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.
That is a great question which I will answer in 2 ways. For the last few years I wore an MP3 player (iphone) with a wired earpiece while I delivered mail on foot and listened to podcasts. I always left one ear exposed and not listening to the podcasts. Nobody ever said a word to me about it. Recently, however, I returned to work after an extended absence (on an off for almost one year) and a co-worker who saw me "wired" to listen to the PED said that while I was out we had a service/safety talk that we weren't allowed to be using the PED's while we are at work either in or out of the Post Office. I thanked him for his advice, but thought I would do a little more investigating. I asked about 2 or 3 other co-workers and they said they didn't know anything about a rule like that. I didn't ask my supervisor or shop steward. I don't believe it is anything you would get disciplined for, but the mgmt. may say you aren't allowed to use them. If they ever did that I may ask to see that policy in writing even though I could see mgmt. as saying it falls under the "you will be distracted" reasoning. Again, I have never seen it as an issue at the PO where I work, but please keep in mind that I don't listen to it loudly and only have the ear buds in one ear. When a customer comes to speak with me, I put the personal electronic device (PED) on pause and sometimes even take out the earpiece. I would be very disappointed if they made a rule about not listening to an MP3 player while delivering mail as that is very helpful in getting me through the workday, not to mention I learn a lot from the podcasts. Thanks for writing in with your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20carriers%20allowed%20to%20listen%20to%20an%20mp3%20player%20while%20walking%20a%20route%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11943)
Your q came in twice so I deleted the second one. I don't know that you can tell which mailbox a letter was sent from. When a carrier picks up letters from the blue collection boxes or from a residence, they commingle those letters with all of the others thatb have been picked up and generally get sent to a mail processing for sorting.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20possible%20to%20tell%20the%20location%20of%20the%20mailbox%20where%20a%20letter%20was%20mailed%20from%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9083)
n the blue collection box, you can put a package with pre-paid postage if it is metered from a computer program like click 'n ship or Business Reply Mail. The 13 oz limit applies if the package only contains stamps. If it is greater than 13oz and only contains stamps it must be presented to a postal employee. This is due to aviation security regulations
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20place%20package%20in%20the%20blue%20collection%20boxes%3F%20I%20looked%20it%20up%20online%20and%20see%20conflicting%20answers.%20The%20USPS%20site%20says%20only%20stamped%20mail%20up%20to%2013%20oz%20while%20many%20discussion%20boards%20say%20this%20does%20not%20apply%20to%20prepaid%20postage%20so%20if%20fits%20its%20okay.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10343)
I think if you put a total of 3 Forever Stamps on an envelope that would be sufficient to cover a letter to Guatemala. The minimum rate for a letter there is apprx. $1.10 so 3 stamps would be good to be on the safe side. A trip to the PO wouldn't be necessary unless the item weighed more than 13 oz. I think.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20I%20need%20to%20go%20to%20the%20post%20office%20to%20mail%20a%20letter%20to%20Guatemala%2C%20or%20can%20I%20just%20put%20a%20couple%20extra%20stamps%20on%20the%20letter%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10452)
Radio program/music director
Do radio stations have to pay royalties to artists to play their songs?
Football Official
Were the replacement refs actually worse than the regular refs?
Social Network Security Manager
How has Facebook remained mostly immune to hacks?
I wear uniform issue letter carrier shoes. The brand I usually wear is New Balance and have a special non-slip surface. The USPS provides us with a yearly allowance to put towards uniforms and footwear.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20son%20works%20at%20convienence%20store%20standing%20and%20walking%2012%20hours%20a%20day%20can%20you%20please%20tell%20me%20what%20kind%20of%20shoes%20you%20wear.%20thankyou%20donna&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10103)
I am sure this is done sometimes and possibly even without a stamp (which I think is very wrong to do). I sometimes see a card or letter being mailed from one customer on the route to another. I guess I could just cancel the stamp with a pen and deliver the letter directly, but I put the mail into the regular outgoing mail dispatch and have it run through the system. Delivery time is usually 2 days later. I have never heard either way if there is a proper procedure to be followed. If a co-worker gave me a letter to be delivered, I'd likely deliver it without it going through the mail processing system. It rarely comes up though.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20a%20mailman%20place%20a%20stamp%20on%20a%20letter%20and%20mark%20a%20big%20%22x%22%20across%20the%20stamp%20and%20deliver%20the%20letter%20himself%20or%20have%20a%20Co%20-%20worker%20deliver%20the%20letter%20without%20it%20going%20through%20the%20USPS%20mail%20system%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15314)
I don't understand the question. I don't know about the different forms which are required for shipments which come from other countries. Do you know if the item was coming from an international source? I don't know why the item in US Customs would be labeled as to be sent to sender. That wouldn't be good as you are the addressee and not the sender. If the sender is just giving you a bunch of excuses and not offering any refund, it could be a scam. I'm sorry that I have no knowledge about the ins and outs of US Customs and shipping of items.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20had%20an%20issue%20that%20I%20believe%20may%20have%20been%20a%20scam.%20I%20ordered%20something%20and%20the%20person%20says%20that%20the%20USPS%20used%20an%20international%20express%20form%20instead%20of%20USA%20and%20that%20the%20package%20is%20sitting%20in%20US%20customs%20waiting%20to%20be%20sent%20to%20%22sender%22%20not%20%22addressee%22%20%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11243)
-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
