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.
It is fine not to put a return address on anything you mail. The issue that could come about is if the item you sent is "undeliverable as addressed" meaning that you didn't put on the correct destination address. In this case, the letter would likely be sent to the "nixie" or "dead letter" office. I don't know what it is called nowadays and I don't know what would happen to the letter, but you wouldn't get it back unless somebody opened it and your address was found on the inside. I don't even know if that is legal to do or if it is even done. Again, as long as you put the proper destination address on the letter, don't worry at all about not putting on the return address. Thanks for your inquiry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20frogot%20to%20put%20my%20returning%20address%20on%20the%20mail%20i%20sent%20out%20today%2C%20what%20will%20happen%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13317)
Sean, it depends on your letter carrier and their willingness to do this. I would do it if it's not too frequent a request and it was just a letter or large envelope, meaning it just needs a stamp or two. On my initiative, I keep some postage stamps in my wallet and will honor that request most of the time. To be honest it doesn't come up too often. If I notice an item has insufficient postage I may just affix one of my own stamps and send the item on its way. There is no requirement that we do any of this and I don't want customers to get in the habit of requesting this service. The reason I have this attitude is because there are easy ways to buy stamps in quantity. The USPS allows you to buy them online, or 24/7 at any PO that has a Sales and Service Kiosk. Supermarkets and Wholesale Clubs sell postage stamps as well. I know this doesn't answer your question, but so many communication and financial transactions are more easily done online that mailing letters is becoming much less significant.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=can%20i%20give%20the%20mailman%20a%20letter%20without%20postage%20if%20i%20give%20them%20the%20money%20to%20pay%20for%20the%20postage%20when%20the%20deliver%20to%20my%20house%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15402)
I don't know why a letter carrier would approach your house with mail in hand and then decide to not deliver it unless there was some safety issue in completing the delivery. Next time you see the letter carrier you could ask her why she does that or you may call your post office and mention it to the delivery supervisor. It's a problem if there is First Class or Priority Mail which is being curtailed for no apparent reason. Those classes of mail should be delivered the day that they are received at your local post office. As to whether it's a problem or not, part of it is up to you if you if it bothers you that your mail is being delayed for no reason and you'd like to make an issue of it. For some people, especially younger people, the US Mail is really not that important to them so if it comes a few days later than it should it may not make a difference. I'm not trying to say that it's correct/legal for mail to be delayed for no reason. I'm only implying that it's not too important to some recipients when they receive their US Mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=At%20times%20I%20am%20working%20in%20my%20lawn%20and%20I%20see%20the%20mailman%20drive%20up.%20She%20always%20gets%20my%20mail%20in%20her%20hands%2C%20then%20once%20she%20sees%20me%20in%20the%20lawn%20she%20drives%20away%20and%20holds%20the%20mail%20until%20tomorrow%20%28when%20I%20am%20inside%29.%20Is%20that%20a%20problem%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11161)
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Also%2C%20are%20the%20mail%20carrier%20tests%20good%20throughout%20the%20U.S.%20or%20are%20they%20required%20to%20be%20retaken%20in%20each%20individual%20state%3F%20How%20long%20are%20they%20good%20for%20on%20file%20once%20taken%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11314)
CBP Officer
How cooperative are Mexican authorities re: US immigration and border control?
Emergency Room Manager
What's the best time to arrive at an ER to avoid waits?
Waitress
Are you instructed to "push" certain menu items that are at risk of going bad?
As far as I know, if a first class envelope is left out for mailing and has sufficient postage on it, it should be taken when the carrier is doing their regular delivery. I am not sure what they mean by scheduling it. That is definitely done for parcels so the USPS knows whether or not to bring a postal vehicle (in case the carrier only delivers via foot.) I hope your new carrier is not just being lazy. I'm sure you have already done this, but please make sure that the outgoing letter(s) are obviously visible to the letter carrier to take. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20leave%20an%20outgoing%201st%20class%20letter%2Fenvelope%20in%20my%20mailbox%20is%20the%20carrier%20obligated%20to%20take%20it%3F%20My%20old%20mail%20carrier%20always%20took%20it%20but%20my%20new%20carrier%20is%20saying%20I%20should%20schedule%20it.%20You%20can%27t%20schedule%201st%20class%20mail%20as%20best%20I%20can%20tell.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12851)
I am not sure how the mail got delivered to your new address unless it was maybe in the same town and somehow the letter carriers coordinated internally to deliver it to the new address, though this is unlikely. Usually, you would need to fill out a change of address card (by mail or online) to have mail from a previous address sent to a new address.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20went%20bankrupt%20and%20lost%20our%20house%2C%20only%20my%20family%20knew%20where%20we%20moved%20yet%20we%20got%20mail%20with%20our%20old%20address%20at%20our%20new%20place%2C%20how%20did%20the%20mailman%20know%20where%20to%20take%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11718)
If I can find a safe place nearby like near a garage door or by the front door of the house I would rubber band the mail and put it there. If it is mail addressed to an apt building and I can't gain access I would likely bring it back to the Post Office, notify a supervisor, and likely attempt delivery the next day. Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often on the route where I deliver the mail. It is inconvenient to have to bring the mail back to the PO and try again the next day.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Where%20do%20you%20put%20someones%20mail%20if%20you%20cant%20put%20it%20in%20their%20mailbox%3F%20%28Or%20gain%20access%20to%20an%20apartment%20building%29&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13788)
-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
