Mailmen As Birddogs????
I was going to visit local USPS offices and give to mailmen my flyers saying that I am paying finder's fee and that I am looking for certain properties.
Before doing this I consulted my friend who happens to be a lawyer about something in my flyer. And here is his response:
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I think you better not do this. The postal service could get very mad and
send an inspector to see you. You cannot offer things to US federal
workers. Penalties are severe.
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In other words, it is illegal because I ask federal workers even indirectly use their job and offer them money for it.
Any comments?
[ Edited by Olga on Date 11/03/2003 ][ Edited by Olga on Date 11/03/2003 ]
I'd run this by another attorney or get a more in depth response from your friend. I am not sure how well a visit to your post office would be but I might start with your local mailperson. Tell them what you are looking for and say that you give referal fees to people who finds you leads. Put together a small kit which explains it more and offer that to them if they seem interested.
I'm not sure how to get the other mailpeople involved other than from word of mouth from the one lead you have onboard. Any ideas?
Don't rightly know its legality, but I sure do know that all USPO employees are under tremendous intermal (inside the USPO system itself) stress & pressure, constantly, and I'd be very concerned about doing anything that might add to their stress.
I recall several news articles over the years about some mail carrier or other who suddently went "postal" and started shooting others in the USPO, so that gives you some idea what kind of stress they face daily.
The poor guys apparently can't do anything right & every supervisor with any authority is on their backs all the time.
Quote:
On 2003-11-03 16:45, myfrogger wrote:
.... I am not sure how well a visit to your post office would be but I might start with your local mailperson. Tell them what you are looking for and say that you give referal fees to people who finds you leads. Put together a small kit which explains it more and offer that to them if they seem interested.
Absolutely, I prepared all the info and was going to start from my local mailperson. To get others is not difficult. By every centeral USPS office there is a parking lot with mail-vehicles. This is a good place to meet all of them.
The problem now is that I can get in trouble.
You might be right, John, but on the other hand, you might actually be alleviating some stress and anxiety by hiring the Mailperson as a birddog. Maybe the extra money he would be earning would be just enough help to keep him from going off the deep end. Besides, are postal workers really under any more stress than the rest of us? I doubt it. But if any postal workers are out there reading this, I want to point out that you do an amazing job. I'll never understand how you can deliver my letters for $.37. Thanks! Zach
[ Edited by Zach on Date 11/03/2003 ][ Edited by Zach on Date 11/03/2003 ]
I have cruised neighborhoods and got helpful info from mail carriers. As a matter of fact, I have met several that have their own REI's and find them while on their route.
Some of the best secrets in our industry are people like postmen/women. Talk to your local postperson and tell them what you do and what you offer and how easy it is. Show them how they are in such a great position to make easy money that it would foolish not to try. Then when things go well between you two, start to notion about bringing other people into play that they know.
Before you know it, you will have a great resource at your fingertips. And always preface any agreement or talk with them with "Just thought I'd run this by you, don't want to do anything illegal, but if you are interested...."
I'm pretty sure that what the postperson does on their own time is their business. Just because they happen to see certain homes on their route or here of others and then let you know about them on their off time, does not mean they are breaking rules.
Christian "The Solutions Kid" Beebe
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Take it from me (a former postal carrier employee) You do NOT want to go there, from my past postal carrier experience I have seen many individuals go to jail or pay $1000's for simply using postal employees to do things for others (flyers etc.) while on the clock. Please don't make that big mistake ..
I think a smart postal carrier who values his job and does not want a hint of impropriety affiliated with himself, will politely decline your offer.
Hey man, nobody's saying the postalperson has to neglect his or her job responsibilities. What they do on their own time is their business, and so what if they do notice a few potential bargains as their walking around during the day? It's not like they're doing anything different than they normally do, with the possible exception of keeping a keen eye out for a bargain. I mean, they're going to be walking around anyway, why shouldn't they be thinking of something productive? (Not to imply that they aren't already) I agree that they should be approached in an appropriate manner, but I really don't see this huge risk some of you seem so worried about. If they want to do it, fine. If they don't , fine. Who cares? I'll bet Cliff Claven would do it. Zach[ Edited by Zach on Date 11/03/2003 ]
Hey,
A lawyer tells you it is illegal and instead of listening to him, you come out here for legal advice??? That is really scary.
Way too many people see themselves as White Knights riding to the rescue and think, that because they see their actions as being positive, the law can be ignored. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, but that is incorrect thinking.
The mailman is not the only person who is in a position to help you, he's just the only one that is a federal employee!
Gas and Electric man....
Phone repair man...
Cable repair man...
etc...
hope this help,
clear2close
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