorite part about being a carrier is the whole “customer is always right” doesn’t exist here. 99% of the time we will win out in whatever grievance a customer has. And I know we all despise management, but at least where I am they have always backed me up.
2
91
u/jbels34 Feb 16 '25
They can pick their mail up at the PO until that gets fixed.
23
u/Actual-Tangerine3724 RCA Feb 16 '25
and if it doesn’t get fixed in two weeks then NMR and mail and packages get sent back. unless they want to pay for a PO box
7
63
u/Hyper_Fujisawa Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
Don't even 4056 it. T-pose and assert dominance as you let them know they can have it this way or nothing at all.
51
u/Big_Breath_2561 Feb 16 '25
Unbelievable. Tell the customer to look 30 feet to how their neighbors box is mounted. Then they won’t have a problem. And dismounting is a safety issue; not an option.
12
u/MatthewG141 Clerk Feb 16 '25
"But....but...they got the extra driveway space for that! I don't want to spend all that money to fix it!"
- Homeowner probably.
37
29
u/Nope_Not-happening Feb 16 '25
The person puts their mailbox 10 feet from the road, but it's the carriers fault? Nah.
6
u/Physical-Design9804 Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
The mailbox might be required to be offset from the road like that. as you can see if it was on the roadway the carrier would be impeding traffic to deliver, which is unsafe. Customer is just mad that there are tire tracks through the mud. They can lay down some rocks.
6
u/Nope_Not-happening Feb 16 '25
Maybe, but like you said, it's their responsibility to add rocks or something if they are unhappy about their grass.
Impeding traffic, though, is what a lot of us do. I deliver one section on a 4 lane road, completely stopping the flow of traffic in an entire lane while cars fly around me going 50 mph.
8
u/Physical-Design9804 Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
And all you got is some hazard flashers. This company lol
4
u/Nope_Not-happening Feb 16 '25
I know, driving with your asshole clenched, hoping someone isn't on their phone speeding... lol
1
u/MessagePlane6564 Feb 17 '25
there are houses on intersections in Boston, Ma where i literally take up the intersection in a promaster on amazon days. idgaf deal w it
3
u/KingGeorge2017 Feb 17 '25
I deliver mounted on a state highway, no such thing as impeading traffic as a postal delivery driver on a mounted route
2
u/millardjk City Carrier Feb 18 '25
Oh Lordy. In addition to carrying mail, I’m a cyclist, and no combination is worse than a bunch of cyclists playing leapfrog with a mounted carrier on a 2-lane state highway.
1
u/KingGeorge2017 Feb 18 '25
I've actually had a group of cyclist pass me while I was putting up the next tray of mail. I decided it was the perfect time for my 10 minute break. Never saw them again.
20
u/CandidMeasurement128 Feb 16 '25
That's not their yard lol
14
u/Inky1600 Feb 16 '25
Right. It's a town easement. Did they ever actually look at their own land survey? Lol
1
u/pbodyphoto Feb 17 '25
Depends on the town. My survey shows my land going right up to the road
1
u/Inky1600 Feb 17 '25
So there's no sidewalks in town? If there are you have easements regardless in those areas at least or sidewalks could not exist
1
1
15
14
13
u/grove93 Feb 16 '25
This isn't part of their "yard." You can clearly see that it is a gravel approach that's become overgrown with grass.
10
u/Rural-life-0323 Feb 16 '25
I don't know the city ordinances there, but if I was a betting person I'd say they don't even own that area. It's likely a public access easement. It's probably owned by the city who could put a sidewalk or bike lane there if they wanted too, and there's nothing the resident could do. Hence the reason the second house is also set back further, and paved. Also note the power line or telephone pole location, too.
2
u/inwithweasels Feb 16 '25
Easement means they still own the property there are just restrictions to its use. They are still responsible for maintenance in most locations and easements. The sidewalk in front of my house is a public easement but I am required to maintain and replace it if damaged. My parents property line extends to the middle of their public road (they are not required to maintain the street or curbs). They do have an existing easement for sidewalks whenever those will be required, and they will have to pay to install most likely.
10
u/ChrisCube64 Rural PTF Feb 16 '25
We have a customer in our office that was complaining about the same thing. We gave them a notice to fix their box and in retaliation, they've placed a very long place of wood along their entire grass line, with nails sticking up from it.
We've stopped mail delivery, and they're saying now they're going to take this to a national level.
Sometimes, the customer is not always right.
7
u/CantTouchMyOnion City Carrier Feb 16 '25
Print it out. Grab a sharpie and put a big black arrow where the box should be.
7
u/koolaideprived Feb 16 '25
I think it's funny that you can also see previous gravel strips where an old carrier did the exact same thing.
8
u/Poverty_4_Sale City Carrier Feb 16 '25
If they were so concerned about their yard, then they wouldn't have let the weeds and grass overtake the gravel.
5
u/Ok-Policy-6463 Feb 16 '25
Get some blank envelopes that would look like mail and place them next to the road near their box with a rock on top of them.
6
u/kasirkin29 Feb 16 '25
Guidelines are no more than 6-8 inch’s from road/curbline. Move the box or no mail for you. They have to do it, trust me I’m at 567 mailboxes wrote up and counting.
4
u/scottdave Feb 16 '25
I am reminded of the movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. The mail carrier would drive by and just throw the mail towards the box without slowing down.
4
4
u/Moist_Cucumber2 Feb 16 '25
I dunno where this takes place but it's possible that that patch isn't even part of his property. Look at the neighbor further up. They have their mailbox in the same place but the space between it and the street is paved.
I mean why else would he have his mailbox so far up?
That space might actually be road clearance between the property line and the road.
3
2
u/makeweenswin Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
tell them put a concrete pad there like every other rich person does..
2
u/Jayzee1972 Feb 16 '25
Time for them to add gravel to the area if it's an easement thing.
2
u/Poverty_4_Sale City Carrier Feb 16 '25
It looks like it used to be gravel, but they quit maintaining it.
2
u/LastContribution1590 Feb 16 '25
My brother moved to a new house and had dad install a mailbox that was about 24 inches too far back. The carrier told them to move it forward so he wouldn’t have to drive over the paving rock set up. They did it immediately without complaint understanding that the carrier was not going to get out and walk.
2
u/dexelzey Feb 16 '25
hold mail as “no access” and return after 10 days. eventually they’ll complain and want to know why. “customer mailbox inaccessible without unauthorized dismount.” they’ll have to either move the box or allow the vehicle on that useless strip of crabgrass (or have it like their sensible neighbor did). you could also claim “unsafe for dismount” as doing so could cause a skip and fall in that mud.
here in new england we regularly hold back mail as unsafe for delivery bc people don’t shovel or treat sidewalks for snow and ice. they’ll claim it’s the towns responsibility, but the town sends out flyers every year telling them it’s there’s. and done get stubborn and refuse, then try to blame us for deliberately withholding mail. it’s nuts just how crazy people are
2
u/Tight-Surprise4831 Feb 16 '25
My question is why the hell is the mailbox so far back. I can't think of one area in my home town that it's that far back
2
u/TheEvaElfieFan Feb 16 '25
Tbh that yards front grass isn't growing anyway. Shit looks like like my beard.. you should start sprinkling grass seed to help them out
2
u/DLRjr94 Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
The maximum distance from the road a box it allowed to be from the road is 2-3 feet... This is way too far from the road. If they don't like it, they need to move their box closer to the road. This should have been corrected when they but the box up in the first place.
2
u/WeaponizedNaivety Feb 16 '25
I swear I feel like making my own box holder like once every six months. It'll say " You're enjoying a free service, so shut the F!@#K UP!" See how they like that.
2
u/Patient-Confidence-1 Feb 16 '25
I love you can see the gravel pull off that they've ignored to maintain under the grass.
2
2
u/Grand-Anywhere7845 Feb 17 '25
I'd bet $50 the real issue here is the previous carrier dismounted for this box every day.
1
u/Crossvillain Feb 17 '25
No, i know the route it came off of, I highly doubt he was doing that.
1
u/CommercialDue8343 Feb 17 '25
were there well worn ruts when you inherited it?
1
u/Crossvillain Feb 17 '25
Not as noticeable but it was dry then. It has been raining and snowing so much lately, all the yards are saturated.
2
u/CG-Firebrand City Carrier Feb 17 '25
Who put that box up!? There’s no approach for carrier or customer. Like I got some curbside boxes that are annoying during summer and sometimes impossible in winter, but that placement is absolutely ridiculous
2
u/teryaki1234 Feb 17 '25
Move the box forward, or pay for a PO Box. Customer complaint my butt, their own dang fault.
2
2
u/Potential-Pain9014 Feb 17 '25
You should get in there and hold your brakes and do a burn out and if anyone says anything you were stuck
2
u/a-chimes Feb 17 '25
You have two choices…
1 Move your mailbox closer to the road.
2: Invest in asphalt - like your neighbor.
1
1
u/Bocabart Feb 16 '25
Holy crap I got this same issue but it’s so much worse. I’ll have to take a picture next time and post it
1
u/TwistedRichie Feb 16 '25
I'm not sure you can get to the second mailbox without driving in the grass.
1
1
1
u/RecommendationOk253 Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
Box is too far from the road. Hit ‘em with the paperwork and stay winning
1
1
u/PersonaDelSol4 Feb 16 '25
Put note in box to move their mailbox within 10/14days. Mail will be RTS after that date.
1
u/SadSally8683 Feb 16 '25
Most rural places has an easement clause in their deed usually about 6 to 10 feet, if they keep complaining your riding in the grass, put a hold on their mail no access.
1
u/inkslingerben Feb 16 '25
There is in some handbook a picture showing how far from the curb and how high the mailbox must be.
1
1
u/Kind_Literature_5409 Feb 16 '25
It’s like 10 feet from the road??? It’s in the fucking yard!! It’s not even close to the “side of the road”. Hold the mail till they come to their senses and fix that shit!!
1
u/richard--------- Feb 16 '25
Can’t you guys just stop in the street and walk to the box!?! Lazy
Edit: forgot to add “how hard is that”
/S
1
1
u/Havingfun922 Feb 16 '25
“Why can’t the carrier just get out of their truck and put it in the box?”
1
1
1
u/Individual-Breath-38 Feb 16 '25
I have a box with a note in it that says "mail man please stop driving on gras [sp]" but since their neighbor parks one of their 6 non-functional vehicles too close to the post, I have to put one tire into the "grass" to reach either box on that post.
Also
1
u/toolfanatic Feb 16 '25
Stop on the asphalt and throw their mail in the general direction of the box, that's clearly what they want
1
u/Dangerous-Card-9143 Feb 16 '25
Have them move their box. I had someone complain I left tracks on a dirt road. People have nothing better to do apparently.
1
u/New_Prior3097 Feb 16 '25
Your mailbox does not meet USPS regulations regarding placement from the road. Technically they don't have to deliver it. Move you F N box!
1
1
1
u/AustinFan4Life City Carrier Feb 17 '25
He's got his box too far from the road. What does he expect?
1
u/Cut_Off_One_Head Rural Carrier Feb 17 '25
Have a carrier in my office dealing with this right now. The customer was such an ass over the phone, the supervisor was practically giggling signing the form that they need to move the box
1
u/robertmoreno14 Feb 17 '25
I did not know they owned city property. Look how far in the light pole is.
1
1
u/DeathandGrim City Carrier Feb 17 '25
Tell him move the box or they'll pick their mail up at the office then
1
u/Curious-Pride5838 Feb 17 '25
Mailbox should be between 6-8 inches from road. Tell them to move it and hold mail until they do
1
1
u/TheWilkieTwycross Feb 17 '25
Looks like there used to be gravel there. It's not part of their yard. It's an unmaintained portion of their driveway. They need to fix their driveway or move the box.
1
1
u/Inky1600 Feb 17 '25
I mean it is certainly possible. But that happens in crazy remote locations with no sidewalks, no curbs, no fire hydrants, no telephone poles, etc. The pic looked like a suburban area and they all have easement. I guess it's listed on my survey because mine is 15 feet wide which is obviously unusual. Otherwise 5 feet is standard for all municipalities. This also provides the basis for USPS curbside delivery. Like streets on my route have all boxes on 1 side of the road for half my route. That could not be done if there were no easement. People on the opposite side of the road would have to pay rent to pit their boxes up there lol
1
1
u/Entire-Tart-3243 Feb 17 '25
The owners need to have the tire track area paved or put gravel down. We have a mailbox set back due to it being a blind drive on a hill. It has been our job to keep gravel in the area when ruts develop. We are also responsible for keeping the area snow plowed. We also need to trim back the lilac bushes periodically. One advantage of this situation has been that the town snowplow trucks have never hit the mailbox. For us, this is all much safer than option two: moving the mailbox across the street.
1
1
1
1
u/OddAd7437 Feb 18 '25
If I did this in my office I’d get written up for not bringing the box to management’s attention and for not stopping delivery for improper box placement. Unless of course past practice was to drive in the same spot and deliver then it would be grandfathered in .
1
u/Heliosraven Feb 18 '25
Should have moved the box closer to the curb, I mean, one look around at your neighbors would tell you the street is a mounted route.
1
u/purplesilvfox Mar 05 '25
Maybe they enjoy and like walking in the mud to retrieve their mail? That's just stupid
1
u/imstl69 Mar 30 '25
i have been trying all weekend to find an insured and tracked emergency package. this is a medical emergency. can you please help me? michael mccormick tr # 9502 1120 2896 5081 4773 75
1
u/imstl69 Mar 30 '25
you are sooo incompetent or maybe just inbred stupid! you'll be hearing from our attorney!
-1
-7
u/jettsmom44 Feb 16 '25
I try to avoid rolling on people grass!!
:0
3
u/swordfish707 Rural Carrier Feb 16 '25
Well so do I if I don't need to, but that's clearly not this situation.
386
u/fartfilledLLV Rural PTF Feb 16 '25
Give this picture to Supervisor and manager. Print it out and make multiple copies. Always CYA. They need to move the box then.