Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

How long does it take a package to clear from international sorting centers

Asked by Christina over 9 years ago

I don't know the answer to this. My guess is as long as it isn't being held in customs for further inspection, then it should clear in a couple of days. When I see items from overseas that is postmarked it seems that it took 7-10 days total from when it was mailed. I'm just going on observation here and don't have any inside knowledge on what the goal is to clear international packages for delivery.

460 Votes

It seems that all the big blue mailboxes on the street that we put our mail into have been replaced with new ones. They look just like the old ones but there is less space for the envelopes to go through into the box. Why?

Asked by Roberta over 9 years ago

I actually have no idea regarding the blue collection boxes being replaced with ones that have thinner slots. Possibly it is harder to steal out of it with a thinner slot buy I'm purely speculating. I don't know that theft from these boxes is much of an issue in most areas. Your question is the first I'm hearing about different size slot collection boxes. If anything I just hear of there being less collection boxes in general due to the decline in First-Class Mail being sent.

460 Votes

Do you come later on Fridays?

Asked by Lj over 9 years ago

I can't say for sure if we come later on Fridays or not. It usually depends on the staffing and mail volume as to what time we deliver the mail. At the PO where I work, Friday is usually like most other weekdays for mail delivery time. On Saturday, the mail may come earlier because postal routes may have closed busineses so they can start the residential delivery sooner.

459 Votes

How long does it take to get back to the sender when USPS tracking states : Moved, Left no address:

Asked by Nikki over 9 years ago

I don't know how long that would take. I didn't know that we are able to scan a package or item as "moved, left no address". If the system is working properly and we give that item the same attention that an originating (vs. a returned item) gets then it should just take a few days to get back to the sender. In our office which is shorthanded on clerks, I'm not so sure how quickly the item would be returned. There is a lot as a letter carrier or employee we aren't told or know how long something should take so we just learn a lot by experience. Thanks for your question.

459 Votes

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If the mail man doesn't find the address does he keep the mail at post office?

Asked by Tenzin chonyi almost 10 years ago

Maybe for a day or so to see if anybody in the PO knows where that address is. Being that I deliver mail to the same neighborhood each day I know if a piece of mail has a valid address on it or not. It's possible if there is a replacement letter carrier delivering mail on a certain day and they can't find an address they will bring back the mail and then possibly the regular letter carrier on the route or somebody else would know where the address is. More often than not when mail has an address that can't be found (or the address doesn't even exist), we will endorse the mail as "NSN" which means "No Such Number" and it will be returned to the sender. The USPS has a national database of all valid addresses so we usually know at the PO if an address exists or not.

459 Votes

We are having our front steps removed for some landscaping and the mailman won't be able to get to our mailbox that is right by our front door. What do we do?

Asked by Melissa almost 9 years ago

If it is a temporary change, you could put a replacement mailbox or cardboard box (or anything labeled US mail) in an area visible and accessible to your letter carrier. I had a resident recently move the mailbox to near his garage because his whole front steps area of the house was being ripped out, expanded, and rebuilt. Your letter carrier shouldn't give you a hard time about this. If you get a chance you can mention it to them ahead of the construction beginning, or post a note by your present mailbox that you'll soon be providing a temporary alternate area to deliver the mail. Thanks for your question and consideration.

459 Votes

I went through the process to get the stamp thing worked out so I could have a priority package picked up tomorrow. hubby was going to get priority box for me, they closed before bus got him there. Will mailman have one when he picks up?

Asked by deborah over 9 years ago

When the letter carrier comes to pick up your package, they will unlikely have a priority box with them. Most of us carrier no supplies in our postal vehicle. I think you can also edit the pickup request because it sounds like you won't have the Priority Mail package ready for them. You can probably edit or cancel the pickup request if you won't be mailing the item today. If you have any other box you can use that as well unless you have selected the Flat Rate Option for your packaging. If you did select a Flat Rate option you need to use a Priority Mail Flat Rate Box or envelope.

459 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How long does it take a package to clear from international sorting centers

It seems that all the big blue mailboxes on the street that we put our mail into have been replaced with new ones. They look just like the old ones but there is less space for the envelopes to go through into the box. Why?

Do you come later on Fridays?

How long does it take to get back to the sender when USPS tracking states : Moved, Left no address:

Also on Jobstr...

If the mail man doesn't find the address does he keep the mail at post office?

We are having our front steps removed for some landscaping and the mailman won't be able to get to our mailbox that is right by our front door. What do we do?

I went through the process to get the stamp thing worked out so I could have a priority package picked up tomorrow. hubby was going to get priority box for me, they closed before bus got him there. Will mailman have one when he picks up?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How long does it take a package to clear from international sorting centers

It seems that all the big blue mailboxes on the street that we put our mail into have been replaced with new ones. They look just like the old ones but there is less space for the envelopes to go through into the box. Why?

Do you come later on Fridays?

How long does it take to get back to the sender when USPS tracking states : Moved, Left no address:

Also on Jobstr...

If the mail man doesn't find the address does he keep the mail at post office?

We are having our front steps removed for some landscaping and the mailman won't be able to get to our mailbox that is right by our front door. What do we do?

I went through the process to get the stamp thing worked out so I could have a priority package picked up tomorrow. hubby was going to get priority box for me, they closed before bus got him there. Will mailman have one when he picks up?

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