The situation is fraught, FRAUGHT, I tell you. Here's the deal. The current paper carrier is new. He only started this route about a month ago. Since then, I have missed my paper 7 times. It should be simple enough. But, wait! The young lady who lives next door to me moved in about a month ago. So, she has to be considered a suspect, doesn't she? I admit I unreasonably thought at first that she was the perp, because she's very noisy, slamming her door at all hours, talking loud and has a potty mouth to boot. OK, I realize that's not enough to go on. I do try to be fair, after all. So, I have been calling the Circulation Department of the newspaper to report that I am not getting my paper every day, only because that's actually the logical conclusion, in my mind.
Every time I call the Circulation Department, they tell me they'll credit my account, which I also have my doubts about, because mine is either a three or six month subscription and I never have any evidence that my account has been credited and the renewal notices come like clockwork anyway. And they assure me that they will report my complaint to the carrier's supervisor. Then, nothing else happens. Today, I received the assurance that said supervisor will call me tomorrow to see if we can resolve the problem. I'm not holding my breath.
I haven't just been sitting here, taking it on the chin. either. I have set a trap, which means that I have to get up at around 4 or 5 a.m. and look outside to see if the paper is there. If it's there, the plan is to leave it there and check again, at the usual time that I bring it in. If it's still there, I think I can assume the neighbor isn't snagging it. But, if it isn't there at 4 or 5 a.m., and it still isn't there by the time I get up again, I am going to assume the carrier is to blame.
Alas, there are many variables to this plan. It isn't foolproof, by any means. I certainly don't want to be the cause of the carrier being wrongfully fired. And, I don't want to wrongly accuse the neighbor and cause her to be evicted. What if neither one of them is to blame? What if it's someone else who's getting the paper? What if it's some of the many, many children living near me in the complex, who seem to travel in packs and who are undoubtedly already bored with summer and looking for some mischief to get into? In the 12+ years that I have lived in this apartment, this has never happened before, which is not to say it can't start happening.
Maybe I should just cancel my subscription and read the paper online, even though I look forward to having my paper in my hands while I drink my morning coffee. What to do, what to do? And, WHY ME?
Any suggestions?
Stay tuned.
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16 comments:
I am casting my vote that it is the carrier. But, let us know if you ever find out.
Do you know any other neighbor or friend who also has this carrier? Are they having the same issue?
I'd check with the neighbors also like Peruby suggested. If it is the carrier, tell the newspaper you don't want credit, you want a redelivered paper each time it fails to show up. That is what they did for me in Florida and the carrier got straightened out in no time.
Good luck.
since it is a NEW carrier my bet is the carrier is the problem.
My old carrier was great! The paper arrived by 5:00am and placed bags if it even looked like rain. He never missed a day in 7 years. Then he quit. My paper would then arrive at 9:00am or not a all. I complained to no avail. I decided to stop home delivery. I began reading the news online. It's takes longer to read, but it's better than nothing.
I loved my early morning cup of tea with my newspaper. I would get up early so I could have that hour all to myself.
Since my dearest friend here works for our area delivered newspaper she runs interference for me. It is almost always the carrier. At present we have a very good carrier.
When we had a lousy one, I had 20 credits and I did see them on my bill. This is a Gannett owned newspaper and is on-line but access is blocked unless you have a paid subscription--obituaries excepted.
However, interestingly, I had a disruptable neighbor who trained his dog to fetch my newspaper the minute it was thrown. I got up early one morning and ambushed the dog with a B-B gun making sure I missed the misguided dog, but the owner distinctly heard the shot. Never missed another paper.
We have a paid subscription and delivery is dependable. I decided I want to read it online, thinking it would be accessible since we paid for the delivered papers. To my surprise, it costs about $20 a year to read it online in addition to the subscription. This makes no sense to me!
I like Arkansas Patti's suggestion. I'm betting that a few extra trips to deliver your paper will get them coming regularly.
Patti: The DOG will not redeliver the paper. You're just out of luck until the carrier brings the next one, whatever day that might be. Even the local paper won't move themselves to tell the carrier to bring my paper, if he forgot to deliver it, and they are right here in town. No such thing as Customer Service any more.
Peruby: I don't know any of my neighbors, as this is a fairly large apartment complex, and the people who run it could care less is I'm getting my paper or not.
patsy: You may be right. It's so difficult to pin it on anybody. That's what's so frustrating.
Lucylocket: I don't like to read the paper online. It's just not the same. Besides, I like to work the crossword puzzle.
Nitwit1: A BB gun. I think Judge Judy calls that "resorting to self-help," but whatever works, I say.
Marlu: It costs extra on line, and you don't even get everything that is in the print copy. Go figure.
Janie B: As I told Arkansas Patti, they won't make any extra trips to deliver the paper. They'll barely deign to pick up the phone and call me back.
We are having the same problem with our local paper.We were assured the missing paper would be delivered the next day. That never happened. Then we were given the "credit your account" line, and BTW would you like to have your payment automatically deducted from your checking account each month. (We prepay for the year. No, I just want the freakin paper delivered each morning.
If I miss my DOG I call the circulation department. They usually start by saying they are SORRY...which just sets me off. I don't want to hear sorrow...I want it fixed. Last time I did not get the paper, she said they may have to leave it at the end of my lane! That is a busy hiway and I don't want to walk down there in my nighty to get my DOG. I told her 'just send my money back!'. Now my paper is coming daily.
One thing I did -- got the number of the carrier. So I started calling him. His wife said -- who is this? like I was a girlfriend or something.
Good luck! Coffee in the morn is just not the same with the DOG. I have to do that crossword. I guess the paper is a 'Betty' thing! teehee
Olga: I take our local paper, too, but nobody ever gets it. That's not surprising. If I didn't have to check the obituaries and do the crossword puzzle, I would cancel it. But, the DOG is another matter.
Sister-Three: Maybe it IS just a Betty thing, but I won't be a happy camper if I have to cancel my subscription. So, I'm hoping the situation will be taken care of soon.
As an old paper carrier...I know exactly where your missing newspapers are. Your new carrier needs to be fired becuase mother or father made young newspaper carrier take this job to build a work ethic but he is showing them. Find the nearest ravine near the boys paper drop, there you will find your papers. FYI...I never did that.
I quit taking the morning paper when the carrier kept changing and the new delivery person always missed my Sunday paper. They did bring a replacement, but by the time I got it I was too busy to read it.
After a year of frustration, I gave up and now read the paper on line.
The newspaper circulation is down so much you would think the editor would strive for top efficiency. No wonder daily papers are a dying breed.
Grayquill: You may well be right. I'll search around. There are vacant lots close that never get mowed. Maybe the papers are there.
Darlene: After two days of receiving my paper, it didn't come again today. I know the carrier is trying to convince his boss that someone here in the apartment complex is stealing it. And, his boss wants to believe him. But, I'll fix his lazy little wagon one of these days. I never give up.
Been there; done that.
I finally decided if I want the newspaper, I walk the 3 blocks to the Speedee Foods and buy one there.
'Sides, I need the walk.
I can't walk to the nearest paper. It's too far. So, I'll either read my news on line from some other source, or just hope they get the situation under control.
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