Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

I live in a condo building of 100 unit owners. Each unit owner has an assigned mailbox in the lobby where we have a doorman. Upon request of a unit owner, can the US Postman give the mail to the doorman and not deposit in the unit owner's mailbox?

Asked by Res over 11 years ago

I am not sure of the correct answer to that question. I would think that the postman technically would have to put each piece of mail in the box that corresponded to the particular unit, and not have the discretion to just hand the mail to the doorman at the request of the resident.

745 Votes

mailman insists on putting catalogs in my mail not in my name (but previous resident) because it says current resident. Is this a law??

Asked by Renee over 11 years ago

In the example you have cited, the mailer has put "current resident" on the catalog because they would like the item delivered whether or not the named recipient still lives there. As far as I know, we are required to deliver all of those catalogs. I would never risk my job by discarding a catalog that a resident doesn't want to receive. I hope this satisfactorily answers your question.

744 Votes

Do you have to go to a postal office to deliver a letter to another state?

Asked by nathalie over 11 years ago

No, you can mail a letter to any other state as youwould a letter going in state. Please remember to address the letter properly including city state and ZIP code

743 Votes

Are you required to stop at each residential mailbox to check if there is outgoing mail if you have none to deliver that day?

Asked by Chris almost 11 years ago

Chris, that is a very good question. We aren't required to stop at at a residential mailbox if we have no mail to that address and we can't visibly see any outgoing mail or the flag is not up to indicate outgoing mail. In the neighborhood that I deliver mail to most houses get a delivery daily even if it as little as an advertising run that covers the entire route (sometimes known as a 3rd bundle or EDDM).

742 Votes

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Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!

Asked by lebee over 11 years ago

I am not sure what will happen to the UPS Package. The USPS may forward it if they have the correct forwarding address on file for the the previous owner, but they may not be obligated to. The USPS may also forward the package but have the recipient pay for the item being forwarded. The item may also be returned to UPS or to the sender. I'm sorry I can't be any more specific re: the package you are inquiring about.

740 Votes

I recently mailed my passport for renewal via priority mail and the postal clerk entered the wrong zip code and now it has been stuck at the processing center for a week now, so what happens next?

Asked by pruqui about 11 years ago

I am not sure what happens next. Eventually, the Priority Mail envelope (which contains your passport) should either have its ZIP code manually corrected and sent to the proper Passport Renewal Office, or be returned to you "Undeliverable As Addressed". I don't know the time frame that this will all take, but with Priority Mail, the item shouldn't be sitting in a processing center for a week. You can call 1-800-ASK-USPS for possible assistance.

738 Votes

I think you misunderstood my question. I meant when the person walks up next to his box when you drive by, do you give him the mail, or do you put it in the box anyway? My carrier won't deliver my mail unless I am well away from my box when he comes.

Asked by bryce over 11 years ago

I deliver the mail via foot and don't drive up to a mailbox as you describe. The town in which I deliver mail does have sections where the letter carriers do drive up to a mailbox and put the mail in. I did this when I was a substitute letter carrier and will do it on occasion if that carrier is out or needs assistance. If the situation you described occurred while I was delivering, I would hand them the mail. I don't know if there is a policy against handing the mail directly to a customer in the environment you described. Some carriers may not want to hand the mail directly to a customer from their postal vehicle for safety reasons.

737 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I live in a condo building of 100 unit owners. Each unit owner has an assigned mailbox in the lobby where we have a doorman. Upon request of a unit owner, can the US Postman give the mail to the doorman and not deposit in the unit owner's mailbox?

mailman insists on putting catalogs in my mail not in my name (but previous resident) because it says current resident. Is this a law??

Do you have to go to a postal office to deliver a letter to another state?

Are you required to stop at each residential mailbox to check if there is outgoing mail if you have none to deliver that day?

Also on Jobstr...

Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!

I recently mailed my passport for renewal via priority mail and the postal clerk entered the wrong zip code and now it has been stuck at the processing center for a week now, so what happens next?

I think you misunderstood my question. I meant when the person walks up next to his box when you drive by, do you give him the mail, or do you put it in the box anyway? My carrier won't deliver my mail unless I am well away from my box when he comes.

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I live in a condo building of 100 unit owners. Each unit owner has an assigned mailbox in the lobby where we have a doorman. Upon request of a unit owner, can the US Postman give the mail to the doorman and not deposit in the unit owner's mailbox?

mailman insists on putting catalogs in my mail not in my name (but previous resident) because it says current resident. Is this a law??

Do you have to go to a postal office to deliver a letter to another state?

Are you required to stop at each residential mailbox to check if there is outgoing mail if you have none to deliver that day?

Also on Jobstr...

Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?Thanks!

I recently mailed my passport for renewal via priority mail and the postal clerk entered the wrong zip code and now it has been stuck at the processing center for a week now, so what happens next?

I think you misunderstood my question. I meant when the person walks up next to his box when you drive by, do you give him the mail, or do you put it in the box anyway? My carrier won't deliver my mail unless I am well away from my box when he comes.

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Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!