Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

Asked by Randy almost 12 years ago

Randy, I dont know the answer to your question. I can see it turning out both ways. On one hand, the carrier may be familiar with you and/or the neighborhood and feel it is safe enough to leave the mail by your door without risk of it being stolen. On the other hand, they may have rules saying that this is forbidden and not be able to verify that you actually wrote the note. you could also call your local PO to find out if they can be of any help, but I'm guessing they will say that you have to get a replacement key and can't risk bringing the mail to your door. I'm being purposefully vague because I have a feeling that there would be different answers from different offices/personnel. I hope you can find your mailbox key.

1043 Votes

I live in a small ME town. For 13 years the postman would put any packages inside my front door. They called me a few months ago and said they can't do this anymore. I'm old so it's hard to go out in the snow/ice to get them. Is this a new policy?

Asked by Susan over 12 years ago

I don't know the policy for whether or not to leave a package inside the door or not. I will leave a parcel inside a mailbox if it fits. If it doesn't fit, then I will bring the package to the front door of the house or put it inside a vestibule. I will leave the item if nobody is home and a signature isn't required because I deliver mail in a very safe,suburban NY community. The suggestion that I have in your situation is to call your PO and speak with the delivery supervisor or postmaster to see if an exception can be made for your situation. I dont know what the result will be or what the official policy is.

1043 Votes

So I sent my Boyfriend a care package and I forgot to put his apartment number on the address. As I tracked it, it said it was delivered, yet he hasn't received it. I also didnt put a reture address on it. Where do you think it could be?

Asked by Tera over 12 years ago

Tera, I am sorry but I don't know where the package you sent your boyfriend is, though I think you knew that already. If a letter carrier can't figure out which apt. # a piece of mail should go to, they often will have it returned to sender though I realize you left off your address as well. The package was either delivered to the wrong apt number or sent to an office that handles undeliverable mail. I am not sure where that office is or what happens to items sent there.

1043 Votes

Hi! So i bought something off Amazon, and when I put in my address info, i accidentally put my email address in the "Address 1" section but put in the correct City & zip code. I saw it arrived at my local USPS facility. What happens to my package?

Asked by Sally almost 13 years ago

So you didn't put your street address in there at all? If you only have city state and zip, I'd recommend contacting the PO somehow and explaining what happened. Hopefully they won't have sent it back for insufficient address.

1043 Votes

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Is it common for mail carriers to deliver all day and into the night? For example, my mother who works for usps recently worked from 6am until after 10pm. It is holiday season but still...that is a horribly long day!

Asked by Lili over 12 years ago

I agree Lili that 0600-2200 is a terribly long day. A normal shift for a regular postal worker is 8 hrs plus :30 lunch. There is often OT available but for most "regular" employees it shouldn't be mandatory. n my office it seems that some of the CCAs (city carrier assistant) have worked as long as 12 hours, but in don't think that is too common. This holiday season seems to have been very heavy with the parcel deliveries which would extend our delivery day. It's possible your mother's office is shorthanded which is why she is working so many hours. During the 4 wks around Christmas, the work/pay rules are suspended which require double time to be paid after 10 hrs of work (8 hours if you are working on your scheduled day off). For this reason, the mgmt isn't as pressured to limit the hours worked, and the truth is that the mail needs to get delivered somehow.

1041 Votes

I have just started as a CCA for Glen Head long island but I live in Brooklyn, the drive is too long for me. Can I transfer right away if I see an opening on usps website.

Asked by NA about 12 years ago

I wish you well in your career as a CCA, but I certainly understand that a drive from Brooklyn to Glen Head is pretty far. I don't know anything about the transfer process even when you just started your probationary period. I don't think it was possible when I was a PTF (part-time flexible) to put in for a transfer until a certain amount of time had passed since I was hired. I don't know if the process has changed. Thanks for writing.

1041 Votes

my mail carrier refuses to close the lid (flip-up lid worksfine) after delivering my mail.. instead of closing, she gives a quick flip & drives off. Drives me crazy but afraid to address it out of fear she will "lose" my mail.
How should I address?

Asked by Scott over 12 years ago

Scott, you ask a very good question and I do understand your hesitation for wanting to address this issue with her for fear of retaliation. I would take the step of writing a note for the carrier and politely asking them to close the lid after delivering the mail. I realize I agreed with you that there was a slight risk in addressing the issue, but if dealt with politely I'd hope there would be no cause for retaliation. Also, a call to the delivery supervisor would be appropriate if you dI'd see any obvious retaliation.

1041 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

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Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

I live in a small ME town. For 13 years the postman would put any packages inside my front door. They called me a few months ago and said they can't do this anymore. I'm old so it's hard to go out in the snow/ice to get them. Is this a new policy?

So I sent my Boyfriend a care package and I forgot to put his apartment number on the address. As I tracked it, it said it was delivered, yet he hasn't received it. I also didnt put a reture address on it. Where do you think it could be?

Hi! So i bought something off Amazon, and when I put in my address info, i accidentally put my email address in the "Address 1" section but put in the correct City & zip code. I saw it arrived at my local USPS facility. What happens to my package?

Also on Jobstr...

Is it common for mail carriers to deliver all day and into the night? For example, my mother who works for usps recently worked from 6am until after 10pm. It is holiday season but still...that is a horribly long day!

I have just started as a CCA for Glen Head long island but I live in Brooklyn, the drive is too long for me. Can I transfer right away if I see an opening on usps website.

my mail carrier refuses to close the lid (flip-up lid worksfine) after delivering my mail.. instead of closing, she gives a quick flip & drives off. Drives me crazy but afraid to address it out of fear she will "lose" my mail.
How should I address?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

I live in a small ME town. For 13 years the postman would put any packages inside my front door. They called me a few months ago and said they can't do this anymore. I'm old so it's hard to go out in the snow/ice to get them. Is this a new policy?

So I sent my Boyfriend a care package and I forgot to put his apartment number on the address. As I tracked it, it said it was delivered, yet he hasn't received it. I also didnt put a reture address on it. Where do you think it could be?

Hi! So i bought something off Amazon, and when I put in my address info, i accidentally put my email address in the "Address 1" section but put in the correct City & zip code. I saw it arrived at my local USPS facility. What happens to my package?

Also on Jobstr...

Is it common for mail carriers to deliver all day and into the night? For example, my mother who works for usps recently worked from 6am until after 10pm. It is holiday season but still...that is a horribly long day!

I have just started as a CCA for Glen Head long island but I live in Brooklyn, the drive is too long for me. Can I transfer right away if I see an opening on usps website.

my mail carrier refuses to close the lid (flip-up lid worksfine) after delivering my mail.. instead of closing, she gives a quick flip & drives off. Drives me crazy but afraid to address it out of fear she will "lose" my mail.How should I address?

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my mail carrier refuses to close the lid (flip-up lid worksfine) after delivering my mail.. instead of closing, she gives a quick flip & drives off. Drives me crazy but afraid to address it out of fear she will "lose" my mail.
How should I address?