My regular postman was off today,

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Actually, I would call it active aggression…

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

It's called not using common sense.  My mail carrier does it more often than not.  On rainy days I can count on him to leave the mailbox lid up.  I've complained about it.  He was great for a week then he went right back to leaving the lid open.  Thankfully, he usually delivers at the same time every day.  The next time I am home I am going to mention it to him again.  If he doesn't get the picture, then I am moving my mailbox to an area where it is more protected from the rain.  Right now the mailbox is on my railing so he doesn't have to walk up the steps.  When I move it he'll have no choice but to walk up the steps as I will place it on the house exterior by the front door.  

I have had postal delivery people leave my mail outside the side door to the house rather than put it through the mail slot at the front door.  The mail was thoroughly soaked and blown into the foundation planting by the time I found it. At least your made it into the mail box.

ellenlynn

If you make him walk up more steps, you may be sorry you upped the stakes.  

mrmaplewood said:

ellenlynn

If you make him walk up more steps, you may be sorry you upped the stakes.  

That's exactly what my brother said to me.  He gets the most important mail whereas I am paperless and receive and pay bills online.  I avoid USPS at all costs.  Now I'll have to think about it, especially after reading Joan's post.

You did better than we did. We didn't get a mail delivery 8/10. --- Happens every two weeks or so. Next day, we get either two deliveries (now you're jealous) or one big delivery.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

You did better than we did. We didn't get a mail delivery 8/10. --- Happens every two weeks or so. Next day, we get either two deliveries (now you're jealous) or one big delivery.

Rain forecast usually keeps me from getting my mail, I’m in no rush to get it anyway…

All that stuff about rain, sleet or snow is propaganda.

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

There are actually days that I am not scheduled to get mail. I have signed up for USPS Informed Delivery which provides a screen shot of all the first class and even junk mail that is "coming to your mailbox soon." If no email, no mail. Sometimes I get the screenshot but the actual letter I was looking for comes the next day. The Informed Delivery says coming soon not necessarily the day of but most of the time it is day of.

FWIW: If you're looking for a type of mailbox with a lid that is easy to open to put mail in and take mail out of, but just stays closed otherwise, this may be the type you're looking for. The mail doesn't stick out since the mail goes in sideways not the tall way, and big enough to fit most mail deliveries with room to spare. 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Architectural-Mailboxes-Woodlands-Black-Medium-Steel-Wall-Mount-Mailbox-L4010WBAM/323410192

wendy said:

There are actually days that I am not scheduled to get mail. I have signed up for USPS Informed Delivery which provides a screen shot of all the first class and even junk mail that is "coming to your mailbox soon." If no email, no mail. Sometimes I get the screenshot but the actual letter I was looking for comes the next day. The Informed Delivery says coming soon not necessarily the day of but most of the time it is day of.

^^ This!  It's a great service!  For instance, here's a sample - looks like I only have one piece of mail today:

Jaytee said:

Rain forecast usually keeps me from getting my mail, I’m in no rush to get it anyway…

All that stuff about rain, sleet or snow is propaganda.

...I repeat that propaganda in my head every time I find my mail box empty on a weekday -- sometimes several times in a row during the week.  I repeat it and shake my head.  Another reason to think back to "the old days".

yahooyahoo said:

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

no, they're supposed to close the mailbox lid.

drummerboy said:

yahooyahoo said:

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

no, they're supposed to close the mailbox lid.

What if the mail is bigger than the mailbox?

ridski said:

drummerboy said:

yahooyahoo said:

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

no, they're supposed to close the mailbox lid.

What if the mail is bigger than the mailbox?

homina homina homina

From the original post:  "Is this called passive aggression?"

Suggestion:

Hanlon's law:  "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." (or by ineptitude, inattention, ignorance...)

It saves a lot of mental/emotional wear and tear.

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor

Not worn or torn

I lived on Academy St for 25 years, we never had a regular delivery person. The mail service was so unreliable. I was told that that was not “legal” or at least not what is practiced (i.e., to have a temp route for so long). Now, our postal carrier here just 1/4 mile from South Orange is the best! We love him. 

ridski said:

drummerboy said:

yahooyahoo said:

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

no, they're supposed to close the mailbox lid.

What if the mail is bigger than the mailbox?

They should do the best they can. If a recipient frequently receives more mail than will fit, then may need to get a bigger mailbox.

Sprout

I just checked out your recommendation.  It is almost an exact duplicate of what I already have.  I left the lid down, the carrier left it up.  The lid is not self-closing.

My mailbox is on my covered front porch so if it’s left open it’s not a problem. I figured my mailman purposely left it open for me to see that I had mail in it. But I’ve been looking at self locking boxes recently.

My biggest issue with the mailman is he walks through my flower bed across the lawn to my neighbor. I’m going to plant azaleas to fill in the gaps so no one cuts through my lilies again. 

mrmaplewood said:   "I just checked out your recommendation.  It is almost an exact duplicate of what I already have.  I left the lid down; the carrier left it up.  The lid is not self-closing".

Have you considered taping a note -- to the inside of the lid, and/or the outside of the box reminding your carrier that the lid must be closed?  Seems it matters some days and not others.  But they should be keeping your mail private.

In the East Orange main post office there are several printed signs that say, "If you have any problems with your mail carrier or delivery, please call this number: ___-___-_____."  Not sure if they've had a lot of complaints, or they realize their workforce is understaffed, but they still want to correct problems.

Rain's not a problem for me because the mail goes into boxes in our lobby.  I know we're at the end of our carrier's route, so that's why she's sometimes late -- even into the evening, but rarely.  I have LOVED getting mail since I was a little kid.  I HATE when I get NO mail -- which is too often -- days at a time, somethimes.  I don't get a lot of mail because I pay all my bills on-line and have removed myself from many mailing lists -- especially catalogs.  But a "no mail" day is still a disappointing day.

Jaytee

My biggest issue with the mailman is he walks through my flower bed across the lawn to my neighbor. I’m going to plant azaleas to fill in the gaps so no one cuts through my lilies again.

That's just rude!   Is this your regular carrier?  the substitute? or both? These people walk a LOT of miles every day, but they shouldn't be thoughtless about your hard gardening work.  Plant the azaleas, they'll step all over those, too.  Get a small, decorative wire fence to put around your lilies.

There are some ideas! 

so they’ll send you junk emails to tell you you’re receiving junk mail?

Brilliant.

What kind of mail deliverer doesn't know to close the lid?  Passive aggressive?  Or just an incompetent boob?  Are there any other possibilities?

Juniemoon said:

My biggest issue with the mailman is he walks through my flower bed across the lawn to my neighbor. I’m going to plant azaleas to fill in the gaps so no one cuts through my lilies again.

That's just rude!   Is this your regular carrier?  the substitute? or both? These people walk a LOT of miles every day, but they shouldn't be thoughtless about your hard gardening work.  Plant the azaleas, they'll step all over those, too.  Get a small, decorative wire fence to put around your lilies.

There are some ideas! 

regular most of the time I guess, but they all walk through instead of walking back to the sidewalk. In fact they just walk across everyone’s lawn, even when there’s snow on the ground. I just wish they would step over the plants instead of walking through them. Previous owner had lined the walkway to the stairs with some some type of barberry bushes that became too big, so I took them out about 12 years ago. Maybe they were also fed up with the mailman. 

Jaytee said:

Juniemoon said:

My biggest issue with the mailman is he walks through my flower bed across the lawn to my neighbor. I’m going to plant azaleas to fill in the gaps so no one cuts through my lilies again.

That's just rude!   Is this your regular carrier?  the substitute? or both? These people walk a LOT of miles every day, but they shouldn't be thoughtless about your hard gardening work.  Plant the azaleas, they'll step all over those, too.  Get a small, decorative wire fence to put around your lilies.

There are some ideas! 

regular most of the time I guess, but they all walk through instead of walking back to the sidewalk. In fact they just walk across everyone’s lawn, even when there’s snow on the ground. I just wish they would step over the plants instead of walking through them. Previous owner had lined the walkway to the stairs with some some type of barberry bushes that became too big, so I took them out about 12 years ago. Maybe they were also fed up with the mailman. 

Mail deliverers are under productivity quotas and they are expected to take the shortest route from one address to the next address. 

yahooyahoo said:

Mail deliverers are under productivity quotas and they are expected to take the shortest route from one address to the next address. 

I understand, but in the early spring they trample the lillies. It’s annoying. 

sac said:

ridski said:

drummerboy said:

yahooyahoo said:

mrmaplewood said:

and I didn't see the mail delivered.  So how do I know?  Because my regular mail deliverer knows when the weather is threatening and rain is forecast.  He has been professional and courteous.  

But today in spite of the anticipated rain, the mail was delivered, and the lid of my mailbox was left wide open for the rain to soak my mail.

Is this called passive aggression?

Are you seriously complaining about this?  Now the mail deliverer is supposed to predict the weather?  

no, they're supposed to close the mailbox lid.

What if the mail is bigger than the mailbox?

They should do the best they can. If a recipient frequently receives more mail than will fit, then may need to get a bigger mailbox.

I knew somehow that it would end up being my fault.

mrmaplewood said:

What kind of mail deliverer doesn't know to close the lid?  Passive aggressive?  Or just an incompetent boob?  Are there any other possibilities?

     Someone else on this thread has no problem with their mailbox being left open....

Jaytee said:

 I figured my mailman purposely left it open for me to see that I had mail in it 

      I don't believe mail carriers are tested for their psychic abilities when they apply for the job.  
      So, why not do your carrier (and yourself) a favor? Place a typed note covered with packing tape on the inside lid (and possibly on the front or side) of your mailbox that simply says, "Please be sure to close box lid after delivery"? It would even be there on days when you had a substitute carrier.
     Or a separate, stained-glass. jewel-encrusted box with a matching door to enclose your box if that better fits your neighborhood standards?
     Is your box big enough to hold ALL the mail that may ever show up in one day?  My mail used to overflow the limitations of my mailbox regularly.  I'd be furious if my carrier only delivered what would fit in the box (with the lid closed) until the next day.  Mine was also porch-protected: If it weren't, I'd be furious if they delivered it all, lid open, and then it rained. 
     Try a nice, typed note that's visible every day.  Bet you'll find that a little communication works wonders.