The Austin Empire

Does anyone else feel like there is a big lack of communication when it comes to the post office? Yeah, I thought so. I see so many posts everywhere on social media from people who have problems with their mail, looking for answers, frustrated by the same problems over and over, and then those that answer the questions don't really know the answer.  Sometimes with the most basic of questions they'll get answered, but there are some comments that are either someone's opinion of how it should be, or just completely off the mark....or they're not answers but other people sharing their own frustrations, which turn the post into a huge gripe fest about how horrible the mail service is.  Customers don't like calling 1-800-ASK-USPS because they're talking to a customer service rep somewhere on a computer who's only help (usually) is to connect them with their local office.  Then when you get in contact with the local office (usually the supervisor or a cler...

I decided to create a place where rural carriers can come and share ideas for our incoming subs to help them learn the job and gain the confidence needed to get through the toughest parts of being a substitute carrier.  They teach the basics in training, but it's a lot of information in a very short amount of time, which makes it hard to catch everything.  Plus, the best way to learn is by actually working the routes, but it's overwhelming at the beginning and a lot of people get frustrated by the lack of training. There's so much to learn- how do you know which information is the most important to remember?  Which stuff do you put at the top of the list?  Management wants accuracy, but you also have to be able to get the route done.  How do you do both?  It takes quite awhile for most people to feel like they "get it".  When I was new (new- meaning in the first 3 years, lol) I used to have dreams about casing the mail at home and trying to get i...