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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1237 Questions

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Asked by Ella over 11 years ago

I am sorry that the item arrived empty, but I do understand why it shows as arrived delivered. If that package arrived on my route for delivery I would have scanned it "Visible Damage" as well as "Delivered". This would not result in any settlement or claim being paid, but would validate what you are saying. If the item was not insured, I don't believe there is anything that can be done. 

730 Votes

Is there any location (i.e. the postoffice) that the mail gets picked up more than once???

Asked by Heather D over 10 years ago

it depends on the community you live in. The blue collection boxes that you may see in your town are probably picked up 1-2 times per day. There is a sticker inside the box that has the collection times. At the actual post office, mail is often sent out more than once a day, but it really depends on the size and location of the post office. At the actual Post Office, there is usually a sign by the mail drop slot that tells the collection times or at least will tell you when the daily deadline is to have mail processed for that day.

730 Votes

Is being a mail carrier a good job for introverted people?

Do you ever get used to being out in the cold/wet weather?

Would you do another job if given the opportunity

Do you ever regret becoming a carrier?

Asked by Clint about 11 years ago

Clint, Thank you for 4 interesting questions.

 

1) I think that being a letter carrier is fine for all types of personalities. There is no requirement to talk to the customers as far as I know. I happen to be somewhat social and enjoy the interaction with my co-workers and customers, but some of my co-workers are very quiet, just come to work, deliver the mail, and don't say too much. I prefer them much more to people who don't know when to be quiet or talk entirely about themselves constantly.

 

2) Not really. The cold/wet weather doesn't bother some people, but I don't particularly like or get used to working in it. My advice is to learn to dress properly. That is VERY important because being wet and/or cold for hours is not somthing I get used to. The biggest problem I have dealing with is my hands being cold. The rest of your body you can cover up sufficiently in almost any weather. It is difficult for me to "finger the mail" if I'm wearing warm gloves on my hand, but I make do somehow and the climate I work in isn't known for lots of severe and cold weather, though it happens for sure.

 

3) Yes, but of course it depends on the type of job, pay, benefits, etc. The list of jobs I would take is probably much shorter than the ones I wouldn't take. For example, I wouldn't ever want to work in Food Service or Custodial Services.

 

4) No, I won't say that it is my dream job, but I'm glad that I wound up as a letter carrier and hope to be able to comfortably retire after working the required number of years. I've had some internal and external issues during my career (I won't get into details online), but in the long run it has been definitely a job I'm glad I chose. My father encouraged me to get into this career and I am glad he did seeing how secure it has been.

729 Votes

Can I give my mailman the key to a new lock mailbox I just bought? I live in a 3 family house and someone is stealing my mail.

Asked by LA almost 11 years ago

LA, it is awful that mail is being stolen. I don't know what good it will do, but I would recommend reporting that to your local post office or the Postal Inspectors. To answer your question, I don't know that a mailman would get involved with being responsible for a key to a private mailbox. If everyone on their route did that, how would they keep track of all of those keys? Furthermore, if that mailman was off/sick/vacation, how could you be sure that the replacement mailman would get the key? I just don't think it will be feasible or practical or possibly even allowed. Another option (though less convenient) would be to rent a PO Box which would definitely be secure.

726 Votes

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I know it's illegal to open someone else's mail, and I write return to sender on it, and send it back, but what if there is no return address? I would like to read and try to find out who sent it, and contact them, but the law won't let me. What do?

Asked by Not The Recipient over 11 years ago

In your example, I would write "addressee not known" and leave it out for the letter carrier to take back to the PO. Eventually the letter may wind up in the dead letter (Nixie) office where it may be opened and returned to the sender if it can be determined who should get it back or who it should be sent to. I personally wouldn't recommend opening the letter if you aren't the intended recipient. I understand your intentions are good, but I wouldn't want to get involved with someone else's first class mail.

726 Votes

Can a mail carrier close a mailbox in an office setting and return items to sender because the mailbox is full?

Asked by P-Fever about 11 years ago

I'm not sure what you mean by close a mailbox, whether if the door/lid is ajar or you mean permanently close it and return mail to the sender. I do know if a mailbox is full and the mail isn't claimed after awhile (not sure of the time frame), the letter carrier does have the option to return "overflow" mail to the senders with the endorsement on it saying "box full". Another option is that the mail can be put into a "hold" area in the post office with a note on top saying "box full" and waiting to see if the mailbox is emptied and then would deliver the mail being held at the post office. I don't know if one procedure is correct and the other isn't.  I haven't experienced it much (if at all) during my career.

726 Votes

Can a minor (17) pick up & sign for a package at the post office if it's addressed to them? Or is there a way to get the mailman to just leave the package without a signature? I'm tired of begging my parents to come sign & pick up for me. Thanks!

Asked by Ashley G about 11 years ago

I don't know the legal answer to this question at the post office. I think they may ask for identification but I'm not sure the you are required to be 18 years or older. As a letter carrier, I would deliver a package without a signature if the sender didn't request or pay for a signature and the item can be safely delivered to the addressee, which is simple for the route I deliver to because it it is all single family suburban residences.

726 Votes

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