Diana_of_Themyscira
Well-known member
It's the most dangerous phrase (although it's a sentence, technically) in the English language, so said Computer Pioneer and Navy Admiral Grace Hopper.
That's exactly what the customer said when I issued her PS Form 4056 checking the first box - Your box is not an approved box.
She came to the PO and talked to the clerk who relayed the message to me : "Explain in detail why my mailbox is not an approved mailbox; we have been using it for the last 10-20 years."
Backtracking several months, I had a conversation with her husband who proudly told me he made that mailbox almost 30 years ago. And that it has been withstanding the test of time. Well, the mailbox shows some patina and really looks old, which I think is cute. ( I love retro and vintage looks.) Unfortunately, it's a locked box and the slot is way too narrow that I would need to do some origami to the flats so they'd fit. I even had to take the phonebook to the door because that poor thing won't fit either.
Now, they've been getting small packages from China; I have been driving all the way up to the house to deliver. They have dogs inside a wired fence. They are often inside but there were a couple of times they were out and they ran to my vehicle that I almost hit them. She said they do that because the UPS and FedEx guys give them treats. Well, too bad, because I am the USPS girl and I do NOT give dog treats.
I have 2 questions :
1. 30 years ago, could customers take it upon themselves and just make their own mailboxes?
Is the measurement for the door slots the same as for the mailboxes?
I know the rule now says they have to present it to the postmaster for approval. But what was the rule back then?
Apparently, they want to continue using their mailbox because "they have always done so for the past 20 something years."
My supervisor said that because the former carriers delivered to that box, then it is implied that it is an approved box.
"It's not your fault, the ones before you did it so you'll have to continue doing it, too."
"Oh sir, you're saying that it might have been a fault then but still you want me to continue doing the same fault that the others did. Shouldn't we stop that and correct it?"
"No. It's your job to deliver."
"With due respect, sir, I do not think that is right."
2. Should I stop going up to their driveway because of the few instances when the dogs were out?
I'm guessing they might be out more often now because the weather is getting warmer.
I need help, please. ? Thank you ! ?
That's exactly what the customer said when I issued her PS Form 4056 checking the first box - Your box is not an approved box.
She came to the PO and talked to the clerk who relayed the message to me : "Explain in detail why my mailbox is not an approved mailbox; we have been using it for the last 10-20 years."
Backtracking several months, I had a conversation with her husband who proudly told me he made that mailbox almost 30 years ago. And that it has been withstanding the test of time. Well, the mailbox shows some patina and really looks old, which I think is cute. ( I love retro and vintage looks.) Unfortunately, it's a locked box and the slot is way too narrow that I would need to do some origami to the flats so they'd fit. I even had to take the phonebook to the door because that poor thing won't fit either.
Now, they've been getting small packages from China; I have been driving all the way up to the house to deliver. They have dogs inside a wired fence. They are often inside but there were a couple of times they were out and they ran to my vehicle that I almost hit them. She said they do that because the UPS and FedEx guys give them treats. Well, too bad, because I am the USPS girl and I do NOT give dog treats.
I have 2 questions :
1. 30 years ago, could customers take it upon themselves and just make their own mailboxes?
Is the measurement for the door slots the same as for the mailboxes?
I know the rule now says they have to present it to the postmaster for approval. But what was the rule back then?
Apparently, they want to continue using their mailbox because "they have always done so for the past 20 something years."
My supervisor said that because the former carriers delivered to that box, then it is implied that it is an approved box.
"It's not your fault, the ones before you did it so you'll have to continue doing it, too."
"Oh sir, you're saying that it might have been a fault then but still you want me to continue doing the same fault that the others did. Shouldn't we stop that and correct it?"
"No. It's your job to deliver."
"With due respect, sir, I do not think that is right."
2. Should I stop going up to their driveway because of the few instances when the dogs were out?
I'm guessing they might be out more often now because the weather is getting warmer.
I need help, please. ? Thank you ! ?
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) approved it; I didn't know any better then. But just because we have always done it this way doesn't mean we should always continue doing so... ?
