Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

Asked by erica over 11 years ago

I don't know this answer for sure, but I do know if a carrier can't pull completely up to a mailbox to effect delivery, he can "flag" the box as non-approachable and bring the mail back to the PO and try again the next day. Most of the time if I couldn't completely get up to a mailbox, I would get out and deliver the mail so as to not have to deal with it the next day. If a mailbox was habitually blocked by a customer then I may suspend delivery to let them know that their box shouldn't be blocked. This has rarely happened in my experience. I'm pretty sure we are allowed to get out of the truck to deliver the mail. I've never been told otherwise.

808 Votes

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Asked by Ella almost 12 years ago

I am sorry that the item arrived empty, but I do understand why it shows as arrived delivered. If that package arrived on my route for delivery I would have scanned it "Visible Damage" as well as "Delivered". This would not result in any settlement or claim being paid, but would validate what you are saying. If the item was not insured, I don't believe there is anything that can be done.

808 Votes

How many times does a post man have to deliver a registerd letter to a person's address before he is to send it bck?

Asked by corinna over 11 years ago

For a registered letter that needs a signature, the letter is usually brought out one time to try and get somebody to sign for having received it. If no authorized recipient is available, a notice is left (PS Form 3849) advising the addressee that the letter needs to be picked up at the PO, or they may sign the 3849 to authorize redelivery. If the letter isn't picked up in a few days, a reminder 3849 2nd notice is delivered with a date written on it telling the addressee that the item will be returned to the sender if it isn't picked up. The date is usually 15 days from the First Notice being left, but I'm not sure. I hope this helps and I have deleted your previous question as I believe it is a duplicate. Thanks for writing.

807 Votes

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

Asked by nathalie about 12 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

807 Votes

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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 almost 12 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.

805 Votes

Is there any location (i.e. the postoffice) that the mail gets picked up more than once???

Asked by Heather D about 11 years ago

it depends on the community you live in. The blue collection boxes that you may see in your town are probably picked up 1-2 times per day. There is a sticker inside the box that has the collection times. At the actual post office, mail is often sent out more than once a day, but it really depends on the size and location of the post office. At the actual Post Office, there is usually a sign by the mail drop slot that tells the collection times or at least will tell you when the daily deadline is to have mail processed for that day.

805 Votes

Can a minor (17) pick up & sign for a package at the post office if it's addressed to them? Or is there a way to get the mailman to just leave the package without a signature? I'm tired of begging my parents to come sign & pick up for me. Thanks!

Asked by Ashley G over 11 years ago

I don't know the legal answer to this question at the post office. I think they may ask for identification but I'm not sure the you are required to be 18 years or older. As a letter carrier, I would deliver a package without a signature if the sender didn't request or pay for a signature and the item can be safely delivered to the addressee, which is simple for the route I deliver to because it it is all single family suburban residences.

804 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

How many times does a post man have to deliver a registerd letter to a person's address before he is to send it bck?

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

Also on Jobstr...

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.

Is there any location (i.e. the postoffice) that the mail gets picked up more than once???

Can a minor (17) pick up & sign for a package at the post office if it's addressed to them? Or is there a way to get the mailman to just leave the package without a signature? I'm tired of begging my parents to come sign & pick up for me. Thanks!

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

How many times does a post man have to deliver a registerd letter to a person's address before he is to send it bck?

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

Also on Jobstr...

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.

Is there any location (i.e. the postoffice) that the mail gets picked up more than once???

Can a minor (17) pick up & sign for a package at the post office if it's addressed to them? Or is there a way to get the mailman to just leave the package without a signature? I'm tired of begging my parents to come sign & pick up for me. Thanks!

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