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.
There is no regulation that I'm aware of that requires the collection box to be accessible 24/7. I know that in the town where I work some office buildings have collection slots in their lobby and I think an access card is required to enter the building during "off" hours. The mail collection slots serve the same purpose as the blue collection boxes meaning mail is picked up from those boxes/mail slots on a regular schedule.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=there%20is%20a%20blue%20usps%20collection%20box%20in%20the%20parking%20lot%20of%20a%20group%20of%20stores.%20%20when%20the%20stores%20are%20closed%20security%20people%20order%20you%20off%20the%20premises.%20%20is%20there%20a%20regulation%20requiring%20boxes%20to%20be%20fully%20accessible%20by%20the%20public%2024%2F7%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14052)
Not to make light of your question, but I like your handle "Hungry For Bread". I don't know why the USPS (or more specifically an employee thereof) would take a bag that was obviously not outgoing mail. Technically, the mailbox isn't to be used as a place to leave and pick-up non-US Mail items. From my experience, however, I rarely hear of letter carriers taking non-US Mail items out of a mailbox unless they were circulars/ads placed in mailboxes without postage being paid. You could call the PO where your mother lived and ask them about the missing bag of bread and mail, but I doubt they would know anything about it or admit to it. How do you know that the PO took your stuff and not somebody else? Nobody else should be going into your mailbox to take anything. I am glad you wrote in, but I'd appreciate that you leave the implied profanity out of your question (referring to WTF) for any future inquiries. I don't feel it is appropriate for this message board but acknowledge it is used much more commonly these days than when I was younger.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20just%20moved%20from%20my%20Mother%27s%20house.%20Last%20Sunday%20she%20left%20a%20bag%20with%20my%20mail%2C%20including%20a%20paycheck%2C%20and%20a%20banana%20bread%20in%20her%20mailbox.%20I%20was%20sick%20that%20day%20and%20didn%27t%20pick%20it%20up.%20When%20I%20saw%20her%20this%20weekend%20we%20figured%20out%20that%20P.O%20took%20my%20stuff%20.%0AWTF%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13176)
In my opinion it is fine to leave off the word "APT" at any time as long as you have indicated what the Suite, Apt, Unit, Lot # is along with the proper street address for the property. In your example "SUPT" is sufficient if that is a legitimate apt. designation. I live in an apt. building as well and for my address I usually just put the street address and then "1A" following it on the same line and never had an issue. I am glad you brought up this question because it is difficult and frustrating to try to deliver mail in a multi-unit building without the Unit # also in the address. A carrier who does the route on a regular basis will often memorize who lives in what unit, but a replacement carrier (which is very common) should not be expected to know who lives where and it is very time consuming to have to consult a building directory for the proper unit #.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20put%20the%20correct%20apartment%20%28Superintendent%29%20on%20shipping%20address%20but%20forget%20to%20put%20the%20word%20%27APT%27%20before%20it%2C%20will%20it%20disrupt%20the%20delivering%20of%20my%20package%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12195)
It does seem like a mis-scan from what you've described, especially given the time stamp of the "available for pickup" scan and the fact that it doesn't even make sense. You could report the lost piece to your local post office. I don't know the procedure as to what happens from there especially if the item was not insured. Another option is to call 1-800-275-8777 (USPS). Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20mailed%20a%20package%20from%20Texas%20to%20Australia%2C%20but%20it%20has%20disappeared%20along%20the%20way.%20%20The%20only%20tracking%20info%20says%22available%20for%20pickup%22%2C%20but%20that%20appeared%20w%2Fin%20hrs%20of%20being%20mailed%20and%20workers%20deemed%20it%20a%20mis-scan.%20Where%20do%20I%20report%20the%20lost%20piece%3FThanks&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11194)
Border Patrol Agent
Do you ever feel sorry for the illegals you catch trying to cross the border?
Fashion Model
How prevalent are eating disorders in modeling?
Employment Lawyer
Can I be sued for asking a co-worker on a date?
I don't believe you would be hired without a driver license to be a letter carrier. It is great that you like to walk a lot which is very healthy, but many communities have mail delivery which uses a motor vehicle to go from house to house or at least uses a vehicle to get the letter carrier to their route. That vehicle is usually driven by the letter carrier themselves. In some urban environments (like some of NYC), there are "walk-out" routes where the letter carrier leaves the PO on foot with a mail satchel and/or cart and doesn't need to drive. The mail for parts of their routes are left by another carrier in a vehicle in what is called a "relay box". I dont know that this relieves the carrier from not having a driver license because when one is hired they need to be flexible in their work assignments which may include a route that has driving involved. My short answer to your question is no, but would need further research.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20would%20love%20to%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%21%20im%20in%20great%20shape%20for%20the%20work%20as%20i%20already%20walk%2015%20miles%2F%205%20days%20a%20week.%20the%20only%20thing%20is%20that%20i%20dont%20know%20how%20to%20drive%E2%80%A6could%20someone%20like%20me%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13168)
Hello David, it is unfortunate that your mailbox was broken by your mailman. I don't know the claims process for reimbursment for broken mailboxes. There must be a claim process in general for property damage caused by a USPS employee. I'd recommend contacting your local post office and speaking with a delivery supervisor and/or Postmaster to file a complaint. Hopefully they can point you in the right direction in the process of making such a claim. If not I would try and go up the chain of administration at the USPS which would be the district or area office which oversees your local post office. Good luck to you. Had you told the mailman in the past not to open the mailbox forefully or to not let it slam down. I come across broken mailboxes often. Most customers leave them damaged, but some will buy new ones or have them fixed. I've not heard of a mailman breaking one except running a curbside delivery box over with ther LLV (Long Life Vehicle). Thanks for writing and good luck in your claim. I hope it can be resolved to your satisfaction.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Our%20mailman%20broke%20our%20mailbox%20recently%20by%20constantly%20opening%20it%20forcefully%20and%20letting%20it%20slam%20down%20when%20delivering%20the%20mail.%20%20This%20was%20a%20very%20expensive%20mailbox%20made%20of%20high%20grade%20steel.%20%20How%20do%20I%20lodge%20a%20formal%20complaint%20about%20this.%20%20I%20took%20photos.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12590)
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)
-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
