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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1237 Questions

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

if you were sending mail to someone, and you spelled their street address wrong by one letter (ex. Hamptons but spelled as Hampton) and everything else correct, will it mail to the correct house?

Asked by Aya over 11 years ago

If the mail is addressed correctly otherwise and only off by one letter, it should be delivered to the correct house. It would maybe a problem if there was another street in the same town which had a similar name or suffix (like the town had a 3rd St and a 3rd Av). The most important things in an address would be the # and ZIP code. If the street is spelled somewhat close, you'd likely have the item delivered to the correct house. Thank you for writing.

941 Votes

I bought something on ebay and I have A P.O. BOX BUT ALL I PUT DOWN IS MY ADDRESS NOT MY P.O. BOX NUMBER WHAT WILL HAPPED?

Asked by Vincent over 12 years ago

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.

940 Votes

What do you do if somebody on your route walks up and asks you if you would hand them their mail instead of putting it in the box?

Asked by bryce over 12 years ago

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.

940 Votes

Do mailmen take pictures of packages (small 8lb box) delivered? If so, why?

Asked by Denise over 11 years ago

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.

940 Votes

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Why is it important to be a role model and expert to achieve qsc in your restaurant

Asked by Ruth00 about 11 years ago

I don't believe you meant this question for me as I don't work in the food service industry and am not familiar with QSC.

940 Votes

What time does a city carrier usually have to report to the post office in the morning to start? I have a good chance at getting this position but am wondering in advance because I need to put my daughter in daycare and very few open that early.

Asked by Jess almost 12 years ago

I can't speak for all POs, but from what I have experienced, most full-time assignments start between 7-8 AM and end 3:30-4:30PM. For a newly hired carriers, they might start later in the day as there may not be enough work for them to work a full day or the operations require that they work much later. I've seen a 10-11AM start time for the CCAs (city carrier assistants) when they aren't needed to cover a whole assignment  . During peak vacation time (usually summer months), many offices are shorthanded due to carriers being on vacation, so CCAs possibly start their workday the same time as other regular carriers. There are some assignments (like a parcel post or collection route) which usually start a bit later in the AM. In our office that is a 10AM-6:30PM assignment. Thanks for writing and good luck. 

940 Votes

So, I am expecting a package thats delivered by USPS. 5 days ago, it was at Jamaica(NY). It took the following route - JAMAICA(NY) -> TETERBORO(NJ -> KEARNY(NJ) - > TETERBORO(NJ -> KEARNY(NJ) - > JAMAICA(NY). No update ever since. Whats happening?

Asked by AS almost 12 years ago

I don't know why the routing would keep going back and forth unless it was considered "undeliverable as addressed". I know that those are likely all sorting facilities for packages near or at airports. I'm sorry that I'd have no further information on the package. Possibly the ZIP code on the package isn't correct so the item keeps getting routed between facilities. I would recommend contacting the shipper and telling them what info you are able to get from the USPS website and see if they have maybe received it back marked invalid address. I'm not sure the shipper will have any information. Since the item originated in Jamaica, NY and is now back in Jamaica, NY, it has possibly been returned to the sender for some reason. Thanks for the inquiry.

939 Votes

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