Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

I got a voicemail saying "This is your mailman, I've got certified mail for. Are you home?" I live in an apartment complex. How did the mailman get my phone number?

Asked by Asmabone1 over 10 years ago

It's pretty rare but sometimes a phone number is printed on the outside of the envelope. I've never heard of a mailman calling a customer to tell him about a certified letter but that doesn't mean it can't happen. If we can't deliver a certified letter the normal procedure is to leave a form called a PS 3849 in your mail receptacle informing you of our delivery attempt and how to go about receiving the certified letter. If I were you I'd ignore the VM unless they were very specific and it's something you were expecting. They also could have looked up your phone number but it's not part of our normal procedure and if it was a mobile # it wouldn't show up on any directory.

523 Votes

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

Asked by Andrew almost 10 years ago

Andrew, you may want to email the vendor of the postcards to see the size of the white box. It looks like it would fit in the white box but I can't say for sure as I don't know standard address label sizes. I recommend doing this before ordering the cards because I don't know if they issue refunds. I see there is an area where your card customization needs to be double checked since there are no changes once the order is placed.

523 Votes

. While driving the vehicle to make a delivery, another motorist points towards the back of your vehicle as if something is wrong. What do you do?

Asked by Arek about 10 years ago

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.

523 Votes

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Asked by Deborah Sala almost 10 years ago

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.

522 Votes

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What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Asked by Ashley about 10 years ago

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.

522 Votes

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

Asked by Zach almost 10 years ago

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.

521 Votes

Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

Asked by Fern over 10 years ago

I sign customer's names on accountable mail or packages that need a signature if I know them and they'd likely want that done. I frequently do this but technically it's not allowed unless the recipient has given previous written authorization to do this. So far, it's never been a problem in my career that I've signed for an item, but I don't expect others to do the same. As far as if this can screw over a customer, I don't know. I suppose if you signed for a package for a customer and then never delivered it to them it could be a problem. I think in that case the letter carrier would be questioned because the intended recipient never received the item and will say it's not their signature on the PS 3849 or electronic signature record.

521 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I got a voicemail saying "This is your mailman, I've got certified mail for. Are you home?" I live in an apartment complex. How did the mailman get my phone number?

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

. While driving the vehicle to make a delivery, another motorist points towards the back of your vehicle as if something is wrong. What do you do?

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Also on Jobstr...

What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I got a voicemail saying "This is your mailman, I've got certified mail for. Are you home?" I live in an apartment complex. How did the mailman get my phone number?

Follow up question i was the guy who asked about the eddm would i a regular size label fit where it says local postal customer do you think it fit?

. While driving the vehicle to make a delivery, another motorist points towards the back of your vehicle as if something is wrong. What do you do?

Can you leave a street you are delivering mail on to use the restroom in a emergency and then return to that street and continue where you left off....?

Also on Jobstr...

What would be the best thing to get a mailman for christmas my friend is a fellow mailman an he always complains about getting rained on and walking in the sun while hungover.

Is it against the law to mail a letter from a business outgoing box? I went on a run thinking that I would find a Blue box and all I found was an outgoing business gray box. I put it in there not thinking anything of it, now I'm worried.

Have you ever had to sign someone's name for them on a package because they weren't home? and also is there any way that doing this can screw over the customer?

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