PO'D: U.S. Postal Disservice

I rarely use the Post Office due to their shoddy service. There have been so many incidents of their incompetence in the last couple of years I have started to use the services of a Postal Plus in Dalton Gardens on Government Way.

During one of our snow storms in the last couple of years we didn't receive our mail for a couple of days. Mind you, we live in the city not out on a rural route. Apparently, the mail carrier wouldn't step out of his vehicle to insert mail into our mailbox because his truck couldn't get close enough for him to reach the box.

I have also mailed approximately three Priority Mail envelopes paying the extra $4 or $5 to have it delivered in two days. They were going from Idaho to California, not Istanbul. They took seven days. I had mailed regular posted letters at the same time which arrived three days prior to Priority Mail. I went to the Post Office and inquired as to what my recourse was in these cases. Well, I was told there is nothing they can do and desirably they should get there in two days; what a scam. The mail person knows you can't do anything about it and delivers it when they're good and ready. It just makes me mad when I see all this advertising on TV pushing Priority Mail.

I recently received a United States Postal Service refund check for a lost money order. I went to the Main Branch Post Office in downtown Coeur d'Alene and wanted to cash the check and purchase another money order. First of all, there was only one counter person the whole time I was there and quite a long line.

I was told I would have to go to a bank to cash the check and come back to purchase the money order. The check was issued by the Post Office but they couldn't cash it?

That was the last straw. I did go to my credit union to cash the check and then went directly to Safeway and bought a money order there in about three minutes.

The Post Office is always crying poor and raising rates as their service is going by the wayside. I now mail either UPS or FED EX. When they say a package will be delivered on a certain day it is there. Plus included in their fee is Delivery Confirmation with a tracking number for no extra charge.

I have spoken to many other people who share my feelings. The Post Office better shape up or they are going to disservice and price themselves right out of business.

JANICE WILLIAMS

Coeur d'Alene