Dear Carole,

Thank you for publishing “Our Post Office.” This PO # situation has gotten out of hand. If someone would start a petition I would sign it. I might even be willing to picket our Post Office (if I thought it would help and wouldn’t lead to retaliation). 

Two years ago after my dad died, there were a bunch of legal and military documents, as well as, insurance and inheritance payments, that never reached me, or had to be resent multiple times, because I had no control over the fact that certain senders used my LEGAL ADDRESS but had not included a PO box number. It led to nearly as much grief as my dear dad’s passing, and certainly more wasted phone and email time, for both my sister and myself. 

And recently, when I wanted to send post card invitations to two of my own Stockbridge neighbors, our post office would not give me their box numbers. “Privacy,” they said. 

So I asked, in the interest of privacy, if THEY would look up and (without me seeing) add the box number to the cards for me, and then drop them in the mail. Still nothing doing. Apparently, doing a resident this small kindness, wasn’t in their job description. I was literally told “not my job.”

When I asked if I just mailed the post cards with just a street address, what were the chances they would get to the addressees, I was told it was unlikely. Where would they go? “Back to the sender,” was the answer. And when I pointed out that post cards have no return address, I was told they would simply be sent back to Hartford, Ct. – presumably to die a slow death. 

Arrrrrrgh. 

Thank you for listening and for doing what you can to shame our post office into delivering our mail. 

Barbara Woike

Hello Barbara,

So sorry for the trouble you experienced. SU will write to the officials in the district post office again. When we did that before, a representative came out, sat down with the employees at our office, and things improved. Then, Peter reported, it worsened again. Let’s hope writing works again. Will keep you posted. Following is what I wrote and the attachments, FYI. 

Dear …

In 2023, on behalf of several patrons of the Stockbridge post office, you received a complaint from me. They contacted me and asked me to write as I have the hyperlocal newspaper Stockbridge Updates, and I also write for The Berkshire Edge and The Berkshire Eagle. 

I thank you for your response. You traveled here, met with post office staff, and were very effective. Mail delivery improved immediately, and I thank you as we all do. 

Sadly, now I was asked to write again. Following are two letters (names removed) and three anecdotes. The last are similar in nature.

Let me say I will back these patrons up if they want a protest in front of the post office and I will invite wider press and media. 

Seriously all anyone is asking for is mail delivery. There is no snow nor rain nor gloom of night walking from the window to a post office box. There is nothing keeping these fellows from their appointed rounds — they know us and our box numbers. Do please help.

Thank you, Carole Owens,

Anecdote #1 — I went to the window with a stamped letter addressed with the correct box number and asked the postal worker to put it into the box. I was told it had to go to Springfield and then come back.

I went to the Lenox post office with a letter and the correct box number and asked if they would send it to Springfield. The employee laughed and put it in the proper box.

Anecdote #2 – A gentleman sent a check to a company in Stockbridge. It sat around the Stockbridge PO for some time and then was returned to the sender. We do not have the envelope.

Anecdote # 3 – A letter was mailed certified to Tennessee ($4.35) on October 11, 2023. It was returned to sender in Stockbridge March 26, 2024, for incorrect address. When asked at the window what was wrong with the address, the postal worker looked up the address and pronounced it correctly. The worker offered to take it and deliver it now (5 months later). We do have the envelope.

Three letters:

1. – Dear Carole, 

Thank you for publishing “Our Post Office.” This PO # situation has gotten out of hand. If someone would start a petition I would sign it. I might even be willing to picket our Post Office (if I thought it would help and wouldn’t lead to retaliation). After my dad died, there were a bunch of legal and military documents, as well as, insurance and inheritance payments, that never reached me, or had to be resent multiple times, because I had no control over the fact that certain senders used my LEGAL ADDRESS but had not included a PO box number. It led to nearly as much grief as my dear dad’s passing, and certainly more wasted phone and email time, for both my sister and myself. 

And recently, when I wanted to send post card invitations to two of my own Stockbridge neighbors, our post office would not give me their box numbers. “Privacy,” they said. So I asked, in the interest of privacy, if THEY would look up and (without me seeing) add the box number to the cards for me, and then drop them in the mail. Still nothing doing. Apparently, doing a resident this small kindness, wasn’t in their job description. I was literally told “not my job.” When I asked if I just mailed the post cards with just a street address, what were the chances they would get to the addressees, I was told it was unlikely. Where would they go? “Back to the sender,” was the answer. And when I pointed out that post cards have no return address, I was told they would simply be sent back to Hartford, Ct. – presumably to die a slow death. Arrrrrrgh. Thank you for listening and for doing what you can to shame our post office into delivering our mail. 

2. – Dear Carole:

You probably know that the Post Office is again stamping mail that post office box numbers must be used, and perhaps is again returning mail or packages not so addressed. Stockbridge Updates succeeded in getting this practice stopped when it happened a while ago, and I hope will try to do so again.

This is particularly difficult for packages, since FedEx and UPS will not accept packages including a PO box address, and both frequently “dump” ground transportation items into the mail.

In the past, we were advised that the must-have-box-number policy could be avoided by including the box number in a different way in one’s address — for example, “7 Aspen Street #1234.” We’ve done that, yet today got an envelope so addressed and nonetheless stamped with “The address on this piece is incomplete or incorrect. Please contact sender to correct with address that includes PO Box.”

It was a relief when, earlier, after SU‘s intervention, this practice did stop for a while. That preserved a desirable community meeting place for the town. But now it has resumed. Is there anything SU (Stockbridge Updates) can do to cause it to halt again? 

3. — Dear Carole,

The check that I sent you was returned to me last week. Apparently, I put the wrong PO box on it and it spent all this time at the Stockbridge Post Office. It had the correct zip code so it seems that the rocket scientists at the PO could not make the connection to you. Tom Carey is turning over in his grave. Another check is on the way, hopefully with a better result. Ed

I will post any response.

Carole