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I'm a mail carrier (a sub to boot!) and I have often left packages in garbage cans, under door mats, or even under large trucks, etc. in inclement weather and whatnot. Many of our elderly customers actually want us to walk in their house and put the packages and mail on a table for them! A lot of times I forget garbage bags to put packages in, a lot of houses don't have nice big front porches! But I ALWAYS leave a notice, the reason that I do this is so the customer doesn't have to come in the office for their packages and the packages are protected from the weather. If I have a bad day and I screw up somehow, leave the package in a location the home owner doesn't frequent or left somewhere they didn't want it to be, my postmaster goes ballistic on me and rightfully so!
Oh, this past spring I had the honor of delivering hatching eggs for the first time!! They were placed in a mail bucket and covered with tape over the top with a large sign saying "Hatching Eggs-Fragile" and even had a cute pic of a chick busting out of its shell! Too cute! I delivered it right to the door and they were so happy to see me!!
Now again, if they hadn't been home I would have had to leave a notice and it having been a Saturday they would have had to wait until Monday a.m. to pick their eggs up.
Remember too, that not everyone checks their boxes out on a daily basis and that is where we usually put notices, I prefer to leave them in the box rather than the door because of the weather conditions. It may start out as a nice day, but if you're gone for a long weekend and it gets crappy out, the notice can get ruined. Check the boxes!!
That being said, it is really helpful when people clean their mailboxes out on a daily basis (especially this time of year!) and also-feel free to call the office and talk to your local postmaster and tell them where you prefer packages to be delivered. They will tell the regular carrier and they'll tell their sub, mistakes do happen, but some are inexcusable as in not leaving notices, leaving packages curbside; really how lazy can you be! Granted, not every office is as on top of things as mine is (unfortunately some people just don't care), but I've worked in several locally and they all seem to be fairly conscientious. Unfortunately due to union rules, short of stealing, it is very hard to get fired-one of the pros and cons of unions.
To the OP, I would definitely talk to your regular carrier and tell her what happened, don't take it out on them, but just explain the situation. Trust me, no one wants to be criticized and if your regular is on top of things, they will tell their sub! I'm so sorry this happened to you, but maybe you had a newbie and they thought they were doing the right thing? There are so many rules and regs to remember when you start out it is quite nerve wracking! Not taking sides, but just remembering what I was like when I first started-scared to death I was going to screw up somehow and so nervous if I couldn't find somewhere to put a package.
ETA: Sorry this is so long!!
Well its good to know there are some great postal folks. I just adore my regular mailman he always brings my eggs to the door no matter what the weather and you should see the way he handles them like they were fine china
He was telling me about how that sub I am having issues with stole a good percentage of his holiday tips. Lucky fort me I always hand it to him directly so I know he gets the cash. He said the same thing, short of a major offence she wont be fired and he cant prove she toiok his tips it is just based on what the home owners told him.
I thought that it was against the rules for postal workers to accept monetary tips any more. I leave a tin full of fudge in the box for mine.