Verbally Abused by Auspost Attendant - What Are My Options?

OzPunter on 06/07/2018 - 09:36
Last edited 06/07/2018 - 10:51 by 1 other user

Dear bargainers,
Sorry for starting Friday with yet another rant post.
I,an Aussie of ethnicity A, was racially abused by Auspost attendant of ethnicity B while trying to collect my missed delivery from one of the post offices in inner West Sydney.It all started when I have complained about not knocking on the door before leaving a card for missed delivery. The attendant started taking names saying ' the delivery guy is from your country and all you guys are like this and that'. Despite me pleading him in all my politeness not to bring nationality or race into the picture, he kept abusing me.I kept my decency and did not shout back at this person of my Dad's age.
Dear brethren,
What should I do now? Please suggest.
Edit:I did try to complain to the lady next to him at the counter, who happens to be from the same ethnicity a that of the attendant. Unfortunately, she took his side and said' we have been here from so long time, we hear these complaints only from you '. For people who think that this is a one sided , heavily manicured story, please be assured I have nothing against that old person.I should have taken video of that rant, unfortunately it didn't occur to me.I have complained to auspost guys who registered my complaint and gave case number.
All I want is, that attendant regret for his words and treat people with respect.

Poll Options

  • 416
    Report to auspost
  • 7
    Report to the police
  • 112
    Gulp it down with a bottle of VB
General Discussion

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Comments

    • Lockieasy on 07/07/2018 - 15:23

      My guess for OP would be Indian too. My guess for the postal workers however would be Chinese.

      I've never actually had an issue with Indian (or others) deliverers knock and running. They always seem to ring the door bell and wait (I guess it helps I have an intercom system to let them know I'm coming to the door though).

  • ladybug1 on 07/07/2018 - 00:37

    OP, I suspect you're Indian or Arab. In any case, I think you absolutely should complain to Australia Post about this but not let it ruin your hard-earned weekend.

  • Polo89 on 07/07/2018 - 08:29
    +3

    Maybe off topic but I work part time at a post office. There's no use complaining to us about those mail contractors as they don't work for the shops.
    Sometimes we wish they don't drop off that many undelivered parcels too

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 09:20

      I am happy if that attendant had told me this instead of shouting at me.I would really suggest auspost to put up a small notice at the entrance of lpo not to complain about anything to the people at the counter.I believe auspost has licensed them only to use its logo and not an exclusive right to abuse the customer.

  • Hedgehog on 07/07/2018 - 08:35

    Take a very deep breathe and let it go. Sure he shouldn't have done that but the guy probably had a bad day and in any case if he is doing this regularly someone else will cop the aggravation of taking it official. Have you any proof - if not he would deny that this took place. If that is the worst thing that happens to you this year mate, you are having a great year. That's my bobs worth!

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 09:21

      Agreed. Thanks for your wise words.

  • jaylee88 on 07/07/2018 - 08:46
    -1

    Make a complain for sure. I wish I had done when an auspost employee told me to go away because he couldn’t read some numbers on a parcel I was trying to send.

  • lainey13 on 07/07/2018 - 08:52

    Welcome to Australia! At least it was a direct interaction. The amount of racist abuse I've copped and seen from random strangers….

  • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2018 - 09:04
    -2

    If you want your mail delivered securely get a post office box.
    Or maybe you would prefer a crusade against a bunkrupt govt.department.
    Perhaps it's more the self-righteous continually coming in to complain (as here)
    "You should have come up and found my unit, knocked and waited while my wife finished what she was doing , I paid $10"
    Don't be such a self righteous little A and front up for a box hole tightwad.
    PS have a nice day.

    Better now

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 09:34

      OK.I should have put these in the original post.
      1)I live in an apartment block that has ample parking and manager/club house attendant office who will be happy to sign and collect parcels.
      2)I have a post box in my name but the sender refused to post ( The parcel was an odd shaped one,it was actually an activity/gym mat for my infant niece)

      I have mentioned the postage I paid only when one of the fellow bargainer mocked me for whinging on a $4 parcel from Alibaba.
      Hope this helps.

      • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2018 - 09:39

        And the delivery guy should know all this because ?

      • c0balt on 07/07/2018 - 11:17
        +1

        I've been living in an apartment block for a few years with many other tall apartment blocks around mine, close to Melbourne CBD. Like you my building has a manager who is here to sign for packages during business hours and keeps them in a secure mailroom.

        It has always been the standard practice for AusPost in my area to send the cards and not deliver packages because there's 10,000 people living in a small area and it's just not feasible for a postie to deliver so many packages/day. Sometimes I get a package delivered, but most the time I just get slips to go pick them up if they are larger than a small satchel bag.

        For that reason they open the post office for parcel pickups on the weekend in my area.

        Not delivering packages to very densely populated areas is standard practice, you are not being treated differently. The post office also has every other person living in those apartment blocks coming in every day making the same scene about why they didn't get a package delivered when they were home, just a slip in the mailbox. I was one of those people who made a scene a few years ago..

        • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 11:44

          Agreed 100% . All they could have done is sticking a small notice at the shop front claiming no responsibility for delivery and suggesting customers to take up any complaints with Customer Care. In any case,I am done with it(4 pines did the magic).Let auspost guys do their enquiry.

  • Ozpit on 07/07/2018 - 09:26

    I regularly have Auspost couriers (including their courier sub-contractors) leave a card without knocking. I assume this is because it saves them time. It often happens with larger items, which I assume is because they then don't have to carry them from the truck. I've complained to the local post office when I've gone to pick up the 'missed' delivery, but they just shrug their shoulders.

    Note that this does not apply to the regular postmen (on mopeds) when delivering smaller items, whose customer service I always find to be first-rate, and whose jobs (as we know) are increasingly under threat and will surely go the way of the dodo before too long.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2018 - 23:53
      +1

      I found regular postmen/women to be better compare to sub-contractors as normal postmen knows how to use a doorbell or their horn.

      I feel like if i keep ordering stuff from China and local sellers that still use mail as they shipping method. The jobs in my area should be good for a while.

      I feel like local post office cannot do jack shit about "missed delivery". Sub-contractors really depends on area, I heard good story and bad all the time.

  • reshre8 on 07/07/2018 - 10:19

    I am a firm believer of equality ..not being biased with race, age, gender and social background… You should complain to the manager, write an email to the head office…and move on. I hope after this you wont start racially profiling as a result.

  • centrelink on 07/07/2018 - 10:44

    I go to Australia Post almost on a daily basis and I always seen customers having a go with the staff. They probably are fed up with it and honestly I would never want to work in a post office because of it. I would say complaining to them is pointless, they should not be responsible for what the postman does and should not have to be the bad guy exaplining what they do. I’d say better to only complain directly internally . That being said I’ve have indeed been screwed by ethnicity A as they worked in Local Post office, probably saw me as a week individual that was easy to milk money from. However once I found up the dodgy dealings that these ethnicity A did to me by stealing my stamps and not processing it in time, I cut them off completely. Sorry but if 200k in business with them within the last year was not enough and had to steal my stamps as well… then good bye business relationship… didn’t even question them… just went straight to the complaints department

    • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2018 - 12:07
      +1

      Weak rather than week- 7 days

      Also being screwed over by one person ,then taring a whole group merely because they happen to be born in the same place seems kind of harsh.
      I think they must have a word for that.

      Ironically
      It used to just be the poms who would whinge like overprivaliged shits.
      Then it was Victorian's moving to Queensland saying it's so much better in Melbourne, there's nothing to do here.
      We took to calling them SouthSea Poms.

      Hint. Whatever you do don't start whinging like spoilt children
      We don't appreciate it here.

      • centrelink on 08/07/2018 - 23:34

        Why is that ironic?

        • [Deactivated] on 09/07/2018 - 12:50

          Because it meets the definition of irony.

          Also when there is a space between paragraphs it means that the subject matter-may- have moved on or taken on a different perspective

    • minotaurian on 07/07/2018 - 12:23

      Username checks out

  • minotaurian on 07/07/2018 - 12:21
    +3

    I understand no one wants to be discriminated. At the same time, what did OP expect to receive from such a comment, a sorry? OR "please go home, we willtry to attempt to deliver the parcel again with a door knock this time"? Complaints are non productive when picking up parcels from the post office. There are better avenue to vent frustration aka complaintz department.

    I deal with people on a daily basis, people make excuses/complain all the time, many lie just to cause me to elicit a response,especially when they know full well the issue cannot be resolved. It is human nature to take out frustration on someone else, but, OP needs to understand, he may thought he was being courteous when making such comments, but in fact it could have sounded quite offensive. Remember, it's not the content of a statement, but the delivery.

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 13:14

      Does being asked the same question by many people give the storefront guys a golden ticket to abuse anyone's race/ nationality? I would have been happy(at least not sad) had he told me bluntly to leave the store than saying "The delivery guy is from your country, all you people are useless.blah blah…".

      • minotaurian on 08/07/2018 - 01:34

        I agree, the storefront person should have not acted in that manner, but responding to it, does nothing but add fuel to the fire. Either talk to the boss or refer to the postal industry obdubman

  • netsurfer on 07/07/2018 - 13:12
    +1

    It's probably a franchise post office. If it is a big deal, then OP should buy the franchise and sack the staff.

    The staff probably knew the store is only getting a few cents to handle the package, so they were being selfish and didn't want to provide any additional service or verbal comforting.

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 13:16

      Next time when you have a complaint about the train delays, can I expect you to buy the entire train network and fire all the employees?

      • netsurfer on 07/07/2018 - 13:21

        It was a joke. Calm down. Train delays - well, I would try to work harder and get rich so I won't need to take the hopeless public transport. There are more important things to worry about.

        Honestly, you are better off letting the sellers know in the future that you prefer safe drop to see if they can put a note in the delivery instruction. Or, ask the sellers to use courier companies incapable to card you (so they have to re-deliver).

        It's just a parcel. From my limited selling experience, a lot of things could happen. While I prefer buyers not being carded, it does happen (and happens a lot when I use express post because AusPost don't want to miss the deadline). With all these feeBay discounts recently, try to be a bit more open minded.

        Bottom line, you were there basically buying a 5 cent service. Then, you started complaining about a service that's not offered by the staff (but someone else). Had you bought some other products in store, I reckon the staff might have been nicer. Again, they were selfish and short sighted.

        • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 13:28
          +1

          That was a joke too mate :) !!I have realized that my workplace mail room allows personal parcels. In any case, I regret allowing an angry person to occupy my mind for so long time.
          I am over it now and let auspost do their inquiry if at all they are interested.

        • netsurfer on 07/07/2018 - 13:37
          -1

          @OzPunter: Clearly you weren't quite over it.

          You can also consider parcel lockers as I found workplace mail room can introduce additional delay.

        • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 13:46

          @netsurfer: May not be quite over it, but I am trying my best :)

        • netsurfer on 07/07/2018 - 14:48

          @OzPunter: Honestly, if you are still upset, what I would do is:

          • Purposely let the delivery guy card you a few times.
          • Go to the LPO and try to get the same guy
          • Use your smartphone and record your conversation with the staff
          • Ask for the staff's name
          • Unless the staff formally apologise to you, keep doing that

          Honestly, there was nothing the staff could do, but the staff's statements were somewhat contradicting. The staff obviously didn't care.

          But, only if you have the time. Realistically, it costs AusPost money when a delivery guy card you and it would be odd if he kept on sending parcels to the LPOs.

          Sending parcels to work does exactly what that staff wants: no need to deal with you.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2018 - 23:58

          @netsurfer:

          Yes, they want to get delivered and not redirected to local post office. As sub-contractors/postman have go out of their way to drop it off at LPO at end of their shift where they much prefer to go home.

  • Dont Care on 07/07/2018 - 14:52

    mate fact is didn't have to say anything at all. you did and caused all this. just let people do their jobs. People don't need to be dealing with people like you telling them how do to their job

    • ego22 on 07/07/2018 - 20:03
      +1

      Wow, u really dont care

  • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 07/07/2018 - 15:11

    Forget all the racism stuff. Just get an Aus post parcel locker account. It's free and you can collect 24/7 from a location that's close to where you live. You dont have to talk to anyone.

  • netsurfer on 07/07/2018 - 16:13
    +1

    Honestly, the reality is that, it was a 5 cent transaction for the LPO staff, his/her job was to hand over the parcel to you (and the LPO gets 5 cents). Normally, it is an easy transaction and most people are happy with the service itself.

    Don't take it personally, it was just a business transaction. The staff could feel that: he/she did his/her job (by giving you your parcel) and you whinged about a colleague which he/she has zero control. If the staff's family owned that particular LPO, he/she could feel it was not his/her fault at all.

    Use parcel lockers or ask the sellers to put a note to inform the parcel delivery person to do a safe drop as much as possible. Some sellers do that by default. I understand you paid for the postage, but LPO only gets 5 cents so don't expect a $20 service.

    • Curiouscat on 07/07/2018 - 21:37
      +2

      By any chance do you own a LPO.

    • Seedy seed on 08/07/2018 - 16:03
      +1

      I really find it hard to believe it's only 5 cents… For letters maybe?

      Do you have links to show this as it would be interesting reading tonight

      • centrelink on 08/07/2018 - 23:39

        From what I heard it’s based on weight, but yeah profit margin is terribly low none the less and I can’t understand why anyone buying a lpo franchise would even bother. I heard passport photos is where the money is at. Even newspaper have like a 10 cent margin where unsold papers are returned for recycling.

  • Hahuh on 07/07/2018 - 16:36

    Personally, I would've thrown kebab at his face. Substitute kebab with what your countries famous for

  • Sickman on 07/07/2018 - 18:27
    +4

    OzPunter I will keep out of the ethnicity issue, we should just treat everyone with respect as we like respect.

    But may I give advice. I suggest to avoid negatively from other people you should not start conversations with negatively, otherwise the person you are speaking to is going to feel like they are being personally attacked and will feel negative towards you no matter who you are. Instead of starting your conversation at the post office by complaining, to a person who is just doing their job of customer service. You should have thanked the person the counter person for giving you the parcel and then just politely ask if there was any reason why the delivery driver had not knocked on your door before writing out a card and if there was not a reason just ask what can be done to improve the service next time.

    Also a genuine smile to the other person when you first speak will work wonders for people of all cultures (and age :) ) to feel at ease.

    • OzPunter on 07/07/2018 - 19:11

      Good piece of advice.I now regret complaining to the person at the counter.I should have called up auspost. Better late than never,lesson learnt the hard way.

  • ego22 on 07/07/2018 - 20:02
    +1

    ethnicity A = Arabs
    ethnicity B = Bosnians

    Geez, great cover up….

    • franco cozzo on 09/07/2018 - 17:42
      +1

      huh. i immediately thought:
      A = Armenians
      B = Batswanas

      ???

  • HeWhoKnows on 07/07/2018 - 22:22
    -1

    Mate. Just have a beer and cool down.
    OMG its not that big an issue.
    And what do you expect form this outcome?
    I guarantee you nothing will come of it
    Or maybe there will be future problems with your mail
    Just dont do it.
    Forget it

  • Ryballs on 08/07/2018 - 02:50
    +9

    What's with the victim blamers in this comment section?

    People on the receiving end of casual racism shouldn't just have to "get over it".

    It shouldn't be acceptable here, the post office or anywhere else.

    • May4th on 08/07/2018 - 08:31
      +4

      that's precisely the problem isnt it, when people don't see it as a problem and tell you to get over it. it tells you how much casual racism there is. quite sad really

    • HighAndDry on 09/07/2018 - 09:57
      -3

      Whether it's acceptable or not, and whether the best way to deal about it is to cry about it online, are two separate issues.

  • justwii on 08/07/2018 - 12:57

    Isn't that common? I mean leaving collect card or even nothing at all by deliveries without knocking the door?

    Now am I offending all deliveries?

  • PAPower on 08/07/2018 - 14:38

    PLEASE DO NOT VB IT! I'm sure 'verbally racially abuse' is an offence if done in public.
    Whether the police'd do anything about it is another matter. Most of the time they wouldn't care because it's not a biggie in their opinions.

  • happirt on 08/07/2018 - 15:50
    -1

    …. Please do not bring age into the picture

  • Herbse on 08/07/2018 - 20:40
    -1

    Tell us about the other times you have complained to them

    • OzPunter on 08/07/2018 - 22:39

      never before and never again. Don't want to throw a stone in a mud puddle and cry about stains on my dress!!!

  • Ryxxi on 08/07/2018 - 23:11

    Something similar happened to me, in my case the gut refused to give me my parcel and kept laughing at me.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/07/2018 - 08:40

      Was it a belly laugh?

  • imahapyboy on 08/07/2018 - 23:50

    report to auspost and today tonight, make him lost his job, so he will start respect people

  • jay9 on 09/07/2018 - 06:35
    +1

    Buy all their real estate, hire a property manager of their ethnicity and rent that place out. Win win

  • infinite on 09/07/2018 - 08:35
    -2

    I've seen some funny made up and invented stories here on OzB before, but this one takes the cake in how obviously untrue it is.

    • OzPunter on 09/07/2018 - 09:54

      Invented and untrue?? How do you know it is not true? Stop assuming things mate. I derive no pleasure in inventing stories and writing here.

      • HighAndDry on 09/07/2018 - 10:37
        -5

        The fact you've kept up replying to people for basically half a week says otherwise.

  • ameno on 09/07/2018 - 13:36
    +1

    Typical whinging ethnicity A…

    • OzPunter on 09/07/2018 - 14:46
      -1

      Do you even know my ethnicity? Stop farting around.

      • franco cozzo on 09/07/2018 - 17:44
        +1

        to be fair that was pretty funny…

  • Major Mess on 09/07/2018 - 18:16

    Ring Andrew at Aust Post.
    03 9279 4028
    He is supposed to sort this shit out.

    • Richard Axe on 09/07/2018 - 21:15
      +1

      Happened to me as well, same kind of thing, but from a delivery guy from Australia Post. The guy yelled uncontrollably at me doing that I had to open the door more quickly. He needed to leave, hand over the machine for me to sign, I asked him to please calm down, that I was signing. That was the moment that he through all my parcels to the floor and left. Then I immediately called 000 and the police lady asked me what was happening.
      I said that it would be better if she talked to the guy, put the phone on hands free, b wished the van where the or of control Australia Post employee, with an Asian lookin ethnicity started to tell that he was going to kill me, that he was calling his people to kill me and all my family. There the police woman yelled at him over the phone saying that he was not going to kill anybody. That a police car was on its way to arrest him, that I was being ordered by her to take pictures of him, his licence plate, the registration of the machine, the parcels everything.
      She told me that she would contact Australia Post.
      I myself rented a storage facility to get my parcels and letters delivered to there years ago, since that happened and moved from that house afraid that him or his people would eventually kill me.
      Once parcel lockers became available Um for one and been happy.
      Do yourself a favour and get a parcel locker.
      The world is getting more difficult everyday. If you have the chance to avoid problems, even if not caused by you, get it.
      Those contractors involved in parcel delivery are out of control and Australia Post know that. That is why they come up with parcel lockers, I guess.

      • Richard Axe on 09/07/2018 - 21:17

        If eventually anyone from Australia Par reads my reply and need more data, feel free to contact me. I have all the pictures, numbers times and would very much like some sort of compensation for being forced to move by the threats made by your employee. Cheers

  • ozdesi on 11/07/2018 - 00:53

    Next time lean over the aisle with most expensive items, loosen yourself a bit let the items drop. Leave with a smile.

  • bulletNOVA on 11/07/2018 - 03:48

    Are you asian though ?

  • Eeples on 13/07/2018 - 11:15

    Unless you caught it on camera there is no way to know if he didn’t knock.

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