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13+ Things Your Mail Carrier Won’t Tell You

Postal workers from around the country reveal the secrets of their profession and why mail is still the country's best bargain.

from Reader's Digest Magazine | February 2011
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1. Maybe your dog won’t bite you.

But in 2009, 2,863 of us were bitten, an average of nine bites per delivery day. That’s why I wince when your Doberman comes flying out the door.

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2. Remember this on Valentine’s Day:

It takes our machines longer to read addresses on red envelopes (especially if they’re written in colored ink).

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3. Why stand in line?

At usps.com, you can buy stamps, place a hold on your mail, change your address, and apply for passports. We even offer free package pickup and free flat-rate envelopes and boxes, all delivered right to your doorstep.

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4. Media Mail is a bargain!

But most of you don’t know to ask for it. Sending ten pounds of books from New York City to San Francisco through Media Mail costs $5.89, compared with $16.77 for Parcel Post. Besides books, use it to send manuscripts, DVDs, and CDs; just don’t include anything else in the package.

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5. We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars.

Really.

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6. UPS and FedEx charge you $10 or more...

...if you mess up an address. Us? Not a cent.

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7. Paychecks, personal cards, letters—

anything that looks like good news—I put those on top. Utility and credit card bills? They go under everything else.

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8. Sorry if I seem like I’m in a hurry,

but I’m under the gun: Our supervisors tell us when to leave, how many pieces of mail to deliver, and when we should aim to be back. Then some of us scan bar codes in mailboxes along our route so they can monitor our progress.

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9. Yes, we do have to buy our own stamps,

but a lot of us carry them for customers who need them. If we don’t charge you, that’s because we like you.

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10. Use a ballpoint pen.

Ink from those felt tips runs in the rain.

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11. Please dress properly when you come to the door.

A towel wrapped around you doesn’t cut it. And we definitely don’t want to see you in your underwear—or naked!

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12. We serve 150 million addresses six days a week,

so we’re often in the right place at the right time. We pull people out of burning cars, catch burglars in the act, and call 911 to report traffic accidents, dead bodies, and more.

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13. Most of us don’t mind if you pull up to our trucks

while we’re delivering and ask for your mail a little early. But please get out of your car and come get it. Don’t just put your hand out your window and wait for me to bring it to you.

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14. Most of us love our jobs

and the people we serve. I met my wife and my best friend because I was their letter carrier.

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15. We go to great lengths to deliver to every address,

no matter how remote. That’s why, in the most rural areas, even UPS and FedEx rely on us to make their final deliveries.

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16. Those plants around your mailbox are beautiful,

but I’d like them better if you kept them trimmed back.

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17. Is it hot enough for me?

The heat index is 110 degrees. What do you think? (Instead of asking that, offer me a cold drink.)

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18. Despite the “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” motto,

we’re instructed not to deliver to a mailbox if the snow and ice around it isn’t cleared. Most of us take the motto to heart, though, and do our best to deliver in even the most hazardous conditions.

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19. I have people who leave a letter in their box

and tape 44 cents in change to it. I’ll take it, but the next day I’ll be waiting in line like everyone else to buy you a stamp.

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20. One day while delivering to a woman

who had been very sick, her daughter met me by the mailbox and asked me if I wanted to say goodbye to her mom. She was unconscious and didn’t know that I was there, but I held her hand and said a silent prayer for her and her family. It wasn’t even an hour later when another customer met me at his door. He was a new father, overjoyed, telling me that his wife had just given birth to his son. The whole cycle of life, in just one day.

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21. It’s a small thing that makes my job so much easier:

Please park your car in the driveway instead of in front of the mailbox.

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22. If a letter has your name

but the number is wrong and it gets to you, thank your carrier. We still sort our mail before we hit the street.

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23. If your carrier walks his route,

it would be nice if you would sweep or shovel your stairs when it snows.

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24. Sometimes, when my wife and I are shopping or out to dinner,

I ask if they give discounts to people in the “service.” They usually say “yes,” then ask “What branch are you in?” I reply, “postal.” I usually get a funny look and a little snicker… I guess that means I’m just going to have to wait for my senior-citizens discount.

Sources: Letter carriers in Missouri, New Jersey, and North Carolina; Fredric V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers; and a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.

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Your Comments

  • Nonimbiber

    I was a letter carrier way “Back in the Day” when we had lots and lots of mail, long before computers, email and such. Actually, I was a collector with a regular route in Chicago, one of Chicago’s first Caucasian female Carriers, which was my official designation. I loved the job, and the people I worked with, and was truly sorry to leave the job. I’d like to see people send more mail, write more letters, send more packages. The Postal Service has been an important part of America’s history and we need to do everything we can to keep it going.

  • http://www.facebook.com/randy.darrah Randy Darrah

    I usually give my letter carrier a card with 10 or 20 bucks inside of it for christmas.

    • Tammon71

      Just so u know for now on maybe get a gift card to McDs or something they arnt allowed to take $$ but gift cards n such are ok. We do that.

      • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

        not true we rather have cash we dont need giftcards to something we never go to

  • http://www.facebook.com/sarah.l.hoover.1 Sarah Leeanna Hoover

    I understand the concern for dog bites. However, for a publication to print a specific breed in a topic about dog bites is extremely biased. It is nonsense like that which fuel breed specific legislation and undue fear from the public. I do own a Doberman. He loves people and other dogs. He even loves the mail carrier. How irresponsible of you to publish this in the manner you did.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/MP4PZHMXR7QRZM2MYOCNR7ZXT4 Andrew Malone

      Oh good lord….go soak your head and find something worthwhile to complain about!

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/MP4PZHMXR7QRZM2MYOCNR7ZXT4 Andrew Malone

      Oh good lord….go soak your head and find something worthwhile to complain about!

      • Anonymous

        DITTO, ANDREW!

      • Anonymous

        DITTO, ANDREW!

    • SarcsmQn5

      They had to use some kind of dog breed for an example…sheesh…don’t take it so seriously…

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      get a life

  • http://www.facebook.com/sarah.l.hoover.1 Sarah Leeanna Hoover

    I understand the concern for dog bites. However, for a publication to print a specific breed in a topic about dog bites is extremely biased. It is nonsense like that which fuel breed specific legislation and undue fear from the public. I do own a Doberman. He loves people and other dogs. He even loves the mail carrier. How irresponsible of you to publish this in the manner you did.

  • Jennifer Brinkman

    once again, tried clicking on the next button to see the next 13 things item, got a blank

  • Ashbo

     6. UPS and FedEx charge you $10 or more…

    …if you mess up an address. Us? Not a cent.Number 6 is a lie. My aunt had a package sending to the correct address. USPS sent it back to us saying it was wrong, and it wasn’t. They charged my aunt $35 to get it back.

    • James2447

       I dont believe that.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      next time put the right address

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CVQA4VWITO6GJ2JEZXOJZNFGOE Fred Jones

    These are all great, and I agree with most of them. My carrier walks his route, stepping away from his truck for 10-25 houses to deliver. I often get my neighbor’s mail – too often. But they NEVER get mine. Also, he cuts behind my next door neighbor’s house if she doesn’t have any mail (she lives on a corner). It only saves him about 20 steps, but it’s annoying to see footprints through the snow between our houses and know that *somebody’s* been 3 feet from my bedroom window.

    I am happy with him 95% of the time.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      he is told to cut yards 20 steps here and there ad up,and  get real you think he wants to see you

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CVQA4VWITO6GJ2JEZXOJZNFGOE Fred Jones

    These are all great, and I agree with most of them. My carrier walks his route, stepping away from his truck for 10-25 houses to deliver. I often get my neighbor’s mail – too often. But they NEVER get mine. Also, he cuts behind my next door neighbor’s house if she doesn’t have any mail (she lives on a corner). It only saves him about 20 steps, but it’s annoying to see footprints through the snow between our houses and know that *somebody’s* been 3 feet from my bedroom window.

    I am happy with him 95% of the time.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CVQA4VWITO6GJ2JEZXOJZNFGOE Fred Jones

    These are all great, and I agree with most of them. My carrier walks his route, stepping away from his truck for 10-25 houses to deliver. I often get my neighbor’s mail – too often. But they NEVER get mine. Also, he cuts behind my next door neighbor’s house if she doesn’t have any mail (she lives on a corner). It only saves him about 20 steps, but it’s annoying to see footprints through the snow between our houses and know that *somebody’s* been 3 feet from my bedroom window.

    I am happy with him 95% of the time.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CVQA4VWITO6GJ2JEZXOJZNFGOE Fred Jones

    These are all great, and I agree with most of them. My carrier walks his route, stepping away from his truck for 10-25 houses to deliver. I often get my neighbor’s mail – too often. But they NEVER get mine. Also, he cuts behind my next door neighbor’s house if she doesn’t have any mail (she lives on a corner). It only saves him about 20 steps, but it’s annoying to see footprints through the snow between our houses and know that *somebody’s* been 3 feet from my bedroom window.

    I am happy with him 95% of the time.

  • Anonymous

    The USPS is the only postal delivery service to the remote areas because UPS and FedEx know it isn’t profitable to go out there.  Did it ever occur to anyone that they might be able to cut some of the $3.2 BILLION deficit from the last quarter by not going out there and having those people buy PO Boxes instead….? Huh, saves our carriers time, money, and MAKES them money as well, all at the same time! Who would have thunk it?!? Not our government, that’s for sure.

  • Joe Hart

    5. We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars.
    Really. REALLY? How many times has the Post Office been bailed out? Maybe if you delivery boys and girls were not paid so much and didn’t have all the perks including the 150% retirement pay and lifetime medical pkg. for you AND your spouse ”which we DO pay for in higher individual ins. rates” the post office wouldn’t be going broke every other year.  
     

    • None

       …………………..

    • None

       boys and girls——you are the rear end of an animal,,,,no respect!!!!!

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      you my friend are a fool we have never been bailed out check your facts,paid so much we have been without a contract for over a year, 150% retirement where do you get that most figure most have to work a job in retirement to make ends meet. You joe hart are a babbling idiot with no correct facts just shut up

  • Anonymous

    USPS carries a package from Florida to Seattle, WA then turns it around at the destination PO and returns it because the postage is 1 cent light. Tell me the sense in that!

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      never heard of that and if they did they just dont like you

      • Anonymous

        I’ve seen it happen often. That’s such a waste in revenue and resources, it’s no wonder the post office is broke. Is that an excuse to not do your job?

  • Anonymous

    #22 I’ve nearly had a postal carrier take a swing at me because he returned a rent check and I complained rather forcefully. The check went to the address without an apartment number. That’s the office. He couldn’t figure that out.
     So no, they don’t make that extra effort, they often get lazy, and some of them don’t know how to deal with people.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      thats because alot of the people we deal with are fools

      • Anonymous

         You deal with fools, but to use that as an excuse to stand there and
        argue with someone because you didn’t do your job and that cost them late fees, be too stupidly lazy as to not
        think for yourself is telling on yourself. It makes you more foolish that the people you call fools.
        I’ve seen many of your responses in this thread. Maybe you need to concentrate on being more conscientious and people oriented. You insist on defending the bad behavior of others, maybe that’s an indication that you feel the same way and do the same things. That’s a tell. You need a different job.

  • Anonymous

     #19 In my area that letter would have been refused.

  • Anonymous

    Being in the service doesn’t qualify for a discount at the post office, but you want a discount at a business?

  • Bahdha

    USPS is such a good deal and the way of the future

  • USPSTaxWatch

    Iit does receive tens to
    hundreds of millions per year in “implicit subsidies”, such as breaks on
    property tax, vehicle registration, and sales tax, in addition to
    subsidized government loans. it receives $5.5 billion per year to be paid into an account to
    pre-fund retiree health-care, 75 years into the future — a requirement
    unique to this agency

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      wrong again oh fool most companies that employ alot of people do get tax breaks thats a perk of hiring alot of people im sure yoiu have heard of that.From our profits we subsidize future retires ONLY COMPANY IN AMERICA TO DO THIS,thats why we dont make a profit do your facts first moron

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, it made me more keenly aware of all they do and do it well, at that.  So next time you see your mailman, give him/her a hearty thanks and a big smile!  I do and it makes two people feel very good!   Bev of Boston, MA

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, it made me more keenly aware of all they do and do it well, at that.  So next time you see your mailman, give him/her a hearty thanks and a big smile!  I do and it makes two people feel very good!   Bev of Boston, MA

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, I am now more keenly aware of what a great job that they do in providing service to their customers.  The next time you see your mail man/woman, greet them with a big smile and that way you’ll make two people’s day a little brighter!  Bev of Boston, MA

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, I am now more keenly aware of what a great job that they do in providing service to their customers.  The next time you see your mail man/woman, greet them with a big smile and that way you’ll make two people’s day a little brighter!  Bev of Boston, MA

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, I am now more keenly aware of what a great job that they do in providing service to their customers.  The next time you see your mail man/woman, greet them with a big smile and that way you’ll make two people’s day a little brighter!  Bev of Boston, MA

  • Anonymous

    I have never worked for the postal service; however, after reading this, I am now more keenly aware of what a great job that they do in providing service to their customers.  The next time you see your mail man/woman, greet them with a big smile and that way you’ll make two people’s day a little brighter!  Bev of Boston, MA

  • Jan C

    This one is certainly NOT TRUE. We don’t have mail service at our home, and have to use a post office box. I love UPS. 

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      well ups overcharges and takes forever to deliver buy you go ahead and like them

  • Keepinitreal

    Carriers are so incompitent. In my town they forwarded my mail (I did not move) to another address. I called the 1-800 number who submitted my complaint, I never received a call back like I was told. They then sent my mothers mail to my house I told them and he goes ” oh that happens all the time.” Its no woner USPS is going out of business they can’t even deliver mail to the right people at the right addresses. You’d think it was rocket science.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

      well someone put in a change from your house.Im sure you dont make mistakes in your job ever right.Get out of the basement

  • Keepinitreal

    Carriers are so incompitent. In my town they forwarded my mail (I did not move) to another address. I called the 1-800 number who submitted my complaint, I never received a call back like I was told. They then sent my mothers mail to my house I told them and he goes ” oh that happens all the time.” Its no woner USPS is going out of business they can’t even deliver mail to the right people at the right addresses. You’d think it was rocket science.

  • Shybustergirl2

    I have been told by many of my customers that :”my dog doesn’t bite” wow really??? could of fooled me. and i have to say i am more afraid of the non vicious breeds for some reason there is several dogs that can’t stand my mail jeep and when i pull up they go nuts. a yellow lab chases my jeep, I have almost hit her several times. told the customers but guess they don’t care. i have known the dog since she was a puppy the other day i dropped off a package and she was barking at me in a not so friendly way. I wont be delivering packages to that house again. sorry but not gonna get bit and have to sue one of my customers for a dog bite.

  • Tammon71

    Lol I find all these comments Kinda funny! First to the person who says back back in the day when there was lots of mail. Do u know your facts there are millions more pieces of mail these days because of advertising n junk mail n so on. So even with email n the web it’s way more,not to mention the amount populations have multiplied by millions! I’m not a mail carrier but worked for the bulk mail center as did my mom. My xhusband is a carrier my dad was, and many of our friends! The amount of homes they have to deliver to in the amount of time in time they are given is unheard of n as for dogs they were briefly describing a dog I know for most carriers I know they hate the small dogs worse then the big ones but either way it’s the same story every onwner says my dog won’t bite! Then u don’t own a dog! Because dogs are bread from wolfs n that is what they were bread to do is protect!

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

    i like when the women answer the door naked

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/7H4Z55ODFFODJJFF6RJOVDMS7M John

    dont ask for your mal early its a pain

  • joslyncook

    I would add – Please teach your kids NOT to run up to the mail truck. It isn’t safe. A mail truck is a motor vehicle like any other and everyone – kids and adults – need to stay back a little and wait for us to put the mail in the box and drive away before getting the mail. And one of the biggest problems we have? Insufficient addresses. Please be responsible for yourself and make sure you always always use the correct unit/apartment/suite/building number. Please help us help you.