Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

1237 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I have moved to a new community, but I do not know my mailbox number. Where can I know my mailbox number? Thanks.

Asked by Albert about 11 years ago

I would recommend one of two options: 1) If you see a letter carrier delivering mail in your community, you could ask him or her if they know. It is likely that mail in your community is a centralized delivery meaning that there is one larger mailbox divided into many separate mailboxes which are accessed by the resident's key. If you don't see an individual mailbox or have a mail slot in your front door, this is likely the method of delivery where you live. 2) Contact the management or leasing company and ask them how you receive your mail in this new community. It is often, but not always, the case that your box number is the same as your apt or unit or house number.  

What do the six colors for case blocks mean?
Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, White.

Thanks.

Asked by musicnmustangs over 11 years ago

I think you mean in our carrier cases when we sort the mail in the post office, we use different color plastic tabs or colored bars to put in the case to indicate the status of certain addresses. Some carriers are better at using these than others and I don't think it's mandatory, but I think it is a great tool to help the carrier remember any changes on the route and to communicate that information for any substitute letter carrier.

The following is my understanding of the colors:

Red=I don't know

Green=Hold Mail

Yellow=Certain name at that address has/had a forwarding order on file (In our colored tabs, you can actually put a small tab of paper in there with the name of the family/individual/business that has a forwarding order on file)

Orange=Vacant Address-Do not deliver anymail here

White=Unknown

I ordered something online and they accidentally put my delivery street address but the billing city and zip code as my shipping address. So I have the right street address but wrong city and zip code. What can I do??

Asked by Andrew about 11 years ago

Andrew, it is likely that the item will be returned to the shipper saying "invalid address" or "no such street or number".  I'd recommend emailing or calling the company you ordered the item from (customer service department) and advising them of your error. Maybe they could put a note on your order that if the item is returned to the shipper that it should be reshipped to your correct city and ZIP code which you will have advised them of. Thanks for writing.

We ordered a package on ebay and it has the zip code correct but the address number is wrong.What will happen and what to do?

Asked by navexelac over 11 years ago

If possible, contact the merchant and see if it's possible to correct the address before the package is shipped out. If it is too late and the package has already entered the mailstream, I would see if you could contact your delivery Post Office and advise them that a package will be coming to an incorrect address and it should be delivered to your correct address. That may resolve any misdeliveries or stop the package from being returned to the sender unnecessarily. I hope this helps you. Thanks for writing!

Ok well what time are they open till on saturdays? Are they open 7 days on the phone to put reverse on a letter with tracking on it?

Asked by Boo about 11 years ago

Most post offices are open until Noon or 1PM for retail service on Saturdays if they have Saturday hours at all. I don't know if you can put a reverse on a letter that has tracking via the telephone customer service or via www.usps.com. It may have to be done in person at a Post Office. If you call 800-ASK-USPS they may know a bit more about this subject. Their Saturday hours are 8AM-6PM ET.

will a letter be delivered if name dont match address i changed my address but it will take 10 days my cousin sent a check to me at my new address but it never showed

Asked by mightyken8 almost 12 years ago

I am not sure if it will be delivered or not. Sometimes a letter carrier will just deliver a  letter as addressed and sometimes they will wait until they see new mail coming in via a change of address order (usually a yellow sticker with the new address on it). I am not sure whether the check will be delivered or not. If not, I hope your cousin receives the check back and then re-send it when you are sure that you are getting mail at your new address. 

Does the USPS do random drug testing?

Asked by Molly over 11 years ago

Yes, before one is hired they are often given a drug test. I have not been tested since but imagine it is is possible that  I could be given one at anytime.