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 think you would like having your own route. It's a lot more relaxing than having to deal with 5 different carriers and their personalities. As far as pay goes, you are correct. It does decrease when you have your own route. It's not a significant decrease IMO. If you do a web search for City Carrier Pay Chart or Pay Scale, that should help. Also, you may go to www.nalc.org where the pay chart is available. You would look at City Carrier Level 1 and the table based on when you were hired. The yearly difference between a floater and someone with their own route probably never gets to be more than $1600, but the pay chart would show it more clearly.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20a%20floater%20who%20just%20got%20a%20route.%20Does%20my%20salary%20go%20down%20with%20getting%20a%20route%20in%20office%20as%20opposed%20to%205%20different%20routes&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16517)
As much as I hate hearing stories like this I know it all too much to be true. We have many employees who don't care about delivering mail properly or accurately or have an attitude. Unfortunately I don't know how effective complaining about a letter carrier is. Our management often is indifferent or powerless to effect major changes in someone's work ethic. I know this sounds damning of many co-workers but I just get that feeling at times. I don't mean to sidestep your question but wanted to explain that none of this surprises me. I'd start by contacting your local post office and ask to speak with a delivery supervisor or manager. Tell them your story but don't exaggerate it. If your service continues to be poor or you don't think you're getting mail that you're supposed to or that items you mailed aren't getting to their destination, I suppose the next step would be to contact the USPS Consumer Affairs division. I honestly don't know how effective any of this is, but worth a try. Hopefully I'm wrong in the not-so-rosy picture I painted. If you visit www.usps.com maybe there will be information on how to contact your local PO with a complaint because it's not always so easy to find the phone number of your local PO. Linda, thank you for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27ve%20been%20having%20a%20very%20hard%20time%20with%20my%20mailman.%20One%20day%20last%20winter%2C%20he%20threw%20my%20mail%20on%20my%20concrete%20step%20in%20the%20snow%20because%20he%20said%20it%20was%20to%20snowy%2C%20it%20wasn%27t%20at%20all%21%20I%27ve%20had%20numerous%20bills%20and%20mail%20that%20never%20was%20delivered.%20who%20do%20i%20call%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17816)
This happens sometimes if a route is divided up for the day and perhaps the "dividing line" is near your house. This happens a lot when we are shorthanded, so other carriers may deliver their own route and then a part of another route. I know it may look inefficient and random, but that's what happens when people do "pieces" on other routes. It is sometimes inefficient and random due to poor management or short staffing. Some POs face this issue more than others. It is especially common in the summer months when many co-workers go on vacation but it certainly can be an issue year round.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Why%20would%20I%20have%203%20different%20mail%20carriers%20that%20deliver%20to%20my%20residence.%20Sometimes%20one%20will%20deliver%20to%20my%20neighbor%20and%20not%20me.%20Then%20diffrent%20carrier%20comes%20to%20me%20later%20that%20day.%20Its%20like%20they%20randomly%20deliver%20in%20my%20area.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17057)
I don't think that the letter carrier should be giving the mail to the woman who moved out just because he knows her personally. If the woman didn't put in a proper change of address request with the USPS, then it is appropriate for the mail to be returned to sender with an endorsement by the USPS saying "unable to forward" or "moved, left no address". I wouldn't get involved with anyone's mail based on my relationship of knowing them. Fortunately, it's rare that I'm ever asked to do anything that is questionable regarding the mail. As far as your question goes, I don't know that the mailman is allowed to do what he is doing, but it doesn't seem right.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20friend%20had%20a%20roommate%20that%20moved%20out%2C%20her%20mail%20is%20still%20being%20sent%20to%20her%20house%20so%20my%20friend%20puts%20on%20the%20envelope%2C%20%28return%20to%20sender%29%20the%20mailman%20knows%20the%20girl%20that%20moved%20out%20and%20has%20been%20giving%20her%20the%20mail%20personally%2C%20can%20he%20do%20that%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17085)
Call Center Employee (Retail)
I've heard that a lot of startups are hiring really well-educated college grads and paying them a lot, reasoning that customer service is often a client's most lasting impression of a brand. What do you think, and is it something you see spreading?
Fashion Model
Do you feel objectified when you're standing around in skimpy outfits?
Day Care Provider
Do the kids ever reveal embarrassing things about their parents?
My pleasure Dee! Again, good luck to you in training. Always keep in mind that whatever I tell you is anecdotal and what I've experienced. There are many inconsistencies within the USPS depending on where you work and the personalities you come across. It shouldn't be this way but I'm sure that happens in other organizations just as much. I enjoy so much of this job because I'm out on my own for about 6 hrs a day not dealing with too much internal politics, etc.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Thank%20you%20for%20everything%21%20Honestly%20you%27ve%20been%20helping%20me%20out%20a%20great%20deal.%20I%27ll%20be%20back&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17404)
I am not sure what you mean by your question but it sounds like a letter you sent or are expecting to receive for 10 days hasn't arrived. Maybe it was a payment you were looking to have credited. It is likely the item has been lost or misdelivered in the mail stream. I'd give it a few more days to see if the letter shows up, but no guarantee it will. It is important that the letter had proper postage and the correct address whether it was coming to you or wherever you were mailing it to. I can't be sure what is wrong.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20didnt%20see%20any%20letter%20come%20still%20from%2010%20days%20ago.%20and%20i%20miss%20my%20payment.%20so%20whats%20wrong%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16652)
I can't say why your letter carrier does what you are mentioning. It's unfortunate that you have an issue with her. By saying that she is still delivering mail, I assume you mean that she still is working for the USPS as a letter carrier but not physically delivering mail to your residence because your mail is being forwarded to a PO Box. A vacant card is appropriate to be put in your mailbox so that anybody who is delivering mail on a route that includes your address would know not to leave any mail in it. It's also unfortunate that you have to now go to a PO Box to retrieve your mail plus pay a rental fee. Is it possible that the letter carrier is checking the mailbox to make sure no mail has been accidentally left there by someone else? I doubt that is the case because it seems like you and her were in a conflict and that she probably isn't going out of her way to help you. While I'm only hearing one side of this conflict (yours), I can certainly say there are some bad workers for the USPS and nothing would surprise me about the actions of some letter carriers.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20had%20an%20issue%20with%20my%20mail%20carrier%20and%20filed%20a%20complaint%20against%20her%2C%20but%20she%20is%20still%20delivering%20mail.%20%20So%20I%20had%20my%20mail%20fwd%20to%20a%20PO%20Box.%20The%20carrier%20left%20a%20Vacant%20card%20in%20my%20home%20mailbox%20and%20now%20stops%20and%20checks%20it%20all%20the%20time.%20Why%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16781)
-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
