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

i think my mail carrier i is taking my mail

Asked by joseph bennett over 12 years ago

I am not sure how you can prove the mail carrier is taking your mail unless some specific items aren't appearing. If they are disappearing you may call the PO and mention it to a delivery supervisor or postmaster though I'm not sure what can be done. It is quite a serious offense to actually be taking somebody's mail so I hope this isn't actually happening.

is it against protocall to get out out of truck and deliver mail if somebody parked and blocked the mail box

Asked by isaiah almost 13 years ago

It isn't against protocol for a carrier to get out of their truck to deliver the mail If the mailbox is blocked by another vehicle.  It is a decision that the carrier can make. I think if it was an occasional event, the carrier may get out to deliver the mail, but if a box was blocked daily, he may leave a note saying that delivery won't be made until the situation is rectified. I think most carriers would rather deliver the mail than have to bring it back to the PO for delivery the next day. 

OMG! After asking you about my on-line application, I got an email inviting me to take the a behavioral assessment test. After I took it, I got an appointment to take the 473E. Have you got tips on how to approach the MEMORY portion?

Asked by FF over 12 years ago

Congratulations on getting to the next steps in the application process. Is the memory portion where they give you 5 addresses or names in each of 5 boxes and you have to answer which address or range of addresses goes in a particular box? That is how it was when I took the exam many years ago. i honestly can't remember how I was able to do that. There is some trick or good method to remembering the next box assignments but I don't know what it is. Maybe if you do a web search for tips on how to do the memory section of the 473E. I didn't seem to have any results with actual tips, but there are study guides that are sold to help you. I actually see that the memory section is different from the exam I took years ago. im sorry that I can't be more specific in assisting you.

hi. I myself am a part time mailmman. I was wondering if i ever wanted to go to school would i have to take night classes or could i ask my supervisor/postmaster to allow me 1 or 2 days out of the week to go to school?

Asked by F8 over 12 years ago

I don't know the answer as to whether or not your supervisor will allow you the one or two days off to attend school instead of attending night school. Many POs are a little bit short-staffed so my guess is that they might be reluctant to allow you the time off each week but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I'm sorry I don't have any insight on your specific situation to give you any better advice. 

In reference to the above question, I HONESTLY did make that mistake. I know it sounds fishy and the local PO won't believe me.. Hahaha. But I usually do ship priority and reuse my boxes. I just happen to be shipping first class international!

Asked by Kristie almost 13 years ago

If a few days go by and you don't get the package back for additional postage I wouldn't worry about it. If it is sent back for more postage, nobody is going to be mad at you. You just might have to make up the difference between 1st cl International and Priority Mail International. 

I got a mail from USCIS on 3rd in my mailbox (I didn't know about it) A new mailman took my letters from my mailbox on 11th, he said my mail box was full so he took it and returned it to USCIS on 11th. He took my name off the box too can he do tht

Asked by ANUJ about 13 years ago

I have no idea if he was allowed to Do that. If a mailbox is full and the mail is unclaimed, I am not sure I'd automatically send it back or take a name out of the box (not that we have names in the box where I deliver mail---single family homes). I'm sorry that i don't have much more insight into your problem. know that dealing with USCIS for a replacement letter may not be that easy Either being a government bureaucracy. 

I want to tip my mailman in cash at Christmas. I realize this is against USPS regs. What will happen if I do so?

Asked by Kate over 11 years ago

Kate, I first want to say thanks for using this Q and A board on jobstr. It is fun interacting and trying to help others with postal-related questions. I am no expert and the views are my own. I'd probably get some type of communication from management (and not in a good way) if they found out I was doing this. So far, so good. Anyhow, to answer your question after my long-winded introduction, yes, most of us will certainly accept tips during the holidays even though it is against USPS regulations. Please don't fell any pressure to do so as I fell that is completely unethical and plenty of people that I deliver mail to don't tip me at all which is fine. We are all paid a fair salary with benefits and a have a retirement plan. If you do tip your mailman at Christmas in cash, the only thing that I hope happens is that you get a thank you acknowledgement. I think that is very thoughtful of you. Merry Christmas to you.