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Hi, my mailman has a bad habit of putting the wrong mail in the wrong box. 2day a package was delivered to our apt in locked box thing & he obviously put the key to it in the wrong 1. How should I word a letter to my neighbors asking for my package?

Asked by Joanna almost 11 years ago

I don't know how you know for sure the package was delivered to the parcel locker section and the key put into the neighbor's box. If you are sure of this (based on the fact that your mailman has made mistakes in the past) then I would put a notice on your neighbor's door. You don't have access to their mailbox so you can't put it in there. The notice can say: "I believe the letter carrier errantly delivered a package to you (or put the parcel locker key in your mailbox) that should have been for me. If you have received this package, please deliver it to me or leave it by my door. "

You may also want to include your phone number on the notice. Unless your neighbors or morally challenged they should give you the package without incident. I hope this helps you Joanna and you receive your package.

649 Votes

I have gotten a lot of junk mail and became kind of lazy and let my mailbox fill up a little. Today I checked my mail and everything was gone but I haven't moved. Can I get my mail back??

Asked by Desi over 11 years ago

I don't know why the mail would have been removed from your mailbox unless the box was maybe overflowing. In that case we may suspend further delivery or empty the mailbox and return any accumulated mail to the senders or discard the mail depending on the class it was sent. Maybe the letter carrier thinks you have moved. It seems the mail has been removed a bit prematurely, but I don't know of a way to get the mail back.

649 Votes

Hi again i got everything figured out with my postcard and am going to be sending out 10,000 at once. Would i be able to get a bulk discount for this? or would it be wiser to pay for first class postage? and will they be delivered the same either way

Asked by Andrew over 10 years ago

I didn't realize you'd be doing such a large mailing. I believe that amt of postcards would qualify for a discount but sometimes it depends on the quantity of pieces for a certain area, how the mailing is prepared, and where you enter it into the system (some large mailings are cheaper to drop off at a mail plant vs. a local PO). The name for a bulk mailing discount is usually called presort standard and presort first class Mail. The standard doesn't get handled as quickly as first class mail which is why it's cheaper. I am sure the answer is quite a bit more complex than what I've told you. Some resources that I'd look for are the Direct Marketing Association or search for "USPS bulk mailing discounts" or "basics of bulk mailing USPS". If stamps or meters are not affixed to your postcards you can't just drop them in a mailbox. The mailing would need to be processed through the BMEU (business mail entry unit). You may also need to get a bulk mailing permit to use an indicia and get a discount. I don't know these details at all. You ask good questions but my area of knowledge has more to do with the job of a city letter carrier. That is why I'm not being any more specific. Anything I've typed here is what I've learned over the years by asking my associates similar questions that you have asked. None of this knowledge is necessary to be a letter carrier.

648 Votes

are mail carriers required to deliver to separate boxes at a 2-family house, assuming the boxes specify 'apt. 1' and 'apt. 2' (particularly if the boxes are on different levels separated by stairs)?

Asked by Joe over 10 years ago

I don't know the procedures for determining whether a not a building is "officially" considered multi-unit for mail deliver purposes. I once had a person who was leasing part of a house of I could put his mail into a separate mailbox on the side of a house and I said no. The house is considered one address and all of the mail goes in a single box. The landlord can separate the mail. I would think if it's a 2-family house and the boxes are clearly marked as "apt 1" and "apt 2" or something similarly distinctive and the mail is addressed accordingly it may be okay. I truly don't know what constitutes multi-unit or not as far as mail delivery goes. I also don't know if the stairs have any effect to the answer. It's not uncommon to walk up stairs to deliver mail so I can't outright say no due to the stairs separating the mailboxes of the 2 units.

648 Votes

Lets say its a chilly day probably in the 30's-40's range and raining. I have rain gear for the rest of my body but nothing for my hands. How do you keep your hands dry? Warmth is not a major concern atm, just keeping them dry. What do you do?

Asked by Kruesser over 11 years ago

Those days aren't fun whatsoever and I don't know that I have a good answer for you as I'm more concerned with the cold. I have heard of seal skin gloves which may work well to keep your hands dry but still be able to finger the mail. I'm sorry I don't have a more concrete answer for you. It's good that you have rain gear for the rest of your body. Don't wear any cloth gloves because they will get wet quickly and soak through to your skin. To find help on this and other questions, I would recommend the Facebook user group titled: USPS postal Maniacs. There are over 9000 USPS employees who are members and are pretty good about voicing their opinions on postal questions (often very negative, but they have a helpful side as well).

648 Votes

I'm a CCA in Ohio that survived the winter (YAY!) and this will be my first summer working for the USPS. Do you have any tips for surviving the heat?

Asked by Bradan about 11 years ago

Bradan, Congratulations on surviving the winter! That can't have been fun at all. I'm just glad it's over also. As much as the heat isn't fun, I prefer it over the cold. I know there are others who feel quite differently about that. As far as tips go, my main tips are: 1) Drink plenty of water or some other liquids. I've heard different schools of thought whether or not Gatorade is good. My joke is that on the internet you can find anybody to support your opinion. I would guess that it works but there is a very high sugar content. The key is to stay hydrated.

2) Wear a hat to block the sun off your head and face. I wear a cowboy-type hat which works well. I fold the edges up by the ear so it doesn't look so funny but there is a tradeoff in that I'm exposing more of my face to the sun. I'm not sure what the official name of the hat is. You could also wear a white mesh pith helmet. Baseball caps will help as well but not cover too much of your face or neck for sun exposure. I also wear sunglasses most of the time.

3) Wear as light clothes as possible. I usually wear shorts in the warm weather and a short-sleeve uniform shirt with a t-shirt underneath.

Those are the basic tips that I can think of. Make sure to ask or take a cue from your fellow carriers, as I'm far from being an expert on this. On the very hot and humid days I consume water without even thinking about it, usually bringing about 2 liters with me plus some orange juice to drink with lunch.

Good luck to you. During July and August there is so much extra work to do because of our fellow workers going on vacation. We never seem to have enough help. I'm sure that story is repeated in many Post Offices nationwide.

648 Votes

I sent out 100 postcards on Monday across the usa and my own state how long should it take for them to arrive?

Also. I'm sending out a 100 more tomorrow across the usa should they arrive by Monday?

Asked by Patrick over 10 years ago

The most anything should take across the USA is 3-4 days I think. If you mail the postcards on Thursday I think there is a good chance they will arrive by Monday. Most first-class mail, which would include your postcards, usually takes 2 days locally and up to 4 days nationally as far as I know. As long as the postage is sufficient (.35 or .49) and the mail is addressed properly, the USPS does a very good job of meeting those service standards.

647 Votes

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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Hi, my mailman has a bad habit of putting the wrong mail in the wrong box. 2day a package was delivered to our apt in locked box thing & he obviously put the key to it in the wrong 1. How should I word a letter to my neighbors asking for my package?

I have gotten a lot of junk mail and became kind of lazy and let my mailbox fill up a little. Today I checked my mail and everything was gone but I haven't moved. Can I get my mail back??

Hi again i got everything figured out with my postcard and am going to be sending out 10,000 at once. Would i be able to get a bulk discount for this? or would it be wiser to pay for first class postage? and will they be delivered the same either way

are mail carriers required to deliver to separate boxes at a 2-family house, assuming the boxes specify 'apt. 1' and 'apt. 2' (particularly if the boxes are on different levels separated by stairs)?

Also on Jobstr...

Lets say its a chilly day probably in the 30's-40's range and raining. I have rain gear for the rest of my body but nothing for my hands. How do you keep your hands dry? Warmth is not a major concern atm, just keeping them dry. What do you do?

I'm a CCA in Ohio that survived the winter (YAY!) and this will be my first summer working for the USPS. Do you have any tips for surviving the heat?

I sent out 100 postcards on Monday across the usa and my own state how long should it take for them to arrive?

Also. I'm sending out a 100 more tomorrow across the usa should they arrive by Monday?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi, my mailman has a bad habit of putting the wrong mail in the wrong box. 2day a package was delivered to our apt in locked box thing & he obviously put the key to it in the wrong 1. How should I word a letter to my neighbors asking for my package?

I have gotten a lot of junk mail and became kind of lazy and let my mailbox fill up a little. Today I checked my mail and everything was gone but I haven't moved. Can I get my mail back??

Hi again i got everything figured out with my postcard and am going to be sending out 10,000 at once. Would i be able to get a bulk discount for this? or would it be wiser to pay for first class postage? and will they be delivered the same either way

are mail carriers required to deliver to separate boxes at a 2-family house, assuming the boxes specify 'apt. 1' and 'apt. 2' (particularly if the boxes are on different levels separated by stairs)?

Also on Jobstr...

Lets say its a chilly day probably in the 30's-40's range and raining. I have rain gear for the rest of my body but nothing for my hands. How do you keep your hands dry? Warmth is not a major concern atm, just keeping them dry. What do you do?

I'm a CCA in Ohio that survived the winter (YAY!) and this will be my first summer working for the USPS. Do you have any tips for surviving the heat?

I sent out 100 postcards on Monday across the usa and my own state how long should it take for them to arrive? Also. I'm sending out a 100 more tomorrow across the usa should they arrive by Monday?

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I sent out 100 postcards on Monday across the usa and my own state how long should it take for them to arrive?

Also. I'm sending out a 100 more tomorrow across the usa should they arrive by Monday?