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.
You should be able to scan the 3849 if you choose the attempted function. At least this is how it works on the older scanners. If the "delivered" function is chosen then the 3849 (reverse) is scanned. The only change I noticed recently was having to put the 3849 bar coded # in the scanner on the "attempted" function. This allows the recipient to just type in the 3849 # when requesting re delivery. It is an extra step but if you are a city carrier, time=money.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=to%20continue%20on%20the%20signature%20confirmations%2C%20its%20a%20hassle%20to%20have%20to%20deliver%20the%20package%20after%20the%20customer%20signs%20the%203849%2C%20sign%20in%20person%20or%20not%20sign%20in%20person%20is%20the%20question%2C%20now%20we%20have%20key%20in%20the%203849%20on%20certifieds&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14750)
I'm not sure why a mailman would want to refuse delivery to a rural mailbox if the lid is open. Most of the ones I see just have flip down lids which aren't secure or they have no lids at all and may have broken off over the years. I don't know the exact rules of what condition a rural mailbox must be in to receive mail. I suppose if the carrier felt the mail wasn't secure they could refuse delivery until the condition of the rural mailbox is rectified. I've never refused to deliver mail due to an open mailbox, but then again, I'd rather deliver the mail then have to bring it back to the PO and re-attempt delivery on a subsequent day. Thanks for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20a%20mailman%20refuse%20to%20deliver%20mail%20to%20a%20rural%20box%20if%20the%20box%20is%20open%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15020)
I usually will continue to deliver the mail as long as the mail can be sheltered from the rain and other elements and hope that the customer will fix the mailbox in a reasonable amount of time. Some letter carriers will not deliver the mail to a mailbox that has fallen to the ground or is broken in some way. I suppose that is their option. If the mail isn't being delivered, it is likely being held at the PO for a certain amt of time (I don't know how long). You can probably go and pick it up there as long as you present identification that matches your address and if the clerk can find the mail that is being held.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20you%20notice%20a%20broken%20mailbox%20what%20do%20you%20do%20with%20the%20mail%20and%20how%20do%20I%20get%20it%20as%20soon%20as%20possible&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15585)
It doesnt sound too common to me though it doesn't surprise me at all when I hear this story. If a carrier has an item that needs a signature or needs to be handed to someone personally then they should make an attempt to ring the bell or knock on the door. If you live in an area where snow or ice would prevent them from getting to your door then it is appropriate to leave the PS Form 3849 in your mailbox. Sometimes the carriers are too lazy or under a lot of time pressure to get done so they may cut corners when it's time consuming to go to one's door. This is not a legitimate excuse, but I'm not surprised by what happens. In my office we are pretty short staffed as of late and I see quite a bit of mail not getting delivered correctly or in a timely fashion. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me. The rough winter in the Northeastern US with a lot of snow, etc. doesn't help matters. On a side note, I'm not a fan of your user name as it denotes profanity which is not very classy. Just my opinion, of course.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=So%20I%20was%20home%20all%20day%20and%20received%20from%203849%20as%20far%20as%20I%20can%20tell%20guy%20never%20left%20his%20truck.%20%20When%20is%20a%20carrier%20supposed%20to%20fill%20out%20the%20form%20an%20why%20did%20my%20working%20doorbell%20not%20ring%3F%20Is%20this%20common%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14593)
Audiologist
Are earbuds dangerous for my ears?
Dry Cleaner
What happens to clothing at dry cleaners that goes unclaimed?
Bartender
What's the best way to get a bartender's attention?
I dont know what you can do for sure to stop the owner's mail from being delivered to your unit if it has your apt # on it. Your neighbor may have contacted some companies to get them to change it, but I imagine names and addresses are often sold from one company to the next which results in the wrong address being distributed to other mailers. You can put a note in your mailbox saying "please only deliver mail for (insert your name(s) here" and that may stop your neighbors mail from being delivered to you. You are correct that it is your neighbors responsibility to advise senders of their correct address if the want to receive their mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello-%0A%0AI%20live%20in%20a%20standalone%20condo%20complex%20with%204%20units%2C%20and%20I%20keep%20getting%20mail%20from%20certain%20senders%20for%20the%20owners%20upstairs%20because%20they%20seem%20to%20have%20specified%20my%20unit%20%23.%20%20I%20left%20a%20note%20for%20them%20to%20fix%20this%2C%20but%20it%20has%20not%20stopped.%20What%20can%20I%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13518)
I think that titles are sent by regular first-class mail. That is how I've seen it in NY state. I'm not sure your lender does it the same way. Either way, there is no way to find it through the USPS. I don't know how easy it is to get a replacement title from your motor vehicle bureau. I'm sure there is a process as titles are probably lost or misplaced often. When car owners receive a title, they probably put it away somewhere, never to be looked at again until they want to sell of or dispose the car. You could also call back the lender to see if they have a procedure for replacing your clear title, but I don't know about this either.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20paid%20off%20my%20car%20about%203%20years%20ago%20and%20never%20received%20the%20title.%20%20I%20thought%20nothing%20of%20it%20til%20now%20since%20I%20am%20trying%20to%20sell%20my%20car.%20%20I%20called%20the%20lender%20and%20they%20said%20they%20sent%20it%20back%20in%202012.%20%20Is%20there%20any%20way%20I%20can%20find%20it%20throught%20the%20USPS%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15397)
Vbjmin, you ask a question that I'd love to know the perfect answer to as I've been struggling with this issue from the beginning of my postal career. Cold hands are really hard to tolerate especially when you will be out delivering hours and they must be nimble enough to finger the mail. I wear a glove (thick or thin) on the hand where I hold the mail and cradle the flats since I don't need that hand to finger the mail. The hand that I use to finger the mail and deliver the mail I try to wear a thinner and sometimes fingerless glove or one with small gripping dots on them This has worked okay over the years. Another item which can be useful is "hot hands" which are small single-use packets that form a chemical reaction and heat up for several hours. You can put those in your pocket or even inside your glove. I have rarely used these but my girlfriend, not a letter carrier, loves them. I have purchased many pairs of gloves over the years. It's just a matter of finding the ones that keep you warm enough but allows you to still feel the mail. Thanks for writing and winter is my least favorite season to deliver mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20do%20you%20keep%20your%20hands%20warm%20in%20cold%20weather%20while%20holding%20or%20gripping%2C%20fingering%20and%20delivering%20a%20mail%20bundle%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13960)
-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
