Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

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 about 11 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.

727 Votes

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

Asked by May about 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.

727 Votes

Hey is it the same as australian post office. i want to send my friend a bday card.. She lives in the same state same city haha and i want to know how long it would take to deliver so that i can post it like 2 days before and then arrives on her bday

Asked by Jono almost 12 years ago

Sorry to say that we can't guarantee arrival of a birthday card on a specific date when mailed via regular class mail. We do, however, have a decent record of getting most letters delivered the next day when mailed from the same city, and 2-3 days when mailed from further away. To play it safe I'd mail the card 2 days in advance and, if you prefer, you can write "Do Not Open Until Your Birthday" on the outside of it. You are a thoughtful friend. Good Luck!

726 Votes

I recall going around my neighborhood when I was 6 with some friends pilfering Mailboxes with really no idea of what we were doing. How does it work for the mailman afterward? (We ended up returning it all but I'm curious)

Asked by Aila about 11 years ago

You bad bad person Aila! Seeing that you were just 6 years old and you returned it all, there are worse crimes you could have committed. I am glad you know by now not to touch any mail or mailboxes that aren't yours. It is horrible to think of mail being taken out of mailboxes illegally. I consider it sacred, even if, in all honesty, it's not so important to a lot of people today and has been replaced a lot by technology. With regard to how it works for mailmen, I'm not sure what you mean. I have never been involved with a mail theft incident during my career. If I did I would likely tell my supervisor about it and follow their directives. Thanks for writing And stay away from those mailboxes ;-)

725 Votes

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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.

725 Votes

Okay if im standing around my house i was throwing a bass ball im waiting for a package the mail truck drives to my mail box looks at me then drives away is tht allowed?..

Asked by Jake from state farm over 11 years ago

Hello Jake. I don't think the mail truck should have driven away from you if they actually had the package. Do you know if the mail truck actually had the package for you to be delivered? The only reason that the mail truck should have just driven away is if it somehow felt that it was dangerous to deliver the package to your house. I don't think that throwing a baseball around is reason enough not to attempt to deliver a package.

724 Votes

Hi! Do you know if I am obligated to retrieve my mail -- (which consists entirely of trash for me to dispose of) -- from my mailbox? What if I just leave it, and never attempt to retrieve it?

Asked by hexadecimal about 11 years ago

I don't believe you have any obligation ever to retrieve your mail. After awhile the mailbox will fill up and then the letter carrier will probably do the following: stop delivering any future mail and return any first class or periodical mail or mail sent by a mailer requesting return if undeliverable with the endorsement "Box Full". I have never encountered this situation but I understand people not caring about their mail deliveries these days especially when so much of it is advertising. Please be advised, however, that if your mailbox is full that you may not receive even one piece of mail that could be important. If you are so sure you don't want anything delivered by US Mail, then feel free to let your mailbox fill up or you could even take it down if you aren't a cluster box. I am sure this is a growing sentiment since most business and communication can be done electronically. Thanks for writing.

723 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

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

Hey is it the same as australian post office. i want to send my friend a bday card.. She lives in the same state same city haha and i want to know how long it would take to deliver so that i can post it like 2 days before and then arrives on her bday

I recall going around my neighborhood when I was 6 with some friends pilfering Mailboxes with really no idea of what we were doing. How does it work for the mailman afterward? (We ended up returning it all but I'm curious)

Also on Jobstr...

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.

Okay if im standing around my house i was throwing a bass ball im waiting for a package the mail truck drives to my mail box looks at me then drives away is tht allowed?..

Hi! Do you know if I am obligated to retrieve my mail -- (which consists entirely of trash for me to dispose of) -- from my mailbox? What if I just leave it, and never attempt to retrieve it?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

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

Hey is it the same as australian post office. i want to send my friend a bday card.. She lives in the same state same city haha and i want to know how long it would take to deliver so that i can post it like 2 days before and then arrives on her bday

I recall going around my neighborhood when I was 6 with some friends pilfering Mailboxes with really no idea of what we were doing. How does it work for the mailman afterward? (We ended up returning it all but I'm curious)

Also on Jobstr...

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.

Okay if im standing around my house i was throwing a bass ball im waiting for a package the mail truck drives to my mail box looks at me then drives away is tht allowed?..

Hi! Do you know if I am obligated to retrieve my mail -- (which consists entirely of trash for me to dispose of) -- from my mailbox? What if I just leave it, and never attempt to retrieve it?

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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.