Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

I'm in SF,CA Is there a law that says the mail carrier can only walk 6 feet to deliver the mail? I recently moved my mail slot down the driveway into a door as some of our mail is missing.

Asked by Donna E. almost 10 years ago

I'm a little confused by your question. Did you move the mail slot down the driveway into a door because some mail is missing or do you think mail is missing because you've moved the mail slot down the driveway and now the mail carrier won't deliver it? I don't know why your mail would be missing. The main reason is usually misdelivery by a USPS letter carrier and less common is mail theft. To answer your main question, I don't know anything about laws regarding how far a letter carrier can walk to deliver mail. If the carrier delivers on foot then it's very common to have to go to a door or mailbox near a door to deliver the mail. From what you described it shouldn't be an issue to have moved the mail slot into a door.

522 Votes

I ordered an item on Ebay which was to be sent from China to Canada. After being over due I checked my Ebay invoice and discovered I spelled Churchill as Churchhill. Everything else being correct is that typo enough to cause delivery problems.

Asked by Dan about 10 years ago

Your typo of putting Churchhill instead of Churchill on the eBay order shouldn't cause any delivery issues. Items mailed often have spelling errors and typos. As long as the postal service personnel can figure out what was meant by the mailer or be able to decipher unclear handwriting, the item will usually be delivered properly. The delay in the delivery is probably for another reason, but I don't know what that is. I presume the item wasn't sent with any tracking number or that would be able to provide you with some more guidance as to where the item is.

521 Votes

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

Asked by Andrew almost 10 years ago

Andrew, you may want to email the vendor of the postcards to see the size of the white box. It looks like it would fit in the white box but I can't say for sure as I don't know standard address label sizes. I recommend doing this before ordering the cards because I don't know if they issue refunds. I see there is an area where your card customization needs to be double checked since there are no changes once the order is placed.

521 Votes

What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Asked by Ashley about 10 years ago

I wouldn't recommend getting them any alcohol if they are hungover often. How about some aspirin? We get a yearly allowance for uniform clothing so I can't think of any clothing to get them. Actually, maybe a light rain jacket or slicker wouldn't be such a bad idea, but we do get allowances for good performing raingear. As far as walking in the sun, we also can purchase wise-brimmed sunhats or pith helmets. We also have rubber overboots that can keep our feet dry in the rain. I receive gift cards and cash mostly as holiday gifts from customers to whom I deliver mail. One of my co-workers gives me some lottery scratch-offs which is very nice. I realize that this doesn't necessarily answer your question since none of these gifts are practical in dealing with rain or sun. It's also nice of you to just consider a gift so he should appreciate whatever you give them. I don't exchange gifts with most of friends or family. Having time with them is a present enough. I realize that's a bit corny but that's how I feel.

521 Votes

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Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

Asked by Fern over 10 years ago

I sign customer's names on accountable mail or packages that need a signature if I know them and they'd likely want that done. I frequently do this but technically it's not allowed unless the recipient has given previous written authorization to do this. So far, it's never been a problem in my career that I've signed for an item, but I don't expect others to do the same. As far as if this can screw over a customer, I don't know. I suppose if you signed for a package for a customer and then never delivered it to them it could be a problem. I think in that case the letter carrier would be questioned because the intended recipient never received the item and will say it's not their signature on the PS 3849 or electronic signature record.

520 Votes

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Asked by Deborah Sala almost 10 years ago

Definitely. It's never been an issue as far as I know to take a bathroom break as needed even if it means leaving the street you are delivering mail on to go use a lavatory at a public business. That's what I usually do. I'll leave my route and go to a gas station or the public library that are near my route as needed. It doesn't have to be an emergency.

519 Votes

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

Asked by Zach almost 10 years ago

I am not too familiar with the outgoing mail gray business boxes. Was it inside a business that was on your run? It's not against any laws to mail a letter from an outgoing business gray box. As long as there is sufficient postage on the letter I don't see why you can't mail that from anywhere. It should be no problem at all. I just wouldn't know the schedule as to when the mail was picked up. If the letter carrier had already taken the mail for the day from the business gray box, it will likely get picked up the following delivery day.

519 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I'm in SF,CA Is there a law that says the mail carrier can only walk 6 feet to deliver the mail? I recently moved my mail slot down the driveway into a door as some of our mail is missing.

I ordered an item on Ebay which was to be sent from China to Canada. After being over due I checked my Ebay invoice and discovered I spelled Churchill as Churchhill. Everything else being correct is that typo enough to cause delivery problems.

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Also on Jobstr...

Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I'm in SF,CA Is there a law that says the mail carrier can only walk 6 feet to deliver the mail? I recently moved my mail slot down the driveway into a door as some of our mail is missing.

I ordered an item on Ebay which was to be sent from China to Canada. After being over due I checked my Ebay invoice and discovered I spelled Churchill as Churchhill. Everything else being correct is that typo enough to cause delivery problems.

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Also on Jobstr...

Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

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