RANT--USPS--UNBELIEVABLE ENCOUNTER X 3

[dmn57]

I've received many USPS MO's in the past as payment for a variety of things, and it never even occurred to me to try and cash them at the local PO. I just deposit them at the bank and move on.

 

[Smoke]

It's been my experience that the employee you're (not the OP specifically) usually ranting at is usually the low man on the totem pole and whatever you're ranting at them about is above their big grade anyway and they probably agree with you but can't do anything about it.

I used to have people scream at me all the time over security policies that I had no control over.

One place I worked at required that everybody that entered the site present ID and be signed in. It didn't matter if they were 6 months old. How many 6 month-olds do you know that have an id?

Anyway, I try very hard to bear that in mind anytime I'm dealing with a Frontline employee

 

[H Richard]

The world seems to run on credit and debit transactions. Get used to it, it is the future.

 

[fatcat3]

Didn't know post office cashed M.O.'s. Hell I had a bank clerk teel me they could cash a check because it wasn't drawn on a local bank. He was right, It was a U.S. Dept. of Treasury check. I didn't lose my cookies, surprisingly, just asked to see his supervisor after calmly explaining that if the check bounced, all that paper stuff in his draw was worthless.

 

[silicosys4]

Don't postal employees get pretty good medical insurance and a retirement

The benefits are bare minimum. The "Retirement" is a joke and is why you see many senior citizens delivering the mail.

, as well as, paid vacations?

That you by and large cannot use because of the chronic shortage of personnel to cover

Don't they have union protections?

LOL the post office union is a joke.

A lot of folks would like those benefits.

Then why is the USPS so short staffed?

Seems that anyone dissatisfied with their job should just move on.

And I suppose you won't be complaining when your service sucks because the only people not moving on are those too incompetent to find a better paying jobs

 

[kev74]

Anybody here willing to pay double the current rate for shipping and postage so the post office can afford to hire and pay for enough competent staff?

Asking as a former postal carrier

Starting wages are just above minimum wage, no retirement for the first 2 years, tops out at $32/hrs after 12+ years, and mandated overtime in excess of 70 hrs/week, regardless of how it impacts your family to be working 12-14 hour days, 6-7 days a week.

You can't buy a house or raise a family on USPS wages. At some point the older generations are just going to have to start spending more if you want the service you think you are entitled to.

That's almost $140,000 a year.

I think I could get by on that.

 

[silicosys4]

That's almost $140,000 a year.

I think I could get by on that.

Your math is WAY off.
$32/hr is under $60k/year before taxes.
I worked two years straight at no less than a mandatory 60 hrs/week, pulled $85K/year, and it basically ruined my life so I quit and found a job immediately making 50% more than USPS HIGHEST pay scale with steady 40/hr work weeks instead of the post office's "You are working 70 hours this week and if you can't you are fired. Oh your wife is divorcing you because she hasn't seen you in two years? Too bad".

 

[kev74]

Your math is WAY off.
$32/hr is under $60k/year before taxes.
I worked two years straight at no less than a mandatory 60 hrs/week, pulled $85K/year, and it basically ruined my life so I quit and found a job immediately making 50% more than USPS HIGHEST pay scale with steady 40/hr work weeks instead of the post office's "You are working 70 hours this week and if you can't you are fired. Oh your wife is divorcing you because she hasn't seen you in two years? Too bad".

$32 an hour for 40 hours a week is $66,560

30 hours overtime per week at time and a half for 50 weeks is $72,000.

Total pay is $138,560 per year.

 

[silicosys4]

$32 an hour for 40 hours a week is $66,560

30 hours overtime per week at time and a half for 50 weeks is $72,000.

Total pay is $138,560 per year.

No OT during holidays, weekends, or during December/January.
At least that's the contract I was working under

You don't even want to know the Hell that you live in as a rural carrier, where you are paid by the day, not the hour.

You might have an 8 hour day or a 14 hour day, more likely a 14 hour day, and you'll get the same $150 either way.

 

[444 Magnum]

Pretty good pay, great benefits, up to 26 days paid leave per year plus 10 holidays. There's a reason why most of the USPS workers make it a career. They take a full lunch break and every break allowed during the day. I've waited in line many a time with only one worker while the others took their coffee breaks. It's not a job that I would want, but they are well compensated. No grounds for complaints. There are plenty of people who would gladly fill these positions.

Pay scale:

https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/apwu_rates_effective_-_september_07_2024.pdf

Benefits:

Compensation and Benefits - Careers - About.usps.com

 

[ladder13]

My friend Rich, retired Yonkers postal worker. 6 vehicles last I checked, including 3 vettes, a Mustang hopped up barely street legal, a Honda Civic hybrid, a Honda Ridgeline. Just looked, his house is worth more than $900,000.
Has a million $$$+ Amazon, Nividia, Apple.

 

[Pisgah]

Not picking on an old guy -- I'm 72 myself -- but I never thought of trying to cash a money order at the PO. I take 'em to the bank...no problem. They don't even want to TAKE cash anymore, assume I am using a card even for a stamp, and don't usually have much cash on hand.