Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

Can you send a wooden spoon with the address burn into it and the message on the back without having to mess with package. With a spot left for the stamp or stamps? It would be USA to USA.
Asking from AL.

Asked by Curious Penpal almost 8 years ago

Interesting Q. I don’t see why not. The coconuts mailed from Hawaii are popular I think and they aren’t packaged. You’d probably need the first class parcel rate. The best answer would be from your local post office. I can’t say I see non-packages items mailed often but I don’t know a rule that it has to be boxed in anyway. The important things are sufficient postage and a legible address and not a prohibited item.

If that is you in the picture I would say you are attractive. And he didn't flirt until I came on to him. But I'm understanding that he can't just walk in one day and say my wife's mad I need a new route. Thank you so much for answering my questions,

Asked by Jessica almost 8 years ago

Thanks Jessica. It’s not me in the photo. I’m not sure if I could put up a photo (I mean I don’t know if it’s an option). I wouldn’t put one up though because I’m not authorized to speak on behalf of the USPS and would prefer my id isn’t known to anybody who may call me out for doing this and tell me to cease or possibly discipline me. It also allows me to be openly critical and honest where I feel it’s warranted. I’m sure the letter carrier liked that you came onto him. I don’t think I’d mind either if I liked the woman. I will now call you “homewrecker”. Absolutely just kidding.

Does the mail automatically get held for most businesses on Saturday because the assumption is they are closed, and is that why my mail at home seems to arrive earlier on that day, or is it a coincidence?

Asked by Scott almost 9 years ago

It's not automatically held on Saturday for businesses unless the business is closed or has no place to leave the mail when the office is closed. This is how I believe it works though I have no businesses on the route I deliver so I can't say for sure. The letter carriers in the office where I work who have many businesses on their route generally get to the residential portions earlier on Saturday so your observation would be correct. Scott, I'd say you've made a very good observation. Thank you for writing an email to jobstr for Letter Carrier. If I had businesses on my route and were able to leave the mail in a safe place even if the office were closed on a Saturday, I may try to deliver it so I wouldn't have has heavy of a mail load for Monday.

Hi. I have a question regarding delivery of important documents, like Green Card. I've heard that you guys don't deliver them to PO Boxes. But i need to provide an address before i'll go to US. What are my options? A mail forwarding company will do?

Asked by Sergiu over 8 years ago

I don't know what can and can't be delivered to PO Boxes. The mailer decides that and I'm guessing when it comes to immigration or citizenship papers there may need to be a physical address to receive the mail in the US but I truly don't know. I don't know much about mail forwarding companies either. There are businesses called CMRAs which stands for "commercial mail receiving agency" (an example is the The UPS Store) which have private mailboxes for rent. I don't know, however, if that is a sufficient alternate to a PO Box for important documents delivery. The address for a CMRA usually reads, for example, "Name of recipient, street address, PMB xxx, city, state, ZIP". PMB stands for Private Mailbox. I don't know if the department that handles immigration and Green Cards can provide further information.

What is the premise to scan flats and letters, it’s ridiculous in my opinion, and what if a house is vacant or on hold, my guess is on the scanner to hit “not on the route “when it prompts, any thoughts

Asked by jvitto48 over 7 years ago

From what I understand, we scan the flats and letters to verify how long it takes mailpieces to get from somewhere to the delivery point. I haven’t heard this for sure. I agree it seems pointless and annoying. I make sure to take the time to do it properly though I don’t trust most of my coworkers to do it. Regarding what to do when it asks i feel the address is on the route, i usually put “yes” if it’s vacant or hold but I have to say I’m probably not consistent with that i do. I’d hit “yes”, then “end scanning” and then “no more to scan” if I had zero mailpieces with me. I’m not sure how it is in Massapequa but the communication as to what we’re supposed to do in any situation is quite half-assed and different supv may give different answers. I have so little faith in the supervisors to give the right information that I often don’t even bother asking. We had a service talk today about how to scan parcels that are on “hold”. The directions were completely the opposite of what we were told in the past. Besides that, I doubt they will repeat the service talk for the carriers who were off today or on vacation. I’m just venting but I think you can relate to my comments. Thanks again for writing and hope you liked my tangent.

Ref below. Started after sub carrier removed from my route 4 not delivering my catalogs. Reg carrier did this 2x. Other carrier(union rep) put something back in bag & went on. Not receive Red/White Kroger coupons 5/24. Time 2 write US Senator again

Asked by Just Me over 8 years ago

I can't really comment on any specifics that are happening with regards to your mail delivery. I do agree 100% that you should be receving every piece of mail that a mailer has paid for you to get. This would include any mailing that isn't addressed but goes to each address on the route and is labeled "postal customer". As I've stated before I'm sure it goes on at the PO where I work as well. From top to bottom there are some apathetic and lazy employees. Please do write to your US Senator or the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and make a report of what you believe is happening. I would first take it up with your local post office but that could prove fruitless.

Is it true it's legal for the mail truck to run a red light

Asked by Henry almost 9 years ago

I have never heard that before and I'd say it's not legal for a USPS vehicle to run a red light. We are supposed to follow the traffic laws like any other vehicle. I'm sometimes disgusted the way I see some of my coworkers operate the USPS vehicles. I feel we should be professional representatives of the USPS, but I see some people don't care and drive like jerks in the USPS vehicle as they do in their privately owned vehicles.