Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

We have not been receiving any mail in our p o box for over 2 weeks following a couple of overflows. I called the post office
last week and they said our box is open. What could be the reason for 2 and a half weeks with no mail in our box?

Asked by L H about 9 years ago

I admit it's odd that you haven't received mail in your PO Box for a couple of weeks. One reaction is that maybe there has been no mail for you, but if you've had overflows in the past I guess that scenario is unlikely. Furthermore, I don't even know what happens in a PO Box mail overflow situation. I thought you just may have to pick up the overflow mail from a retail sales and service associate during the retail counter hours but I'm not sure. Has any person or organization you normally receive mail from contacted you to say an item addressed to you has been returned to them? Is there any specific mail you haven't received that you were expecting to receive? In short, since the PO has confirmed that your PO Box is open I don't know why you haven't received any mail in 2.5 weeks. One idea I had was to mail a letter to your own PO Box. It should arrive there in about 2 days if mailed somehwat locally.

503 Votes

MailmanDave,
What would you say is the biggest pain you deal with in your job?

Asked by Jack almost 10 years ago

HI Jack, that is an interesting question you pose. Since I'm pretty easy going and can filter out a lot of the garbage spewed out by some co-workers and their disruptive personalities and the sometimes incompetent management, the biggest pain to me is winter weather. As warm as I can dress for the severe cold, there are occasions where my extremities just get too cold too handle it and I haven't found, or don't use, the best gloves or shoes to insulate me properly. I think if that were figured out, there isn't too much of a pain in this job. Believe me, many other letter carriers would disagree with me and can be very petty and complain about things that I feel are insignificant. Apprx 75% of the day I'm out of the office delivering mail, listening to podcasts and getting exercise by walking. I'm getting paid a fair salary with good benefits and a high level of job security. Regarding my weather comment, there are usually just a few days per year that the weather is unbearably cold. I'm not sure how I would do in much colder climates than in NY (on Long Island). All things considered, I could be doing a lot worse for a job. Thanks for your question.

502 Votes

I've been having a very hard time with my mailman. One day last winter, he threw my mail on my concrete step in the snow because he said it was to snowy, it wasn't at all! I've had numerous bills and mail that never was delivered. who do i call?

Asked by Linda over 9 years ago

As much as I hate hearing stories like this I know it all too much to be true. We have many employees who don't care about delivering mail properly or accurately or have an attitude. Unfortunately I don't know how effective complaining about a letter carrier is. Our management often is indifferent or powerless to effect major changes in someone's work ethic. I know this sounds damning of many co-workers but I just get that feeling at times. I don't mean to sidestep your question but wanted to explain that none of this surprises me. I'd start by contacting your local post office and ask to speak with a delivery supervisor or manager. Tell them your story but don't exaggerate it. If your service continues to be poor or you don't think you're getting mail that you're supposed to or that items you mailed aren't getting to their destination, I suppose the next step would be to contact the USPS Consumer Affairs division. I honestly don't know how effective any of this is, but worth a try. Hopefully I'm wrong in the not-so-rosy picture I painted. If you visit www.usps.com maybe there will be information on how to contact your local PO with a complaint because it's not always so easy to find the phone number of your local PO. Linda, thank you for your question.

502 Votes

I sent off my probation payment and it came back saying boxed closed. I dnt knw what that means could u tell me please

Asked by suboo about 10 years ago

I think that it means that the PO Box where the probation payments were accepted has now been closed. That seems odd considering its for probation and I'd think the department would want their payments. I'd recommend emailing or calling the probation department to verify you have the correct address for them. It's possible that the USPS returned it you by mistake and the PO Box isn't closed. It's best to follow up directly with the probation office.

501 Votes

When a mail carrier oppts for a specific route does he get that routes day off? Or will hes day off keep rotating as usually scheduled?

Asked by joe over 9 years ago

I don't know how this works in all offices, but I can tell you what happens in the office where I deliver mail in Long Island, NY. This may not be a nationwide policy. When a letter carrier (usually an unassigned regular or CCA) opts, or holds down, an assignment they get that assignments day off. Our office has mostly rotating days off so that won't change. What may change is the "days off" group that carrier falls into. This is usually a low impact issue when a carrier opts for a group since almost all of us have rotating days off. Only 2 assignments at the PO where I work has 2 assignments with fixed days off (Saturday). The remaining 40 (approximately) assignments have rotating days off. Thank you for the question.

501 Votes

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

Asked by Brent almost 10 years ago

This happens sometimes if a route is divided up for the day and perhaps the "dividing line" is near your house. This happens a lot when we are shorthanded, so other carriers may deliver their own route and then a part of another route. I know it may look inefficient and random, but that's what happens when people do "pieces" on other routes. It is sometimes inefficient and random due to poor management or short staffing. Some POs face this issue more than others. It is especially common in the summer months when many co-workers go on vacation but it certainly can be an issue year round.

501 Votes

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

Asked by Cleveland Rick over 9 years ago

First I'd like to say that it's unfortunate that you letter carrier accidentally stepped into the concrete you just had poured for a new driveway. I have done this myself but only with a recently resealed driveway and the result was just I tracked some sealant around the bottom of my shoes for a short while. I can't answer your question as to whether or not the USPS would be responsible for the cost to fix the driveway that was damaged by the letter carrier. I'd recommend calling or even visiting your local PO and speak with a delivery supervisor or the postmaster and tell them what happened. Bring a photo that you may have taken of the damage or have it on your mobile device. I wouldn't hold out much hope that the claims process is easy or that the person you speak with even knows about it. I'm guessing you may have to be a bit persistent or go up a chain of command to get someone who is knowledgeable about the USPS liability, if any. We are required to cut across lawns to deliver the mail when it's feasible to do so. For this reason I can see how a letter carrier may not realize that a new driveway has been poured as we often have our head down getting the mail ready for delivery at the next house. I just don't know if the USPS has any responsibility to fix your driveway. I can't imagine it's too inexpensive to have the concrete cut out and repoured.

501 Votes

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

We have not been receiving any mail in our p o box for over 2 weeks following a couple of overflows. I called the post office
last week and they said our box is open. What could be the reason for 2 and a half weeks with no mail in our box?

MailmanDave,
What would you say is the biggest pain you deal with in your job?

I've been having a very hard time with my mailman. One day last winter, he threw my mail on my concrete step in the snow because he said it was to snowy, it wasn't at all! I've had numerous bills and mail that never was delivered. who do i call?

I sent off my probation payment and it came back saying boxed closed. I dnt knw what that means could u tell me please

Also on Jobstr...

When a mail carrier oppts for a specific route does he get that routes day off? Or will hes day off keep rotating as usually scheduled?

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

We have not been receiving any mail in our p o box for over 2 weeks following a couple of overflows. I called the post office last week and they said our box is open. What could be the reason for 2 and a half weeks with no mail in our box?

MailmanDave,What would you say is the biggest pain you deal with in your job?

I've been having a very hard time with my mailman. One day last winter, he threw my mail on my concrete step in the snow because he said it was to snowy, it wasn't at all! I've had numerous bills and mail that never was delivered. who do i call?

I sent off my probation payment and it came back saying boxed closed. I dnt knw what that means could u tell me please

Also on Jobstr...

When a mail carrier oppts for a specific route does he get that routes day off? Or will hes day off keep rotating as usually scheduled?

Why would I have 3 different mail carriers that deliver to my residence. Sometimes one will deliver to my neighbor and not me. Then diffrent carrier comes to me later that day. Its like they randomly deliver in my area.

I had concrete poured for a new driveway. I had the end of the driveway taped off with caution tape and cones. Our mail carrier cut across the lawn and left footprints in the wet cement. Would the post office be responsible for the cost to fix it?

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We have not been receiving any mail in our p o box for over 2 weeks following a couple of overflows. I called the post office
last week and they said our box is open. What could be the reason for 2 and a half weeks with no mail in our box?

MailmanDave,
What would you say is the biggest pain you deal with in your job?