Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Are we require to give our full name to security guards when we have to enter into a place to deliver mail?

Asked by Tellado over 10 years ago

I don't know the answer to this question as I don't deliver mail to any buildings with security guards who require any identification or signing in actions. As much as I'd prefer not to give my full name and think it's a bit overdone, I'm pretty sure I would give me full name and show my ID badge if requested to so I may enter a building to deliver the mail. I think just because we are working for a quasi-governmental organization that doesn't give us carte blanche to enter any facility at will and avoid their normal security procedures.

602 Votes

In your opinion, (as all your answers are) do you think most CCA's have difficult finishing a route on time?

Asked by Dee almost 10 years ago

It depends. Some CCAs have a very difficult time comprehending the whole delivery process and procedure and are too slow. Others pick it up rather easily and don't have much of a problem finishing close to on time. The probationary period allows for carrier to improve their efficiency in delivery. From my observation, the supervisors aren't too quick to terminate a probationary CCA if they show improvement, work safely, have a great attitude, plus aren't too slow. You can tell that some workers are just clueless about what they're doing. They don't last too long. It's not a super difficult concept to deliver mail properly, but you need to be able to follow a map and be organized. The more one does it, the easier it gets. There are some CCAs who I thought may not pass probation, but did and are doing a decent job or "good enough for government work".

602 Votes

do you always have the same route? are vacant houses common?

Asked by adri almost 10 years ago

Not often. I deliver the same route each day, so I pretty much know when residents move in or out. I deliver mail in an upper middle class community and there aren't many rentals and most houses are occupied. If mail begins to accumulate for awhile and I don't see any activity at the house and the grounds start to look more unkempt I may suspect a house is vacant. When most people move, they submit a change of address/forwarding order. This also gives me an indication that if I don't see a new residents name that the house could be vacant. At present, about 1% of the houses on my route are considered vacant and don't receive mail delivery. I'm sure in many other communities that aren't as well off economically there could be more vacant homes.

601 Votes

The mailman scratched the label inside my mailbox (in a centralized mailbox) and assigned it to a different townhome, I can't find my mail anymore, what can I do? (I left a note inside the mailbox with my correct address tough)

Asked by Isaac over 10 years ago

I have no idea why a letter carrier would do that without proper notice to you and how would the other resident have a key to that mailbox since you have it? Do you have a key to the correct mailbox or a newer mailbox with your correct address. I am a bit confused about your question. Is the mail for the different townhome now being delivered to the mailbox where your mail originally went? I'd recommend contacting the post office from where your mail is delivered or go to usps.com to email them with your question or call: 1-800-275-8777. They will probably contact your local post office to get some type of info as to why this happened. I'm not sure a property manager at the the townhome complex could help but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

601 Votes

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Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Asked by Sophia Woodland over 10 years ago

As I'm writing this reply on April 12, I'm pretty sure that the mail has been delivered on stonesboro rd in ft Washington, MD by now for April 8. ???? This q and a isn't for USPS customer service or any real-time questions. I mostly answer questions about being a letter carrier and possibly make suggestions if someone has a customer service problem that doesn't need immediate attention. With regards to your question, I think that only your local PO would know when and if mail was delivered to your street.

601 Votes

Hello-
Recently I mailed a letter but right after discovered I forgot to put the address label on,but did have my own as return address. That was last week,mailed from another zip code,30 miles away. So how long should it take to mail it back to me?

Asked by David W Beale about 10 years ago

Regarding the letter which you mailed without a destination address but had your return address, I don't know how long it should take to be returned to you. If handled properly my guess would be about one week. I've seen these in the mail before. It would have a rubber stamp marking which says "returned for better address" or "insufficient address" and then delivered to your return address. Unfortunately, non-deliverable mail is sometimes put on the back burner if staffing levels are low and mail needs to be handled specially. That's why I'm hesitant to say how long it will be before your letter is returned.

598 Votes

this morning I asked our letter carrier what was the last name of a neighbor. is that illegal to give out that info ??

Asked by John about 9 years ago

John, I would say it breaks a code of confidentiality that we are expected to maintain as letter carriers. We are rarely reminded of this but I'm pretty sure we shouldn't give out that information. As to whether it's illegal or not I can't comment on that. In the past I have given out little bits of information about some neighbors to others but it's rare and I shouldn't have done that. I do realize that some neighbors are friends with each other and others aren't. It's always better to be on the safe side as a letter carrier not to give out information about anyone else. One can't get in trouble that way. On another note, I rarely would comment to a customer as to what I'm delivering them when I see them. For example,I wouldn't say "your phone bill is here or looks like your wife was ordering from Kohl's again". As much as those comments may seem benign I try to be mostly professional when speaking with customers.

598 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Are we require to give our full name to security guards when we have to enter into a place to deliver mail?

In your opinion, (as all your answers are) do you think most CCA's have difficult finishing a route on time?

do you always have the same route? are vacant houses common?

The mailman scratched the label inside my mailbox (in a centralized mailbox) and assigned it to a different townhome, I can't find my mail anymore, what can I do? (I left a note inside the mailbox with my correct address tough)

Also on Jobstr...

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Hello-
Recently I mailed a letter but right after discovered I forgot to put the address label on,but did have my own as return address. That was last week,mailed from another zip code,30 miles away. So how long should it take to mail it back to me?

this morning I asked our letter carrier what was the last name of a neighbor. is that illegal to give out that info ??

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Are we require to give our full name to security guards when we have to enter into a place to deliver mail?

In your opinion, (as all your answers are) do you think most CCA's have difficult finishing a route on time?

do you always have the same route? are vacant houses common?

The mailman scratched the label inside my mailbox (in a centralized mailbox) and assigned it to a different townhome, I can't find my mail anymore, what can I do? (I left a note inside the mailbox with my correct address tough)

Also on Jobstr...

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Hello-Recently I mailed a letter but right after discovered I forgot to put the address label on,but did have my own as return address. That was last week,mailed from another zip code,30 miles away. So how long should it take to mail it back to me?

this morning I asked our letter carrier what was the last name of a neighbor. is that illegal to give out that info ??

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Hello-
Recently I mailed a letter but right after discovered I forgot to put the address label on,but did have my own as return address. That was last week,mailed from another zip code,30 miles away. So how long should it take to mail it back to me?