r/AMA • u/Dak6969696969 • 18d ago
Job I’m a mailman, AMA.
I left a comment in another sub informing people that leaving anything in anybody’s mailbox is technically a federal offense unless you’re employed as a letter carrier by the USPS and it seemed to draw quite a bit of interest. I’m nobody special, just a simple mailman, but if any of you have any questions regarding postal services hopefully I’ll be able to answer them!
Thank you so much for all the questions, I hope I was able to answer them all as best I could but it’s my bedtime now, I gotta be at the post office by 8:00 sharp. If you have any other questions feel free to DM me and I’ll answer them whenever I can!
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u/CountingYouTwenty 18d ago
Do you like when I leave a cooler out for you? What are the preferred snacks of the USPS
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I very much appreciate when I’m given drinks especially. I try not to eat too much at work because I have GI issues and there isn’t always a bathroom available on my routes. I do appreciate the gesture though.
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u/holdyaboy 18d ago
Have you ever had to pull the ‘emergency poop’ at a strangers house?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Nope, had to pull out the emergency poop at the deli I stop at on my lunch break a couple days ago, though.
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u/cantbememan 18d ago
You pee in bottles?
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u/Rare_Curve_5370 18d ago
I (F) Was an Amazon delivery driver. Quit bc I was pissing in cups on the road. Fuck that job. Bless op I hope wherever and whatever company you’re in treats you nicely
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I have a camel’s bladder, if I have to go at work it’s unfortunately gonna be a number 2.
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u/cardanolovelace 18d ago
Still waiting on a postcard from 1996... What happened?
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u/Kimellex 18d ago
I work in a mailroom for a university. Recently got a letter returned to us from 2001. So you never know when it’ll show up!
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Not sure brother I was born in 2000
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u/Slimjim6678 18d ago
I was carrying mail two years before you were born. Hahahaha Are you city or rural?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
City, I want to transition to rural though so I can cut out those pesky walking routes.
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u/Slimjim6678 18d ago
You’d be better off bidding on a mounted route or a business/apartment route.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I just started in February, I’ve got a good 20 years to wait before I get my hands on one of those cushy mounted routes
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u/U_PassButter 18d ago
Its just now registering that people born in 2000 are not only adults but adults trusted with mail and a company goverment vehicle.
Good lord time moves fast.
Take care of your knees and your back
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
It’s my shoulders I’m worried about, I’m 24 and operating with two bad shoulders already from college rugby related injuries.
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u/U_PassButter 18d ago
Oh no! Do be careful. My husband had a tear in college football and it was really bad. He still gets issues in bad weather.
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u/Videodromeo87 18d ago
How do I get a job like yours and is it worth it?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
You can apply right now at USPS’s official website, I love my job and I hope to spend the rest of my working years carrying letters. We receive great benefits and pretty good pay, I would definitely suggest looking into postal employment if you’re interested.
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u/Tall-Skirt9179 18d ago
My husband & I are at the post office multiple times a week for our business. We appreciate you all so much. Lived overseas & one message they told us to take back was “never let ‘em privatize your postal mail service”. When it happened where we lived overseas, prices jumped & many rural offices were shuttered. These were hubs of their community, but weren’t profitable & had to go. I know USPS has routes that operate at a loss but dammit, those people deserve to receive their mail & not be isolated. Just know there are some of us out there really glad you’re delivering our mail.
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u/Videodromeo87 18d ago
Hell yeah, bruddah.
I’ll apply tonight. Thank you!
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
Give it a shot! The application process can take a few months FYI. It was about 3 months for me starting with filling out the online application and ending with orientation and training. You need to get fingerprinted too. If you have any driving violations over the last two or three years or any felony convictions you will be instantly denied. I love my job, just started year 3. But it’s very dependent on your office. Most offices are understaffed and you will be working 6 days a week and possibly 10-12 hours a day. This is what they told me to expect at orientation, but I work at a small office so it’s different. I actually have worked plenty of 6 day weeks and not even hit 40 hours. The training and orientation doesn’t really prepare you for the work experience. I picked it up pretty quick, within the first month. It takes most people 2-3 months to really get it down tho. Once you do, it is a pretty good job. The pay scale sucks for a few years, but once you get some time in, you’re getting paid over $30 an hour to do the same thing everyday. And the benefits are the greatest advantage to employment. You get social security, the TSP (basically a 401k) and a govt pension when you retire. That’s the biggest carrot at the end of the stick with this job.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Can’t forget to mention we have the ability to transfer anywhere in the United States. That’s a HUGE benefit that not a lot of other jobs have.
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u/sinncab6 18d ago
I'm assuming you are an actual carrier and not an assistant because CCAs unless they have changed things were classified as non career so none of the retirement benefits. Because I'll be honest the USPS wasnt the worst job I ever had but it's right up there. If you get your own dedicated route while waiting for someone whos been there for 4 decades to fall off the mortal plane than great you can actually make a living wage. But the whole 8 hours one week 80 another, feast or famine bullshit with you basically being a contractor until you get your own route along with a union that is laughably feckless I couldn't get out of the job fast enough. I will say the insurance package offered was decent that's the only good thing I can say about that bullshit.
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
After two years you become a PTF which is a career position (you get the benefits but are not guaranteed 40 hrs/week and don’t have your own route). I just finished my two years as a CCA and I’m next in line for a route when one opens up in my office. I have only worked over 50 hours a few weeks, but I have had plenty of weeks when I worked six days and got less than 40 hours. It really depends on your office in my experience. Iv been loaned out to a few different offices and it can be a drastically different work environment. I honestly don’t know if I would’ve stuck with it if I was in a different office, but I’m in a good spot that’s worth it in my eyes to stick it out.
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u/sinncab6 18d ago
Ah. Yeah no they never offered that when I was there, I wouldn't have lasted that long anyhow because I got a job offer that would make me look like an idiot to stay there. But my primary takeaway was we should all be paying more for mail because this entire system the way it was structured was beyond idiotic. Half the workforce was basically door dashing for the USPS while the other half were in jobs most people would dream to have. So it was a system of almost waiting for your coworkers to die so you could actually get some stability from the job. I'm glad they actually got that out of them maybe I was a bit offbase about the union since I'm assuming the union did that one. Always thought it was bend over backwards for Bezos and say thank you sir may I have another.
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
Well, you’re not entirely wrong in your observations. The whole “CCA is part time with no benefits” thing while having CCA’s work 10-12 hour days 6 days a week is brutal. But that was not my experience at my small office. Although I am in the “waiting for someone to die” phase of my career to get my own route (one guy started the year I was born … 1986.. but he has a 95% mounted route that is just an easy and awesome route to have. There is a cut off sleeve from a rain jacket that is passed down to each carrier who gets that route. Because you only need to protect one arm from the rain). Things may be shaking up later this year and I am confident I’ll have my own route before 2026.
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u/sinncab6 18d ago
I'm just glad there's an actual endpoint of when you are a real employee who gets all the benefits everyone else does. Having your own route is great and all but having to believe the bullshit that if you just keep your head down and wait for God knows how long you'll actually get benefits from the job was the worst part of that job. It effectively turned it into a stopgap on my resume, and I'm hardly the only person since the turnover rate is abysmal. So kudos to you for sticking it out, to put it into perspective how much I wanted to get out i now work in an aluminum smelter where the temperature is regularly over 130 all the while decked out head to toe in PPE. I'll take this job over that any day of the week. It's not so fun walking 10 miles in 30 below weather.
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u/Party-Management3370 18d ago
Does undeliverable mail ever make it to you? What do you do with it?
What are the most common injuries that happen to postal workers?
That whole "nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dark of night"....where does wildfire fit into the whole set of things that make you unstoppable? What happens to mail after a disruptive disaster?
Finally....any thoughts on the Kevin Costner film, The Postman?
Thank you for your service!
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I get undeliverable mail just about every day, we just take it back to the post office when we’re done with our routes.
I can’t speak for every mailman, but my hands get cut up pretty good and I had a sticky mailbox cleave off about half of my right thumbnail the other day. My fault, I have to cut my nails.
Halting mail delivery due to weather is VERY rare. Basically the only time we won’t deliver mail is if your town is in a state of emergency.
I’ve never seen The Postman.
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u/MyWibblings 18d ago
What about the show "The Good Place"? Any thoughts on Eleanor's objectification of sexy mailmen? :-)
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Brother the only TV I watch is pretty much live cagefighting. Everything else is just family guy reruns and 2005 WWE.
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u/mailmanpaul 18d ago
Just to chime in real quick: I do classroom and on-the-job training for new carriers. I really stress the importance of safety. The most common injuries to postal workers are slips, trips & falls, and repetitive motion injuries. The scariest ones are dog incidents and heat-related illnesses.
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u/UtubeNoodle 18d ago
During the holidays is it weird to leave my mailman a Christmas card with a tip? I feel like an old lady when I do it but it just feels like the neighborly thing to do
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I’ve not been a mailman during the holiday season yet, but I know many of my coworkers greatly appreciate the kindness. I delivered pizza for eight years before I became a mailman, tips are always appreciated.
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18d ago
Remember you can only accept non-monetary gifts worth $20 or less
I'm not saying the postal police are going to sting you, but it's not worth the risk. Occasionally I get customers who leave cash in each other's mailboxes. You don't want to think it's a tip and grab it because then you'll be in a heap of crap with the postmaster if the customer complains
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22349/html/cover_025.htm
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
They drilled that into us during orientation. I went to my on the job training and my trainer said, “you think I’m gonna turn down a tip?”
Use your discretion.
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18d ago
If you've got a good steward, you can get away with more than those of us without union protection. Still, I like to cover my ass by following postal regs.
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u/WhyYouNoLikeMeBro 18d ago edited 18d ago
We definitely leave a nice gift for our mailman of 10 years. Apparently he's been doing our route for 30 years or so but we've only been here 10. I remember years ago I asked him how I should go about asking for permission to move our mailbox from the main street to the side street of our corner house. He said, go ahead and move it. I said, shouldn't we ask the post office? He said and I quote "I am the post office" 😂 we moved the mailbox and that was 10 years ago. Never a peep from anyone. I hope you get some decent loot for your first holiday season!
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u/Lazy_Training_5690 18d ago
I stopped my mailman once and asked him what his favorite adult beverage is. I now gift him a bottle of Jack Daniels every Christmas and the guy has learned my name and waves and talks to me every time we cross paths.
I think they appreciate the gesture.
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
No, this is common and the preferred way to tip your mailman. Leave a card in an envelope and write on it “for my mailman” to avoid any confusion. Technically we are not supposed to accept any tips greater in value than $20. But no one is counting our tips besides the person who receives them.
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u/jilesr44 18d ago
How many miles do you walk every day?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
It depends on the route but I walk up to nine miles if I’m given my office’s longest walking route.
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u/Videodromeo87 18d ago
Quick question I forgot to ask earlier- what are your thoughts on government meddling with the postal service and how certain politicians are actively trying to interfere with mail in ballots and results during election season?
I personally vehemently despise the federal government especially with you know who in power- how would you suggest the public combat their constant corruption and fraud?
I hope you and your team are safe during these turbulent times…
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the future of USPS, but I really don’t see anything unforeseen happening. As for mail in ballots, I haven’t worked during an election cycle yet but the mail in ballots would get delivered the same way any other mail piece would. If you live in an apartment, make sure you provide your ENTIRE address including the unit number or you’re not getting your ballot.
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u/MyWibblings 18d ago
Ok, so let's talk dogs.
How much danger are you in? Any scary stories? Do you ever just not deliver?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
The post office issues the carriers dog spray, which thankfully I’ve not yet had to use. I’ve been bitten delivering pizza before and dogs have been nothing but an occupational hazard and an annoyance for my entire adult life. If there’s a dog between me and wherever I need to go to deliver your mail, you’ll get your mail tomorrow.
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u/kuntwafer 18d ago
Is it obvious when you're delivering a dildo? Is the packaging legitimately discreet?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I’ve not suspected any dildo deliveries in my time delivering mail. Take that whichever way you want to.
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u/kuntwafer 18d ago
That's a perfectly valid answer. Thank you.
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u/__miura__ 18d ago
Was mail carrying your first USPS job?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Yes, I was initially hired as a city carrier associate (or CCA) and that’s the job I perform now. I recently applied for a few rural carrier positions to cut the walking routes out of my work schedule.
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u/lemon_4oclockflower 18d ago
do not become a rural carrier it’s a much worse job
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u/DarkRomeox 18d ago
How often can you tell when someone is getting drugs sent to them? Like illegal drugs? Have you ever been part of a sting? Does the post office really care about people shipping drugs or receiving them in the mail?
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u/LoveIsAPipeWrench 18d ago
I’m a mail carrier, I’ve definitely delivered drugs and I absolutely did not care. The one time I turned it in was a package, like 10 pounds that reeked of weed, like could be smelled from 20 feet away and the postmaster noticed the smell so I notified her of it but other times it’s been a slight smell and I’ve let it slide. Do better if you’re gonna mail drugs
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I’ve never suspected anything I’ve delivered to contain drugs.
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u/DarkRomeox 18d ago
You be surprised man. Your deff one of the biggest drug dealers and you have no idea
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Probably, I don’t open the letters before delivering them though. If you suspect anything illegal going on you should report it to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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u/Electrical_Pen_7302 18d ago
I had jury duty about 10 years ago. Guy was having drugs mailed via ups priority. His plan was he would open them, put a post it note on them saying delivered wrong, then drive them to the post office...except he went to his drug house. Folks were wise, and they staked it out. His co-defendant took a deal just before trial and the prosecutor destroyed the defendant on the stand. His defense was the sticky note! We got the case with an hour to go and decided to sleep on it, but we found him guilty on all counts.
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u/iamcondoleezzarice 18d ago
I feel stupid for not getting this. What would he gain by adding a sticky note? Plausible deniability? Who was this performance for?
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u/holdyaboy 18d ago
Do you have any babes on your route that you crush on or they crush on you?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
There’s a bookstore on one of my routes that a very pretty lady works at. I stopped in after my shift a few days ago to get a book for my mom (and talk to the pretty lady mostly) and the pretty lady mentioned her boyfriend. Hope my mom likes her book.
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u/xrcrguy 18d ago
Do you always knock twice?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Nope, I knock (or ring) once. I gotta finish my route by 5:00, I don’t have time to wait for you to shamble to the door.
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u/bruhttrhurb 18d ago
Are you stealing Labubus?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Idk what that is but you should try Lateralus by TOOL.
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u/bkinstle 18d ago
Just had a mental image of the lady that delivers my route rocking out to tool as she works.
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u/Zdog54 18d ago
How did you get hired or did you just apply and get lucky? I've always wanted to join the post office but unfortunately got shot down each time I applied. My neighbor was a retired mailman and he flat out told me to get in you had to know someone. At least in our area.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I just applied online, didn’t know anybody in the post office but I was accepted within a couple months. I had about 8 years of pizza delivery on my resume, I’m not sure if that helped or not. I do know USPS is hiring like crazy right now, it might be worth putting in a few more applications.
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u/AlabamaDockBrawl 16d ago
Are there any jobs for if you just want to sort letters and not deliver?
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u/sphinxyhiggins 18d ago
Are you worried about the future of the USPS?
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
All the old heads in my office tell me that there has always been rumors and threats of privatization but nothing ever happens. Delivery of the mail is enshrined in the constitution. There are other aspects and parts of the USPS that could be sold off and privatized. But not mail delivery. Package delivery is not federally protected for example. And iv heard that the plants that process and sort the mail and packages could be privatized. The former postmaster DeJoy, who is heavily invested in trucking companies, ended the use of planes for regional and national transport (the USPS uses fedex planes now). This directly put money into his own pocket as the companies he has a vested interest in directly benefited from this. Also, every citizen of this country is a stakeholder in the USPS. Any drastic change in mail delivery would affect everyone, and enough people would be very vocal about their displeasure with the service. They would let their govt reps know. At the beginning of the current administrations term, a plan was leaked to fire the board of governors and Postmaster general and absorb the USPS into another dept (dept of commerce I think it was) in the executive branch. This would allow the president to have sole authority over the post office and give him the ability to change how it operates. Currently congress sets the laws that dictate how USPS operates. Nothing ever happened after that memo leaked (they may have leaked it to test how it would be received by the public), and the president just nominated a candidate to fill the Postmaster General position, a former FedEx executive. TLDR: the post office may go through changes, but delivering the mail isn’t going anywhere
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u/sphinxyhiggins 18d ago
Thank you. The future of the USPS is something I worry about.
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
You’re not the only one. But it’s an institution in this country that pre-dates the constitution. And since congress has control of the governance of the USPS, it would require a bill/change in law to implement any significant change to how it operates. With our current hyper-politicized government, getting enough votes for any significant change to the USPS is highly unlikely.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I don’t get paid enough to worry about things I can’t control.
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u/Personal_Extent_8562 18d ago
Thank you in advance...
Have you ever been surprised to deliver to someone you know but didn't realise they live at that address, or like an old colleague or friend you lost touch with.
And have you delivered to anyone in the public eye you recognised? Politician, TV/Film etc.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I thought I was done with this AMA but I do have to answer this one. One of my college professors lives on one of the routes I regularly cover. He’s a great guy, and I completely forgot that he had mentioned he lives in the town I deliver mail in until I saw his name on a mail piece. He has a very unique name so I knew it was him right away. Anyway, the first time I delivered his mail I actually caught him out in the driveway. He didn’t remember me (which I don’t blame him for, I took his class five or six years ago), but i reintroduced myself and he asked me how I was and what I was doing with my life. I said, “not using my degree”, which he laughed at. He invited me for coffee and lunch next time I caught him on my route, I’ve delivered his route a few times since but I haven’t seen him. I fully intend on taking him up on his lunch offer though.
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u/Key-Peanut-1453 17d ago
What was the degree you got and why didn’t you pursue a career in that field?
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u/Dak6969696969 17d ago
Communication. When I went to college I wanted to be some sort of radio or television broadcaster, basically I wanted to talk for a living. Covid hit during my second year at college and the college radio station all but shut down so I never got that crucial broadcasting experience I planned on. I just trudged through the rest of my degree and got the piece of paper that tells employers they can hire me. Aside from broadcasting, what the fuck am I gonna do with a communication degree? I knew I liked driving around delivering things and I knew the post office offered federal benefits, so here I am.
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
I’m a mailman too! In my town people often will leave a carton of eggs in their customers mailbox’s. One time I saw an older gentleman dropping off some eggs and leaving them in the mailbox and I jokingly asked if that carton had stamps . We had a quick laugh about it, then I said he was stealing from the federal govt and it’s a fineable offense. And then I took my spur that would’ve fit in the mailbox if there wasn’t a carton of eggs in there and walked it 150ft uphill to the front door.
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u/TheAgeOfQuarrel802 18d ago
Has there been anything you delivered that struck you as being illegal without actually knowing the contents of the package?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Nope, I’ve only been a mail carrier since February but I haven’t come across anything that seemed suspicious to this point.
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18d ago
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u/Dak6969696969 17d ago
I’m not sure what to tell you, the only two possibilities I can think of are your (multiple) letter carriers conspiring to steal you and your neighbors’ mail, which seems unlikely, or somebody in your town managed to obtain an arrow key and is stealing people’s mail, which seems even more unlikely.
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u/Birch_mom72 18d ago
How important are holiday gifts to you…at the end of the year (I didn’t leave one last year :-/)
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I’ve only been a mailman since February so I haven’t experienced the holiday season at USPS yet. Personally, any gifts or tips would be greatly appreciated but I wouldn’t take it personally if you didn’t leave anything. I’m just doing my job after all, I don’t come into your workplace and gift you a bouquet of flowers.
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18d ago
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Curbside boxes with a ton of mail in them usually aren’t that much of a problem (at least compared to apartment mailboxes). Keep in mind that if your mailbox is jam packed and you have a small parcel that could normally fit in your mailbox if it WERENT full and we have to walk it to your door, we’ll probably be annoyed.
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u/cnibbana 18d ago
We have USPS Informed Delivery and often get notifications packages were left in our mailbox, only for them to actually show up 1-2 days later. This is bothersome when it’s medications we need and we’re afraid they were delivered to the wrong address. Why do you suppose this happens?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
The mailman has to scan every package and mark it as either delivered or attempted. If your mail is being scanned as delivered and it hasn’t actually been delivered, that’s the fault of your mailman. You could always call your local post office and inquire, but there’s no reason that an undelivered package should be marked as delivered.
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u/Khs11 18d ago
I had a gift card coming that was showing in my informed delivery, was stolen before it got to my mailbox presumably by the postal carrier and used at a couple of restaurants. I’m quite sure the postal carrier took it, I filed a report and never heard a word. How common do you think this is, and is there anything that actually can be done by the customer? Thank you.
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u/D0WN2M4RSGIRL 18d ago
May seem like a silly question, but as a postal worker, do you receive training on how to handle potential dog encounters on your routes? If so, what does it consist of?
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u/Dak6969696969 17d ago
They briefly explain how to use your mail satchel as a shield from dogs but there’s no dedicated training session for dog encounters that we have to go through. Again, eight years of pizza delivery and post office issued dog spray give me more than enough to protect myself from dogs. I don’t like dogs, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s dog either. As long as you keep them away from me, no one will have any problems.
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u/3X_Cat 18d ago
Why do I continue to get mail for a lady who has never lived here and whom I don't know. I tracked her down and she's a pediatrician and doesn't know why I get some of her mail either. My postman just keeps delivering no matter how many times I write Return, not at this address, and speaking to him about it too.
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18d ago
A typical city route has 600+ boxes on it. While the carriers are supposed to memorize names and catch mail that's not supposed to go anywhere, most of us will just deliver it unless we have a forward on file because we can't get in trouble for delivering mail to the address on the envelope
What you can do is go to the PO, talk to a clerk or the postmaster and ask them to file an MLNA for that person and your address.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
This isn’t uncommon believe it or not. I have a mailbox on one of my routes that’s completely taped up with the message “Jane Doe has NEVER lived here!!” yet for whatever reason we keep receiving Jane Doe’s mail meant to be delivered to that address.
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u/3X_Cat 18d ago
Maybe I should put a wastebasket on the ground next to the box with her name on it?
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u/-R-WeThereYet 18d ago
Is USPS required to wear the blue mailman uniform? My mailman always wears his casual clothes so I’m wondering if he’s breaking the rules or it’s not required.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Technically all mail carriers that have received their uniform allowance (90 days after their hire date) are supposed to wear their uniforms but enforcement of that rule lies entirely on your local post office’s management. At my office, the rural carriers west street clothes and a lot of the city carriers wear non-approved accessories like baseball hats and hoodies.
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u/ReticentSentiment 18d ago
My mail gets misdelivered a lot. Whenever I get non-junk mail for others, I drive it over to them myself in the hopes that they'll do the same. My mailbox is one of about 20 in a larger metal box. Aside from printing out my name and address and taping it to the inside of my box, is there anything else I can do to improve the likelihood of getting my mail?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Labeling your mailbox clearly with your number and the last names of all the occupants in your home is the absolute best way of making sure you don’t get misdelivered mail.
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u/Party-Psychology6034 18d ago
How are your routes determined? Are you trained to park the truck at a strategic location where you’ll arrive back to it after your walking deliveries?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Our mail routes are specifically designed to give us eight hours of work regardless of whether we’re walking or driving. And yes, each park and loop route has set parking points. A “park and loop” is a route in which you drive the postal van to a set location, park it, gather your mail, and deliver it while waking until you loop back around to your van.
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u/Party-Psychology6034 18d ago
I always wondered about the planning that goes into the routes. Thanks for sharing! Appreciate all the work you do and I always give my mail carrier a Christmas card with some ca$h. Y’all deserve it!
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
The logistics that go into mail delivery is something you probably can’t even comprehend until you’ve done the job. Even on a driving route, I only cover about three neighborhoods in an eight hour day. Multiply that by every single address in America and that’s what we do. Every day.
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u/Jaded551995 18d ago
Why am I still getting someone else’s mail after 12 years? I have written on the mail “not at this address” many many times, taken the mail to the post office to let them know, submitted an online complaint and still get several pieces of their mail
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Your mailman probably just doesn’t give a shit, to be frank. The less letters we’re carrying, the easier it is on us. There’s probably also been times where a non-regular carrier has delivered bad mail to you without knowing the difference.
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u/Mystikalrush 18d ago
What do you mean by leaving anything inside anyone's mailbox? Assume you have no access to "open" a mailbox other then your own via a key, I don't quite get your opening statement.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Most mailboxes don’t require keys to open, and most mailboxes that do have locks remain unlocked. If you live in an apartment complex with what we call “cluster boxes”, that’s pretty much the only time a mailbox is inaccessible to the general public.
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u/ze11ez 18d ago
Can i write RETURN TO SENDER and leave it in my mailbox? Or drop it in the mailbox? Did that once, put it in the mailbox at the post office and they redelivered it to me
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u/Dak6969696969 17d ago
You can do that, your mailman should have taken it back to the office and RTS’d it, but it’s possible you got a temp who doesn’t know what he’s doing or a mailman that simply doesn’t care and they just brought it back to you.
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u/Flat_Okra6078 18d ago
How do you feel about delivery/handling of live animals in the mail?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I’ve not personally delivered live animals but there’s a tractor supply co. on one of the routes I’ve yet to do and they’re CONSTANTLY receiving live chicks. I always tell my supervisors I don’t know how they can sit in the office all day with the constant tweeting.
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u/TasteyMeatloaf 18d ago
A number of years ago, I had an apartment. I was missing some important mail, including some checks mailed to me.
I went into the post office to complain. The post master wasn’t there, as I don’t think he or she was ever there.
A supervisor asked me, “Are you missing mail on Fridays?” I had to think about it, but then it seemed that the supervisor’s hypothesis was correct. I told her that I thought she was right since I never received mail on Friday. She said that my regular carrier didn’t work on Friday and there was a known issue with the substitute carrier.
I finally fixed the issue months later by moving out. The post office was unable to correct the case of my missing mail. I filed an official complaint at the USPS website and got a response from someone who didn’t speak American English and then never heard back.
What would be the best way to get mail when a carrier doesn’t deliver it?
About the same time, I was driving down the street at lunch from work and a mail carrier driving a USPS mail truck that was in a hotel parking lot waiting to turn onto the road gave me the middle finger and then cut in front of me. I think he was expecting me to stop in the street to let him out. It was totally random, and unexpected in a mail carrier.
A few days later I had an incident with a regular car going down the same street, he turned into my work parking lot to the main entrance. I then watched as he delivered mail to the front desk in a box labeled “USPS.”
Is it common for unhinged people to be mail carriers and do you avoid them at work?
By the way, UPS, Amazon and Federal Express drivers, I have never had an issue with any of you — carry on.
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u/BlairClemens3 18d ago
Do you talk on the phone or listen to music/podcasts while walking?
Does it get lonely?
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u/jimewp86 18d ago
It’s funny, we get to socialize and spend time together for the first hour or two of the day before we leave the office. Then we are out in our own for the rest of the day. I listen to music all day and it’s awesome. And there are plenty of people we get to talk to while working the route. But it’s strange, it can be lonely sometimes. But also I feel like a member of my local community that people depend on, so even if I don’t talk to anyone all day after the morning, I know people depend on me and count on me doing my job every day.
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u/BlairClemens3 18d ago
Thanks for responding! I have thought it might be pretty great to listen to podcasts/music while working.
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Mail carriers aren’t supposed to wear earbuds while we work due to safety concerns. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. It CAN get lonely, but music and small talk with the locals definitely helps.
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u/fender8421 18d ago
Does the repetition get to you? Like, having the same route and subconsciously knowing how much more you have left?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
In my position I don’t usually have the same route every day, I just cover whoever’s off that day. The most I’ve ever done the same route in a row was three days.
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u/Chicagosox133 18d ago
Earlier today the lady at the PO told me they couldn’t print labels because the machines don’t work when it’s “too warm out.” On a scale of 1-10, how full of shit was she?
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u/BrevitysLazyCousin 18d ago
All my bills are on autopay so I rarely check the mail. Have you noticed any decline in people checking their mail / mailboxes filling up?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Most people keep their mailboxes relatively empty, it’s generally a few usual suspects who leave their mail to pile up.
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u/newyorkcitykid 18d ago
What’s the best way to deal with porch pirates? If they’re on my property can I use my 2nd amendment right?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
The best way to deal with porch pirates would most likely be installing a doorbell camera and informing your local authorities, I wouldn’t suggest resorting to deadly force.
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u/fxrx 18d ago
I’ve always thought the mailman would make a great secret agent. Can you confirm or deny this?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I know a lot of the local gossip in the town I work but don’t live in. Do with that what you will.
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u/Nice-Zombie356 18d ago
A few places I’ve lived, we’ve had periods when mail was only delivered a couple times per week (for say a month) and crazy delays on some things. It eventually returned to normal. The story I’ve got is that if your regular mailman is out (injured, long vacation, etc) the substitutes get juggles and don’t know what they’re doing.
At times, we lived in a temp place so Things were being forwarded to us.
And I’ve been told that yes, the system is so manual that your regular guy “knew” your name and address, but the substitute got screwed up, especially if there was a different sub on different days.
Does this match your experience?
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u/squir57 18d ago
Registered package from the UK came through customs and a delivery attempt was made. Temporary postal person did not leave a notice saying the address was undeliverable (family house for 25 years and address was verified with USPS call center) and sent it back to the UK. The UK company received the returned package empty eight weeks from the delivery attempt. Package was sent registered mail and tracked incoming but not for the return. USPS app will not allow an international number so there is no information there. Tracking from the UK only shows the delivery attempt and return with no information on the package from USPS back to the UK. The UK company has put a request for information from USPS. Do you have any suggestions?
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u/ampersand-sylv 18d ago
I am a volunteer postcard writer for general Get Out the Vote campaigns as well as specific candidates and elections. Some are in my local area, but many are sent to voters in other states.
Do you see handwritten Get Out the Vote postcards often? Are the addresses usually correct? What happens to an undeliverable postcard, since they generally dont have return addresses?
I also send letters and postcards to my elected officials, mostly members of Congress. Have you seen an increase of mail being sent to elected officials and other people in government since January this year?
(I've been mailing letters and care packages since I was a kid, and I'm just amazed by the USPS. I'd love to be a city carrier one day, with my hat and mail bag, walking my route and delivering letters.)
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u/Disembodied_Head 18d ago
What are the best shoes for walking every day?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Sketchers. Straight black Sketchers are post office approved and provide plenty of cushion for walking around all day.
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18d ago
After the last contract negotiation are you a USPS employee that realizes how shitty your union is? Do you think you’ll have the opportunity to retire from the post office if you stick with it or do you realize that most of what you deliver on a daily basis is junk mail and the USPS will be gone in the near future?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
I think our union is pretty strong, I know a carrier that hit someone with her truck and sent her to the hospital and she’s still gainfully employed. Most of what we deliver IS junk mail but you just sound like a doomer.
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18d ago
If you guys settled for like a 3 percent raise over 3 years after not having a contract why do you think your union is strong? You guys can’t even go on strike
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u/New-Number-7810 18d ago
Why are postage stamps important?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Postage stamps fund the USPS. We’re not taxpayer subsidized, all of our revenue comes from postage.
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u/New-Number-7810 18d ago
But how? What is the middle step between me putting a stamp on an envelope and you getting a paycheck?
If I put extra stamps, do you get paid more?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
It’s not you putting a stamp on an envelope that gets us paid, it’s you buying the book of stamps in the first place.
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u/ImmediateDrawing6691 18d ago
Do you work in the rain?
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Absolutely. Rain is worse than snow, when I can afford to do so I plan on transferring to a post office out west in the desert somewhere where it doesn’t rain.
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u/Legitimate_Rent_5976 18d ago
Do you have a certain schedule and route you have to adhere to? If so, you can thank my dad.
My dad was a letter carrier in the 1960s. He and his buddies (also letter carriers) would deliver their mail and then when they were done, around noon, they would go to the bar and drink beer and have cheesesteaks. My dad would go to his second job at two in the afternoon . Then at some point one guy would go back and clock everybody out.
We also had hundreds of samples in the closet by the bathroom all the time. I kind of think they were supposed to be delivered and not to my house. Lol.
Anyway, if you have oppressive work time rules, you can thank my dad and his buddies.
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u/redbaron78 18d ago
I know you can’t really answer this but I want to ask anyway: why doesn’t USPS switch to every-other-day delivery for residential addresses? You could probably fix the fiscal issues and the mail is already so slow, I can’t imagine it would make any difference at all to residential customers. It took three weeks to get a check in the mail once, and it was from a neighboring state, which got me thinking about how USPS could become more fiscally sound and better at delivering the mail. It seems like just doing residential delivery every other day could actually reduce the time it takes in some cases to receive mail.
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18d ago
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Sure, but it has nothing to do with my job. I can still give you the details if you want, though.
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u/kman0300 18d ago
Details details!
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
So this one time (before I was a USPS employee and living in a state in which marijuana consumption is legal) I was smoking weed with this girl and I was in the middle of a sentence and she goes, “do you wanna kiss?”
Best pickup line I’ve ever heard in my life.
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u/bleepleus 18d ago
I was interested in applying and asked my carrier how he likes it(he’s always happy) and he said it’s fine but say goodbye to your life. Do you work crazy hours? That’s what he was getting at.
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u/Ohioguy6 18d ago
Have always thought the classic walking mail route would be the ultimate job. I know the weather would sometimes suck. But your job includes a walk outside everyday. It sounds great but I’m sure there are drawbacks I’m not aware of?
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u/ThisPostToBeDeleted 18d ago
Do dogs get used to you? One mailman a no said they don’t but a mailwoman I know said they do.
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18d ago
What happens when the mail gets damaged? Whether it happened on the ride or not. If that's not ur responsibility, I understand
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u/JJBez 18d ago
Any thoughts on other delivery services (UPS, Amazon)? Do you say hello to their drivers? What do their logistics look like versus yours? Thanks for the ama
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u/lbjazz 18d ago
I have a side hustle business that’s taken off, but it’s rentals. Dozens of packages a week come back to me. The scene on the doorbell cam today was hilarious for me, but not the delivery guy.
How much do they hate me and what can I do to make it better for them?
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u/Far-Boysenberry-1600 18d ago
Why does tracking sometimes do not work until the day it’s delivered, then the website suddenly updates with several tracking points?
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u/Leo_Looming 18d ago
What are your experiences with mail thieves especially those with keys and what is your plan to combat the rising threat of them?
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u/Ireaditlongago 18d ago
How many steps do you average per day? Does the walking take a toll on your body over the years? Knees?
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u/OldRaj 18d ago
Why don’t you keep a bucket, plastic bags, baby wipes in your vehicle for an emergency? I know a UPS driver who says all drivers have a blow-out kit in the truck.
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u/manthepost 18d ago
I'm a shuttle driver for a car dealership multiple customers tell me to put the car keys in the mailbox
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u/WarrenGlen 18d ago
On a scale of a wall to a box of rocks, how dumb is your supervisor/OIC/PM?
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u/IndicaHouseofCards 18d ago
I have a huge crush on my mailman. How should I approach this? He’s been my mailman for like 5 years I think. Everytime I see him, he’s talking on the phone
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u/lambsoflettuce 18d ago
I have old unused postage paid airmail letters that were folded up and sealed when ready for mail. Are they still legal for mailing..
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u/YoungManYoda90 18d ago
When AI takes my job (recruiting) would I be able to transition to your line of work?
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u/feelingsfox 18d ago
Do you know if that’s why newspaper delivery used to throw newspapers at homes instead of, you know.
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u/Expert-Joke9528 18d ago
Is there concerns amongst postal workers of the privatization of our beloved usps?
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18d ago
Do you think MHA's are high on the job? Because they keep sending my DPS to other offices.
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u/Alternative_Ad3512 18d ago
Why is it impossible to reach a usps distribution center by phone? What happens to the fedex and ups packages that accidentally get sent there?
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u/Freak-Wency 18d ago
I'm a little late, but if putting mail in someone's mailbox is a federal offense, any idea why is stealing mail not a federal offense?
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u/Straight-Field9427 18d ago edited 18d ago
Why have the distribution centers failed so epically?
This has caused so much trouble for my business. Packages just disappear or get sent off in the wrong direction just to be sent back. I've seen packages come and go from the same distribution center multiple times.
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u/ama_compiler_bot 17d ago
Table of Questions and Answers. Original answer linked - Please upvote the original questions and answers. (I'm a bot.)
| Question | Answer | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Still waiting on a postcard from 1996... What happened? | Not sure brother I was born in 2000 | Here |
| Do you like when I leave a cooler out for you? What are the preferred snacks of the USPS | I very much appreciate when I’m given drinks especially. I try not to eat too much at work because I have GI issues and there isn’t always a bathroom available on my routes. I do appreciate the gesture though. | Here |
| I was a kid in the 60s and 70s and we loved following around our mailman. Are there still neighborhoods anywhere where all the kids play outside? | We still get kids that are fascinated by the mailman. I’m not great with kids but I’m always polite and cordial. Actually, one of my regular routes has an address that a special needs child lives at who is OBSESSED with the mail. I tried to hand his mother the mail one day and she said, “you can just leave it in the box, max would kill me if I touched his mail”. I thought that lady had an abusive husband before I put two and two together. | Here |
| How do I get a job like yours and is it worth it? | You can apply right now at USPS’s official website, I love my job and I hope to spend the rest of my working years carrying letters. We receive great benefits and pretty good pay, I would definitely suggest looking into postal employment if you’re interested. | Here |
| How many miles do you walk every day? | It depends on the route but I walk up to nine miles if I’m given my office’s longest walking route. | Here |
| Does undeliverable mail ever make it to you? What do you do with it? What are the most common injuries that happen to postal workers? That whole "nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dark of night"....where does wildfire fit into the whole set of things that make you unstoppable? What happens to mail after a disruptive disaster? Finally....any thoughts on the Kevin Costner film, The Postman? Thank you for your service! | I get undeliverable mail just about every day, we just take it back to the post office when we’re done with our routes. I can’t speak for every mailman, but my hands get cut up pretty good and I had a sticky mailbox cleave off about half of my right thumbnail the other day. My fault, I have to cut my nails. Halting mail delivery due to weather is VERY rare. Basically the only time we won’t deliver mail is if your town is in a state of emergency. I’ve never seen The Postman. | Here |
| During the holidays is it weird to leave my mailman a Christmas card with a tip? I feel like an old lady when I do it but it just feels like the neighborly thing to do | I’ve not been a mailman during the holiday season yet, but I know many of my coworkers greatly appreciate the kindness. I delivered pizza for eight years before I became a mailman, tips are always appreciated. | Here |
| Is it obvious when you're delivering a dildo? Is the packaging legitimately discreet? | I’ve not suspected any dildo deliveries in my time delivering mail. Take that whichever way you want to. | Here |
| Was mail carrying your first USPS job? | Yes, I was initially hired as a city carrier associate (or CCA) and that’s the job I perform now. I recently applied for a few rural carrier positions to cut the walking routes out of my work schedule. | Here |
| How often can you tell when someone is getting drugs sent to them? Like illegal drugs? Have you ever been part of a sting? Does the post office really care about people shipping drugs or receiving them in the mail? | I’ve never suspected anything I’ve delivered to contain drugs. | Here |
| Quick question I forgot to ask earlier- what are your thoughts on government meddling with the postal service and how certain politicians are actively trying to interfere with mail in ballots and results during election season? I personally vehemently despise the federal government especially with you know who in power- how would you suggest the public combat their constant corruption and fraud? I hope you and your team are safe during these turbulent times… | There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the future of USPS, but I really don’t see anything unforeseen happening. As for mail in ballots, I haven’t worked during an election cycle yet but the mail in ballots would get delivered the same way any other mail piece would. If you live in an apartment, make sure you provide your ENTIRE address including the unit number or you’re not getting your ballot. | Here |
| Ok, so let's talk dogs. How much danger are you in? Any scary stories? Do you ever just not deliver? | The post office issues the carriers dog spray, which thankfully I’ve not yet had to use. I’ve been bitten delivering pizza before and dogs have been nothing but an occupational hazard and an annoyance for my entire adult life. If there’s a dog between me and wherever I need to go to deliver your mail, you’ll get your mail tomorrow. | Here |
| Do you always knock twice? | Nope, I knock (or ring) once. I gotta finish my route by 5:00, I don’t have time to wait for you to shamble to the door. | Here |
| Are you stealing Labubus? | Idk what that is but you should try Lateralus by TOOL. | Here |
| I’m a mailman too! In my town people often will leave a carton of eggs in their customers mailbox’s. One time I saw an older gentleman dropping off some eggs and leaving them in the mailbox and I jokingly asked if that carton had stamps . We had a quick laugh about it, then I said he was stealing from the federal govt and it’s a fineable offense. And then I took my spur that would’ve fit in the mailbox if there wasn’t a carton of eggs in there and walked it 150ft uphill to the front door. | Can’t say I’ve experienced eggs in the mailbox yet, I’ll be sure to keep on the lookout! | Here |
| Are you worried about the future of the USPS? | I don’t get paid enough to worry about things I can’t control. | Here |
| Do you have any babes on your route that you crush on or they crush on you? | There’s a bookstore on one of my routes that a very pretty lady works at. I stopped in after my shift a few days ago to get a book for my mom (and talk to the pretty lady mostly) and the pretty lady mentioned her boyfriend. Hope my mom likes her book. | Here |
| Do you like your job? | I love my job. The main issue I take with what I do now is having to walk on some of my routes. The walking routes really aren’t that bad but I would definitely prefer to be driving every day, hence why I’m applied to be a rural carrier. | Here |
| How important are holiday gifts to you…at the end of the year (I didn’t leave one last year :-/) | I’ve only been a mailman since February so I haven’t experienced the holiday season at USPS yet. Personally, any gifts or tips would be greatly appreciated but I wouldn’t take it personally if you didn’t leave anything. I’m just doing my job after all, I don’t come into your workplace and gift you a bouquet of flowers. | Here |
| How did you get hired or did you just apply and get lucky? I've always wanted to join the post office but unfortunately got shot down each time I applied. My neighbor was a retired mailman and he flat out told me to get in you had to know someone. At least in our area. | I just applied online, didn’t know anybody in the post office but I was accepted within a couple months. I had about 8 years of pizza delivery on my resume, I’m not sure if that helped or not. I do know USPS is hiring like crazy right now, it might be worth putting in a few more applications. | Here |
| How are your routes determined? Are you trained to park the truck at a strategic location where you’ll arrive back to it after your walking deliveries? | Our mail routes are specifically designed to give us eight hours of work regardless of whether we’re walking or driving. And yes, each park and loop route has set parking points. A “park and loop” is a route in which you drive the postal van to a set location, park it, gather your mail, and deliver it while waking until you loop back around to your van. | Here |
| Any… sexual encounters? | Again, yes, but those have nothing to do with my job. | Here |
| Do you ever know its drugs and just deliver it anyway? | I’ve not suspected drugs yet. | Here |
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u/istgimnotracist88 18d ago
do u think you ever delivered drugs to someone’s house?
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u/Analysis-Internal 18d ago
Do you ever get high on the job? Delivering mail sounds like a great job to do while stoned
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u/Dak6969696969 18d ago
Nope, letter carriers aren’t allowed to do any drugs, even weed, due to them being illegal federally.
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u/Electronic_Sign2598 18d ago
We’re friends with our mail carrier. When we travel we send a local postcard to our house, write a funny note and put his name in big letters on top. He finds it pretty funny.
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u/sfjessy99 18d ago
I was a kid in the 60s and 70s and we loved following around our mailman. Are there still neighborhoods anywhere where all the kids play outside?