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 put a letter in the mail yesterday around 11 am, when do you think the letter will be in the person's hands?

Asked by jay over 11 years ago

It depends how far the letter as to travel to get to its destination. I think 1-4 days is the normal amt of time for a letter to reach its destination.

We're a small company. A package sent USPS to a correct address was returned to us with the label: return to sends, vacant. I called the recipient who said the house next to her is vacant. Is there a way to get reimbursement from USPS for mistakes?

Asked by Kathryn over 11 years ago

Kathryn, I'm sorry for the mistake that seems to have been made by the USPS in not delivering your package to your customer and then incorrectly returning it to you. As far as I know there is no way to get a reimbursment for that error, but I don't work in the customer service/retail part of the USPS operation so I can't say for sure. Did you verify that the exact address is correct? It sounds to me like you did verify it. Good luck and thanks for writing.

Hi. Our mailman returned a very important immigration letter to USICS TWICE despite the fact he knows my husband lives here (+ delivered his other mail). This has cost us immeasurable heartache, $$$$$ and a YEAR delay in our process. What can we do?

Asked by michelle almost 12 years ago

I don't know what can be done regarding this very important letter which was returned in error by your letter carrier. You can mention it to him or call the PO and speak with a delivery supervisor or Postmaster so that it doesn't happen again. I am sorry for the inconvenience and expense caused by this mistake.

Thanks for answering my previous question about the application process in '98. I applied on-line last August and so far have heard nada. Zip. Zilch! Do you have any idea if I will get at least a reply or rejection notice? #lostinspace

Asked by FF about 12 years ago

Do you mean that you applied 3 mos. ago? I am not sure how long it takes to get a response either yea or nay. I would hope that you would at least get some reply but I have no further info. 

Is it okay to spell out single-digit street numbers on postal mail? For example, writing out Two Penn Center instead of 2 Penn Center. Or do postal regulations prohibit spelling out the figure two?

Asked by Laurel about 12 years ago

I believe it is permissible to spell out the single-digit number of a street adddress as given in your example.

im about to start orientation next week would I be able to get a set route right away or at least routating or a set schedule?

Asked by ryan over 11 years ago

Congratulations on your being employed with the USPS. It depends on the staffing of a particular office as to whether you will get a set route right away or varying hours. If the office is shorthanded, it's possible you can be assigned a route to daily and that will become your route until further notice. More often than not, new hires fill in where needed to cover carriers who are on vacation or sick leave or to deliver "pieces" on routes which one carrier may not be able to complete in their workday. At a certain time, usually after probation is over, you can bid to "hold down" a route or assignment of rotating routes when a carrier is out on vacation or extended sick leave. If you "hold down" an assignment this entitles you to do that route daily and you can only be "bumped off" that route under certain circumstances which are covered in the labor/mgmt or local agreement.

I would like to know the regulations for attaching it to my house

Asked by chertz about 12 years ago

I can't quote you the regulations, but as long as the box is accessible to the letter carrier without a hazard that is usually sufficient for attaching a box to your house.