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.
If the mail arrives at the PO for delivery on the Saturday and the recipient's office or building is closed, we hold the mail at the PO until the following delivery day (usually Monday) and deliver it then. We will do the same thing if a business or institution is closed any other day of the week. We will hold the mail until the next delivery day that they are open. On some occasions the facility will have a door slot or mailbox. In that case we can deliver the mail anytime since there is no need for the facility/office to be open to receive mail delivery. Thanks for your inquiry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=So%20I%20do%20a%20lot%20of%20business%20postcards%20for%20my%20online%20business.%20And%20I%20send%20them%20to%20churches%2C%20schools%20etc.%20what%20happens%20if%20it%27s%20a%20Saturday%20and%20the%20school%20or%20church%20or%20insurance%20office%20is%20closed.%20How%20do%20you%20deliver%20that%20Mail%20to%20them%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14205)
You don't need to explain to any USPS employee why you are returning the mail. It is none of our business. As long as it is an unopened, first-class letter, you should be able to just write "refused" on it and have it returned. Personally I would just discard any unwanted mail. I've received debt collection letters in the past and have just ignored them and not returned them. There are certain classes of mail where we won't return to the sender because the sender has paid a pre-sorted standard rate (which is lower than the first-class rate). In that case, we just recycle any unwanted mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=They%20give%20my%20returned%20letters%20back%20asking%20me%20why%20i%20am%20returning%20it.%20%20Isnt%20that%20a%20breach%20of%20privacy%20rightt%3B%20flagging%20my%20mai%3F%20%20Do%20i%20have%20to%20explain%20harrassement%20to%20themnand%20why%20i%20am%20returning%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15256)
In the LLV, which is the most common vehicle for delivery that is used, there is no second seat. The exception to that is that at our post office we up have 1 Long Life Vehicle with a seat in the cargo area which is behind the mail tray that is in the front left of the vehicle. We use that vehicle as a spare in case one breaks down or is needed by auxiliary help. The other reason it is used is when a supervisor comes with you for the day to inspect your route delivery. Sometimes they will follow you in their own car, but they often will just sit in the second seat. The cargo area opens up to the drivers area with a sliding door which I leave open all of the times.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20a%20second%20seat%20for%20a%20passenger%20in%20the%20mail%20truck%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15317)
We will be operating as normal on 12/26/15 Saturday. Have a Merry Christmas!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=When%20do%20the%20mailman%20comes%20back%20to%20work%20since%20next%20Friday%20is%20Christmas&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16138)
Hotel Employee
What was the craziest request you ever got from a guest?
Pharmacist
Why is an advanced degree required to dole out pills at a pharmacy?
Chick-fil-A General Manager
How often do you have to fire someone, and does it ever get ugly?
I believe it would be rare for someone to receive mail at your address when they didn't put on a forwarding order and then to actually know about it. Certainly mail could be mis-delivered to your house, but how would that person know unless you contacted them somehow? I deliver mail only as addressed with a couple of exceptions. If I can see that the sender addressed it wrong (usually a wrong house #, but the correct street), I would likely deliver it to the address where the person lives. Even if someone moved in the same town but didn't put in a forwarding order, we aren't allowed to just "hand off" the mail to their new address. I did recently notice that a woman (her parents live on the route I deliver) had a piece of mail with her name on it but the address to be delivered to was in Maryland. I know the woman is now receiving mail at her parents home and likely has a forwarding order from Maryland to her parents house in NY. The letter may have been automatically re-routed to NY with the new addresses bar code put on the envelope and the letter then arrived in the computer-sorted mail for the NY address. I just delivered it knowing that the surnames matched. I hope this answers your question and thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Claims%20he%20received%20mail%20at%20our%20house%20that%20was%20addressed%20to%20his%20previous%20address%20%28same%20town%29.%20I%20don%27t%20believe%20him%2C%20%26%20I%27m%20curious%2C%20could%2Fwould%20a%20postman%2Fwoman%20deliver%20post%20to%20a%20different%20address%20than%20what%20is%20marked.%20%28Did%20not%20sign%20up%20for%20forwarding%29&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14419)
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).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20i%20put%20lipstick%20marks%2Fperfume%20on%20my%20outgoing%20mail%3F%3F%20I%27ve%20done%20it%20for%20months%20now%20my%20mail%20carrier%20refuses%20to%20pick%20them%20up..%20is%20that%20illegal%20or%20is%20it%20the%20carrier%27s%20chioce%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15740)
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20are%20having%20our%20front%20steps%20removed%20for%20some%20landscaping%20and%20the%20mailman%20won%27t%20be%20able%20to%20get%20to%20our%20mailbox%20that%20is%20right%20by%20our%20front%20door.%20What%20do%20we%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17056)
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
