More than a postman

[majeed]

It seems that the relationship which each of us has with our postman is a really personal one and more and more as I do my walk each day, I really get the feeling this is so. The feeling comes not from people telling me so, but from the other things that they say and do.

I have families walking on the street addressing me and children exclaiming, 'It's the postman' and yesterday, one receptionist ran after me, shouting, 'Mr. Postman!'. When I put on my uniform, I somehow get transformed into this 'person' who people will stop their cars in full traffic to allow him to cross the street; with whom people get upset when he doesn't know them (even on first encounters); who respect and look up to because of the job that he does; on whom people somehow pin all their hopes, be it a man or mother waiting for their cheque from the Government or a child waiting for his toy.

I will always remember an amusing conversation a few weeks back where a child stopped me on the street and asked me 'Where his game was'. This even makes me laugh, as I write. I explained to him that if he was good and waited, the game would come. He seemed placated by this and went off about his business. The question gave me an insight into his thinking, which greatly amused me every time I thought about it.

Yesterday, a young woman called to me from her door on a street, while I was just leaving for the end of my walk. I hadn't delivered any mail to her house. She asked if I had any mail for her (it was obvious that I hadn't any mail, as I had finished the street almost and passed her house). The look on her face said that she so desperately wanted whatever it was that was supposed to have been in my mail bag. Reflecting on the experience, I was caught totally off-guard: I tried to placate her with more than a simple, 'No.' as it was obvious she required more than that, but I have made a conscious effort to revise how I deal with such situations: what is really required is for me to empathise with the person and show that I want to help them as much as possible, perhaps by saying something like, 'I really wish I had your letter but it didn't come today - perhaps we should wait until tomorrow', rather than go through a mechanical explanation of why the mail has not arrived and why it is obvious if the person has not had any mail pushed through their letterbox, then of course, there is no mail for them.

What occurs to me very clearly is there is more to the postman than someone who delivers your mail.

[Stormproof]

good post majeed, i suggest you email it to Big Al & Lil Adam as they are downgrading the service so much now that we don't offer a service to the public like we used to.

[dogfood]

Most of us old boys will feel that our relationship with our customers is more than just 'being a postman'

Its just the people at the top that are unable to recognize this and not see the value that this has to the business. Something that can't be quantified in pounds shillings and pence, therefore this will pass them by. Typical short sighted narrow minded attitude of people that know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[majeed]

My intention in starting this post was for us to share our positive experiences with people to whom we deliver mail.

[madelin4]

Great post!! Well i have got to know a lot of my customers, ones that dont work i see most mornings, the same ones out with there dogs who i know also , they make me feel valued always saying things like we know when you are not on. Long time before i got my walk they had a postman on it for years who moved to higher levels and he was very well thought of and a lot of my customers have told me i am just like him, and he was a hard one to match! I take great care with my walk and look after my customers as they have looked after me when i needed them.

[mh80]

what is annoying now is that people get moved around so much, about 50% of the walks don't have a regular postie in my office...which seems stupid because you'd get less mistakes, a much better service, and less O/T (even saving money)

[Regal]

There are a number of people on my round who are usually waiting at the gate for a chat when i get to their house , thi happens nearly every day or a leats once a week. I dont mind stopping now but when i first started i just wanted to get on and finish my round and not stop to talk, but know i realise that some of these poeple ( usually pensioners ) haven't many people to talk to , so now i make an effort to stop and chat and we know each other on first name terms.

I always take 4 or 5 dog biscuits with me each day, because the dogs i see regular expect one, and also you get a stray that comes up all vicious , just throw it a biscuit , it'll soon leave you alone to eat said buscuit.

Strangers say hello to a postman in uniform , but you see the same person when your out of uniform and they walk straight past without saying hello. whats all that about.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Strangers say hello to a postman in uniform , but you see the same person when your out of uniform and they walk straight past without saying hello. whats all that about.

I went shopping after work so still in my uniform today and 1 old guy who used to be a temp postie stopped for a chat. Learnt during chat that he saw action in WWWII in the Paras - shook his hand with pride.

Never forget many of them sacrificed their tomorrows for our today's.

[leiwolf]

I think personally that being a postman is like being a link to someone community, and for that few hours you walk down their area, you are actually one of their own, one of their community. Being switch about left, right and centre, means that the people who were expecting me, who would come to me for advice or afriendly smile, would sometimes get a complete stranger, who sometimes won't even give the time of day to them. I know one area, where everytime I go on, would ask why am I not their regular postie, and why do they get so many different posties each weeks. I think you become to care about the community as much as the community cares for their postman. Leighton and crozier seems to forget that this is not just a business design to make money, It is workforce full of people who want to deliver a fantastic service and to be apprieciated for their time and effort. I am not a number I am MR POSTMAN. Kids call out postman prat, I reply I am MR postman prat, gets a laugh plus gets them on your side and less hassle. Later starts, means Later deliveries, means more hassle. How many times do we get abused, insulted or even threatened by customers, who feel that they own you and that your provide a service for them, because you haven't delivered their mail to a time they want.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

I've been on the same walk for twenty years and many of those people have become friends. I've been to the funerals of their family members, I've seen their kids grow up, phoned ambulances for them, kept an eye on their houses when they've been on holiday. They've knitted baby clothes when my son and daughter were born, sent me cards when my dad died, brought me things from their holidays. Leighton, Crozier and their gang have no idea what this job entails, but why would they? They're hardly humanitarians after all.

[majeed]

There are a number of people on my round who are usually waiting at the gate for a chat when i get to their house , thi happens nearly every day or a leats once a week. I dont mind stopping now but when i first started i just wanted to get on and finish my round and not stop to talk, but know i realise that some of these poeple ( usually pensioners ) haven't many people to talk to , so now i make an effort to stop and chat and we know each other on first name terms.

I always take 4 or 5 dog biscuits with me each day, because the dogs i see regular expect one, and also you get a stray that comes up all vicious , just throw it a biscuit , it'll soon leave you alone to eat said buscuit.

Strangers say hello to a postman in uniform , but you see the same person when your out of uniform and they walk straight past without saying hello. whats all that about.

The old hand that trained me told me,'People don't recognise you when you're out of uniform'. So next time you twirl around like Wonderwoman before you set out for the depot, remember: you look exactly the same: whether you're either wearing your uniform or you aren't, but you'll get a different reaction in each case!

The dog biscuits for strays and non-strays was something new to me. I will have to try it. Thanks.

[majeed]

I think personally that being a postman is like being a link to someone community, and for that few hours you walk down their area, you are actually one of their own, one of their community. Being switch about left, right and centre, means that the people who were expecting me, who would come to me for advice or afriendly smile, would sometimes get a complete stranger, who sometimes won't even give the time of day to them. I know one area, where everytime I go on, would ask why am I not their regular postie, and why do they get so many different posties each weeks. I think you become to care about the community as much as the community cares for their postman. Leighton and crozier seems to forget that this is not just a business design to make money, It is workforce full of people who want to deliver a fantastic service and to be apprieciated for their time and effort. I am not a number I am MR POSTMAN. Kids call out postman prat, I reply I am MR postman prat, gets a laugh plus gets them on your side and less hassle. Later starts, means Later deliveries, means more hassle. How many times do we get abused, insulted or even threatened by customers, who feel that they own you and that your provide a service for them, because you haven't delivered their mail to a time they want.

We have a grass-roots feel about what is happening in society: a postman simultaneously combines the roles of; a policeman, a community support officer, a social worker, a youth worker, a counsellor, a sociologist, a psychologist, a role model and a trustworthy friend. We get to see what is really going on in society and people readily open up to us in a way that they don't to any other service provider. Even as a temp or new starter, as soon as people see the postman, they immediately identify with her/him. Plus we keep fit at the same time, so no need to go to the gym! What a job!

[majeed]

I've been on the same walk for twenty years and many of those people have become friends. I've been to the funerals of their family members, I've seen their kids grow up, phoned ambulances for them, kept an eye on their houses when they've been on holiday. They've knitted baby clothes when my son and daughter were born, sent me cards when my dad died, brought me things from their holidays. Leighton, Crozier and their gang have no idea what this job entails, but why would they? They're hardly humanitarians after all.

Our condolences on the passing away of a great man: your dad.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

I've been on the same walk for twenty years and many of those people have become friends. I've been to the funerals of their family members, I've seen their kids grow up, phoned ambulances for them, kept an eye on their houses when they've been on holiday. They've knitted baby clothes when my son and daughter were born, sent me cards when my dad died, brought me things from their holidays. Leighton, Crozier and their gang have no idea what this job entails, but why would they? They're hardly humanitarians after all.

Our condolences on the passing away of a great man: your dad.

It's a long time ago, but thanks anyway. There's something wrong with the man who doesn't think his parents are something special I always think.

[majeed]

I've been on the same walk for twenty years and many of those people have become friends. I've been to the funerals of their family members, I've seen their kids grow up, phoned ambulances for them, kept an eye on their houses when they've been on holiday. They've knitted baby clothes when my son and daughter were born, sent me cards when my dad died, brought me things from their holidays. Leighton, Crozier and their gang have no idea what this job entails, but why would they? They're hardly humanitarians after all.

Our condolences on the passing away of a great man: your dad.

It's a long time ago, but thanks anyway. There's something wrong with the man who doesn't think his parents are something special I always think.

No problems. Re parents: I agree with the comment re. 'respect' under normal circumstances.