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.
I don't know the answer to this question as to what the procedure is. I can only speculate but could be completely wrong. Someone could wait by the mailbox for a letter carrier to come by and empty the mailbox and ask to retrieve the letter, but it may need to be easily found, identifiable, and the collector would have to be willing to give it back. They may not be allowed to or unwilling to help. The letter carrier doesn't necessarily come at the time posted. The time means they won't come before the posted time. Theoretically it could be hours later. Another option is to go to the PO that services the collection box to ask for assistance. Again, I have no idea about their willingness to help. If it were me, I'd probably assist you if the letter was easily found and the return address and name matched that of the person asking for the letter back through identification or personally known to me. I've never been asked to do this so I can't base it on past experience.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20daughter%20accidentally%20put%20a%20letter%20in%20the%20mailbox%20yesterday%20that%20she%20would%20very%20much%20like%20to%20get%20back%20before%20it%20is%20processed.%20%20Is%20there%20a%20procedure%20in%20place%20for%20her%20to%20do%20so%3F%20%20It%20is%20scheduled%20for%20pick%20up%20tomorrow.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16178)
It doesn't sound reasonable to me to even have a 14-mile walking route to begin with. That is walking more than a half-marathon daily. If you had zero mail to deliver and walked 14 miles you may be able to cover the route in 4 hours if walk at 3.5 MPH. That is faster than most people walk or at least about the average walking speed. Please tell your boyfriend to do the best he can, walk safely, and that the rate he is being asked to walk at is unrealistic. I just did a quick internet search for "average walking speed" and it is 3.1 MPH. This doesn't include delivering mail or any weight added if your boyfriend is carrying a satchel of mail. USPS management is known for being unreasonable at times.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20boyfriend%20is%20just%20started%20working%20for%20the%20USPS%20and%20has%20only%20been%20by%20himself%20for%202%20days%20and%20they%20are%20complaining%20that%20he%20isn%27t%20going%20fast%20enough.%20It%27s%20a%2014%20mile%20walking%20round%20and%20the%20want%20him%20to%20start%20at%208.30%20and%20be%20done%20by%2012.30%20is%20this%20realistic%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15419)
I wouldn't recommend getting them any alcohol if they are hungover often. How about some aspirin? We get a yearly allowance for uniform clothing so I can't think of any clothing to get them. Actually, maybe a light rain jacket or slicker wouldn't be such a bad idea, but we do get allowances for good performing raingear. As far as walking in the sun, we also can purchase wise-brimmed sunhats or pith helmets. We also have rubber overboots that can keep our feet dry in the rain. I receive gift cards and cash mostly as holiday gifts from customers to whom I deliver mail. One of my co-workers gives me some lottery scratch-offs which is very nice. I realize that this doesn't necessarily answer your question since none of these gifts are practical in dealing with rain or sun. It's also nice of you to just consider a gift so he should appreciate whatever you give them. I don't exchange gifts with most of friends or family. Having time with them is a present enough. I realize that's a bit corny but that's how I feel.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20would%20be%20the%20best%20thing%20to%20get%20a%20mailman%20for%20christmas%20my%20friend%20is%20a%20fellow%20mailman%20an%20he%20always%20complains%20about%20getting%20rained%20on%20and%20walking%20in%20the%20sun%20while%20hungover.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15814)
I'm not sure what it means, but I'd gather that the renter of the PO Box either stopped paying the fee on the PO Box and it was closed or that they closed it on purpose. They also probably didn't put in a forwarding address which is why the label said "return to sender". It means the PO Box number exists but is not currently in use.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20received%20a%20letter%20back%20and%20it%20has%20stamped%20on%20it%20BOXED%20CLOSED%20RETURN%20TO%20SENDER...DOES%20THAT%20MEAN%20THE%20P.O.%20BOX%20NUMBER%20IS%20NOT%20GOOD&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15854)
Ice Sculptor
What was the raciest sculpture you ever made?
Freelance Writer
How do you go about getting your first clients?
Private Detective
Has anyone ever caught you surveilling them, and what happened?
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20the%20mail%20man%20doesn%27t%20find%20the%20address%20does%20he%20keep%20the%20mail%20at%20post%20office%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15243)
I'd say there is no obvious way to know what is in a box. The return address can sometimes give a clue, but if it's Adult Entertainment or sexual toys/gadgets, the mailer is usually discreet in the return address and packaging. Playboy magazines that are subscribed to are usually easy to spot because it comes via Periodical Class, is polywrapped and you don't see the cover. I do notice those magazines (but few people get them anymore) and ads for Adult Videos, but nothing else really catches my eye when delivering packages or mail with respect to them being embarrassing. Good question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Let%27s%20say%20you%20ordered%20something%20%27embarrassing%27%20%28although%20not%20illegal%20or%20hazardous%29%20such%20as%20a%20playboy%20magazine%20or%20whatever%2C%20that%20is%20in%20a%20boxed%20package.%20%20Is%20there%20a%20way%20for%20the%20mailman%20to%20know%20what%20you%20have%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15289)
I am not sure what you mean by this question because you first say that 100 & 102 are together in one mailbox yet you then reference a box that says 102. If you truly have two separate mailboxes for two separate addresses and is clearly labeled I'm not sure why the letter carrier doesn't separate the mail between the two addresses. You could leave a note on the shared mailbox that there is a separate mailbox for 102 and ask them to put the mail there. If this isn't resolved with a note, you could always contact the PO and speak with a delivery supervisor or a manager to register your request.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=address%20100%26102%20have%20always%20shared%20one%20mailbox.%20How%20do%20I%20inform%20the%20Mail%20Deliverer%20to%20put%20102%20mail%20in%20102%20box%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16123)
-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
