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.
Based on the office where I work, there are about 25% female carriers. I can't say at all what it is at other locations. Lately, the CCAs who have been hired are more like 50% female. Some of them are quite petite so I don't know how they do the job lifting heavy parcels and walking with loaded mail satchels. I give them a lot of credit. I believe you should be able to lift up to 70 lbs, but I don't think that is tested and I see some carriers give their heavier parcels to a parcel post driver to deliver. I don't think that is necessarily fair that they don't have to carry the same load as I do, but I don't care enough to speak up or cause an unnecessary conflict.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20percentage%20of%20mail%20carriers%20would%20you%20say%2C%20are%20female%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15454)
I don't know the answer to this and have never heard of it being an issue. I would likely pick the mail up but maybe each carrier has the discretion because it's possible they are allergic to such smells from perfume or lipstick. Lipstick could possibly get on other mail which isn't right in my opinion. Did the letter carrier ever mention to you why they wouldn't pick up the outgoing mail. I haven't done any online research regarding "mailing requirements" so I can't say if lipstick marks or perfume is permitted. I don't recall ever seeing it myself except in Valentine's Day advertising that may say "SWAK" (sealed with a kiss).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20i%20put%20lipstick%20marks%2Fperfume%20on%20my%20outgoing%20mail%3F%3F%20I%27ve%20done%20it%20for%20months%20now%20my%20mail%20carrier%20refuses%20to%20pick%20them%20up..%20is%20that%20illegal%20or%20is%20it%20the%20carrier%27s%20chioce%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15740)
You are obviously referring to holiday gratuities, no need to hide that on this forum. We aren't really supposed to expect or accept cash tips but know that many of us do (me included). I can't really comment on who has a right to them. Maybe the comp man and the unassigned regular could split anything they get but I'm guessing there may not be enough trust to do that. I'm not really sure why the former carrier deserves anything if he voluntarily bid off that route for another assignment. I don't know what "aa" means but "as" means ass kisser. I guess I don't really agree with you in this situation and holiday gratuities really shouldn't be basis for any rules about bumping or holddowns. It really just seems to cause problems when it shouldn't even be entering into the picture.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=On%20the%20holddown%20scenario%20it%20sucks%20bc%20the%20holidays%20r%20coming%20up%20and%20that%20carrier%20had%20no%20right%20to%20u%20know%20what..%20The%20former%20carrier%20and%20the%20comp%20guy%20should%20reap%20the%20benefits%20for%20their%20hard%20work%2C%20especially%20when%20the%20unassigned%20is%20not%20well%20liked%20and%20aa%20ak&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16007)
If it is a temporary change, you could put a replacement mailbox or cardboard box (or anything labeled US mail) in an area visible and accessible to your letter carrier. I had a resident recently move the mailbox to near his garage because his whole front steps area of the house was being ripped out, expanded, and rebuilt. Your letter carrier shouldn't give you a hard time about this. If you get a chance you can mention it to them ahead of the construction beginning, or post a note by your present mailbox that you'll soon be providing a temporary alternate area to deliver the mail. Thanks for your question and consideration.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20are%20having%20our%20front%20steps%20removed%20for%20some%20landscaping%20and%20the%20mailman%20won%27t%20be%20able%20to%20get%20to%20our%20mailbox%20that%20is%20right%20by%20our%20front%20door.%20What%20do%20we%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17056)
Auto Mechanic
What car brands are most/least likely to end up in the shop?
McDonald's Manager
Did you have to deal with a lot of disrespectful customers? What would they say?
Employment Lawyer
Can I be sued for asking a co-worker on a date?
If you know their name and what PO they work at you could mail it with their name, c/o the PO where they work and hopefully they will get it. You could mark it Personal if you want to. I have lost a lot of faith lately in things getting delivered to where they should but you could try it. I would think if our supervisor or PM saw a letter addresses to an employee they'd give it to them as long as it wasn't habitual. iVe never been in that situation so I can't say for sure. Thanks for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20can%20I%20get%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20specific%20mail%20carrier.%20%20Not%20necessarily%20the%20one%20on%20my%20route.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15705)
I am thinking it may be held up in Customs, but am not sure if that happens before or after it gets to the ISC, or is maybe based in the Miami ISC. Do you know if the recipient is still looking for their items? Sometimes it doesn't get any more bar code scans before it is delivered but actually has been delivered. You could go to www.usps.com and maybe do an inquiry as to where the items could be but I don't have a lot of confidence that you will get any more info than is what you already have.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20am%20from%20Paraguay%20and%20have%20sent%20four%20items%20to%20the%20US%2C%20all%20with%20tracking%20numbers.%20They%20went%20through%20the%20Miami%20ISC%20but%20it%27s%20been%20more%20than%20a%20month%20and%20there%20has%20been%20no%20further%20updates.%20What%20may%20have%20happened%20and%20what%20could%20I%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14213)
You don't need to explain to any USPS employee why you are returning the mail. It is none of our business. As long as it is an unopened, first-class letter, you should be able to just write "refused" on it and have it returned. Personally I would just discard any unwanted mail. I've received debt collection letters in the past and have just ignored them and not returned them. There are certain classes of mail where we won't return to the sender because the sender has paid a pre-sorted standard rate (which is lower than the first-class rate). In that case, we just recycle any unwanted mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=They%20give%20my%20returned%20letters%20back%20asking%20me%20why%20i%20am%20returning%20it.%20%20Isnt%20that%20a%20breach%20of%20privacy%20rightt%3B%20flagging%20my%20mai%3F%20%20Do%20i%20have%20to%20explain%20harrassement%20to%20themnand%20why%20i%20am%20returning%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15256)
-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
