Is this a valid complaint to make to Post Office?

[Redpoppy]

We live in a condo complex and have locked mailboxes with two package mailboxes that also lock. I don't always get the mail everyday since it is locked. Lately when a package comes the mailman puts it in a package box and doesn't lock it. If I saw a locked package box I would stop and check the mail, but don't because I figure it isn't there yet. Often our neighbor looks (because her daughter comes and opens the unlocked boxes) and will bring it down. I've had one package taken, though it turned up a few days later opened by our fence (they must not of wanted it after seeing "personal massager" on the package sheet I guess, of all the packages to take).

I went today to get mail and there was a slip saying to check the unlocked package box and no package. I'm not expecting anything, but it's DS's birthday tomorrow. It may have been a slip from when I last checked it on Wednesday and forgot to take it out (there were two packages in there unlocked then). The neighbor did have a package for me, but it has been delivered to someone's door and they brought it to the neighbors since they know them. Maybe that package went wandering for the unlocked box?

I'm thinking of complaining to the post office about them not being locked up. It's there for a reason and sometimes they do lock it. Or do I just need to have low expectations of a community mailbox and check mail daily? Thankfully Amazon is usually UPS and they deliver to the back door. I love our UPS guy.

[Balki.Bartokomous]

I'd say something. There are locked boxes for a reason. It sounds like you have a lazy postal worker.

[Nonny]

I would say something, because even if you checked your mail every day it could still be a problem. But that said, I also think you should check your mail every day to be courteous to those you are sharing the communal lock boxes with.

[Deleted]

Both you and your mailman are lazy.

[Redpoppy]

There are around 20 individual locked boxes for two buildings, then two package boxes. The mailman should put the package in a package box and then put the key to it in the respective mailbox that is then accessible to the person it is addressed to. Packages larger than the package box go directly to the unit.

Aug 5, 2012 14:04:01 GMT -5 Nonny said:

But that said, I also think you should check your mail every day to be courteous to those you are sharing the communal lock boxes with.

My drive by checking isn't working with inconsistent locking (been the last few months). I go by daily when heading down to our lot, but unless I see it locked I figure it isn't there yet. And lately I see the slip, panic it was stolen, then find our neighbor has it (I've never asked her to grab it). Our actual mail boxes are individual so I just get it every couple days.

[Deleted]

We have a similar setup, even though we live on a residential street and not a complex. We have a package box with a lock and the key sits in the lock unless someone has a package. Once a package is put into that box, the mailman takes the key out of the box and puts it in that house's box. When you find a key in your personal mailbox, you know that you have a package.

As long as you are consistently driving by to see if the key is not in the lock (indicating it is in someone's locked mailbox) then I don't see a problem with the way you've been handling this. Even if you checked your mail daily, how would you know to look in the locked package box if there is no key or slip of paper in your mailbox?

I'd probably say something to the post office. I'd be nice about it but I'd mention that I'd had some issues lately and if the person delivering the mail could please follow procedure, that should stop the issue.

[slug*bug]

Aug 5, 2012 14:27:03 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

As long as you are consistently driving by to see if the key is not in the lock (indicating it is in someone's locked mailbox) then I don't see a problem with the way you've been handling this. Even if you checked your mail daily, how would you know to look in the locked package box if there is no key or slip of paper in your mailbox?

Exactly. If this is really important to you (and it would be to me) I'd say something sooner than later since this clearly isn't a one time thing with your carrier.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 5, 2012 14:16:07 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

There are around 20 individual locked boxes for two buildings, then two package boxes. The mailman should put the package in a package box and then put the key to it in the respective mailbox that is then accessible to the person it is addressed to. Packages larger than the package box go directly to the unit.

Aug 5, 2012 14:04:01 GMT -5 Nonny said:

But that said, I also think you should check your mail every day to be courteous to those you are sharing the communal lock boxes with.

My drive by checking isn't working with inconsistent locking (been the last few months). I go by daily when heading down to our lot, but unless I see it locked I figure it isn't there yet. And lately I see the slip, panic it was stolen, then find our neighbor has it (I've never asked her to grab it). Our actual mail boxes are individual so I just get it every couple days.

But if you don't check your mail for a few days, you are using up the package area. What is others have packages, and then because you are too lazy to check your mail everyday, there is no place to put their packages?

Bottom line, check your mail everyday.

[Redpoppy]

Thanks all, will give them a call.

ETA: I stop and check daily if the package box is locked or I know one is being delivered. This is the case with 99% of packages. They are taken from the package box before the next mail delivery. I don't see any reason to check my individual mailbox (not package box) daily if the expected protocol of locking the package box were being followed. The lost one I was expecting Saturday and went to look today. We've had 3 unexpected packages in the 8 years we've lived here that weren't UPS.

[dr.girlfriend]

The whole "I don't check it unless it's locked" rationale is stupid, but it is enough that the mailman isn't locking the boxes and packages could get stolen. That should be the basis of your complaint. Your weird system of not checking mail daily is just a red herring.

[dexteroni]

It's only valid if (a) you know for sure that the mailman is the one leaving it unlocked, and not other residents, and (b) you've already asked the mailman to lock it and he isn't doing so. It's pretty shitty to complain to someone's employer about an error you don't even know for sure they're making because you didn't bother trying to find out. Don't be that jerk. You don't even know if the last slip you found is current, because maybe you forgot to take it out when you checked your mail 5 days ago, but you aren't sure.

Because it is locked some days and not others, I'm thinking it's more likely to be a resident. Maybe start with a "please lock the mailbox" note on the mailbox and see if that works.

Also, that's kind of a dumb mailbox situation. Since you are condo owners, and not renters, why not invest in a better system where each unit gets one larger mailbox that will hold all of their mail?

[rubytue]

Aug 5, 2012 17:57:49 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

Is it possible the other residents are leaving it unlocked after they pick up their packages and its not the mailman?

I've had these before. The key does come back out after you unlock it.

We don't have package boxes, but we are lucky to check our locked box once a week. I don't think it's weird except for the unlocked box. If both boxes have keys showing, no one has a package. If a box is missing a key, someone has a package and it's time to check the mail. Makes sense to me.

But yes, I would totally say something about the unlocked box. The post office maintains those boxes and it's their job to keep the locks. In fact, if you move in its the post office that would change the lock (I had to bring my deed to prove it).

[Deleted]

I don't think some posters are understanding the way this works. You don't have your own package box key - right? It is a shared key between tenants. The key is kept in the lock and the box is unlocked normally. If someone has a package, the postal worker puts it in the box, locks it, takes the key out, and puts it in your own personal box (which you have the only key to). If you find the key in your personal box, you know you have a package and you use the key to unlock the package box. When you get your package out, you leave the key in the lock and the box unlocked.

At least that is how it works in our neighborhood. Which I admit is odd given that we are not a condo and don't even have a HOA, so it sucks that my mailbox is down the street from my house and we have to use a key for it instead of just having it at my house.

[nsl]

Aug 5, 2012 17:57:49 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

Is it possible the other residents are leaving it unlocked after they pick up their packages and its not the mailman?

Yeah, this is impossible. If you haven't had to use this type of community mailbox before it might be easy to think that the mailman isn't the problem here, but if you have it's obvious that he/she is the one causing the problem, not the OP. Each package box has its own unique key, which is placed in the box of whichever resident has a package in that box. Only one resident at a time will have mail in each package box--if more people receive packages than there are boxes, those extra packages are re-routed to the post office and the resident gets a notice to pick up their mail.

To the OP, you need to report this to the local postmaster. Your carrier isn't following procedure and I'd be surprised if you're the only one on his/her route who's had mail stolen as a result.

[Redpoppy]

Yes, ours is that way. One communal key for each of the package boxes and they don't double up multiple addresses in the package box. I don't know what they do when there are packages for more than two addresses in a day, probably deliver to the door since they do that with large boxes. There is no way anyone other than the mailman leaves it unlocked with a package in it.

I don't know if a package was stolen this weekend, but they are definitely being left in there unlocked. My neighbor that randomly takes my packages when the box is unlocked has noticed it for hers as well. I'll double check protocol with the post office before giving them the general address.

Some newer house developments have them here but mainly multi-family complexes. A lot of roads only have mail delivery to one side of the street too so everyone's mailboxes are on that side.

[dexteroni]

Oh ok, I see. I indeed did not get how it worked. I'm still in favor of asking the mailman to lock it first. Then if he doesn't, or if he does it for a little while and stops, then complain to the post office.