Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1236 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

At times I am working in my lawn and I see the mailman drive up. She always gets my mail in her hands, then once she sees me in the lawn she drives away and holds the mail until tomorrow (when I am inside). Is that a problem?

Asked by Bryce over 10 years ago

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.

600 Votes

do mailmen carry flat rate boxes and envelopes on their vehicles for people who need them along the route?

Asked by neva about 10 years ago

Generally I would say no. I know that I don't carry them in my vehicle. We are told to empty out our vehicles each night. Maybe some carriers do bring them with, but I would doubt it and we aren't told to by management. If a customer asked me to bring them some I would the next day. The best way to get supplies is to visit a Post Office or order the Priority Mail supplies for free at www.usps.com. Thank you for your inquiry and I think Priority Mail is one of the most reliable services that the USPS provides.

600 Votes

My mother had a bill to mail, everything was in the envelope and it was stamped. Some time after 6pm, I walked down to the blue collection box and mailed it. She didn't seal the envelope. Can I ask the carrier to open the box and find the envelope?

Asked by L.Williams about 10 years ago

You may certainly ask a carrier to open the collection box, but I don't know if they will. I don't even have keys to open one of those boxes so it's possible the carrier you ask won't have access to the collection box. If you are able to have a carrier open the box, if there is a lot of mail in there, I don't know that they will take the time to go through it to find the bill you are looking for. Bring ID with you in case they want to match up the unsealed mail with your address. As I said, I don't know what response you will get from the letter carrier, but was just giving you some possibilities. It is also possible that the bill will get to the destination unsealed and all will be fine.

599 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 over 10 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.

599 Votes

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I just moved from my Mother's house. Last Sunday she left a bag with my mail, including a paycheck, and a banana bread in her mailbox. I was sick that day and didn't pick it up. When I saw her this weekend we figured out that P.O took my stuff .
WTF?

Asked by Hungry For Bread about 10 years ago

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.

599 Votes

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 9 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.

598 Votes

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Asked by jennifervasquez577 over 10 years ago

I probably should have just deleted this question for being non-pertinent to the job of a mailman but I prefer not to delete any questions posted here. My request would be for people not to post a question here that is not germane to the profession of Mailman. Thank you.

598 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

At times I am working in my lawn and I see the mailman drive up. She always gets my mail in her hands, then once she sees me in the lawn she drives away and holds the mail until tomorrow (when I am inside). Is that a problem?

do mailmen carry flat rate boxes and envelopes on their vehicles for people who need them along the route?

My mother had a bill to mail, everything was in the envelope and it was stamped. Some time after 6pm, I walked down to the blue collection box and mailed it. She didn't seal the envelope. Can I ask the carrier to open the box and find the envelope?

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?

Also on Jobstr...

I just moved from my Mother's house. Last Sunday she left a bag with my mail, including a paycheck, and a banana bread in her mailbox. I was sick that day and didn't pick it up. When I saw her this weekend we figured out that P.O took my stuff .
WTF?

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?

Nowadays students are depending <a href="http://essayacademia.com/perfect-term-papers.php">term paper writing service</a> for their tasks. Can we trust them?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

At times I am working in my lawn and I see the mailman drive up. She always gets my mail in her hands, then once she sees me in the lawn she drives away and holds the mail until tomorrow (when I am inside). Is that a problem?

do mailmen carry flat rate boxes and envelopes on their vehicles for people who need them along the route?

My mother had a bill to mail, everything was in the envelope and it was stamped. Some time after 6pm, I walked down to the blue collection box and mailed it. She didn't seal the envelope. Can I ask the carrier to open the box and find the envelope?

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?

Also on Jobstr...

I just moved from my Mother's house. Last Sunday she left a bag with my mail, including a paycheck, and a banana bread in her mailbox. I was sick that day and didn't pick it up. When I saw her this weekend we figured out that P.O took my stuff .WTF?

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?

Nowadays students are depending <a href="http://essayacademia.com/perfect-term-papers.php">term paper writing service</a> for their tasks. Can we trust them?

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I just moved from my Mother's house. Last Sunday she left a bag with my mail, including a paycheck, and a banana bread in her mailbox. I was sick that day and didn't pick it up. When I saw her this weekend we figured out that P.O took my stuff .
WTF?