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 have been invited to an interview in a week but I was wondering if I get the job....How do I know house numbers if there are no house numbers on the house or mailbox? For instance, on the street where I live the address goes from 2200 to 2232.

Asked by Curtice about 12 years ago

There is often, but not always a pattern to how house #'s run. It isn't too smart for a resident not To have a # on their mailbox or house Or curb unless they don't care about getting deliveries or having an ambulance/police find them easily. when we deliver mail it is usually put in order of delivery so you can usually just "follow the mail". If you see a house with no # on it but the one before and after it have a #, you can often assume the house # is between those two. Believe me, you will be trained and I have rarely heard of this being a problem where I work, though It doesn't mean it's not a problem elsewhere. My advice is To be as careful as you can to deliver the mail accurately. Good luck to you!

930 Votes

Are carriers allowed to listen to an mp3 player while walking a route?

Asked by Johnny about 11 years ago

That is a great question which I will answer in 2 ways. For the last few years I wore an MP3 player (iphone) with a wired earpiece while I delivered mail on foot and listened to podcasts. I always left one ear exposed and not listening to the podcasts. Nobody ever said a word to me about it. Recently, however, I returned to work after an extended absence (on an off for almost one year) and a co-worker who saw me "wired" to listen to the PED said that while I was out we had a service/safety talk that we weren't allowed to be using the PED's while we are at work either in or out of the Post Office. I thanked him for his advice, but thought I would do a little more investigating. I asked about 2 or 3 other co-workers and they said they didn't know anything about a rule like that. I didn't ask my supervisor or shop steward. I don't believe it is anything you would get disciplined for, but the mgmt. may say you aren't allowed to use them. If they ever did that I may ask to see that policy in writing even though I could see mgmt. as saying it falls under the "you will be distracted" reasoning. Again, I have never seen it as an issue at the PO where I work, but please keep in mind that I don't listen to it loudly and only have the ear buds in one ear. When a customer comes to speak with me, I put the personal electronic device (PED) on pause and sometimes even take out the earpiece. I would be very disappointed if they made a rule about not listening to an MP3 player while delivering mail as that is very helpful in getting me through the workday, not to mention I learn a lot from the podcasts. Thanks for writing in with your question.

929 Votes

We just purchased a lake home. The mailbox is a quarter mile away in a different zip code than the house. Which zip code is correct? (USPS lookup gives me where the mailbox is but I have successfully used the other one)

Asked by Dan about 11 years ago

Dan, I don't know the answer to your question. You likely live on a RR (Rural Route) or HCR (Highway Contract Route) given the fact that the mailbox is so far from your lake home. This has no bearing on what ZIP code you use as far as I know. I could see either ZIP code working based on what you told me, but I'm sure only one ZIP is actually correct. My suggestion is to stop in at a local post office during their business hours and ask a clerk or supervisor what ZIP you shoud be using or possibly call them if you can find their phone # or possibly 1-800-ASK-USPS. Thanks for writing and congratulations on your new home purchase.

929 Votes

What dose it mean when a postman comes to your door to ask if this person lives at this address but wont let you know who is asking ?

Asked by teresa beecham almost 11 years ago

Teresa, I am not sure what that means. I do have two theories on what it might be. First, sometimes I have a piece of mail addressed to a house and I'm not familiar with that name receiving mail there and I want to make sure that I'm delivering the mail properly. In that case I will either knock on the door and ask if that name should receive mail there or (actually more often) I will just put a "?" next to the name that I'm inquiring about and deliver the letter. In that case whoever receives the letter can leave it out for me the next day if the name in question is not correct. The second theory, which may be the one in your case, is that a law firm, collection agency, or IRS, etc., or someone else wants to know if a certain name resides at your address. They will mail the PO a special form requesting that information and then we will fill out the form confirming that the name in question receives mail at that address or not. I've never actually went to someone's door to ask because I know if the name in question is valid or not. I don't know that we aren't allowed to divulge who is asking because I've never been in that situation. Anyhow, I would guess that it's optional whether or not you want to divulge that information to the postman or not. We can't force you to do that. Please be advised that these are just speculations on my part as to what it means when the mailman came to your door to ask if a person lives at your address. Thanks for writing.

928 Votes

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I had an issue that I believe may have been a scam. I ordered something and the person says that the USPS used an international express form instead of USA and that the package is sitting in US customs waiting to be sent to "sender" not "addressee" ?

Asked by Tammy McClintock over 11 years ago

I don't understand the question. I don't know about the different forms which are required for shipments which come from other countries. Do you know if the item was coming from an international source? I don't know why the item in US Customs would be labeled as to be sent to sender. That wouldn't be good as you are the addressee and not the sender. If the sender is just giving you a bunch of excuses and not offering any refund, it could be a scam. I'm sorry that I have no knowledge about the ins and outs of US Customs and shipping of items.

928 Votes

My son works at convienence store standing and walking 12 hours a day can you please tell me what kind of shoes you wear. thankyou donna

Asked by donna over 11 years ago

I wear uniform issue letter carrier shoes. The brand I usually wear is New Balance and have a special non-slip surface. The USPS provides us with a yearly allowance to put towards uniforms and footwear.

927 Votes

How can I write a letter to manager for collect my uniform

Asked by Nizu almost 11 years ago

Nizu, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by your question, but I will take a guess. I believe you are a letter carrier who doesnt yet have a uniform or uniform allowance. I'm pretty sure that not long after you pass the 90-day probationary period the USPS should be sending you information on how to purchase uniforms plus a spending card which can be used at authorized vendors to make purchases of authorized uniform components. This is for city letter carriers and CCAs. I don't know anything about rural carriers and a uniform allowance. Have you asked your supervisor if they know anything about the process?

927 Votes

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