Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Saw the post about disgruntled workers, and was wondering, aren't disabled vets given a higher score on the test? Maybe some had PTS or something?

Asked by Kathyc over 10 years ago

Disgruntled workers abound at the USPS but I can't say it's better or worse than other companies. I don't feel that our immediate supervisors and our postmaster are that kind to us but I'm sure it could be a lot worse. Overall our union has done a good job protecting our work rights and negotiating for a fair wage and benefits, but you will have complainers and unhappy workers no matter what. Years ago, veterans were given 5 pts preference on Federal Civil Service exams and 10 pts if you were a disabled veteran. I don't know if that still applies and if it also is in effect for exams at other levels of government. It's hard to say what makes a veteran disabled, but I'm sure Post Traumatic Stress Disorder qualifies in certain cases. Thanks for writing.

623 Votes

I have a rural route, a mailbox at the highway. My mailman drove into my yard, threw my package (ATV battery) out of his vehicle towards my porch, damaging it, got stuck in yard, trenching it up bad. What can/should I do about this? Thank You.

Asked by Bill almost 10 years ago

I don't know what to tell you about this with regards to what you should do. You could file a complaint/written letter to the PO claiming financial damage by the rural letter carrier, possibly including the ATV battery damage as well. I don't know how this claims process works at all with respect to any damage caused by the USPS or of an item shipped via USPS. It sounds to me that maybe the carrier shouldn't have driven into your yard to throw the battery near your porch. I don't know the rules about package deliveries on a rural route. In one way, it's good they tried to deliver a package that wouldn't fit in the RR mailbox at the highway. A possible negative is that your yard became damaged due to this. I wish you well but I don't know what type of satisfaction you'll get from the USPS. I don't have a lot of faith in their bureaucracy or claims process. I hope to be proven wrong.

623 Votes

Dave..when you are called to help on a new to you route, do they train you on that route? I hopefully will be a rural carrier soon but are not familiar will all the roads in other towns.

Asked by Jimk about 11 years ago

When I am asked to fill in for other neighborhoods or parts of of other routes we aren't usually trained on that route. We are often just given a map and sometimes some notes about the route, such as park points, or which parts of the route we can deliver right from our postal vehicle (rural routes are almost always delivered from a vehicle and not walking routes with a mail satchel.) When I was first hired, I went out for a few days with a carrier who showed me how to deliver the mail, but we were on their route and that didn't train us for the specifics of doing another postal route. Do you have a smart phone with a GPS application or an atlas/map you could use? That would be my advice, but the mgmt, or another carrier should at least give you some basic notes about what you are being asked to deliver, especially if there are some mailboxes/streets which aren't so easy to find. You do learn a lot on this job by actually doing it, but that doesn't make it any easier at the beginning. I wish you well JimK.

623 Votes

Hi good day, I had bought an item on eBay however it was delivered to the wrong zip code. Made a report at usps, will I actually get the package or I will have to deem it as lost?

Asked by Jessey over 10 years ago

You may want to give it some time if it is a recent occurrence. If the sender put the correct ZIP code on the package, but the USPS delivered it incorrectly, it may wind up being delivered to you. If there was an incorrecr ZIP code on the package and the USPS can't find the proper address, the package could be returned to the sender. It is hard to say what will actually happen to your package that was ordered or what the USPS response will be, if any.

622 Votes

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Good Morning.
My mail box is a slot in front door. Up until 3 months ago, there was never a problem with delivering my mail there. Now my mailman has told me I have to have my mail box in the back, so that he doesn't have to walk up my steps.

Asked by Matt over 10 years ago

Matt, I am not familar with any real details about where a mailbox has to be with regards to steps. I just know that the box needs to be accessible to the letter carrier. I have never heard anything about steps being an issue. You may call the post office to ask if there is any regulation about the placement of a mailbox or mail slot. If they give you an answer that seems like it is made up, you may ask to see where this regulation is in writing or ask for the number to the regional or area office that oversees your local post office. Without having any more information than what you provided me, I'd say that the request by the mailman is invalid, but I just want to reiterate that I'm no authority on all of the rules on this subject. Thank you for writing.

621 Votes

If a certified letter goes unclaimed and is returned to sender (me), is that proof that the person does actually live there? Would a mail carrier actually deliver the letter to that address if he knew the names didn't match?

Asked by Carla over 10 years ago

If a certified letter is mailed and goes unclaimed and is returned to the sender, I don't believe it proves much except that the sender tried contacting a certain recipient. The addressee may or may not live where you sent the certified mail. They might choose not to be available when delivery is attempted and then not claim the letter later on. I believe the letter is returned to the sender 15 days after the initial delivery attempt. Regarding the second question, if a letter carrier is conscientious and knows the names that belong to a certain address, they might only deliver those names. If I'm not sure a name matches an address, I often leave the letter at the address on the envelope and write a question mark next to the name to indicate I'm not sure this letter belongs to that address. I think this is the logical procedure but don't know what the official procedure is, if any. Thanks for writing.

620 Votes

Also, if you can't apply in another state without being there, would it be easier to move and try to get the job there, or get a job in Kansas and then relocate? So I guess I'm asking if job transfers can be performed and you choose the location?

Asked by jadrian almost 11 years ago

Job transfers are definitely allowed once you are employed in a certain location. I don't know the amount of time you have to have been in one location before transfering to another location. You probably also have to NOT be on probation or have any current disciplinary issues. Good luck to you.

620 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Saw the post about disgruntled workers, and was wondering, aren't disabled vets given a higher score on the test? Maybe some had PTS or something?

I have a rural route, a mailbox at the highway. My mailman drove into my yard, threw my package (ATV battery) out of his vehicle towards my porch, damaging it, got stuck in yard, trenching it up bad. What can/should I do about this? Thank You.

Dave..when you are called to help on a new to you route, do they train you on that route? I hopefully will be a rural carrier soon but are not familiar will all the roads in other towns.

Hi good day, I had bought an item on eBay however it was delivered to the wrong zip code. Made a report at usps, will I actually get the package or I will have to deem it as lost?

Also on Jobstr...

Good Morning.
My mail box is a slot in front door. Up until 3 months ago, there was never a problem with delivering my mail there. Now my mailman has told me I have to have my mail box in the back, so that he doesn't have to walk up my steps.

If a certified letter goes unclaimed and is returned to sender (me), is that proof that the person does actually live there? Would a mail carrier actually deliver the letter to that address if he knew the names didn't match?

Also, if you can't apply in another state without being there, would it be easier to move and try to get the job there, or get a job in Kansas and then relocate? So I guess I'm asking if job transfers can be performed and you choose the location?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Saw the post about disgruntled workers, and was wondering, aren't disabled vets given a higher score on the test? Maybe some had PTS or something?

I have a rural route, a mailbox at the highway. My mailman drove into my yard, threw my package (ATV battery) out of his vehicle towards my porch, damaging it, got stuck in yard, trenching it up bad. What can/should I do about this? Thank You.

Dave..when you are called to help on a new to you route, do they train you on that route? I hopefully will be a rural carrier soon but are not familiar will all the roads in other towns.

Hi good day, I had bought an item on eBay however it was delivered to the wrong zip code. Made a report at usps, will I actually get the package or I will have to deem it as lost?

Also on Jobstr...

Good Morning.My mail box is a slot in front door. Up until 3 months ago, there was never a problem with delivering my mail there. Now my mailman has told me I have to have my mail box in the back, so that he doesn't have to walk up my steps.

If a certified letter goes unclaimed and is returned to sender (me), is that proof that the person does actually live there? Would a mail carrier actually deliver the letter to that address if he knew the names didn't match?

Also, if you can't apply in another state without being there, would it be easier to move and try to get the job there, or get a job in Kansas and then relocate? So I guess I'm asking if job transfers can be performed and you choose the location?

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Good Morning.
My mail box is a slot in front door. Up until 3 months ago, there was never a problem with delivering my mail there. Now my mailman has told me I have to have my mail box in the back, so that he doesn't have to walk up my steps.