Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1236 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Hi Dave,
It states on USPS website that Express Mail items are available for hold at a local office. In other words, just hold at the office and don't try to deliver the item. I haven't found that to be true, PO delivers every item. Is this possible?

Asked by Jeff over 11 years ago

The sender can request that the Express Mail item be held for pickup at the destination PO. I don't know how often it is used. You are correct that most Express Mail items are delivered as addressed. Keep in mind that I'm a letter carrier so I probably wouldn't see the hold for pickup items. Good question!

864 Votes

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 10 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.

862 Votes

I put a package in my out going box and when the mailman picked it up he said it was leaking. It had candy in it. What will happen to the package? Will it be delivered or expected or just thrown away

Asked by kortney over 11 years ago

I don't know for sure what would happen with your package. It could be returned to you for better packaging, delivered in the condition it was found, or re-wrapped by the USPS and delivered. I suppose they could throw it away if they can't figure out who it is intended for or who it came from.

862 Votes

After 13 years of doing the job does your body hurt? Do you have any job related injury due to the constant strain of your job such as casing mail or carrying your mail. If so does your work cover this if its not a specific event?

Asked by Dustin over 11 years ago

Dustin, Fortunately my body doesn't hurt due to the strain on the body and the repetitive motions on the job. There are quite a few co-workers who have hip, back, and foot pain. A couple of carriers have had joint replacement and returned to full duty, maybe a bit slower, but back at work. I don't think there is coverage for long-term illnesses if it is not specific. If the injury got to be so bad that you couldn't perform the job for more than 1-year you could apply for a disability retirement. Work, doesn't cover any short term disability. That is one reason you get 13 days of sick leaver per year.

860 Votes

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Do you check the intended addressee before delivery? If I sent a letter to someone's previous address using first class mail, will the letter be sent back to me? Also, how does a carrier keep track of an address's forwarding requests?

Asked by Old Address over 11 years ago

I do but not all carriers do, especially if they aren't familiar with the valid names at a particular address or is a substitute letter carrier. The route I deliver doesn't have many forwarding requests that I can't remember them all. But we also have "flags" at our sorting case to help us with knowing the forwarding requests. They stay active in the Computerized Forwarding System for 18 months. After that time, mail will be returned to sender with the endorsement "Unable to Forward" or UTF.

859 Votes

i have been waiting on a check that was mailed out over ten buisness days ago it was not sent certified and i have not got it what can i do ?

Asked by melissa over 11 years ago

I don't have any good advice as to what to do re: the check. On occasion mail isn't delivered as quickly as it should be. Sometimes it could be diverted by accident to a different PO and then take time to get to the correct PO. ultimately, after waiting a few more days, you may contact the sender and see if they can issue a replacement check.

859 Votes

Somebody who lives with me recently got hired by the post office. I've noticed bundles of mail. Not your catalog type stuff but more like cc bills, electric bills, bank statements etc. I'm torn because i want them to move out, if fired i'm stuck.

Asked by confilicted almost 11 years ago

I am not sure why you have a conflict with regards to the type of mail that a roommate/co-occupant receives and whether or not they work at the PO has to do with them living with you. It appears to me that this person has decided to use your address to receive mail from their creditors, financial institutions, utilities, etc. If they move out or you force them out, this person could have their mail forwarded to a new address. If they don't live with you anymore but there is still mail for them coming to your address, you can can return it to the letter carrier saying that they don't live with you anymore. Please re-write and re-submit your question a bit more clearly so I can understand the conflict you are having with the type of mail being received and this person living with you. Thank you.

859 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi Dave,
It states on USPS website that Express Mail items are available for hold at a local office. In other words, just hold at the office and don't try to deliver the item. I haven't found that to be true, PO delivers every item. Is this possible?

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

I put a package in my out going box and when the mailman picked it up he said it was leaking. It had candy in it. What will happen to the package? Will it be delivered or expected or just thrown away

After 13 years of doing the job does your body hurt? Do you have any job related injury due to the constant strain of your job such as casing mail or carrying your mail. If so does your work cover this if its not a specific event?

Also on Jobstr...

Do you check the intended addressee before delivery? If I sent a letter to someone's previous address using first class mail, will the letter be sent back to me? Also, how does a carrier keep track of an address's forwarding requests?

i have been waiting on a check that was mailed out over ten buisness days ago it was not sent certified and i have not got it what can i do ?

Somebody who lives with me recently got hired by the post office. I've noticed bundles of mail. Not your catalog type stuff but more like cc bills, electric bills, bank statements etc. I'm torn because i want them to move out, if fired i'm stuck.

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi Dave,It states on USPS website that Express Mail items are available for hold at a local office. In other words, just hold at the office and don't try to deliver the item. I haven't found that to be true, PO delivers every item. Is this possible?

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

I put a package in my out going box and when the mailman picked it up he said it was leaking. It had candy in it. What will happen to the package? Will it be delivered or expected or just thrown away

After 13 years of doing the job does your body hurt? Do you have any job related injury due to the constant strain of your job such as casing mail or carrying your mail. If so does your work cover this if its not a specific event?

Also on Jobstr...

Do you check the intended addressee before delivery? If I sent a letter to someone's previous address using first class mail, will the letter be sent back to me? Also, how does a carrier keep track of an address's forwarding requests?

i have been waiting on a check that was mailed out over ten buisness days ago it was not sent certified and i have not got it what can i do ?

Somebody who lives with me recently got hired by the post office. I've noticed bundles of mail. Not your catalog type stuff but more like cc bills, electric bills, bank statements etc. I'm torn because i want them to move out, if fired i'm stuck.

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Hi Dave,
It states on USPS website that Express Mail items are available for hold at a local office. In other words, just hold at the office and don't try to deliver the item. I haven't found that to be true, PO delivers every item. Is this possible?