Is this asking too much?

[eliseb0323]

We get the local newspaper delivered to our house every day. Everyday it shows up in a different place -- the sidewalk, driveway, front yard, gutter, or bushes. I have asked that the paper be delivered to the front step. The distribution manager claims that it is not their "policy" to deliver to the front step, because it takes longer than just throwing the paper somewhere near the house. I think they are just being lazy.

FWIW -- the person that delivers the paper is an adult driving a car, not a kid on his/her bike or on foot.

Where is your paper delivered?

[Deleted]

I think it might be a bit much to ask that your paper be on your doorstep every morning.

However, I don't think it's too much to ask that it not be in your gutter or fucking bushes. That's just too much.

[heightsyankee]

May 23, 2012 10:22:39 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

I think it might be a bit much to ask that your paper be on your doorstep every morning.

However, I don't think it's too much to ask that it not be in your gutter or fucking bushes. That's just too much.

What she said.

I also think having adults deliver sucks.

[laurenpetro]

to your doorstep? yes.

[charminglife]

Exactly on your front step is a little much, but I do think it should be within a reasonable vicinity of the steps. Bushes and gutters are unacceptable. Did you call the paper directly? I'm sure the paper is interested in keeping you as a customer and they might get further with the distributors than you did.

[Deleted]

too much... if it was a kid on a bike they can easily hit the same target but an adult driving is throwing them out the window as he drives down the street at 10mph

[eliseb0323]

May 23, 2012 10:46:36 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

No one else is reminded of Bree Van de Kamp? I swear this was on Desperate Housewives once.

Did she get her paper delivered to the doorstep?

[ECB]

Yeah- as it's someone driving down the street.... yo uaren't going to get ON your doorstep.

I do think gutter/bushes is insane and I wouldnt blame you for saying "at least on the YARD", but what you want - it would most likely require the person to actually get out of their car and walk up to your house. That ain't going to happen!

[ringstrue]

This is why I don't get a paper.

But my neighbor used to get it and it was always on the doorstep.

[Melissa W.]

Don't they give people newspaper mailboxes? Ours does.

[pixy0stix]

May 23, 2012 10:34:59 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Your asking too much. This is part of the culture of newspaper delivery. It's tossed. And not by a professional baseball player with spot-on aim. Probably by a 15 year old whose mom/dad is driving him from door to door.

I've never had my paper delivered by a kid, it's always by an adult. I've been getting the paper in one form or another for 20 years now.

As far as placement, it's always in the driveway.

[cookiemdough]

omg. Yes that is asking too much.

[meshaliuknits]

We've mysteriously started getting the Sunday Chronicle. Delivered by some dude in a car and it's always on our steps. But the layout of our front yard makes that a fairly easy shot.

Or maybe the Chron requires training:



(I'm the only person who enjoyed Paperboy, aren't I?)

[druidp]

Make sure to also ask for a steaming hot cup of coffee sitting and waiting next to your perfectly-angled newspaper.

[nada]

Does the delivery guy come by for the fee now and then? Maybe try talking to him directly about his aim? I'd approach it with lots of sugar, not from an angry/complainy stance. I'd find something good to say about how the paper comes.... always wrapped up well (they pick em up in a big stack and roll em up themselves before delivery, at least that's how it was when I was a kid) or delivery is always on time or at least by the time it's wanted. It's good to start and end with a good thing and sammich the constructive criticism part in the middle for best results. Often just being a person and treating them like a person will get you better service. People give more of a crap how they affect you if they you're nice rather than douchey. I doubt they meant for the one to get up on the roof (although they should have stopped and tossed another one within reach and let you know one got up in your gutter). They maybe just don't know it's a hardship for you to get them off the bushes, though they may be right by your porch. If this is the case, a talk could really help.

[meshaliuknits]

My youngest sister used to pay me to assemble and roll up her Sunday papers when she delivered them. $5 every Sunday, it was that much of a PITA. /reminiscence

[eliseb0323]

May 23, 2012 12:09:59 GMT -5 @nada said:

Does the delivery guy come by for the fee now and then? Maybe try talking to him directly about his aim? I'd approach it with lots of sugar, not from an angry/complainy stance. I'd find something good to say about how the paper comes.... always wrapped up well (they pick em up in a big stack and roll em up themselves before delivery, at least that's how it was when I was a kid) or delivery is always on time or at least by the time it's wanted. It's good to start and end with a good thing and sammich the constructive criticism part in the middle for best results. Often just being a person and treating them like a person will get you better service. People give more of a crap how they affect you if they you're nice rather than douchey. I doubt they meant for the one to get up on the roof (although they should have stopped and tossed another one within reach and let you know one got up in your gutter). They maybe just don't know it's a hardship for you to get them off the bushes, though they may be right by your porch. If this is the case, a talk could really help.

I've never seen the paper guy. We pay electronically. The only contact we have with the carrier is when he sends a Holiday Greeting with a preaddressed envelope for us to put his holiday tip in.

[MixedBerryJam]

I guess I should appreciate my delivery guy more. I've never asked, I've never even spoken to the guy, but I usually don't even have to step out of my house to get it. It's usually within 6 inches of the door. It is very rare (like 4 times a year, if that) that I have to retrieve the paper from the lawn or bushes. And when I do, I assume he has someone covering for him. Maybe I'll send him an extra tip this week!

[eliseb0323]

May 23, 2012 12:37:45 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

I guess I should appreciate my delivery guy more. I've never asked, I've never even spoken to the guy, but I usually don't even have to step out of my house to get it. It's usually within 6 inches of the door. It is very rare (like 4 times a year, if that) that I have to retrieve the paper from the lawn or bushes. And when I do, I assume he has someone covering for him. Maybe I'll send him an extra tip this week!

Yeah, this is what good paper delivery service should be, IMO. I wouldn't mind if the paper was somewhere near the front step -- I just hate having to search for it every morning. No matter what your job is, you should do it well.

[myst]

Our paper gets delivered at the base of our driveway. Takes the aim thing out of it, guy only has to toss it 5 feet.

I think the front step is asking way too much. Gutter or someplace difficult to retrieve from is crap.

[UMaineTeach]

I have never had a paper not delivered to the front steps.
Not when it was a kid on a bike or an adult in a car, multiple paper companies.

However, never requested that it come to the steps.

Some rural routes around that use drivers put them in road side boxes.