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.
If the PO or letter carrier can figure out what the address corresponds to and there is a secure place to leave the item, the carrier may just leave it at the corresponding address. I don't think the item would go the PO Box # if it weren't stated!but I can't be sure what will actually happen to the item. I have rarely encountered this situation so i don't have any great insight.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20bought%20something%20on%20ebay%20and%20I%20have%20A%20P.O.%20BOX%20BUT%20ALL%20I%20%20PUT%20DOWN%20IS%20MY%20ADDRESS%20NOT%20MY%20P.O.%20BOX%20NUMBER%20WHAT%20WILL%20HAPPED%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10268)
I am not completely sure what is being asked by this question, but here is the general rule that we should follow when delivering mail. Unless there is an official change of address order on file to forward a person's mail from one address to another then the mail should only be delivered to the address which is printed on the envelope as to where the letter should go.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20a%20person%20lives%20at%201%20address%2C%20has%20certain%20important%20mail%20delivered%20there%20%26%20in%20the%20same%20town%2C%20use%20another%20person%27s%20address%20to%20have%20other%20mail%20delivered%20there%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10069)
Randy, I dont know the answer to your question. I can see it turning out both ways. On one hand, the carrier may be familiar with you and/or the neighborhood and feel it is safe enough to leave the mail by your door without risk of it being stolen. On the other hand, they may have rules saying that this is forbidden and not be able to verify that you actually wrote the note. you could also call your local PO to find out if they can be of any help, but I'm guessing they will say that you have to get a replacement key and can't risk bringing the mail to your door. I'm being purposefully vague because I have a feeling that there would be different answers from different offices/personnel. I hope you can find your mailbox key.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%21%20I%27ve%20had%20some%20mail%20%28along%20with%20a%20battery%29%20sitting%20in%20my%20mailbox%20for%20a%20couple%20days%2C%20my%20key%20is%20missing.%20Can%20I%20leave%20a%20note%20for%20the%20mail%20carrier%20to%20deliver%20the%20mail%20to%20my%20house%3F%20Even%20though%20it%27s%20a%20neighborhood%20mailbox%3F%20I%27m%20in%20Texas%2C%20if%20that%20helps.%3A%29&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13071)
I don't know what is common or not for a mailman to do in that amt. of snow. It seems strange that they would do it for some customers and not others. That said, if a carrier feels they can't safely approach a mailbox due to snow, then they may refuse. I think it all comes down to a judgment call by the letter carrier if there is any doubt for their safety in approaching a mailbox. As to the inconsistency of doing one house as opposed to another house which seem similarly cleared or not cleared, I don't know why that decision is made.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=It%20is%20unusual%20for%20a%20mailman%20to%20refuse%20to%20deliver%20in%201%20to%203%20inches%20of%20snow%20if%20it%20was%20not%20cleared%3F%20%20He%20is%20walking%20across%20the%20same%20amount%20of%20snow%20in%20neighboring%20yards%20after%20leaving%20their%20porch.%20%20He%20grabbed%20and%20threw%20my%20snow%20shovel%20out%20in%20my%20yard%20today.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10267)
Antiques Dealer
What's the most profit you've ever made from a single item?
Firefighter
How can you tell if a fire was arson?
Mailman (City Letter Carrier)
Are postal workers more disgruntled than other workers?
I think it is wrong for a letter carrier to make any type of judgment whether or not a piece of mail is important or not. They shouldn't be involving a neighbor since the neighbor may or may not have any type of relationship with the customer and shouldn't be privy to any of the type or content of mail received by you. When a customer puts their mail on hold, I treat all mail the same way no matter if it looks like a check, biill, automobile advertisement, donation request, etc. It is definitely not our job to judge anything about the mail and I would suggest it is very much against the rules even though your carrier meant well. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20a%20vacation%20hold%20on%20my%20mail%2C%20but%20my%20carrier%20decides%20to%20take%20one%20piece%20out%20and%20give%20it%20to%20my%20neighbor%20with%20the%20request%20that%20she%20contact%20me%20as%20the%20carrier%20%22thinks%22%20the%20piece%20of%20mail%20might%20be%20%22important.%22%20%20Is%20this%20against%20USPS%20rules%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12434)
If I had the mail somewhat accessible in an easy manner and if I knew who they were (which I usually do since I dsliver the same route daily) then I would hand them their mail. This doesn't happen very often though. If their house is later in the route and their mail isn't quickly accessible, I don't go out of my way to give them their mail that far ahead of time. I may make an exception if it is asked once in awhile, but not on a regular basis.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20if%20somebody%20on%20your%20route%20walks%20up%20and%20asks%20you%20if%20you%20would%20hand%20them%20their%20mail%20instead%20of%20putting%20it%20in%20the%20box%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10280)
Generally I don't think that mailmen should be photographing packages that are delivered. There are cases where I have done this, but not often. I photograph the USPS Tracking # if my handheld scanner can't read the barcode or I can't manually type in the numbers because they are smeared or otherwise unreadable. I will then bring back the image to my supervisor to see if they can figure it out or at least as a CYA to show them why I couldn't scan the item.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20mailmen%20take%20pictures%20of%20packages%20%28small%208lb%20box%29%20delivered%3F%20If%20so%2C%20why%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13907)
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
