Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

If I put a forever stamp to an international letter, will USPS return to my the letter?

Asked by May over 11 years ago

There is a good chance that the letter may actually continue to its destination without being returned. I find the USPS very poor in catching items mailed with insufficient postage. I try to capture it because that is our source of revenue and how we stay in business. I hate the "I don't care attitude" that I perceive in some co-workers. I'm sure this is common in many professions. But, to answer your question, a Forever stamp is currently valued at .49 . The minimum rate for an international letter is  $1.15 but it varies by country of destination. If you don't receive the letter back within a week or so, I'd suspect that it will make it to the destination. Please always remember to include a return address, though I suspect you did. Thank you for writing.

Is there a note or symbol I can leave on my mail box in order to not receive advertisements and other unwanted mail?

Asked by kris over 11 years ago

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. 

Is there a bathroom on your mail truck? I mean with a full day of work don't you have to go?

Asked by Sally almost 11 years ago

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.

This is just a comment, not a question. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions so promptly, accurately and friendly. I, for one, really do appreciate your effort! Cheers!

Asked by mcmjuly about 11 years ago

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.

If the mailman/lady who delivers mail to my apartment building residence does not have a key to the building for whatever reason when I know they should, rings a bell until is let in. My question is, if they mailman/lady was unsuccessful getting into the building, how long are they allowed to wait before leaving and not delivering the mail?

Asked by Sam over 10 years ago

Sam,

The following is the exact "copy and paste" of the answer I posted to your previous q which was similarly worded:

Sam, I don't know the answer to this but the letter carrier should have access to the building or mailboxes somehow without having to ring doorbells. Maybe in this case it was a one-time occurrence but even then they should have returned with some means of access or called the PO to advise them why they couldn't make a delivery to a building. I don't know of any specific time frame they'd have to wait before moving on to their next delivery. I think a couple of minutes is sufficient, especially if they are ringing multiple doorbells and getting zero response.

I have seen postal service workers leave notes saying that they attempted to deliver a package and no one was home. But i was home and they did not attempt it. Why are they doing this? they didn't have any other mail on them.

Asked by scoobs over 11 years ago

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.

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 over 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.