MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mail delivery issues are plaguing South Memphis neighborhoods. The United States Postal Service serves hundreds of thousands of people in Memphis each year, yet several people are getting important mail delivered to the wrong address.
From bank statements to medical information and even credit cards, these are problems happening with USPS that this neighborhood hasn’t experienced until this year.
“The lady that normally drops it, is very efficient,” one South Memphis neighbor said. “She’s been on this route for years and we’ve never had a problem, never had an issue.”
Now, they have a new mail carrier. Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, who lives in an area experiencing this problem, said she believes it’s a problem of overlooking low-income neighborhoods.
“When I talk to my other brothers and sisters, my white colleagues – they don’t have these issues in their communities,” Cooper-Sutton said.
U.S.P.S. sent ABC24 this statement:
“The Postal Service appreciates its customers and always strives to provide the best possible service. Regarding questions about staffing and service for the 38109 ZIP Code service area, please know that the Postal Service is continually hiring new employees in order to maintain our staffing levels. Newly hired employees, such as letter carriers, receive a focused and robust training period. This includes hands-on training, use of observational methods, and coaching and instruction from both senior employees and managers. We want our new employees to succeed and grow in their assignments to fulfill the ultimate goal of providing excellent service to all customers. We apologize for any unintended and temporary inconvenience that some customers may have experienced, and we appreciate their patience. Local management is committed to making continuous improvements as we build a stronger Postal Service with our next generation of employees. Customers are reminded that, if they need assistance with mailing or shipping concerns, they have a variety of options for reaching us, including contacting their local Post Office, calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or visiting our website at www.usps.com/help . We appreciate the patience of our valued customers during the ongoing effort to successfully resolve this situation.”
Regardless, neighbors are finding alternate routes to make up for the issues.
So, instead of doing the easy thing and putting mail back in the box.
It’s become a situation of ‘What Would You Do’.
“My concern was, if I put it back in the mailbox and raise the flag, would it be a reoccurrence of the same thing?” Cooper-Sutton questioned. “So, if I know, if I just go deliver each piece to the addresses where they are, I know they’ll get there safely,” Cooper-Sutton said.
While the issue isn’t necessarily isolated to the 38109 zip code, Cooper-Sutton said it’s an issue no one in any part of town should be dealing with.
If you have a concern about your delivery service, you can go to your post office in person or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
We want to hear from you. Text “SOLUTIONS” and include your concern to (901) 321-7520.