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.
Marhsall, thanks for writing to this Q and A message board. In an apt. building, it is possible the mailman doesn't see the mail left in the mailbox to return because they may assume it is just tenant mail from a previous day not yet picked up by the resident. If you are putting back in the mailbox to be returned to sender, it should be marked accordingly (like "refused" or "person doesn't live here"). Is it possible for you to leave it outside the cluster of mailboxes to be returned? This way they will see it as a piece of mail that was incorrectly delivered or being refused. It is common for residents not to collect their mail each day which is why a mailman my not look at any mail that is remaining in a mailbox when they come to deliver a subsuquent days mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20%20in%20a%20complex%20building%20made%20up%20of%20many%20apartments%20is%20the%20mailman%20supposed%20to%20return%20%20mail%20that%20I%20put%20back%20in%20the%20mailbox&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12674)
Linda, generally if a letter carrier sees a new name at an address he will deliver the mail without any notifcation from the new resident. This is especially true if the letter carrier knows that a previous owner or tenant has moved out. If you are moving in with someone, the letter carrier also should be delivering the mail anyway. Sometimes if I see a new name at an address and I'm not sure if it is correct I will put a question mark next to the name on the envelope and deliver the mail. If I don't get the mail returned with a message on it saying "person doesn't live here", then I will know that the new name at that address is valid. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to leave a notice by your mailbox or to tell the letter carrier that your name is valid at the new address. I don't think it is necessary, but I know I would never mind getting a personal confirmation of a new resident having moved in somewhere. Thanks so much for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20recently%20moved%20and%20started%20giving%20people%20my%20new%20address.%20Do%20I%20need%20to%20tell%20my%20mailman%20my%20name%20so%20he%20can%20deliver%20my%20mail%20or%20will%20he%20deliver%20it%20because%20it%20has%20the%20correct%20address&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12752)
SB, I don't know about the procedure in a condo complex as to how to deliver an international express package has to be delivered. Anything that needs a signature and would require to me ring a bell in a gated community would result in me going to their door and wouldn't be picky about whether I go to their door (once allowed through the gate) or they come to the gate. I have never worked in an environment like that. If I do deliver to cluster boxes and an item needs a signature I'd knock on the door of the addressee's unit to get the signature. Again, I don't know of any specific regulations on how the delivery should be attempted, but I tend to side on the addressee getting the best service possible (within reason, which is certainly open to interpretation). Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20CA%2094401%20area%20in%20a%20condo%20complex.%20%20I%20was%20told%20by%20my%20new%20mail%20woman%20that%20she%20does%20not%20deliver%20my%20international%20express%20package%20to%20my%20door.%20%20And%20I%20have%20to%20go%20down%20to%20the%20gate%20to%20sign%20the%20delivery%20notice%20and%20pick%20the%20package%20up%20outside%20my%20gate&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11540)
Jasmine, it depends on a few factors such as: the history of the area with regards to packages being safely left unattended, whether the sender asked for a signature of the recipient, and if the the sender asked for the parcel to be delivered even if there is no response. For example, the town where I deliver mail is very safe with regards to theft so I'll leave almost every parcel whether or not there is someone home to receive it. In other towns/cities this may. It be the case and the letter carrier would then leave a PS Form 3849 advising the recipient that we attempted delivery of a package and nobody was there to receive it. The 3849 says that the recipient can either sign for re delivery or pickup the package at the Post Office. We deliver packages sent by Amazon.com and they want their packages delivered even when nobody is home (at least where I work in Long Island, NY.)
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20would%20a%20mailman%20do%20if%20the%20owner%20of%20the%20parcel%20isn%27t%20at%20home.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14040)
"The Onion" Contributors
What's your favorite Onion headline of all time?
Court Reporter
If your special keyboard lets you type 200+ words per minute, why doesn't everyone use them?
Bartender
What's the best way to get a bartender's attention?
I am appalled by this story and others I've heard on this message board about strange things happening to the mail which are set in motion by people who have no right to do so. I hope that you will start to receive your mail soon. I don't know what happened to the undelivered mail. It's possible that the letter carrier submitted a "Moved Left No Address" form which would have your mail returned to the sender. Once this MLNA is canceled no mail will be returned to the sender and service should resume normally. Why would your neighbor do this to you and have you approached them about this? I'm not sure if a neighbor told me someone moved I would take their word for it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20mailman%20was%20told%20I%20moved%20by%20a%20neighbor.%20However%2C%20I%20have%20not%20moved%20and%20have%20not%20received%20mail%20for%20two%20weeks.%20In%20a%20case%20like%20this%20what%20happens%20to%20my%20mail%20and%20how%20can%20I%20get%20my%20missed%20deliveries%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13841)
I would think that it is fine to put outgoing mail in your mailbox with the flag up even though those who share the mailbox with you haven't picked up their mail. The suggestion I would have would be to push their uncollected mail towards the back and your outgoing mail clearly visible towards the front of the box so the letter carrier can easily tell the difference. Hopefully that will work out acceptably for everyone.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20put%20outgoing%20mail%20in%20my%20mailbox%20with%20the%20flag%20up%20if%20there%20is%20still%20mail%20in%20it%20that%20hasn%27t%20been%20picked%20up%3F%20%20The%20people%20I%20share%20a%20mailbox%20with%20are%20slow%20to%20collect%20their%20mail%20but%20I%20feel%20it%20might%20be%20rude%20to%20remove%20it%20just%20so%20I%20can%20mail%20something%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13090)
Boo, I have never heard of this happening where somebody can reverse delivery on an item that has tracking. My inkling would be that this is not allowed even if it were possible. The only way you would get the letter back is if it was refused at the destination or the address was invalid. You could call 800-ASK-USPS or go to your local Post Office but I don't think that you will get a different answer. Upon further review I went to ehow.com where there is a column written with the title "How to Retrieve a Letter Already Mailed Through the Post Office". The column mentions a form called an application for recall of mail and the steps to fill it out. Also if you go to USPS.com and lookup Package Intercept that may help you as well. You have asked a good question as it got me to do a little research to learn that this service does exist for a fee. The fee looks to be 11.50 per piece. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20i%20sent%20a%20letter%20today%20with%20tracking%20on%20it.%20Can%20i%20get%20it%20reversed%20delivered%20back%20to%20me%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12980)
-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
