I grew tired of the 4 local video stores not having the
older/obscure/cult classic films I want to see. They don't even have a
lot of the hit 1980's films. The nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video
is like 10 miles away and doesn't have too many obscure films anyway.
Also, I got sick of paying late fees and having to bust my ass to get
the films back in 5 days.
So I joined Netflix on Saturday night (it's better rated than
Blockbuster's version). It only took about 5 minutes to create an
account, and there's a free 2 week trial period. Then I filled up my
"queue" with the films I want to rent in the order I want to rent them.
And it said: "the film listed first in your queue will be shipped
Monday." So anyway, today, Tuesday the film came! (only takes a day to
get a film). I couldn't find this film in any local video store.
And once you fill your queue, all you do is watch your film and then
send it back in the prepaid envelope, then netflix automatically sends
the next film on your list. They pay the postage. I signed up for the
$9.99/monthly service that allows you to get one DVD at a time,
unlimited times per month, so as soon as one DVD gets returned they send
another. I figure I'll get about 8 films a month. For just $10. They
have other tiers of service. 2 at a time DVD's, unlimited, is
$14.99/month. 2 at a time (4 total per month) is $11.99. The cheapest
plan is $5.99 for 1 dvd at a time (limit 2 per month).
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> I grew tired of the 4 local video stores not having the
> older/obscure/cult classic films I want to see. They don't even have a
> lot of the hit 1980's films. The nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video
> is like 10 miles away and doesn't have too many obscure films anyway.
> Also, I got sick of paying late fees and having to bust my ass to get
> the films back in 5 days.
> So I joined Netflix on Saturday night (it's better rated than
> Blockbuster's version). It only took about 5 minutes to create an
> account, and there's a free 2 week trial period. Then I filled up my
> "queue" with the films I want to rent in the order I want to rent them.
> And it said: "the film listed first in your queue will be shipped
> Monday." So anyway, today, Tuesday the film came! (only takes a day to
> get a film). I couldn't find this film in any local video store.
> And once you fill your queue, all you do is watch your film and then
> send it back in the prepaid envelope, then netflix automatically sends
> the next film on your list. They pay the postage. I signed up for the
> $9.99/monthly service that allows you to get one DVD at a time,
> unlimited times per month, so as soon as one DVD gets returned they send
> another. I figure I'll get about 8 films a month. For just $10. They
> have other tiers of service. 2 at a time DVD's, unlimited, is
> $14.99/month. 2 at a time (4 total per month) is $11.99. The cheapest
> plan is $5.99 for 1 dvd at a time (limit 2 per month).
I used Netflix once, and agree with you, I loved their service. I was on the
3 per month plan. The only problem I had was the dvds would arrive cracked
about half the time. They blamed the postal service, and of course the
postal service blamed them being shipped in paper sleeves, not cardboard.
But, every time I called Netflix to complain, they would give me an extra
dvd for 2 weeks (allowing me 4 in circulation) for being stuck with 2
instead of 3, while waiting for another one that wasn't cracked.
I only had one of their customer service reps be totally clueless with me. A
female (smirk), she sounded pretty young and suggested that since it was an
old movie (African Queen) that maybe the dvd had just worn out. Honestly,
she said that! I explained to her dvds weren't that old, so maybe I helped!
But anyway, I do agree with you, they are great, but I got tired of the
hassle and quit. May sign up again sometime tho.
lucy
>Not to defend them, but you'd be surprised to learn that they don't earn
>much more than minimum wage. Sure, starting pay per hour is decent enough,
>but that assumes that they are working full-time. Hardly anybody at a
>smaller post works full-time. The folks at your PO might be lucky to clock
>30 hours per week, meaning anybody working at Wal-Mart 40 hours a week is
>bringing home almost as much as the postal clerk is. There are no
>"salaried" positions, as the term is generally used. And from what I've
>heard, the benefits aren't all that great, either. -Dave
Gee, "Dave" - one of the biggest complaints about WalMart is that mo
one gets 40 hours there, either.
POSTAL BENEFITS
USPS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
Annual Leave | Sick Leave | FMLA | Postal Holidays | Benefits Summary
LEAVE INFORMATION
Covered by the USPS leave program are:
a. Full-time career employees.
b. Part-time regular career employees.
c. Part-time flexible career employees.
d. To the extent provided in the USPS National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association ( NRLCA) National Agreement, temporary employees assigned
to rural carrier duties.
Note: Transitional employees are not covered by the leave program, but
do earn leave as specified in their union's national agreement.
Not covered by the leave program are:
a. Postmaster relief/leave replacements, noncareer officers in charge,
and other temporary employees except as described in 511.31d.
b. Casual employees.
c. Individuals who work on a fee or contract basis, such as job
cleaners.
ANNUAL LEAVE:
How Much Leave Does Full-time Employees Earn?
*
Less than 3 years USPS service.
You earn: 13 days per year <4 hours per pay period>
*
With 3-15 years USPS service.
You earn: 20 days per year. <about 6 hours per pay period>
*
With 15 or more years service.
You earn: 26 days per year. <8 hours per pay period>
Note: Prior military service does count toward years service with
USPS, but if you are retired from the military certain conditions
apply to count any of your service time toward earning annual leave.
Ask your Human Resources office to compute this time for you.
LWOP, leave without pay, does affect your annual leave earnings.
Consult your Human Resources office concerning this.
How Much Leave Can I Takeover Each Year?
*
Bargaining Unit Employees (employees covered under union
contract): 440 hours
*
EAS Employees: 560 hours.
SICK LEAVE
Employees earn sick leave to use as paid time off from scheduled work
hours. Sick leave may be used for illness, injury, pregnancy, and
medical/dental examinations and treatment . Sick leave is accrued and
credited at the end of each pay period in which it is earned. There is
no limit on the amount of sick leave that an employee can carryover
each year. Sick leave is the best insurance you can have.
How Much Sick Leave Do I Earn?
*
Full-time employees earn 4 hours per pay period or 13 days per
year.
*
Part-time employees earn 1 hour for each unit of 20 hours in a
pay status up to 104 hours or 13 days per year.
Family Medical Leave (FMLA)
Top
We have dedicated an entire section to Family Medical Leave. Please Go
Here
Briefly: FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of
unpaid, job-protected leave to "eligible" employees for certain family
and medical reasons. Employees are eligible if they have worked for a
covered employer for at least 1 year, and for 1,250 hours over the
previous 12 months, and if there are at least 50 employees within 75
miles.
Unpaid leave must be granted for any of the following reasons:
1. to care for the employee's child after birth or placement for
adoption or foster care;
2. to care for the employee's spouse, son or daughter, or parent, who
has a serious health condition; or
3. for a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to
perform the employee's job.
In many cases at the employee's or employer's option, annual or sick
leave may be substituted for unpaid leave.
POSTAL HOLIDAYS
Top
The Postal Service observes 10 holidays each year. They are:
*
New Year's Day
*
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr
*
Birthday of George Washington
*
Memorial Day
*
Independence Day
*
Labor Day
*
Columbus Day
*
Veterans Day
*
Thanksgiving Day
*
Christmas Day
*
New Year's Day
BENEFITS SUMMARY
Top
Compensation
In addition to highly competitive basic pay rates, most Postal Service
employees also receive regular salary increases, overtime pay, night
shift differential, and Sunday premium pay. Overtime is paid at one
and one-half times the applicable hourly rate for work in excess of 8
hours per day, or 40 hours within a workweek. Night shift differential
is paid at a specified dollar rate for all hours worked between 6pm
and 6am. Sunday premium is paid at 25 percent for work scheduled on
Sunday.
Health Insurance
The Postal Service participates in the Federal Employees Health
Benefits (FEHB) Program, which provides excellent coverage and
flexibility with most of the cost paid by the Postal Service. There
are many plans available, including both traditional insurance
coverage and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Employee premium
contributions are not subject to most taxes, making health insurance
even more affordable
Retirement
The Postal Service participates in the federal retirement program,
which provides a defined benefit annuity at normal retirement age as
well as disability coverage.
Thrift Savings Plan
After a waiting period, career postal employees may contribute to the
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which is similar to 401(k) retirement
savings plans offered by private sector employers. Employees
contribute to TSP on a tax-deferred basis, and may receive automatic
and matching contributions (up to 5 percent of pay) from the Postal
Service.
Social Security and Medicare
Newly hired postal employees are covered under Social Security and
Medicare.
Life Insurance
The Postal Service offers coverage through the Federal Employees'
Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. The cost of basic coverage is
fully paid by the Postal Service, with the option to purchase
additional coverage through payroll deduction.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Career employees may participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts
(FSA) Program after one year of service. Tax-free FSA contributions
can be used to cover most out-of-pocket health care and dependent care
(day care) expenses.
Leave
The Postal Service offers a leave program to career employees that
includes annual (vacation) leave and sick leave. For the first 3 years
of service, full-time employees earn 13 days of annual leave per year,
increasing to 20 days per year after 3 years of service, and to 26
days per year after 15 years of service. In addition, full- time
employees earn 13 days of sick leave per year as insurance against
loss of income due to illness or accident.
>> Jon R. Patrick wrote:
>> ...
>>> We're thrilled iwth netflix, and I'd like to think your problem was
>>> several years ago and they've fixed the 'handling' problem that was
>>> letting it occur.
>>
>> It's not so much Netflix but the post office. Not all post offices
>> are created equal. I happen to live near one (Sylmar, CA) which has
>> "disappeared" enough DVD's that Netflix will no longer ship to my
>> address. I have heard reports of one postal employee having stolen
>> hundreds of DVDs at another post office.
>>
>> It may just be that this post office treats the mail more roughly.
>>
>> Anthony
>I joined 1-31-05, and don't remember when I left them, few months later I
>think, maybe April of '05.
> Ya, my tendency is to believe it is the postal service also. Plus, I do
>live in Dallas. <smirk>
>But, the dvds that arrived damaged weren't slightly cracked, they would be
>completely cracked. Dropped very hard, or just bent till they cracked,
>apparently. Regardless, it was very disappointing waiting for the disc to
>arrive, then having to return it and wait again.
>But, it is better than the alternative, so I am gonna go ahead and sign up
>again soon. I mean honestly, have you looked inside a blockbuster or
>hollywood video lately? The skimpy selection is comical in comparison,
>besides, they never have what I truly enjoyed. The really old tv shows and
>movies. I love lucy, the lucy show, (I adore Lucille Ball), Hepburn n
>Tracey.. ok, I'm sure I'll get flamed now for admitting I'm a dweeb, but who
>cares!
>lucy :)
I've been a member for about 18 months on the three-at-a-time plan,
and so far have only received three disks that would not play as
received. I logged onto tihe Netflix site and had a replacement each
time within 48 hours.
>The folks at your PO might be lucky to clock 30 hours per week, meaning
>anybody working at Wal-Mart 40 hours a week is bringing home almost as
>much as the postal clerk is.
I'd rather work 30 hours a week at the PO than 40 hours a week at Wal-
Mart. For the same money. Only workign 3 or 4 days per week at the PO
and having 4 days off is way better than working 5 days at Wal-Mart.
But anyway, our local PO has dummies working there. They gab and gab
with customers they know, even with people waiting in line. Plus,
there's only 3 customer parking spaces near the entrance -- rest of the
spaces are far away, and the post office employees were parking their
own cars in these 3 clearly marked "customer" spaces. Making 50 or 60
people a day (depending on how many customers went to the PO that day)
walk farther to go into the PO. And this was in winter too. Meaning
customers, a lot of them elderly, would have further to walk farther,
over the semi icy/snowy parking lot. I confronted the head clerk about
it. He argued with me over it loudly, saying that the PO employees
taking the customer spaces out front wasn't a big deal. Some of the
people in line agreed with me but didn't have the stones to speak up.
Anyway, I took some pics and wrote some letters. The PO employees
stopped parking in customer spaces soon after. Don't be afraid to
confront people who are paid to serve you (esp. gov't workers and semi
gov't workers like the PO). I'm not saying be petty and nitpicky but
have some stones to confront these people when they're messing up.
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> older/obscure/cult classic films I want to see. They don't even have a
> lot of the hit 1980's films. The nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video
> is like 10 miles away and doesn't have too many obscure films anyway.
> Also, I got sick of paying late fees and having to bust my ass to get
> the films back in 5 days.
> So I joined Netflix on Saturday night (it's better rated than
> Blockbuster's version). It only took about 5 minutes to create an
> account, and there's a free 2 week trial period. Then I filled up my
> "queue" with the films I want to rent in the order I want to rent them.
> And it said: "the film listed first in your queue will be shipped
> Monday." So anyway, today, Tuesday the film came! (only takes a day to
> get a film). I couldn't find this film in any local video store.
> And once you fill your queue, all you do is watch your film and then
> send it back in the prepaid envelope, then netflix automatically sends
> the next film on your list. They pay the postage. I signed up for the
> $9.99/monthly service that allows you to get one DVD at a time,
> unlimited times per month, so as soon as one DVD gets returned they send
> another. I figure I'll get about 8 films a month. For just $10. They
> have other tiers of service. 2 at a time DVD's, unlimited, is
> $14.99/month. 2 at a time (4 total per month) is $11.99. The cheapest
> plan is $5.99 for 1 dvd at a time (limit 2 per month).