Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Do I have to empty my mailbox every day? It is a mailbox that is a cluster box for a group of 12 houses.

Asked by Cindi over 12 years ago

I am not familiar with any rules that say you must empty your mailbox daily. I would let mail pile up in a mailbox until it may become full so no future mail can fit in a mailbox. It is not a common occurrrence where I deliver mail, but I am sure it does happen some places. If a mailbox came completely full, I may return any additional mail with the endorsement "box full".

1082 Votes

Mr. Dave, is getting the "you have a package" slip in the mail something the post worker is supposed to do? Lately my missed packages have been getting brought back to the PO without leaving a note.

Asked by Julius about 12 years ago

Yes it is Julius if a mailman attempts to deliver a package that requires a signature or there is nobody to receive it and the mailman doesn't feel it is safe to just leave by the recipients door. That judgment depends on the area of delivery and saftey with regards to theft. The management may also tell the delivery personnel to not just leave a package if nobody is there to receive it. I would say that a note should definitely be left if an attempt was made to deliver the package. Otherwise, how would the addressee know that there is package for them to request redelivery of or to pick up at their post office? Thank you for your question.

1082 Votes

We just purchased a lake home. The mailbox is a quarter mile away in a different zip code than the house. Which zip code is correct? (USPS lookup gives me where the mailbox is but I have successfully used the other one)

Asked by Dan about 12 years ago

Dan, I don't know the answer to your question. You likely live on a RR (Rural Route) or HCR (Highway Contract Route) given the fact that the mailbox is so far from your lake home. This has no bearing on what ZIP code you use as far as I know. I could see either ZIP code working based on what you told me, but I'm sure only one ZIP is actually correct. My suggestion is to stop in at a local post office during their business hours and ask a clerk or supervisor what ZIP you shoud be using or possibly call them if you can find their phone # or possibly 1-800-ASK-USPS. Thanks for writing and congratulations on your new home purchase.

1082 Votes

At the end of your delivery day, you notice that you have some remaining flyers. What would you do with them

Asked by zoom over 11 years ago

If the flyers are unaddressed which would usually be the case when there are leftovers, I bring them back to the post office where they are usually discarded in a recycle bin. It's not too often that I have leftover flyers because they are usually distributed to the letter carriers in the correct quantity needed to cover the entire route (give or take a few). Another reason why we usually don't have leftovers is because we are supposed to count out the number of flyers needed for each section (loop or relay) resulting in a low amt of overage. I do see many flyers put in the recycle bin at the end of the day leading me to believe that some flyers aren't delivered or there is an error in the counts for some routes. A lot of flyers are probably of little interest to the recipients, but that isn't my concern. I am loyal to the mailers who are paying the USPS to provide delivery services for their advertising.

1081 Votes

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My address has always been my mom address. Her boyfriend moved in and he keep giving important mail back to the mail carrier. For months I have not receive important mail can I take legal action.

Asked by William Legion about 12 years ago

I am sorry that I can't advise you on any legal action to be taken with regards to your situation. I find it quite unconscionable that your mother's boyfriend would return your important mail to the letter carrier if he knows that you receive your mail at your mother's address. One option would be to contact the post office that delivers your mail and mention to the delivery supervisor to mention to the letter carrier that mail addressed to you should be delivered to your mother's address and not be accepted by the letter carrier as "refused" mail. Also, I am sure you've already mentioned to your mother about what is happening and asked her to tell her boyfriend to stop doing that. I don't know the circumstances as to why her would return the mail, but it is disgusting to do that if it is just to be malicious. Thank you for writing.

1081 Votes

I received a handwritten note on my mail in these exact words and misspelling, "Not playin maze game with cars by box. 3 days no delivery 10-23, 10-24, 10-25". How should I address this impolite note from the mail carrier?

Asked by Ashlee over 12 years ago

I agree that the note is not very professional. At our office, a SUpv has official forms that would be filled out if delivery was going to be suspended due to a blocked box. I believe you understand the point of the note. Since I don't know what your street looks like, I don't know the parking situation, but normally clearance has to be provided so the letter carrier can approach the mailbox, deliver the mail, and then depart without having to leave the vehicle. I don't know the best way to approach this issue, but a call to the PO wouldn't hurt and have a discussion with the supervisor regarding the note and the regulations for suspending delivery due to a blocked mailbox.

1080 Votes

Is a mailman the only person who delivers from the post office. And if my package was recieved by a local post office yesterday at 2:00 should it come the next day on Saturday?

Asked by McKenna Peltier over 12 years ago

Generally, a mailman (letter carrier-terms are synonomous) is the only person who will deliver from a post office, but I don't know that to be an absolute rule. My brother is a clerk at a post office which is comprised only of rural letter carriers. If Express Mail arrives later in the day when the rural letter carriers have completed their routes, either he or another clerk, or maybe a supervisor will deliver the Express Mail item. Also, in general, a package that arrives at a local post office on a particular day at 2:00 PM should be delivered with the following delivery days mail. Again, it's not an absolute guarantee but within the normal course of operations, I would think it should be delivered.

1080 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do I have to empty my mailbox every day? It is a mailbox that is a cluster box for a group of 12 houses.

Mr. Dave, is getting the "you have a package" slip in the mail something the post worker is supposed to do? Lately my missed packages have been getting brought back to the PO without leaving a note.

We just purchased a lake home. The mailbox is a quarter mile away in a different zip code than the house. Which zip code is correct? (USPS lookup gives me where the mailbox is but I have successfully used the other one)

At the end of your delivery day, you notice that you have some remaining flyers. What would you do with them

Also on Jobstr...

My address has always been my mom address. Her boyfriend moved in and he keep giving important mail back to the mail carrier. For months I have not receive important mail can I take legal action.

I received a handwritten note on my mail in these exact words and misspelling, "Not playin maze game with cars by box. 3 days no delivery 10-23, 10-24, 10-25". How should I address this impolite note from the mail carrier?

Is a mailman the only person who delivers from the post office. And if my package was recieved by a local post office yesterday at 2:00 should it come the next day on Saturday?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do I have to empty my mailbox every day? It is a mailbox that is a cluster box for a group of 12 houses.

Mr. Dave, is getting the "you have a package" slip in the mail something the post worker is supposed to do? Lately my missed packages have been getting brought back to the PO without leaving a note.

We just purchased a lake home. The mailbox is a quarter mile away in a different zip code than the house. Which zip code is correct? (USPS lookup gives me where the mailbox is but I have successfully used the other one)

At the end of your delivery day, you notice that you have some remaining flyers. What would you do with them

Also on Jobstr...

My address has always been my mom address. Her boyfriend moved in and he keep giving important mail back to the mail carrier. For months I have not receive important mail can I take legal action.

I received a handwritten note on my mail in these exact words and misspelling, "Not playin maze game with cars by box. 3 days no delivery 10-23, 10-24, 10-25". How should I address this impolite note from the mail carrier?

Is a mailman the only person who delivers from the post office. And if my package was recieved by a local post office yesterday at 2:00 should it come the next day on Saturday?

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