[coffeebean]

I've never received a package at the mail center and this early Sunday morning was my first time having to retrieve a package. My package was in a compartment on the top row. I'm all of 5'2" so this was going to be a bit of a challenge. I opened the compartment door to find a box with 2" of clearance at the top of the compartment and at least 1/2" wider than the opening of the compartment.

I had absolutely no leverage to get this package out. I was not about to leave the package because I could no longer lock the compartment door. (I think that is what the key said on it) and the merchandise was worth too much to leave. No one was around to help me get this package out. What's a girl to do???

I stood in front of the mail center (Duval on Odell Circle) and waved my arms looking for a strapping tall fellow to help me out. This very nice gentleman, traveling on Odell Circle in his golf cart came to help me. It was not easy getting this package out of the mail compartment. The merchandise inside was not breakable so I told him he could crush the box on one side to get it out. After some finagling and shimming side to side (the box, not me), this fine gentleman was able to get the package out of the compartment.

We looked at the opening the mail person had to put the package into the compartment and it looked to be the same size opening as on my end. I don't understand why this package wasn't brought to the post office for me to pick up. Isn't that what is done when packages are too large for the compartments at the mail center?

Thanks again to the wonderful gentleman who helped me out on this early Sunday morning. I'm very grateful for your help!

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I've never received a package at the mail center and this early Sunday morning was my first time having to retrieve a package. My package was in a compartment on the top row. I'm all of 5'2" so this was going to be a bit of a challenge. I opened the compartment door to find a box with 2" of clearance from the top of the compartment and at least 1/2" wider than the opening of the compartment.

I had absolutely no leverage to get this package out. I was not about to leave the package because I could no longer lock the compartment door. (I think that is what the key said on it) and the merchandise was worth too much to leave. No one was around to help me get this package out. What's a girl to do???

I stood in front of the mail center (Duval on Odell Circle) and waved my arms looking for a strapping tall fellow to help me out. This very nice gentleman, traveling on Odell Circle in his golf cart came to help me. It was not easy getting this package out of the mail compartment. The merchandise inside was not breakable so I told him he could crush the box on one side to get it out. After some finagling and shimming side to side (the box, not me), this fine gentleman was able to get the package out of the compartment.

We looked at the opening the mail person had to put the package into the compartment and it looked to be the same size opening as on my end. I don't understand why this package wasn't brought to the post office for me to pick up. Isn't that what is done when packages are too large for the compartments at the mail center?

Thanks again to the wonderful gentleman who helped me out on this early Sunday morning. I'm very grateful for your help!

Invariably, they do seem to give the higher boxes to those with the shortest reach. Happens at Lynnhaven PO too. Then there are the really tall people who get the boxes at the bottom.

I have seen golf clubs precariously balanced by just the head being in the PO box.

Glad a gentleman came by and I hope he gets wind of your very nice post.

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Invariably, they do seem to give the higher boxes to those with the shortest reach. Happens at Lynnhaven PO too. Then there are the really tall people who get the boxes at the bottom.

I have seen golf clubs precariously balanced by just the head being in the PO box.

Glad a gentleman came by and I hope he gets wind of your very nice post.

LOL, I think you're right! I'm 6'0 and I have a low box. Man, sometimes there's so much junk mail in the little box that I have a hard time removing the contents.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by JoeC1947

LOL, I think you're right! I'm 6'0 and I have a low box. Man, sometimes there's so much junk mail in the little box that I have a hard time removing the contents.

Our mail box is in the bottom row and I would much prefer to deal with a low box than one on the top row.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Invariably, they do seem to give the higher boxes to those with the shortest reach. Happens at Lynnhaven PO too. Then there are the really tall people who get the boxes at the bottom.

I have seen golf clubs precariously balanced by just the head being in the PO box.

Glad a gentleman came by and I hope he gets wind of your very nice post.

Actually, even though I'm a bit height challenged, if the package was not larger than the opening of the compartment, I would have been able to remove it by myself. I still don't understand why the mail person jammed the package into an opening that was certainly too small.

[mulligan]

In Our "hood", anything that doesn't fit easily into the oversize boxes is delivered to the houses.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by mulligan

In Our "hood", anything that doesn't fit easily into the oversize boxes is delivered to the houses.

I plan on speaking to the mail carriers at our mail center. I may even complain about this at the post office.

[bestmickey]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Actually, even though I'm a bit height challenged, if the package was not larger than the opening of the compartment, I would have been able to remove it by myself. I still don't understand why the mail person jammed the package into an opening that was certainly too small.

The openings to the mailboxes on the inside of the structure (where the mail carrier does his/her work) IS slightly larger than the openings we use on the outside of the structure. This is caused by the lip (frame?) that surrounds the door opening we use to get our mail. Of course, one would hope that with sufficient experience, the mail carrier would recognize this and not put a too large package in the mailbox.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

The openings to the mailboxes on the inside of the structure (where the mail carrier does his/her work) IS slightly larger than the openings we use on the outside of the structure. This is caused by the lip (frame?) that surrounds the door opening we use to get our mail. Of course, one would hope that with sufficient experience, the mail carrier would recognize this and not put a too large package in the mailbox.

The mail carriers need to be informed that the opening on our side is not as large as their side. I will definitely let them know of the difficulty I had retrieving my package. Thank you for the information.

[Lbmb24101]

I agree w Taltarzac!
I am short short and they gave us the highest up post box
If someone has successfully changed their mailbox, please please let me know how and to whom shall I speak!
Thanks in advance!!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Lbmb24101

I agree w Taltarzac!
I am short short and they gave us the highest up post box
If someone has successfully changed their mailbox, please please let me know how and to whom shall I speak!
Thanks in advance!!

One wonders why the #$%^&* they built these mail building with boxes situated so low to the ground and so high up. I mean, it's not like we're in our 30s. Our box is on the bottom row, and we both have back issues. Almost everyone in our age group is experiencing some kind of joint/muscle/shoulder/neck/back/you-name-it problem and doesn't need to be stretching themselves out of proportion every day to get the mail.

They made the houses user-friendly to an aging population; why couldn't they do the same with the mailboxes?

I imagine because of the coded numbers on each box, the post office won't budge an inch about change requests. It's the luck of the draw, after a bad design. Besides, what about the person who would end up with your old box?

[ohhappyday]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I've never received a package at the mail center and this early Sunday morning was my first time having to retrieve a package. My package was in a compartment on the top row. I'm all of 5'2" so this was going to be a bit of a challenge. I opened the compartment door to find a box with 2" of clearance at the top of the compartment and at least 1/2" wider than the opening of the compartment.

I had absolutely no leverage to get this package out. I was not about to leave the package because I could no longer lock the compartment door. (I think that is what the key said on it) and the merchandise was worth too much to leave. No one was around to help me get this package out. What's a girl to do???

I stood in front of the mail center (Duval on Odell Circle) and waved my arms looking for a strapping tall fellow to help me out. This very nice gentleman, traveling on Odell Circle in his golf cart came to help me. It was not easy getting this package out of the mail compartment. The merchandise inside was not breakable so I told him he could crush the box on one side to get it out. After some finagling and shimming side to side (the box, not me), this fine gentleman was able to get the package out of the compartment.

We looked at the opening the mail person had to put the package into the compartment and it looked to be the same size opening as on my end. I don't understand why this package wasn't brought to the post office for me to pick up. Isn't that what is done when packages are too large for the compartments at the mail center?

Thanks again to the wonderful gentleman who helped me out on this early Sunday morning. I'm very grateful for your help!

They should deliver it to your door if they don't have enough boxes or its too big to fit...but evidently they got it in there! I've had a couple dropped here at the house. I'm vertically challenged to and have struggled to reach things in those high boxes. I still remember bicycling down one day only to find a huge box. Ended up walking it home on my bike seat since I couldn't relock the box either. Wasn't expecting that one Did have a nice gentleman offer to take it to my house but I passed.

[Ron1Z]

I can't wait untill this is my only problem in life.

[paulandjean]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I plan on speaking to the mail carriers at our mail center. I may even complain about this at the post office.

I am sure complaining to the post office will help...........................

[Bogie Shooter]

Just read all of the posts on this thread and am sitting here laughing. It is just amazing what people will bitch about. My Oh My.