Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Hi I wanted to know, if I placed a letter with just a name and no stamp into someone's mailbox would the mailman take it, or leave it?

Asked by Gina kennard about 9 years ago

I think many letter carriers would just leave it because they may notice right away that there is no address on it or stamp. I can't speak for all letter carriers because there are many of us who don't pay attention and just take what's in the mailbox as outgoing mail. I don't think this good for them to do but some of my co-workers are clueless or are possibly paying attention to their smart phone vs. paying attention to the task at hand. To be honest, the mailbox should only be used for US Mail. My advice would be to not leave this letter in someone's mailbox to guard against the above scenario happening. To sum up my answer in one word: maybe.

358 Votes

Today I accidently dropped a bunch of mail in the Express Priority Blue Box. This was mail for my job so it is important documents. Will this mail be sorted correctly and reach its destination in a timely manner? Or will this be severely delayed?

Asked by Lisa Needs help please! over 8 years ago

Lisa, in my experience your mail should be processed normally so you need not worry. I don't often collect mail from the blue boxes as part of my assignment but if I saw regular mail in the Express Priority Blue Box I'd just put it with other outgoing mail in my postal vehicle and it'd be treated normally. I've never heard of outgoing mail being delayed by this. Thank you for your question.

358 Votes

Hoping you can solve a debate for me & wife. Her friend's hubby is a carrier & brings home "extra coupons" for her & my wife. Claims they are undeliverable & will go to "dead mail" & just going to be shredded & Postmaster approves. I say it's illegal

Asked by CaliDad about 9 years ago

It is true that we send all non-deliverable mail which was sent as Presorted Standard rate (and not requested to be returned to the sender) to be recycled or shredded as far as I know. I don't know if it's illegal or not to take extra coupons to give to customers who request them, but I wouldn't get involved in doing that. Nobody has ever really asked me either to do that for them. I have taken Dunkin' Donuts coupons out of the circulars which were extras or non-deliverable. I know this doesn't settle your dispute. I am more disgusted by co-workers who feel that these weekly circulars are sometimes not that important and may not deliver them or make sure that everyone gets one. My attitude is that a mailer is paying for them to be delivered and that's our job whether or not the customers want them. Some other coworkers probably take home coupons that otherwise would be recycled. Again, they probably shouldn't, but never heard any repercussions for doing so. Thanks for your question.

357 Votes

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

Asked by Brent almost 9 years ago

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.

357 Votes

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Yes,and there's also a lady in the neighborhood with same name as my mother,even middle initial,who's mail we received a couple times. With same last name maybe these two people are connected?Maybe I'll contact the man's unpaid bill collector.Thanks-

Asked by DwB44 about 9 years ago

You can certainly do as you feel is correct. The unpaid bill collector would probably appreciate that. It's hard to know who is connected to who espcially if fake/similar names and different addresses are used. One thing I can suggest is for your Mom and Dad to keep an eye on their own credit report to make sure any debt or credit card accts on there are correct. Most people probably wouldn't get too involved in someone else's business, but I commend you for trying to help someone root out possible fraud.

357 Votes

Newly hired CCA. Orientation next week. Will I be drug tested further? How often will I be tested?

Asked by Dee over 8 years ago

Dee, it has been so many years since I was hired so I can't say for sure what the drug testing policy is. I can, however, give you my experience. As far as I've ever heard or seen, you are drug tested once and that is pre-hiring. I have never heard of a random drug test being administered to letter carriers during their career. I'll just state the obvious and say keep clean and you'll have nothing to be concerned about. Good luck to you in your job/career with USPS.

356 Votes

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

Asked by Cleveland Rick over 8 years ago

First I'd like to say that it's unfortunate that you letter carrier accidentally stepped into the concrete you just had poured for a new driveway. I have done this myself but only with a recently resealed driveway and the result was just I tracked some sealant around the bottom of my shoes for a short while. I can't answer your question as to whether or not the USPS would be responsible for the cost to fix the driveway that was damaged by the letter carrier. I'd recommend calling or even visiting your local PO and speak with a delivery supervisor or the postmaster and tell them what happened. Bring a photo that you may have taken of the damage or have it on your mobile device. I wouldn't hold out much hope that the claims process is easy or that the person you speak with even knows about it. I'm guessing you may have to be a bit persistent or go up a chain of command to get someone who is knowledgeable about the USPS liability, if any. We are required to cut across lawns to deliver the mail when it's feasible to do so. For this reason I can see how a letter carrier may not realize that a new driveway has been poured as we often have our head down getting the mail ready for delivery at the next house. I just don't know if the USPS has any responsibility to fix your driveway. I can't imagine it's too inexpensive to have the concrete cut out and repoured.

355 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi I wanted to know, if I placed a letter with just a name and no stamp into someone's mailbox would the mailman take it, or leave it?

Today I accidently dropped a bunch of mail in the Express Priority Blue Box. This was mail for my job so it is important documents. Will this mail be sorted correctly and reach its destination in a timely manner? Or will this be severely delayed?

Hoping you can solve a debate for me & wife. Her friend's hubby is a carrier & brings home "extra coupons" for her & my wife. Claims they are undeliverable & will go to "dead mail" & just going to be shredded & Postmaster approves. I say it's illegal

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

Also on Jobstr...

Yes,and there's also a lady in the neighborhood with same name as my mother,even middle initial,who's mail we received a couple times. With same last name maybe these two people are connected?Maybe I'll contact the man's unpaid bill collector.Thanks-

Newly hired CCA. Orientation next week. Will I be drug tested further? How often will I be tested?

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi I wanted to know, if I placed a letter with just a name and no stamp into someone's mailbox would the mailman take it, or leave it?

Today I accidently dropped a bunch of mail in the Express Priority Blue Box. This was mail for my job so it is important documents. Will this mail be sorted correctly and reach its destination in a timely manner? Or will this be severely delayed?

Hoping you can solve a debate for me & wife. Her friend's hubby is a carrier & brings home "extra coupons" for her & my wife. Claims they are undeliverable & will go to "dead mail" & just going to be shredded & Postmaster approves. I say it's illegal

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

Also on Jobstr...

Yes,and there's also a lady in the neighborhood with same name as my mother,even middle initial,who's mail we received a couple times. With same last name maybe these two people are connected?Maybe I'll contact the man's unpaid bill collector.Thanks-

Newly hired CCA. Orientation next week. Will I be drug tested further? How often will I be tested?

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

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