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.
Do you mean that the marking was "insufficient postage", not "insufficient packaging". If it was "insufficient postage", I'm pretty sure you would just have to pay the difference between the Parcel Select rate and the Priority Mail rate. What I'm not sure about is how you get credit for an already purchased postage label, if that's even possible. If you took this to the PO for some type of resolution, I question whether all of the clerks would know how to adjust the rate properly as the ability, care, and training of the SSAs (sales and service associates) seems to vary widely. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20sent%20an%20item%20in%20a%20Priority%20Mailing%20envelope%2C%20but%20the%20label%20I%20purchased%20online%20via%20PayPal%20was%20for%20Parcel%20Select.%20%20It%20was%20returned%20to%20me%20as%20%22insufficient%20packaging%22.%20%20Does%20this%20mean%20I%20have%20to%20pay%20all%20that%20postage%20again%3F%20%20Thanks%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13103)
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)
Candy, I'm not sure whether or not you will get the mail you are looking for. It depends on how well the letter carrier knows the names that are in the apt. building, the size of the apt. buidling (if it's a very large building, they may not be able to see all of the names on any directory), if they can clearly see who belongs in each apt, and if the regular carrier is working that day. Some carriers will treat a wrong apt. # the same as if the letter was mailed to a wrong address and either deliver it as addressed (to the wrong apt. # in your case) or return it to the sender. There is no clear cut answer as to what will happen to your mail. There are so many inconsistencies at this job that I can't predict what someone else may do. Also, if it's not the regular letter carrier working on the day your mail arrives and they aren't familiar with the apt. #'s/names, they may just deliver the mail to the apt. # written on the piece of mail. In that case, maybe the tenant who receives it will get the piece of mail to you.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20supposed%20to%20be%20getting%20mail%20from%20somewhere%20but%20I%20see%20that%20they%20have%20the%20wrong%20apartment%20number%20for%20me...is%20this%20a%20problem%20if%20my%20name%20is%20on%20the%20mail%20and%20obviously%20my%20mailbox%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13584)
I am appalled by this story and others I've heard on this message board about strange things happening to the mail which are set in motion by people who have no right to do so. I hope that you will start to receive your mail soon. I don't know what happened to the undelivered mail. It's possible that the letter carrier submitted a "Moved Left No Address" form which would have your mail returned to the sender. Once this MLNA is canceled no mail will be returned to the sender and service should resume normally. Why would your neighbor do this to you and have you approached them about this? I'm not sure if a neighbor told me someone moved I would take their word for it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20mailman%20was%20told%20I%20moved%20by%20a%20neighbor.%20However%2C%20I%20have%20not%20moved%20and%20have%20not%20received%20mail%20for%20two%20weeks.%20In%20a%20case%20like%20this%20what%20happens%20to%20my%20mail%20and%20how%20can%20I%20get%20my%20missed%20deliveries%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13841)
Auto Mechanic
What car brands are most/least likely to end up in the shop?
Day Care Provider
Is it ok w/your employer if you babysit one of the kids outside of daycare hours?
Nail Technician
How sanitary are the pedicure basins really?
Funny, I had never noticed that to be the case! Just kidding. There is a very important reason the steering wheel is on the right hand side (as one is facing forward). I drive one of these vehicles. They are commonly known as LLV (long life vehicles), Jeeps, or other names. The reason for this configuration is because many mail routes have mailboxes at the street end of a driveway where a mail vehicle can drive right up to it and the letter carrier can put the mail in the box without having to leave his seat. They can just stick their right arm out of the window. On the left side of the letter carrier (where a regular vehicle would have the steering wheel) is a large metal tray where the letter carrier organizes the mail for delivery. This method of delivery is found more commonly in suburban or rural environments. I drive an LLV, and even though the route I deliver has no mailboxes at the end of a driveway (they are mostly by a front door or garage), it is safer for me to exit the vehicle on the right side instead of what is possibly moving traffic. It only took a short time to get used to driving this configuration and it seems none of my co-workers have much of a problem either. You just have to be careful of blind spots and when backing up, not unlike any conventional vehicle. You asked a great question and I may have given you more than you asked for but I hoped it helped Jeff.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Why%20is%20the%20steering%20wheel%20for%20the%20mail%20truck%20on%20the%20other%20side%20aka%20the%20passenger%20side%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12575)
Rob F., the main customer service rep phone # for the USPS is 800-275-8777. Please advise them that you are having a delivery issue at your apt. building. They will likely just forward the comment/complaint to your delivery PO and I'm not sure what will happen from there. I'd hope that you would either see the mail service resume or get an explanation as to why the mail delivery has stopped to your unit when you are residing there. Is there any construction going on at your building that would restrict access to the mailboxes which I presume are located in the entry vestibule area of the apt. building. You could also leave a note in your mailbox explaining that you reside in the building in a specific apt. and you should be receiving mail. I don't know why mail delivery would be suspended form your building or just you with no clear explanation.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20Midtown%20West%2C%20in%20an%20apartment%20building%20with%2010%20units.%20When%20I%20first%20moved%20in%2C%20I%20received%20mail%2C%20but%20about%20one%20month%20later%2C%20my%20mail%20delivery%20stopped.%20When%20I%27ve%20called%20to%20PO%2C%20mail%20delivery%20resumes%20for%20a%20few%20weeks%20but%20then%20stops.%20Help%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13977)
I am not sure how you would get the full name of your postman. I read that he won't give you his last name. I have no idea whether or not he has any obligation to do so. I gladly would give it out, if asked. It is also on my ID badge that I wear. I feel that it should be available to the public, but I am sure you will find great disagreement among my colleagues. If you were to call the PO and ask them, I have a feeling they wouldn't give it to you either. Some people get very private about certain matters, yet they will join Facebook and broadcast a lot about their personal lives. That's about all of the insight I have on this subject. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20do%20i%20get%20the%20full%20name%20of%20my%20postman%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12849)
-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
