As Ridgeland mail woes continue, business owners are scrambling to make do. Apologies abound
Even with all the changes in technology and the way we communicate with each other, local residents and business owners still rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver everyday. In one part of the Lowcountry, that has become more of a wish than a reality.
During last year’s winter holiday season, complaints to the U.S. Postal Service detailing irregular and inconsistent mail pick up and delivery from the Ridgeland Post Office became more frequent as mail customers became more frustrated.
During that period, the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reported on several complaints from business owners in the Okatie area about the problems they were facing with timely deliveries. Nearly three months later, December’s mail problems appear to be carrying over into the spring.
Kevin Minton, owner of Specialty Flooring, said that in addition to spotty and unreliable delivery, mail is not being picked up out of his box, either. “We are leaving our flag up with outgoing mail in the box, and it is not getting picked up. So, we know the carrier does not come here.” His business is in the Hazzard Creek Village on Route 170, and he said the issue has been going on more than six months. “We are lucky if we get mail two to three days out of the week.”
Minton said that when the carrier does show up, it is usually very late and the packages his company depends on for business are not being delivered. “I’ve met my carrier at my box at 8:00 p.m. and she’s handed me a slip that says, ‘Sorry we missed you,’ but there are no packages in her vehicle.”
Minton’s multiple trips to the post office and complaints to customer service have not helped fix the problem. Consumer Affairs actively followed up with phone calls to him within a week after his complaint and they seemed, “eager to help” but nothing changed.
Additionally, if Minton asks for his mail while at the post office, he request is often denied. “We go to the post office sometimes they will give us our mail, sometimes they won’t. They will say, ‘It’s already on the carrier’s truck for delivery today,’ or, ‘it’s still on the carrier’s truck from delivery yesterday.”
Minton said he knows he is not alone. “I’ve been standing in that line where everybody has the exact same complaint as me.”
The lack of regular mail service has affected how Minton does business. “We’re a business, and we rely on our bills and payments coming in the mail. And it has gotten to the point where we feel forced to take a credit card payment from a customer.”
Kirk Sutlive, owner of Black Dog Marine, located next door to Specialty Floors, also expressed his displeasure with his mail service. “I’ve told customers not to mail a check - I’ll come and get it.” He said he is often forced to drive to local customers in Hilton Head to collect payments.
Sutlive said he has gone several days without mail being delivered or picked up. “It’s very frustrating trying to run a business knowing that I have money coming and I can’t get it.” He also said he is missing two packages from December.
Both Sutlive and Minton were advised by post office employees that carriers start the route wherever they did not finish the day before. Both customers shared their doubts with that being the case.
Minton also said, “I’m guessing due to our location we are probably one of the last stops on the route. However, I would think it is a pretty easy fix, [add] another driver.”
United States Post Office Communications Specialist Nikki Johnson declined to comment via phone interview. However, Johnson did send an email statement that included, “We apologize for any mail service issues that may have been experience by our customers living in the Ridgeland Post Office service area.”
