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 am not too familiar with the outgoing mail gray business boxes. Was it inside a business that was on your run? It's not against any laws to mail a letter from an outgoing business gray box. As long as there is sufficient postage on the letter I don't see why you can't mail that from anywhere. It should be no problem at all. I just wouldn't know the schedule as to when the mail was picked up. If the letter carrier had already taken the mail for the day from the business gray box, it will likely get picked up the following delivery day.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20against%20the%20law%20to%20mail%20a%20letter%20from%20a%20business%20outgoing%20box%3F%20I%20went%20on%20a%20run%20thinking%20that%20I%20would%20find%20a%20Blue%20box%20and%20all%20I%20found%20was%20an%20outgoing%20business%20gray%20box.%20I%20put%20it%20in%20there%20not%20thinking%20anything%20of%20it%2C%20now%20I%27m%20worried.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16451)
The main reasons for a mail route to change for a city carrier is because a route/assignment has come up for bid (Another carrier has retired/transferred/bid to another route) and one carrier decides to bid for the available route so they'd leave their current route. That is the most common reason. It's possible you could have the same carrier for many years or a route may be so large or undesirable that it's like a revolving door as to who delivers your mail. One other reason for a new carrier is if the office restructures the routes and different streets go to different letter carriers. Where I work I've only seen this a couple of times in 15 years. This would be more common if there was a lot of new construction in a town. Assignments or routes are awarded to the carrier with the highest seniority who desire it. That is how the bidding system works. Thanks for submitting your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20notice%20I%20have%20a%20different%20mail%20carrier..%20How%20often%20does%20a%20route%20change%20for%20city%20mail%20carriers%3F%20Why%20would%20it%20change%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15198)
They might. If you are on a rural delivery route, I believe it is part of the carrier's job to mail items for the customers (at the customer's expense, of course) and deliver them stamps if they request them and pay for it. If you live on a city delivery route, it's probably up to the individual carrier if they will fulfill your request or not. I believe you can purchase stamps online and they'll be sent to you or there is an option for stamps by mail. In the latter option, you fill out a form and enclose a check and the USPS will deliver your stamps in a couple of days. I don't see any of those options used too often where I deliver mail but I can't speak for other post offices.
Try this URL:
https://store.usps.com/store/
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20leave%20money%20and%20a%20note%20for%20a%20book%20of%20stamps%20in%20my%20mailbox%20will%20my%20mailman%20deliver%20me%20stamp&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15212)
I don't know the policy on this as I've never thought to put someone's mail on hold without their authorization. I suppose this could come about if their mailbox was full and the carrier couldn't deliver any more mail to that address. In that case maybe a letter carrier would hold any future mail at the PO for a certain amount of time and then possibly return that mail to the sender with the endorsements "mailbox full". A letter carrier can also hold the mail at the PO if your mailbox is inaccessible due to snow. They will usually deliver all of the accumulated mail within a couple of days of the mailbox becoming accessible. We had that situation occur at our PO this past winter when snow prevented some of the driving (mounted) route carriers from being able to drive up to a mailbox without getting out of their LLV.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=when%20can%20a%20mail%20carrier%20place%20your%20mail%20on%20hold%20without%20giving%20you%20notice&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14769)
Couples Therapist
Does a therapist aim to "fix" the client, or just treat the client indefinitely?
Hollywood Executive Assistant
Are Hollywood execs as nightmarish as depicted on TV?
Business Start-Up Specialist
Should friends go into business together?
Definitely. It's never been an issue as far as I know to take a bathroom break as needed even if it means leaving the street you are delivering mail on to go use a lavatory at a public business. That's what I usually do. I'll leave my route and go to a gas station or the public library that are near my route as needed. It doesn't have to be an emergency.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20leave%20a%20street%20you%20are%20delivering%20mail%20on%20to%20use%20the%20restroom%20in%20a%20emergency%20and%20then%20return%20to%20that%20street%20and%20continue%20where%20you%20left%20off....%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16174)
Yes, I've heard of nothing to the contrary and I know that many of the younger letter carriers have tattoos and piercings.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20mail%20carriers%20allowed%20to%20have%20tattoos%20and%2For%20piercings%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15455)
I wouldn't recommend getting them any alcohol if they are hungover often. How about some aspirin? We get a yearly allowance for uniform clothing so I can't think of any clothing to get them. Actually, maybe a light rain jacket or slicker wouldn't be such a bad idea, but we do get allowances for good performing raingear. As far as walking in the sun, we also can purchase wise-brimmed sunhats or pith helmets. We also have rubber overboots that can keep our feet dry in the rain. I receive gift cards and cash mostly as holiday gifts from customers to whom I deliver mail. One of my co-workers gives me some lottery scratch-offs which is very nice. I realize that this doesn't necessarily answer your question since none of these gifts are practical in dealing with rain or sun. It's also nice of you to just consider a gift so he should appreciate whatever you give them. I don't exchange gifts with most of friends or family. Having time with them is a present enough. I realize that's a bit corny but that's how I feel.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20would%20be%20the%20best%20thing%20to%20get%20a%20mailman%20for%20christmas%20my%20friend%20is%20a%20fellow%20mailman%20an%20he%20always%20complains%20about%20getting%20rained%20on%20and%20walking%20in%20the%20sun%20while%20hungover.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15814)
-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
