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.
It doesn’t sound like a good first impression, but it doesn’t sound like you did anything malicious on purpose. I don’t know that I would ever harshly scold anyone about most things but I have a high amount of patience which maybe your carrier, doesn’t have. I suppose the next time you see her you could explain (or apologize) that you didn’t mean anything by it. I also guess you could wait until the letter carrier is completely done sorting the mall before checking on your mail, but I don’t think that is always necessary either. I’m sorry to be so vague, but it almost seems like a short temper on behalf of the letter carrier. This is based on what you’ve described not truly knowing either of your personalities. I just hope your next interaction with your letter carrier is calm and cordial. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27m%20a%20new%20resident%20in%20a%20high%20rise%20apt%20bldg.%20My%20mail%20carrier%20scolded%20me%20harshly%20today%20saying%20%22I%20snuck%20up%20behind%20her%22%20while%20I%20was%20checking%20my%20mail.%20Not%20a%20good%20first%20impression%20to%20make%20with%20your%20mail%20carrier.%20How%20do%20I%20smooth%20it%20over%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21145)
The tractor trailers may have some type of radio communications, but as a letter carrier, I do not. We just have our personal cell phones and our intelligent mail device (handheld scanner) which can be used to communicate with the office. We rarely use that option. Mostly it’s phone calls or regular text messaging to communicate with each other (either carrier to carrier or carrier to mgmt).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20you%20have%20CB%20radios&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21701)
Thank you for your question. Paraphrasing the USPS website: As per the CDC and the Surgeon General, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail. I don’t particularly think the term Chinese Virus is appropriate.
I do worry often about getting sick or getting someone else sick. In my personal life I have distanced myself from my family for fear that I could be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus At my particular USPS facility we practice safe social distancing. While delivering mail, I don’t need to interact face-to-face with most customers so I feel that is low risk for transmitting or catching Covid-19. If I need to interact with a postal customer I can do so at a safe distance. If an item requires a signature we may sign on behalf of the recipient as long as they give us a verbal agreement that they would like the item. Starting today I’ve decided to wear a mask while inside the USPS facility. I went shopping today at BJ’s Wholesale after work and was impressed by the amount of shoppers who had their nose and mouth covered. Along with social distancing this is an effective way to help you from unknowingly transmit the virus to somebody else. I am thankful that so far I’ve shown no symptoms of the virus as I’m worried about getting it. While the majority of those who succumb to complications of the virus are usually older or have underlying medical conditions, there is. I guarantee that a younger, healthy, person will survive this virus that spreads so rapidly.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20you%20think%20COVID-19%20%28Chinese%20virus%29%20can%20spread%20through%20mail%3F%20Do%20you%20ever%20worry%20about%20getting%20sick%20or%20getting%20someone%20else%20sick%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21799)
On the postal route, not particularly. I’m pretty easy going. I don’t really care when people just talk to you because you aren’t just a body. I mean they aren’t conversant and just want to talk about their accomplishments around the house, etc. Truthfully, it’s a waste of my time so I can tolerate it in small doses. If they get too long winded, I walk away and don’t give an excuse. I realize that wasn’t your question Rarely do I ever get complaints about my delivery or the time I arrive. The latter is out of my control. Mail is quite unimportant these days so many people don’t care when, or even, if they get a delivery. I can’t think of any stupid complaints. Every now and then there is a complaint or comment about mail being wet due to sweat on my arm. I don’t find that an unreasonable complaint, so for that customer, I try to keep her mail dry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20ever%20people%20who%20are%20unhappy%20with%20you%20and%20why%3F%20Anyone%20ever%20yell%20at%20you%20about%20the%20time%20you%20show%20up%20or%20anything%20really%20that%20is%20something%20you%20can%E2%80%99t%20control%20and%2For%20something%20that%20is%20just%20plain%20stupid&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/22418)
Bartender
What's the best way to get a bartender's attention?
Certified Nurse Aide
Have you ever seen any 'senior abuse' in your nursing home?
Beauty Queen
Have you ever suspected that the judging in a pageant was rigged?
There aren’t too many that I can think of where we wouldn’t go out on our routes. I believe if there was extreme cold and wind chill conditions or a snowfall that made the roads impasssable, the mgmt may decide to suspend delivery of mail for the day. I don’t keep track, but, in my career, mail delivery has only been canceled on a few occasions. The LLV that many of us use for delivery don’t handle well when snow has accumulated more than a few inches on a road. It is even worse on an incline or decline.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20any%20condition%20besides%20a%20hurricane%20or%20wild%20fire%20or%20floods%20that%20they%20would%20say%20%E2%80%9Cokay%20don%E2%80%99t%20go%20out%20today%E2%80%9D%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21167)
I am copying and pasting my reply to another post of the same subject. Thanks for your inquiry.
I believe there has been a lot of doubt purposely introduced into the voting-by-mail process by President Trump. My opinion is that voting by mail is very safe and reliable. There are a few important points I’d like to make:
If you vote by mail, please follow the instructions given on the absentee/mail-in ballot regarding deadlines and signing your ballot. Also, voter fraud via mail or in person is quite rare. Several states have been doing almost full vote-by-mail for a number of years with minimal issues.
I plan to either vote by mail or vote early this year in NY State. If you are concerned about a mail-in ballot being received by your local election authority, I recommend dropping it off at a ballot collection box. I don’t believe there should be any issue as to how the USPS processes election mail. I think of it as just like having another couple of pieces of mail per address to deliver. We absolutely have the capacity to handle this in my opinion.
My bottom line—have confidence in the USPS in handling election mail for this coming 2020 General Election.
Thanks for your interest. This is a very important issue in the year of COVID-19 where mail voting will be utilized more than ever.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20think%20of%20mail%20in%20votes%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/22711)
I think it’s just a general caution strobe that means this truck may make many starts and stops and it may be slow moving. I think it’s similar to hazard flashers.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20the%20strobe%20lights%20on%20the%20top%20of%20some%20of%20the%20trucks%20mean&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21693)
-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
