Today, June 10, 2008, 2nd day of Shavuot, a USPS employee has shown a great insensitivity to Jewish laws and customs.
While I was in shul, a USPS worker attempted to deliver a package. My wife answered the door and informed the man that it's a holiday and she's unable to sign for the package. A UPS or FedEx delivery man, as they have done before, would have graciously left the package inside the door. The USPS delivery man told my wife that if she won't sign for the package, he's not gonna give it to her and that I'll have to go tomorrow and pick it up myself. Now I'm gonna have to waste at least 30 minutes tomorrow, waiting in line, to get something that was supposed to be delivered today.
You should all be very careful about breaking the arm with which you write. If this guy comes to delivery your package, your package will go back to the post office and even may be shipped back. Broken arm? Cast? Too bad for you. No signature, no delivery, no soup for you!
They probably need to follow a very strict protocol or get fired.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, what if the receiver has a broken arm or stroke or something, then what?
ReplyDeleteYou actually think they follow any kind of protocol? Have you ever received any packages sent by USPS? They ring the bell and leave within 5 10 seconds. They originally refused to go to the side of the house where my door is. They dropped packages outside in the rain. Failed to leave a "we missed you" note. And much more.
Yeah, they need to get their asses kicked but I can't find a boot of the right size.
ReplyDeleteI dont think I've ever had USPS deliver anything on shabbos/yom tov, but we did have UPS once and the guy was really nice. We told him it was a holiday, and he was like "oh, ok, whatever"
ReplyDeletehe signed for us, and left the package. :) we were happy. :-)
Same here.
ReplyDeleteI actually had that exact situation (not USPS) on Shavuous. They delivered a package, I said I couldnt sign for it because its a Jewish holiday. He said if I wont sign for it then it'll be marked as refused and sent back. I told him I was disapointed, but if thats what he had to do then do it, because I wont sign for it.
ReplyDeleteI think that convinced him of my sincerity, and he asked if it was alright for him to sign for me. I said sure, and the package got delivered.
it's not fun if you can't sue for discrimination. if you have suffered in any way, like suffered a stroke, or broke your arm as a result of stress and disappointment of not getting your package then it would be a much better story.
ReplyDeleteNext I'm going to pick up package, gotta make sure to trip and fall in front of post office.
ReplyDeleteMoshe: could be because its USPS and not UPS, its got the "S" in there for secure, like "https", so because they want to run securely you need to sign to show you are the correct owner.
ReplyDeleteUPS much more secure. If package doesn't need signature, USPS dumps it outside, rain or no rain. They did that just this Friday.
ReplyDeleteon shavuos i got a delivery from ups, -a cell phone- and i went to open the door prepared to start explaining the whole jewish holiday thing, but he came in and put it down and said - i know you cant sigh so i'm just putting it down, is that ok?
ReplyDeletethe weird thing is i was totally expecting him to take it back if i wouldnt sign so i couldnt get over the fact that he knew and just put it down, i live in BP though i dont know if that makes a diference
I live in Midwood. What makes a difference is that one is UPS and the other is USPS.
ReplyDeleteSorry, they are required to follow their rules (just like you are required to follow your rules). They offered you the opportunity to pick the package up another time, but, under the terms of their agreement with the sender, they are responsible for obtaining a signature, and cannot deliver without it.
ReplyDeleteSo, what do you expect-- is the mailman supposed to disregard his instructions because you've got religious issues? Do you want the mailman to stand and wait until the holiday is over? Perhaps you'd like the mailman to keep making special trips to your house until God tells you that you can sign for the package? Sorry, pal-- you're in the wrong on this. Religious issues are not the USPS' business.
And yet alternate side parking is suspended on holidays. And tests in colleges and those for government jobs are either rescheduled or given again.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, just like UPS, FedEx and DHL redeliver 3 times, I want USPS to redeliver 3 times too. All those agencies need to make a separate trip, USPS doesn't, they're making delivery from local branch.
USPS is a monopoly and because of that they can do whatever they want while providing crappy service. This becomes a lot worse because different branches are run differently and get different funding.
ReplyDeleteBranches in Manhattan are nice and fast and have do it yourself package mailing, working and fully stocked vending machines and other conveniences you don't get in some dump in Brooklyn.
USPS knows it can treat its customers like crap because they know they're the cheapest and for some services, they're the only ones there.
By the WAY, I am relegious jew and I am a mailman here in ny. You cant imagine how much discrimination i go through in my office just to get shabbas every week, oh and forget about the holidays its a war.The management and the employes discriminate or are intolerent to observant jews period.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about being a monopoly is that you can screw your workers and your customers and there's nothing either of them can do.
ReplyDelete