Complaint Against Koni Updyke and CPU Countryside, May 8, 2012

Mr. Robert Henriques, Acting Manager May 8, 2012United States Postal Service, Paddock Branch4545 SW 60th AVEOcala, FL 34474-4301

COMPLAINT: Contract Postal Unit (CPU), CountrysideKoni D. Updyke, PTS, Yours Truly Cards & Gifts, Inc.8449 SW Highway 200, Suit 137, Ocala, FL 34481-9693

Dear Mr. Henriques:

This is a complaint against Koni D. Updyke and CPU Countryside. As a result ofUpdyke’s unprofessional behavior, I opened an account with United Parcel Service(UPS) as a trial to replace the substandard service provided by CPU Countryside. Thisletter to you is the first sent with my new UPS account.

On the morning of May 1, 2012, while buying postage and mailing a letter at CPUCountryside, my transaction was interrupted by another CPU employee named “Sue”.While I was standing at the counter, Sue interrupted my transaction, twice, stating thatshe needed to speak with me. It was apparent that Sue was angry about something.

After completing my business, while I was still inside the CPU, Sue made unfoundedaccusations against me, and threatened to bring a lawsuit against me. Apparently Sue wasangry and upset over statements that Koni Updyke falsely attributed to me about Sue.

Sue’s anger, and her threat of litigation against me, is apparently related to an earliertransaction at CPU Countryside. On March 13, 2012 I bought Priority Mail postage, withDelivery Confirmation, for an item mailed to Mary Alice Gwynn in Delray Beach, FL.(Exhibit 1). Sue processed the transaction and provided me a receipt. (Exhibit 2). I readthe receipt the next day while I scanned it to PDF. That is when I noticed the receiptshowed $0.65 for cash paid which is not accurate. The actual cost of Priority Mailpostage, with Delivery Conformation, was about $6.00. According to Track & Confirm,the item was delivered March 15, 2012. (Exhibit 3).

A few days later I asked Koni Updyke why my receipt showed $0.65 when the amount Ipaid was about $6.00. Updyke was defensive, and refused to provide me a correct receipt.

Please note the time of the transaction on the receipt: 10:29:48 AM. (Exhibit 2). Thiscorresponds to the acceptance time shown on Track & Confirm: 10:30 AM. (Exhibit 3).

Prior to this incident Sue provided me excellent service during every transaction at CPUCountryside. Over the years Sue had voluntarily disclosed to me details of her personallife. Sue told me that she had been a career postal employee since graduating high school,but became disabled and left the Post Office. Sue appears emaciated, and often complainsthat she is in pain, making her claim of disability believable. Still, I do not understand

Mr. Robert Henriques, Acting ManagerUnited States Postal Service, Paddock Branch May 8, 2012

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how Sue could work while disabled at CPU Countryside, since she left a job at the PostOffice over disability. My knowledge of Sue’s disability status is admittedly incomplete.

Concerned for Sue’s privacy and well-being, I asked Koni Updyke in confidence why myreceipt showed $0.65 when the amount I paid was $6.00. CPU Countryside has closequarters, and I thought it prudent to discuss this matter in private, to avoid inadvertenteavesdropping by others. Therefore I spoke with Updyke outside the front door of CPUCountryside. I stressed to Updyke that Sue always provided excellent service. Updyke’sexplanation about the inaccurate receipt was not credible. Updyke speculated that Suemistakenly provided a receipt for $0.65, rather than a receipt for $6.00, because thecorrect receipt somehow fell behind the counter. Updyke did not provide, or offer toprovide, a corrected receipt, and dismissively laughed about the matter.

It appears that Koni Updyke did not maintain my confidence, and instead maliciouslytold Sue that I accused her of stealing money from CPU Countryside. As a result ofUpdyke’s dishonesty, she has created a hostile environment at CPU Countryside betweenme, Sue, and other employees. This calls into question Updyke’s judgment and veracity.

Koni Updyke also showed negligent disregard for Sue’s welfare. Sue became quite upsetwhen Updyke falsely attributed comments to me about Sue. Updyke’s false statement,that Sue stole money from CPU Countryside, likely aggravated Sue’s disability andcaused her emotional distress.

When I tried to explain the truth to Sue on May 1st, she was too overcome with rage todiscuss the matter calmly. Koni Updyke behaved as though she had no role in the matter,and supported Sue’s incorrect assumptions. Updyke’s subsequent behavior added to thehostile environment at CPU Countryside between me, Sue, and other employees.

CPU Countryside is located in the back of a small card and gift store, Yours Truly Cards& Gifts, Inc.. Yours Truly also sells non-post office boxes and shipping supplies whichcompete with Post Office products. The website of the Florida Division of Corporationsshows Koni D. Updyke is PTS of Yours Truly Cards & Gifts, Inc., 8449 SW Highway200 Suit 137, Ocala, FL 34481-9693. (Exhibit 4). Yours Truly also sells lottery tickets.

Other problems and issues at CPU Countryside include:

• Koni Updyke complained to me about the cost of postage labels, and refused myrequest to use a postage label to establish the date of mailing on a letter I mailed atCPU Countryside. This is not an issue at the real Post Office.

• Koni Updyke has been evasive on departure or cut-off times for mail leaving CPUCountryside going to the real Post Office. This causes confusion in determining theactual mailing time of items mailed from CPU Countryside.

• Koni Updyke requires a $5 minimum charge for postal services paid using debit orcredit cards. This is inconvenient when I do not have extra cash on hand. In contrast,


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the real Post Office accepts cards for any amount, a fact I personally confirmed withcareer postal employee Terri at the Paddock Branch May 7, 2012.

• Employees at CPU Countryside are not as experienced1 as career Post Office unionemployees. There appears to be high employee turnover at CPU Countryside.

• Items scanned for tracking at CPU Countryside do not appear as quickly on the PostOffice Track & Confirm system as items scanned at the real Post Office. Since manyof my items mailed have tracking numbers, this was an issue that caused me toprimarily patronize the real Post Office, even though it was a 16+ mile round trip.

Because of the foregoing, some time ago I curtailed my use of CPU Countryside. Butnow that Koni Updyke has created a hostile environment for me, and Sue has threatenedlegal action against me, I can no longer use CPU Countryside, or remain silent.

Koni Updyke has wrongfully interfered with my use of the United States Mail. I have noconfidence in CPU Countryside or Koni Updyke to act as an agent of the U.S. PostalService. In my opinion Updyke is a dishonest and malicious person. As a result ofUpdyke’s mendacity, I have been threatened with a lawsuit. The threat of litigation putsme in fear, as it would any reasonable person. Even a baseless lawsuit can bankrupt aperson, and inflict significant emotional distress. In addition, as of today, Updyke has notprovided me an accurate receipt for my Priority Mail postage of March 13, 2012.

Because of the foregoing I can no longer patronize CPU Countryside. Proximity is theonly reason I patronized CPU Countryside, which is located closer to my home than thereal Post Office. But the UPS Store is closer than CPU Countryside, so yesterday Iopened an account with United Parcel Service. (UPS). I learned that all UPS Groundservice in Florida is automatically delivered next day without the cost of Next Day Air.This is due to the design of the UPS network. Priority Mail within Florida takes 2-3 days.

The UPS Store, 1.7 miles distance from home

CPU Countryside, 3.0 miles distance from home

U.S. Postal Service, Paddock Branch, 8.3 miles distance from home

The mileage savings alone is significant. At one point I went to the Paddock Branch PostOffice six days a week, which amounts to 100 miles in travel. Since 2005 I have mailedthousands of letters and parcels. I realize that the few thousand item I mail are trivial tothe Post Office. But this amount of business is significant, I believe, to the local UPSStore, which I have used occasionally since it opened in 2005.

On May 7, 2012 I spoke by telephone with Paddock Brach supervisor Terry about thismatter, and how to arrange pickup of undelivered items. When I am not home to acceptan item that requires signature, and a notice is left, I want to pick up the item from alocation other than CPU Countryside. Please advise how to arrange this accommodation.

1 Sue is the exception. Sue is knowledgeable, efficient, and friendly - at least she was in the past.


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As you know, the Post Office is authorized by the United States Constitution. BenjaminFranklin2 was the first Postmaster General, in Philadelphia, my home town. My cousin isa career postal employee. The Post Office helped America succeed from the beginning.In my view CPU’s are a threat to this great tradition. Privatization is not always the bestanswer to vital government services. The likes of Koni Updyke, a small-minded gossip,denigrate the Post Office. Ideally the U.S. Postal Service will eliminate CPU Countrysideand open a real Post Office at this end of SW200 Ocala. If not, the Countryside franchiseshould be awarded to a competent person.

Kindly investigate this complaint. Please advise me on the pickup of undelivered mail ata location other than Countryside. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Neil J. Gillespie8092 SW 115th LoopOcala, Florida 34481Telephone: (352) 854-7807Email: [email protected]

Waiver of confidentiality. I hereby waive confidentiality and ask that this information beused freely to the benefit and improvement of the U.S. Postal Service.

Enclosures

cc: Mr. Patrick R. DonahoeUnited States Postmaster GeneralU.S. Postal Service475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W.Washington DC 20260

Mr. Guy Cottrell, Chief Postal InspectorU.S. Postal Service475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W.Washington DC 20260

Mr. Rob Strunk, Clerk Division DirectorAmerican Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO1300 L Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20005

2 Ben Franklin also founded the University of Pennsylvania, my alma mater.

u.s. Postal 5ervice"'Oelivery Confirmation'"Receipt Postage and Delivery COnfirmation fees must be paid before mailing. 11"'-'- ---' -- -- '-- - •.• •

Mary Alice Gwynn ~ 805 George Bush Boulevard

Delray Beach, FL 33483

POSTAL CUSTOMER: Keep this receipt. For Inquiries: Access internet web site at www.usps.com· or call1-8QO-222-1811

ONE (POSTAl. USE ONLY)

orlty MaU"5ervIce~First-Class Malfparcel

DPackage ServIces parcel PS Form 152. May 2002 (See Reverse)

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============================================

YOURS TRULY CARDS and GIFTS INC

8449 SW State Rd 200 Ste 137

Ocala. FL, 34481-9693

116602-B004

03/13/2012 10:29:48 AM

============================================

Sales Receipt

Product Sale Final

Description Qty Price

65c Dogs at Work 1 $0.65

Total $0.65

Cash $0.65

Thank youl

Blll#: 1-13168-1-2678797-2

Clerk: WINDOW1

All sales final on stamps and postage.

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Label/Receipt Number: 0311 0240 0001 8153 1316Expected Delivery Date: March 15, 2012Class: Priority Mail®

Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™

Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 12:44 pm on March 15, 2012 in DELRAYBEACH, FL 33483.

Enter Label/Receipt Number.

Detailed Results:Delivered, March 15, 2012, 12:44 pm, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483Out for Delivery, March 15, 2012, 9:25 am, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33444Sorting Complete, March 15, 2012, 9:15 am, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33444Arrival at Post Office, March 15, 2012, 8:46 am, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33444Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility, March 13, 2012, 4:11 pm, GAINESVILLE, FL 32608Acceptance, March 13, 2012, 10:30 am, OCALA, FL 34481

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Detail by Entity NameFlorida Profit CorporationYOURS TRULY CARDS & GIFTS, INC.

Filing Information

Document Number P97000028485FEI/EIN Number 593446891Date Filed 03/26/1997State FLStatus ACTIVE

Principal Address8449 SW SR 200135OCALA FL 34481

Changed 06/16/2009

Mailing Address8449 SW SR 200135OCALA FL 34481

Changed 06/16/2009

Registered Agent Name & AddressUPDYKE, KONI D8449 SW S.R. 200135OCALA FL 34481 US

Name Changed: 06/15/2007

Address Changed: 06/16/2009

Officer/Director DetailName & Address

Title PTS

UPDYKE, KONI D8449 SW SR 200OCALA FL 34481

Annual Reports

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Report Year Filed Date2010 02/01/20102011 02/28/20112012 01/13/2012

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01/13/2012 -- ANNUAL REPORT

















03/26/1997 -- Domestic Profit Articles

Note: This is not official record. See documents if question or conflict.


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Complaint Against Koni Updyke and CPU Countryside, May 8, 2012

Documents

Transcript of Complaint Against Koni Updyke and CPU Countryside, May 8, 2012