Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

How can a postmaster report a delivered item to a mailbox and it's empty?

Asked by Tina over 10 years ago

Tina, since this is pretty much the same q you asked previously, I have just copied and pasted the response from that question below:

Tina, when I get a question like this it disturbs me because I have to think it wasn't an innocent error that the item was scanned as "delivered" but no notice was left nor was the item. As an aside, if a notice was left, the package would have been scanned as "attempted". It could've been an error, but I will explain why I think it may not have been. When the packages arrive at our PO in the AM, they are all scanned as "arrival at unit". Then, at the end of the work day, our supervisors are supposed to make sure that each item has an additional scan such as "attempted" or "delivered" or "business closed", etc. I know at our office that if they can't find the parcel as accidentally left behind in the office they may assume the parcel was delivered and enter it as such. Amazon specifically wants their items delivered the day they arrive at the destination PO. In a way this is falsifying and undermining the integrity of our scanning system. I won't say this happens to many items nor do I know if it's widespread. Hopefully what I described above is what happened with your package and it should be delivered on the following delivery day.

572 Votes

I accidentally put the recipients address first then my address will the recipient still get the letter or will I have to do another envelope

Asked by Taylor over 10 years ago

The USPS uses a lot of automation to sort the mail and I think it's looking for the address in the middle of the envelope as to where to send the item. In your example, I would recommended using a new envelope. Write your address (which will be considered the return address) in the upper left hand corner of the envelope. Put the recipients address in the center of the envelope and the sufficient postage in the upper right hand corner.

572 Votes

Hello just curious my mailman delivered a package to my door yesterday then when I went to check mail there was an "attempt to deliver" notice for another package and my mail for the week was gone .. Why would this happen

Asked by Ash about 10 years ago

I don't know why the mailman would take away the mail for the week that had been sitting in your mailbox as well as an "attempted" notice for another package. Did the other package perhaps need a signature? It is common for some people not to check their mailbox for days and it rarely fills up to the point that I can't put any more mail in the mailbox. I hope that the mail reappears or is it possible you received none (not likely) or that someone else in your household (if you don't live alone) took the mail in to your residence?

571 Votes

The mailman at my office came in to deliver mail and I told him that we had moved our postage machine from one location to another and he told me that they get paid by the foot and his supervisor measures it once a year. Is that true? I doubt it!

Asked by Shan almost 11 years ago

I have not had an office to deliver on a regular basis so I can't comment as to how far a letter carrier is supposed to go I to an office to deliver or retrieve outgoing mail. Usually I'd expect to mostly deliver to a mail room or reception desk. As far as getting paid by the foot, I can assure you if it is a city letter carrier they are being paid "on the clock" meaning it has nothing to do with distance traveled on foot, but only by time working. A rural letter carrier may have a different way to calculate their pay where I don't know the details. If your letter carrier is wearing the traditional blue uniform, it is likely they are a city carrier and if the location of your postage machine took them longer to access, they'd actually be paid more money because it took them longer. I am being picayune but I hope you understand the point. Some mail carriers are just lazy, will feed you a line, or genuinely know some of the rules about office delivery.

571 Votes

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When you find lost car keys, where do you put them or what do you you do with them?

Asked by elizabeth about 10 years ago

I've never found car keys while delivering mail as far as I can remember. I don't know what I would do if I found them. I know if any item of value is found in a blue collection box, it is usually turned in to a supervisor.

571 Votes

is it legal to write a message on the outside of the envelope of a letter im mailing ?

Asked by chaser almost 11 years ago

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The important parts are that the destination address, return address, and postage are in the correct places and clearly readable. Besides that I believe you may write a message on the outside of an envelope.

570 Votes

If i post a letter but didn't mean to can i go back and ask the postman if i can have it back before he takes it away

Asked by daniel over 10 years ago

I would give it back to you if I know who you are, or you can positively ID yourself, and if I can easily retrieve the letter. It's rarely happened to me and in each case in gave back the letter(s) to the sender. I can't speak to how another letter carrier would react to your request and I don't know if there are any rules specifically allowing or prohibiting this. We are not trained on how to handle this request as far as I can remember.

568 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How can a postmaster report a delivered item to a mailbox and it's empty?

I accidentally put the recipients address first then my address will the recipient still get the letter or will I have to do another envelope

Hello just curious my mailman delivered a package to my door yesterday then when I went to check mail there was an "attempt to deliver" notice for another package and my mail for the week was gone .. Why would this happen

The mailman at my office came in to deliver mail and I told him that we had moved our postage machine from one location to another and he told me that they get paid by the foot and his supervisor measures it once a year. Is that true? I doubt it!

Also on Jobstr...

When you find lost car keys, where do you put them or what do you you do with them?

is it legal to write a message on the outside of the envelope of a letter im mailing ?

If i post a letter but didn't mean to can i go back and ask the postman if i can have it back before he takes it away

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How can a postmaster report a delivered item to a mailbox and it's empty?

I accidentally put the recipients address first then my address will the recipient still get the letter or will I have to do another envelope

Hello just curious my mailman delivered a package to my door yesterday then when I went to check mail there was an "attempt to deliver" notice for another package and my mail for the week was gone .. Why would this happen

The mailman at my office came in to deliver mail and I told him that we had moved our postage machine from one location to another and he told me that they get paid by the foot and his supervisor measures it once a year. Is that true? I doubt it!

Also on Jobstr...

When you find lost car keys, where do you put them or what do you you do with them?

is it legal to write a message on the outside of the envelope of a letter im mailing ?

If i post a letter but didn't mean to can i go back and ask the postman if i can have it back before he takes it away

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