Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

My employer forgot to add my apartment number to my check can i meet the postmaster at my apartment to get it or will they not have it?

Asked by Jen over 10 years ago

Jen, I'm not sure if the letter carrier (postman, mailman, they all are synonymous) would have your paycheck if you met them at the mailboxes for the apt. building. Sometimes if there is no apt. number on a piece of mail, it could be sent back to the sender for "Insufficient Address, Apt. # Required", or they may have it with them and try to figure out the correct apt. # if they don't already know it. Some carriers are familiar with who lives in which apt. so they deliver the mail anyway without an apt. number on the address. I think a lot will depend on who is delivering mail the day you go out and meet them. I know this doesn't help you, but in the future the apt. # is so important to put on an address to insure proper delivery. It's also a good idea to label either the outside or inside of your mailbox with your name and apartment number. Thanks for your question and I hope your paycheck arrives.

826 Votes

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Asked by jadrian almost 12 years ago

I don't believe that the tests matter at all by state, but when you take the test it is usually given by a certain district which is hiring. It has been many years since I've taken a hiring exam so I don't know if the process has changed. Furthermore, I don't know how long the grades are on file once the exam is taken. Good luck to you Jadrian.

825 Votes

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Asked by herding hollywood over 11 years ago

I would say that the letter carrier shouldn't enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail if a dog is present. We often have service talks that are aimed at preventing dog bites. One point that is made is to not go into an area where a dog is loose. To be honest, though, many of us are comfortable around dogs and won't follow that rule all the time. If I encounter what looks like a dog that could cause me harm I avoid that house/area and bring any undelivered mail back to the post office. In my career I don't remember not being able to deliver mail due to a loose dog. The bottom line is that a carrier shouldn't put themselves in a situation where they are at risk for an unwanted encounter with a canine.

825 Votes

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Asked by David over 11 years ago

You're welcome David. It's my pleasure to try and assist where I can. It's just that I have so little confidence in the operation at times and how the management can resolve situations satisfactorily. I know it's not a good attitude, but if I worked for a company that focused on the customer and quality of work and one that treated its workers with greater respect, I'd give you a more optimistice answer. It's not that we are a horrible place by any means, but being a quasi-governmental orgnaization, I feel that it's just kind of "eh" at times. Some of us work hard and try our best, while others, it seems, work against the operation it seems. Fortunately it's more the former than the latter overall. Thanks again for writing and feel free to post your results on this Q and A site.

824 Votes

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Thanks for answering so fast. I asked our mailman today why we only got 1 electric bill when we normally get 5 (we own 5 properties). He said he was off yesterday. I said it was from last week - then he said 'it's coming'! I will put in a complaint.

Asked by Linda A over 11 years ago

You're welcome Linda A. I try to respond quickly so I have very few questions pending. I hate to have a backup of email in general. You did a good job by asking the mailman where the bills might be. I can't imagine ever answering "it's coming". There is no doubt that an electric bill is First Class so a mailman generally would have it, deliver it, and that's all. We have no idea what's in the pipeline with regards to First Class mail like Bills, Mortgage Statements, greeting cards, etc. I'm not trying to discourage you from using the USPS, but does your utility offer you electronic delivery of the electric bill. My utility is Con Edison (NY City) and it has probably been 4-5 years at least since I received an electric bill in the US Mail. I get the bill online and have it deducted each month from my checking out. No worries whatsoever. I know that e-payments and finance is not for everybody, but just wanted to throw the idea out there and this doesn't make up for the fact that you didn't get a paper electric bill that you are supposed to. I hope your complaint helps somewhat. If nothing else, it will advise your mailman that you aren't satisfied with his delivery effort and aren't going to sit idly by if he isn't delivering what he's legally supposed to in a timely manner. Thank you so much for writing.

820 Votes

Why should a rural carrier wear a uniform when we don't get a uniform allowance?

Asked by Andrea about 11 years ago

To my knowledge rural letter carriers aren't required to wear a USPS uniform and I have never seen a RLC wearing one. There are 2 rural routes that are delivered from the office where I work and I've never seen them in anything except everyday clothes a regular manual worker would wear. Your question of why should a rural carrier wear a uniform is one I don't know. I didn't think a rural carrier could even purchase official USPS uniform items except maybe a baseball cap or other headwear. It's true that they don't get a uniform allowance like the city carriers receive. You could contact the NRLCA if you had a question I can't answer hear. They are the union that represents Rural Letter Carriers nationwide.

820 Votes

If I were to send a letter envelope with more than just a letter, like if it had a ring inside as well, would it be able to go through the mail system without a problem?

Asked by Gabriela over 11 years ago

More than likely the envelope with the irregular thickness item in it would make it through the mail system as long as the item didn't puncture through the paper envelope and possibly get lost. The letter sorting process is highly automated so the item in the envelope could get damaged as it goes through the letter sorting machinery. For this reason, I highly recommend using a small padded envelope to protect any fragile or valuable contents that need to be mailed. The cost to mail this is higher than that of a letter-sized envelope but well worth it.

820 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My employer forgot to add my apartment number to my check can i meet the postmaster at my apartment to get it or will they not have it?

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Also on Jobstr...

Thanks for answering so fast. I asked our mailman today why we only got 1 electric bill when we normally get 5 (we own 5 properties). He said he was off yesterday. I said it was from last week - then he said 'it's coming'! I will put in a complaint.

Why should a rural carrier wear a uniform when we don't get a uniform allowance?

If I were to send a letter envelope with more than just a letter, like if it had a ring inside as well, would it be able to go through the mail system without a problem?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My employer forgot to add my apartment number to my check can i meet the postmaster at my apartment to get it or will they not have it?

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Also on Jobstr...

Thanks for answering so fast. I asked our mailman today why we only got 1 electric bill when we normally get 5 (we own 5 properties). He said he was off yesterday. I said it was from last week - then he said 'it's coming'! I will put in a complaint.

Why should a rural carrier wear a uniform when we don't get a uniform allowance?

If I were to send a letter envelope with more than just a letter, like if it had a ring inside as well, would it be able to go through the mail system without a problem?

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