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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

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I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Asked by Ella over 12 years ago

I am sorry that the item arrived empty, but I do understand why it shows as arrived delivered. If that package arrived on my route for delivery I would have scanned it "Visible Damage" as well as "Delivered". This would not result in any settlement or claim being paid, but would validate what you are saying. If the item was not insured, I don't believe there is anything that can be done. 

I've been a CCA for almost three months now and since we're so close to Chritmas I've had several customers slip me tips during a postage due or even leave entire boxed presents addressed to me as gifts. How do you handle these situations?

Asked by Kruesser over 11 years ago

It is very kind of the customers to give you tips and or boxed presents for the holiday season. I believe we aren't supposed to accept any gift valued at more than $20 at any one time and it's supposed to be non-cash. I would venture to say that most employees don't follow this rule and it is rare that you'd get in trouble for accepting it. For those that give you gifts, I'd recommend replying with a thank you note or card that you can deliver with the mail the next time you are at their office or residence. I do realize you are a CCA and may be doing different assignments daily unless you have a hold down. Another recommendation is to not discuss any amounts or gifts you receive with your fellow co-workers. It's better to just be modest and quiet about it IMO. I hope this helped you. Please also remember that we are paid to do our job and nobody should expect a tip for doing their job at the USPS. It is unethical to expect any gratuity, but I, like most, will gladly accept it when offered.

We recently just moved to a corner house and one of my friends sent me a package with the street address where the house is in but our mailing address is the same house # but with the main ave next to it. Will it still come? Or will it get lost?

Asked by Sofia over 12 years ago

I don't know that I completely understand your question, but I'll give it a try. Most houses have an official mailing address which should often correspond with the physical location of the house. I can see if it is a corner house it may be a bit confusing. You may want to contact the PO to tell them that this may be happening, and, for further reference, please advise those who mail you items of your correct mailing address and clarify with your PO as to what address should be used. This is a very important subject matter to make sure items get to where they are intended to go, especially with a lot more automated processing of the mail and substitute letter carriers who may not be familiar with all of the names are on a certain route.

If I don't pass the exam the first time, is there a mandatory wait before I can try again? Also, please excuse my spelling on the previous question...thanks.

Asked by Jeremy over 12 years ago

I don't know of any mandatory waiting period after you take the postal exam which you must wait to take it a second or third time. Good luck to you in taking the exam. There may be a mandaory waiting time, but I just am not familiar with it.

I recently moved to a new address old place was all bills paid so I'm a new customer to elec,Internet,cable so all those bills only no this address, all bills now have late fee mailman put return to sender w/out my permission is he allowed to?

Asked by Tina almost 12 years ago

I think what you are saying is that all of your new bills for your new address are not being delivered to you. For this reason you have incurred late fees. If I read it correctly, you have paid all of your old bills. The letter carrier at your new address should be delivering the new bills to your current address and not be returning them to the sender. You may want to leave a note in your mailbox with your name advising the letter carrier that your name is valid at your new address. You really shouldn't have to do this because when I see a new name to deliver that I'm not familiar with, I deliver the mail anyway and if it's not correct the current resident would usually leave the mail out for me to take back to the PO with a note saying "person doesn't live here"

I am an RCA about to change to a CCA. When casing your mail, do most city carriers case their DPS for the walking portions of their route? If not, what is the best way to merge the DPS with flats while walking the route?

Asked by Jon about 12 years ago

I have an route that is entirely walking and the DPS is not allowed to be cased in the office.  We take it out to the street and hold it in our hands and "finger" through it as we approach a house and then merge it together with the flats that have been cased and then sometimes a "3rd bundle" which is usually an advertisment that each delivery address receives. It is important though to be careful of the terrain on which you are walking while merging the DPS and flats together, especially when crossing lawns or going up and down steps. The first time I see the DPS letters is just before I get to a house to deliver it. They have been sequenced by a machine to save me the time of having to sort it earlier in the day. For the most part, they are accurately sorted with an error rate which I would say is less than 2% (just a guess). Good luck with your position change and I hope it will lead you to a full time regular city carrier position.

I would like to know if I put my mail in the mailbox to be picked up and I mistakenly put the wrong mail in. Once the carrier pick it up, is it too late for me to retrieve my mail before it is sent. Thanks

Asked by Tomy Black almost 13 years ago

Generally, if an outgoing item has been picked up and is in the mailstream to be delivered it is close to impossible for it to be retrieved. If you happen to see the letter carrier and he/she still has the item (meanining they haven't yet sent it out for dispatch), you could ask them to retrieve it but I don't know if they are obligated or even if allowed to give it back to you.