Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

How long does it take to receive an orientation email? I've completed all steps and was told that it take 7-14 days. I am now on 14 days and I am still waiting on email for orientation.

Asked by Glo almost 11 years ago

I don't know anything about the orientation process and how long it takes to get an orientation email. I do hope you get something soon. Good luck to you!

639 Votes

If someone mailed me something with the correct address, city, and state, but wrong zip code. What will most likely happen??

Asked by Constance over 9 years ago

I think you will likely receive the item but there may be a delay of several days. The letter will first likely go to the PO that the ZIP corresponds to. The clerks at that office would then need to send the letter back to a central mail facility where it might be manually corrected (the proper ZIP being researched and put on the envelope) and then continue to the intended destination. I'm not sure I have the procedure correct. It's also possible the letter could be returned to the sender with the endorsement of "No Such Street in this ZIP code" but I've never seen that before.

639 Votes

With parcel deliveries becoming so ubiquitous thanks to internet shopping, I have often thought that a mailbox similar to the USPS blue mailboxes might be a good and secure way to delivering parcels. Do you know how these actually work?

Asked by David over 10 years ago

David, you are correct about parcel delivery becoming ubiquitous. When I started at the USPS in 1998, there was so much actual mail to be sorted and delivered with only a few parcels. The pendulum is definitely swinging the other way and I truly can envision a time where mail becomes very insignificant compared to parcel delivery. Right now, we seem to have a fair amount of both. In developments that have cluster delivery boxes (usually apartment buildings or condominium complexes) or in a PO lobby we do use parcel lockers. I don't know how it would work with having boxes on the street similar to the USPS collection boxes used today. Currently the parcel lockers work this way---If a customer has a package to large to fit in their regular delivery receptacle, the carrier will put the package in the parcel locker, lock it with a key they have and put a separate specific parcel locker key in the regular receptacle of the parcel recipient. When the postal customer goes to retrieve their mail, they will see the parcel locker key and use that key in a specified parcel locker. Once they insert the key and turn it, that key stays in the lock, the locker opens and the customer retrieves their parcel. It is a very efficient system as opposed to going to the door of a customer (in a centralized delivery environment) to just use the parcel lockers.

638 Votes

I know my paycheck is at post office, I need for an emergency, it's Saturday night at 6:10 pm. Is there any possible way to get it before monday?

Asked by kidsrhungry almost 11 years ago

I'm sorry but it's unlikely that you would be able to get your paycheck before regular mail delivery on Monday. It is likely that your post office closed and may not have anybody there until early on Monday AM. Even on Monday AM, it's not likely that your mail will be available (or that you'd find anybody willing or allowed to help). I don't know where your post office is so I can't speak to the specifics of your situation. I am just speaking in generalities of what I think would be the situation at most post offices. My question to you is: How do you know your pay check is at the post office? Most post offices deliver whatever mail has arrived on the same day that it arrives. What I mean is that mail that is processed overnight at a regional sorting facility arrives at our local post office by apprx 730AM and then is all sent out for delivery the same day it arrives. Do you have a PO Box where the paycheck would be and your local post office has restricted hours for access (i.e. not a 24 hour lobby).

638 Votes

Can u become a mailman right out of highschool, are arm tattoos unwanted and if you can join right out of high school what is the likely chance you get hired if u do well on the tests. (Heard someone must retire so u can recieve job if no vacancies)

Asked by Pablo over 10 years ago

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.

638 Votes

Hey mailman, thank you for this blog! I am going for my interview for CCA. What comes after the interview and how long is the process? I am in NY as well. Thanks

Asked by I cant wait! about 10 years ago

I'm glad you like this blog. It's my pleasure to help where I can and I have a great appreciation for those who do podcasts or other websites just for fun. Their time commitments are impressive given the work it takes to maintain a blog or a website. Since I have no experience with the CCA hiring process, I can't give you any hard facts about how long the process takes. Congratulations on getting an interview. There will likely be a drug test and medical exam if you haven't gone through that process already. I imagine it would only be 1-2 months after that to be notified if you will be hired. There are about 6 CCAs in the office where I work but there is a solid turnover among them. It's not the job for everyone. It's physically demanding, pay for CCAs isn't great ($16.50/hr Apprx) and you aren't always treated that well. I still recommend it if you get hired because long-term it has proven to be a great career for me. I wish you well and have a positive attitude.

638 Votes

I'm 32 and have been a city letter carrier for seven years now. I've become very unsatisfied by the job. I just don't want to deal with the bad new england winters and the physical nature of the job anymore. Have you ever felt this way?

Asked by JD over 10 years ago

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.

638 Votes

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How long does it take to receive an orientation email? I've completed all steps and was told that it take 7-14 days. I am now on 14 days and I am still waiting on email for orientation.

If someone mailed me something with the correct address, city, and state, but wrong zip code. What will most likely happen??

With parcel deliveries becoming so ubiquitous thanks to internet shopping, I have often thought that a mailbox similar to the USPS blue mailboxes might be a good and secure way to delivering parcels. Do you know how these actually work?

I know my paycheck is at post office, I need for an emergency, it's Saturday night at 6:10 pm. Is there any possible way to get it before monday?

Also on Jobstr...

Can u become a mailman right out of highschool, are arm tattoos unwanted and if you can join right out of high school what is the likely chance you get hired if u do well on the tests. (Heard someone must retire so u can recieve job if no vacancies)

Hey mailman, thank you for this blog! I am going for my interview for CCA. What comes after the interview and how long is the process? I am in NY as well. Thanks

I'm 32 and have been a city letter carrier for seven years now. I've become very unsatisfied by the job. I just don't want to deal with the bad new england winters and the physical nature of the job anymore. Have you ever felt this way?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How long does it take to receive an orientation email? I've completed all steps and was told that it take 7-14 days. I am now on 14 days and I am still waiting on email for orientation.

If someone mailed me something with the correct address, city, and state, but wrong zip code. What will most likely happen??

With parcel deliveries becoming so ubiquitous thanks to internet shopping, I have often thought that a mailbox similar to the USPS blue mailboxes might be a good and secure way to delivering parcels. Do you know how these actually work?

I know my paycheck is at post office, I need for an emergency, it's Saturday night at 6:10 pm. Is there any possible way to get it before monday?

Also on Jobstr...

Can u become a mailman right out of highschool, are arm tattoos unwanted and if you can join right out of high school what is the likely chance you get hired if u do well on the tests. (Heard someone must retire so u can recieve job if no vacancies)

Hey mailman, thank you for this blog! I am going for my interview for CCA. What comes after the interview and how long is the process? I am in NY as well. Thanks

I'm 32 and have been a city letter carrier for seven years now. I've become very unsatisfied by the job. I just don't want to deal with the bad new england winters and the physical nature of the job anymore. Have you ever felt this way?

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