Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

MailmanDave

17 Years Experience

Long Island, NY

Male, 43

I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

is it legal to write a message on the outside of the envelope of a letter im mailing ?

Asked by chaser over 10 years ago

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The important parts are that the destination address, return address, and postage are in the correct places and clearly readable. Besides that I believe you may write a message on the outside of an envelope.

Dear Mailman Dave,
I went to mail a letter in a first class standard envelope to my granddaughter. I accidently placed my envelope in a USPS Priority Express blue box on the street. This was done on a Sunday around 12:00 PM. Will my mistake delay my granddaughter from getting the letter on Monday? We both live in the same state being ten minutes away from each other, and we share the same main post office. I also forgot to add a return address, but I know for certain I wrote the forward address correctly and used a first class stamp. Any help given would be greatly appreciated.

Asked by GrannyBlu72 over 10 years ago

Hello GrannyBlu72! It was fine to drop the letter to your granddaughter in the Priority Express Blue Box on the street. That probably happens all of the time and the letter carrier who collects it would just put that envelope into the regular mail processing stream. As long as you used proper postage for what you mailed and put the correct address on the envelope, the letter will get to your granddaughter. When she receives it, however, is a different story. The letter would likely be collected from that blue collection box on Monday and if sent to the regional mail processing facility (which most mail is sent to even if addressed to the same town that it is mailed in), the turnaround time is usually 2 days. It is likely your granddaughter will receive the letter Wednesday. Until recently, mail within a certain processing area would take just 1-day to reach it's destination.

Can i put lipstick marks/perfume on my outgoing mail?? I've done it for months now my mail carrier refuses to pick them up.. is that illegal or is it the carrier's chioce??

Asked by Jessie about 10 years ago

I don't know the answer to this and have never heard of it being an issue. I would likely pick the mail up but maybe each carrier has the discretion because it's possible they are allergic to such smells from perfume or lipstick. Lipstick could possibly get on other mail which isn't right in my opinion. Did the letter carrier ever mention to you why they wouldn't pick up the outgoing mail. I haven't done any online research regarding "mailing requirements" so I can't say if lipstick marks or perfume is permitted. I don't recall ever seeing it myself except in Valentine's Day advertising that may say "SWAK" (sealed with a kiss).

While driving the vehicle to make a delivery, another motorist points towards the back of your vehicle as if something is wrong. What do you do?

Asked by Tolu Akande almost 10 years ago

If I were in motion, I'd safely pull over, put on my four-way flashers, and then get out to investigate. It's possible that my gas cap is hanging out the side of the LLV, the back gate isn't secure, or maybe I'm dragging something. It could also be something that I haven't thought of. If the motorist is still around I'd ask them what they are pointing out.

I recently sent a pkg. to my grandson. The tracking # says it was delivered and put in the lock box but my daughter says there is no key in her box. I am so afraid someone else got the key by mistake. What do we do? This is a priceless gift. Thanks

Asked by S.M.S almost 10 years ago

The only suggestion I'd have is to have your daughter or you contact the PO which delivers the mail to her and see if the key may still be in the mailbox for another resident and/or the package is still in the lockbox. It is disconcerting that if another resident errantly got the key and/or package that they wouldn't deliver it to the intended recipient. As a letter carrier I can tell you we make delivery mistakes on a somewhat regular basis. I am pretty accurate (though not 100%..nobody is) in my delivery, but some carriers don't care as much or are unfamiliar with an area and sometimes rush which can result in mistakes. I understand that the tracking is only somewhat helpful because it shows as delivered to the lock box but that doesn't help if your daughter didn't get the key.

When I quit the post office do I keep my uniforms

Asked by Jeff Rollins over 10 years ago

Sure you can keep your uniforms as far as I know, some carriers donate uniforms to other carriers, especially if it is unused or if it's outerwear. A carrier who just retired from my PO gave me a rain jacket. Some Union branches or offices have uniform closets for items no longer needed by ole tyre carriers. The choice is yours. I just don't know where you would wear most of the items that have the USPS insignia if you aren't employed there anymore.

Does a mailman have a right to walk through my yard if they refuse to deliver my mail.

Asked by Bev about 10 years ago

Bev, I don't know the reason the letter carrier is refusing to deliver your mail. Do you have a loose dog near your mailbox or another hazardous situation which would make it unsafe for the letter carrier to deliver your mail. I don't know the answer to your question, but I'd say that they shouldn't be walking through your yard if they aren't delivering your mail. It sounds inappropriate to me, but I can't cite any rights that they have or don't have regarding this.