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.
I actually have no idea regarding the blue collection boxes being replaced with ones that have thinner slots. Possibly it is harder to steal out of it with a thinner slot buy I'm purely speculating. I don't know that theft from these boxes is much of an issue in most areas. Your question is the first I'm hearing about different size slot collection boxes. If anything I just hear of there being less collection boxes in general due to the decline in First-Class Mail being sent.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=It%20seems%20that%20all%20the%20big%20blue%20mailboxes%20%20on%20the%20street%20that%20we%20put%20our%20mail%20into%20have%20been%20replaced%20with%20new%20ones.%20%20They%20look%20just%20like%20the%20old%20ones%20but%20there%20is%20less%20space%20for%20the%20envelopes%20to%20go%20through%20into%20the%20box.%20%20Why%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15592)
I'd recommend taking it to the Post Office to make sure you are paying the right amt. You should just be able to put it in a letter size envelope (if it fits) and seal the envelope well. A proper address should also be written on the envelope where the bottom line is the Country of Destination (in your case either UK or Scotland). My quick search says that a 2 oz. letter to Scotland would be $2.21. If you are interested, you can go to www.usps.com and search for calculate a price and after answering several questions you can get a rate. 2 stamps would be equal to .98 so that would be insufficient to mail to Scotland. The minimum price for international mailing is $1.20 I think. Thanks for writing and I always say it's better to put too much postage on instead of too little. This way you lessen the risk of an item being returned for insufficient postage.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hey%20I%20was%20wondering%2C%20I%20live%20in%20Texas%20and%20want%20to%20ship%20a%20letter%20to%20Scotland.%20It%20doesn%27t%20weigh%20much%2C%20it%20just%20has%20a%20Pokemon%20card.%20But%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20I%20had%20to%20put%202%20stamps%20on%20it%20or%20take%20it%20to%20the%20post%20office%20to%20be%20shipped%20a%20Certain%20way%3F%20thanks%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15158)
I don't think being a letter carrier is dangerous with respect to personal safety. I think most people respect the letter carrier enough not to assault or harass them. I can be accused of looking at this situation through rose-colored glasses because I am a male and deliver mail in an affluent area where very little violent crime occurs. You need to be vigilant for loose dogs and to drive carefully. The only protection we have for an emergency is for a dog attack. In that case we have dog repellent spray plus a mail satchel which could be used as sort of a shield between you and the dog. Most workplace injuries are falls which results in cuts, sprains, bruises and broken bones. In case of a real emergency we would call 911 and alert the Post Office.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20being%20a%20mail%20carrier%20dangerous%3F%20Are%20you%20given%20any%20sort%20of%20protection%20in%20case%20of%20an%20emergency%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15456)
I don't believe they can ask you what is actually in the large letter, but I know if it's over a certain weight or size, they can ask something to the effect of "is the item you are mailing liquid, fragile, perishable, or potentially hazardous?" and you self-certify the answer with a yes or no. Certain batteries have to go by surface only and can't fly on airplanes. So I would take exception of they actually ask you what is being mailed if it's first class or Priority Mail. If you are mailing something via Medial Mail they can verify or even open a package to inspect that it is media (books, CDs, cassettes, video, DVD). I hope this answers your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20the%20people%20at%20the%20counter%20in%20the%20post%20office%20obliged%20to%20ask%20me%20what%20I%20am%20sending%20in%20a%20Large%20Letter%20%3F%3F%20thank%20you&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15288)
CPR Trainer
Are you supposed to perform CPR differently on a man vs. a woman?
Debate Coach
Are presidential debates actually "debates", by the traditional definition?
NHL Team Marketer
Is fighting in hockey good or bad for the game?
If I were in motion, I'd safely pull over, put on my four-way flashers, and then get out to investigate. It's possible that my gas cap is hanging out the side of the LLV, the back gate isn't secure, or maybe I'm dragging something. It could also be something that I haven't thought of. If the motorist is still around I'd ask them what they are pointing out. If it seemed to be some type of phony diversion tactic, I'd try to get far away from the motorist pointing and then investigate safely.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=While%20driving%20the%20vehicle%20to%20make%20a%20delivery%2C%20another%20motorist%20points%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20your%20vehicle%20as%20if%20something%20is%20wrong.%20What%20do%20you%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16039)
They should take it. I've never heard of that being an issue. As long as there is sufficient postage it should be accepted. I think most letter carriers don't even look at the to/from address on an envelope when they collect mail from a person or collection box. Furthermore, I know of no requirement to even have a return address on anything that is mailed. Thanks for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20the%20adress%20on%20the%20envelope%20of%20the%20letter%20I%27m%20trying%20to%20send%20dosent%20match%20my%20address%20%20will%20the%20mail%20man%20still%20take%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15380)
I wouldn't recommend it unless you put a stamp on the envelope. The reason I say this is because the mailbox is only supposed to be used for US Mail with proper postage. That being said, if you leave the envelope in the mailbox clearly marked for the recipient company or resident with no postage it's possible the letter carrier would notice it and just leave it in the mailbox. That is what I would do but I can't speak for another letter carrier who isn't paying attention and just takes an envelope that looks like it could be outgoing mail. If you put the payment envelope in the mailbox with the address and postage it could be taken as outgoing mail but you can rest assured it will get to the recipient within a couple of days as a regular piece of mail. If possible, could you find an alternate place to put the payment or pay electronically?
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20need%20to%20leave%20a%20payment%20for%20a%20company%20and%20she%20is%20not%20home.%20..can%20I%20leave%20the%20payment%20in%20an%20envelope%20in%20her%20mailbox&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15910)
-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
