Friday, July 20, 2012

Our Customers Appreciate our Efforts

Customer & Industry Contact Manager Karen Kucharczyk received the following letter form a customer who wanted to express her appreciation for service above and beyond the call of duty:

Good morning Ms. Kucharczyk,                             

I just had to write you today to let you know what a great employee you have in Janice Gray.                

I work for the largest union in the state, AFSCME Council 4. Two weeks ago I did a very large mailing; over 440 pieces and each piece cost $4.90 in postage, totaling over $2,156.00.  Two days after this mailing went out, they started coming back with a hand-written message “USPS Flat Rate Env. Rate CB Price ONLY” written on one of the eight pieces that was returned that Friday.  After making calls and talking to a man at Pitney Bowes, I was told that even though I had the right dollar amount, I ran the postage incorrectly as it was supposed to reflect language about “ComBas Rate”.  Needless to say, I was sick at the thought that most or all of these packets would be returned.  Not only was time-sensitive material enclosed, it would cost the union another $2,156 to re-mail them and another 2 days of work to prepare them again.

I phoned your post office and spoke to Janice.  She saved my sanity and probably my job!  She had me scan a copy of what the large envelopes look like, then she sent an email along with the scanned copy of the envelope to all the post offices throughout the state asking the head postmasters to forward these envelopes on to the addressees even though the “ComBas” language was not printed on the envelopes.

I was on vacation all last week but constantly worried about the returned mailing.  When I got into work this morning and immediately asked my co-worker how many in total we got back last week, she told me that beside the 8 I received on that Friday, she only got 2 more back.  Ms. Kucharczyk, I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate what Janice did for me.  Too often in this day and age we find employees that only do what they need to do to get by.  It is so refreshing to see such a conscientious, dedicated employee with work ethics that stretch far beyond most.  I could not let this go without letting Janice’s supervisor know what she has done for me.

Sincerely,

Barbara Williams
AFSCME Council 4

When Customer & Industry Contact Manager Karen Kucharczyk thanked the customer for her kind words, she got the following response:
Ms. Kucharczyk,

Thanks for your reply assuring me you received my e-mail.  I’ve always held a high opinion of the Postal Service being amazed at how quickly those thousands/millions of pieces of mail reach their intended destination every day.  And after doing business with Janice, I see now why it runs so smoothly.

-Barbara Williams

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Son Credits Norwich Carrier With Saving Dad's Life



Walter Fleming
On Saturday July 7, 2012, with temperatures in the 90s and oppressive humidity, Walter Fleming was delivering his park and loop route in Norwich CT.

When he arrived at a customer's home on Washington Street, he
noticed that the mail had not been picked up the previous day.

The 92 year old resident of Norwich, a retired newspaper delivery man, had asked Walter to please check on him if he failed to pick up his mail every day.

Walter, remembering this, went to the door of his apartment in this multi-family dwelling. When the customer didn't answer, Walter checked the door which was unlocked. He entered and found his customer curled on the floor in the fetal position, cold to the touch and barely alive. Walter immediately called 911 and waited for the first responders to get to the scene.

During the rest of the day he attempted to get in contact with the landlord to obtain a phone number for the customer's son. He accomplished this and then notified the son that his father had been rushed to Backus Hospital.

It was the son, not Walter that alerted USPS management of Walter's deed. He insists that had it not been for Walter being alert to his customers his father would not be alive today.

Walter's route runs across from the hospital, and on Monday during his lunch, Walter stopped in to see his customer and was elated to see his improvement. Walter is a humble hero, and an asset to the Norwich Post Office.