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.
Pablo, you can definitely have tattoos (visible or not) to be a letter carrier. Co-workers have had them since I have started working at the USPS 15 years ago. You can be hired with only a HS diploma if you do well on the test. It isn't true that you have to wait until someone retires before being hired. To become a full time employee this may be true but new hires are CCA which is City Carrier Assistant which is position requiring your flexibility in work hours and no guarantee of more than a few hours per week. I don't know the exact number of hours and the CCAs where I work have plenty of hours to work, including some Sundays delivering parcels.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20u%20become%20a%20mailman%20right%20out%20of%20highschool%2C%20are%20arm%20tattoos%20unwanted%20and%20if%20you%20can%20join%20right%20out%20of%20high%20school%20what%20is%20the%20likely%20chance%20you%20get%20hired%20if%20u%20do%20well%20on%20the%20tests.%20%28Heard%20someone%20must%20retire%20so%20u%20can%20recieve%20job%20if%20no%20vacancies%29&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13683)
I would guess about 2 weeks if you were to get it back at all. Theoretically if you sent it to the wrong address and it was delivered there, it is conceivable that the recipient may not return the letter to the mail carrier even though they should. If you sent the letter to an address that doesn't exist, the item should be returned with the endorsement "No Such Street" or "No Such Number". I am just not sure of the actual time frame it would take for it to get back to you. It may depend on the workload of the nixie (not deliverable mail) at the destination PO. Thanks for your inquiry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20sent%20a%20letter%20to%20the%20wrong%20address%2C%20or%20address%20that%20doesn%27t%20exist%2C%20how%20long%20would%20it%20take%2C%20approximately%2C%20for%20me%20to%20receive%20it%20back%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12473)
JD, good job for sticking with it for 7 years so far. There are many people who couldn't handle even one NE winter. I have trouble myself with the very cold weather, plus snow, and ice. The LLVs are horrible with snow in handling especially on any inclines. I have felt the way you have several times, and I have also felt the opposite as well (meaning I love the career). I admit it is difficult at times when you aren't feeling satisfied to stick with this career. Here is my advice, but keep in mind I don't know your personal living/financial situation. Being a city carrier and making apprx $50K+ a year seems to be a decent salary with benefits and union protections. I know it's a physically hard job, but you could apply to transfer to a less harsh area climate wise. My parents have been a big influence on me when I was on the verge of resigning on a few occasions. They said that it won't be easy to find a similar paying job without any special skills. I've also had to seek professional help in the past couple of years which has been worthwhile. This is probably more information then you want to know but as of now I am glad that I didn't go through with the rash decision of quitting the USPS. Have you thought about switching to the clerk craft? Would you rather maybe work inside as a Sales and Service Associate? There are pros and cons to that as well. I do feel bad for anybody who is unhappy with their position, but am hopeful they can stick with it and maybe their feelings will change for the better. I would have a very hard time working too long if I weren't satisfied at the position. Please try to keep your head up and dress appropriately for the weather. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27m%2032%20and%20have%20been%20a%20city%20letter%20carrier%20for%20seven%20years%20now.%20I%27ve%20become%20very%20unsatisfied%20by%20the%20job.%20I%20just%20don%27t%20want%20to%20deal%20with%20the%20bad%20new%20england%20winters%20and%20the%20physical%20nature%20of%20the%20job%20anymore.%20Have%20you%20ever%20felt%20this%20way%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13014)
Youre welcome. I try to give put proper information and not make up something if I don't know the answer (which I have learned on this website is actually many things.) The TV preachers don't get free postage at all, nor does any non-profit organization. These charities or organized religions register with the IRS as non-profits and then can mail with the USPS at a reduced rate. These mailings have to be prepared in a certain way and be in a certain quantity. Also, these mailings aren't given any preferential treatment as a first-class letter or magazine would be given. It is true that many non-profits (including the TV preachers you speak of) are known to make plent if money, have high cost structures and pay plenty of money to those at the top. The USPS doesn't judge that when issuing a non-profit mailing permit. They just look for the proper paperwork to be a non-profit and also make sure the mailings are prepared accordingly. Thank you for that thought-provoking question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Thanks%20for%20that%20answer%21%20And%20while%20i%27m%20here%2Calso%20wondering%20how%20some%20VERY%20profitable%20tv%20preachers%20can%20mail%20with%20free%20postage%20under%20%22non-profit%20organization%22%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12811)
Physical Therapist
What's the most dramatic "before-and-after" improvement you've ever seen with a patient?
McDonald's Manager
Did you have to deal with a lot of disrespectful customers? What would they say?
Dating Website Employee
What are the most common mistakes guys make on out their profiles?
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)
I would think that it is fine to put outgoing mail in your mailbox with the flag up even though those who share the mailbox with you haven't picked up their mail. The suggestion I would have would be to push their uncollected mail towards the back and your outgoing mail clearly visible towards the front of the box so the letter carrier can easily tell the difference. Hopefully that will work out acceptably for everyone.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20put%20outgoing%20mail%20in%20my%20mailbox%20with%20the%20flag%20up%20if%20there%20is%20still%20mail%20in%20it%20that%20hasn%27t%20been%20picked%20up%3F%20%20The%20people%20I%20share%20a%20mailbox%20with%20are%20slow%20to%20collect%20their%20mail%20but%20I%20feel%20it%20might%20be%20rude%20to%20remove%20it%20just%20so%20I%20can%20mail%20something%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13090)
Deedee, I don't know the minimum requirements for taking the USPS carrier exam, but I do think you will need one to actually get hired. I would look on the USPS employment website to see if there is any information on it as to when you need to have a driver license. All city carriers where I work drive postal vehicles and therefore need a driver license. Good luck and thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Will%20I%20be%20disqualified%20for%20employment%20if%20I%20don%27t%20have%20a%20valid%20drivers%20license%20when%20I%20take%20the%20exam&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14125)
-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
