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.
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Also%2C%20if%20you%20can%27t%20apply%20in%20another%20state%20without%20being%20there%2C%20would%20it%20be%20easier%20to%20move%20and%20try%20to%20get%20the%20job%20there%2C%20or%20get%20a%20job%20in%20Kansas%20and%20then%20relocate%3F%20So%20I%20guess%20I%27m%20asking%20if%20job%20transfers%20can%20be%20performed%20and%20you%20choose%20the%20location%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11313)
I am not really sure of the procedure that your letter carrier is supposed to follow if your specific mail slot becomes full. I understand that they probably didn't want to bring it back to the PO where it can be held usually up to 30 days before being sent back to the senders due to a full mailbox. The carrier probably felt that it was a safe environment to leave it in the junk cubby even though that area was possibly accessible to anybody. I hope that no mail was missing that you can tell. You made no mention of that so I presume you think it was all there. Technically the letter carrier should have been on the safe side and brought the mail back to the PO since you live in a multi-unit building, but I often have the "no harm, no foul" attitude meaning it's no big deal as long as nothing looks as if it was tampered with. I know that others will disagree with me on this comment. It is similar with packages to be delivered. In the area I work in, it seems to be a very safe suburban environment so parcels are left when nobody is home as long as there is no signature required. In other areas where mail/package theft may be an issue the USPS may require somebody at an address in order to release a package.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20have%20been%20on%20vacation%20for%202%20weeks%20and%20forgot%20to%20put%20a%20hold%20on%20our%20mail.%20We%20live%20in%20an%20apt%2C%20so%20our%20mail%20slot%20is%20fairly%20small.%20We%20came%20back%20and%20found%20that%20our%20mail%20slot%20was%20full%20and%20some%20of%20our%20mail%20was%20left%20in%20the%20junk%20cubby%20underneath.%20Is%20that%20ok%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12421)
Mcmjuly, much thanks for your positive feedback. This is how I try to be in life as well. I want to be accurate, and not sensationalize any part of my job. I also try to answer promptly because I prefer not to have too much pending email. Maybe touches of OCD.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=This%20is%20just%20a%20comment%2C%20not%20a%20question.%20Thank%20you%20so%20much%20for%20taking%20the%20time%20to%20answer%20our%20questions%20so%20promptly%2C%20accurately%20and%20friendly.%20I%2C%20for%20one%2C%20really%20do%20appreciate%20your%20effort%21%20Cheers%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14262)
Great question and you are correct about having to use the bathroom during the course of the delivery day. We don't have a bathroom in the postal vehicle, though that would be a nice touch. When I need to use a bathroom, I usually drive to an office building, gas station, or library near the route where I deliver. I also deliver mail to a dentist's office so I can use their toilet when the office is open. The next method some will find gross, but I wouldn't necessarily agree. Some males carry around bottles with them and will discreetly urinate in them and then dump out the contents when they get a chance. It's pretty easy to do in the environment I work as there aren't many people around and one can go inside the back of the postal vehicle for privacy. It's also a good idea to carry hand sanitizer or handi-wipes for use after urinating. As far as what woman do, I'm pretty sure it's not that simple and they must usually find a facility to use.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20a%20bathroom%20on%20your%20mail%20truck%3F%20I%20mean%20with%20a%20full%20day%20of%20work%20don%27t%20you%20have%20to%20go%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14901)
CPR Trainer
Just how effective is the Heimlich, really?
Toymaker
With all the high-tech kids toys, is there still a demand for traditional ones?
Tattoo Artist
Is it illegal to tattoo a client if he's drunk?
Nicolette, I am not sure why the mailman would have done so if there was no mail for William. The reason I would do something similar is if I had a piece of mail for a surname that I wasn't familiar with and wanted to ask the resident if this name received mail at this address. More often than not, however, I will just put a question mark next to the name on the envelope that I'm not sure is valid at a particular address. If the name is invalid, the residents at that address might then leave the letter out the next day written on it "person doesn't live here" and then it will be returned to the sender "attempted, not known." Thanks for the question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Our%20mailman%20brought%20our%20mail%20to%20the%20door%20%28%20which%20he%20never%20has%20done%20before%20%29%20and%20asked%20if%20%22William%22%20lived%20here.%20There%20was%20no%20mail%20for%20%22William%22%20so%20I%27m%20curious%20as%20to%20why%20all%20of%20this%20happened&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12465)
If this is actually taking place, I believe that it is wrong to do. Are you getting the information online by using a tracking number and the status says "attempted delivery"? I have heard of what you are claiming but don't know of anybody who personally has done that. If it happens repeatedly I would make a complaint with the USPS, either locally or through their 800 number. Is it possible that you just didn't hear the knock on the door or the doorbell. By no means am I disputing what you are saying, but I hope that this is not a common occurrence or widespread since it is misrepresenting what is actually happening with that package.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20seen%20postal%20service%20workers%20leave%20notes%20saying%20that%20they%20attempted%20to%20deliver%20a%20package%20and%20no%20one%20was%20home.%20But%20i%20was%20home%20and%20they%20did%20not%20attempt%20it.%20Why%20are%20they%20doing%20this%3F%20they%20didn%27t%20have%20any%20other%20mail%20on%20them.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12132)
Kris, that is a very good question that I don't have the answer to. I follow a general rule that somebody has paid to have mail sent and delivered so there isn't any way for us to pick and choose what type of mail to deliver. It all gets delivered and I rarely if ever have anyone refuse the ads or other unwanted mail. I would just ask that you recycle the unwanted mail. I am very glad that none of the patrons I deliver to refuse some mail, as our job is to provide a paid service to the mailers. I do agree that much of what is delivered often is of no interest to the recipient (including mail that I receive), but I just recycle it. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20a%20note%20or%20symbol%20I%20can%20leave%20on%20my%20mail%20box%20in%20order%20to%20not%20receive%20advertisements%20and%20other%20unwanted%20mail%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12965)
-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
