Misc 13 Things Your Mail Carrier Won’t Tell You - Page 18

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 09:49 AM

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/...l-you-2445111/

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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.

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).

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.

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 magazines, manuscripts, DVDs, and CDs; just don’t include anything else in the package.

5. We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars. Really. The sale of postage, products, and services at our 36,000 retail locations, and on our website, covers all of the post office's operating expenses.

6. UPS and FedEx charge you $10 or more for messing up an address. Us? Not a cent.

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.

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.

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.

10. Use a ballpoint pen. Ink from those felt tips runs in the rain.

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!

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.

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.

"We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars. Really. The sale of postage, products, and services at our 36,000 retail locations, and on our website, covers all of the post office's operating expenses."

This is true. The post office is one of the (if not the only) government agencies that is 100% self-sufficient. They do not get tax dollars or money from the government. Whenever postage goes up, it's typically because the cost of technology used, gas, cost of benefits, or wages have gone up.

Anyway, I just thought I would share this. I know my dad has told me several of these, but I didn't know if everyone was aware.

**Bwana** · 02-04-2011, 02:35 PM

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Originally Posted by notorious

Some of them would be lighter then a Mailman's bag.

I didn't think of it that way. On the other hand, some of them, not so much.

**Saulbadguy** · 02-04-2011, 02:35 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

Okay, now I do feel stupid...lol. Duh. I guess I am just so used to the people I know that I don't think about the "postal" postal employees.

I heard a rumor that as a postal employee, you aren't allowed to say "going postal".

**notorious** · 02-04-2011, 02:44 PM

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Originally Posted by Bwana

I didn't think of it that way. On the other hand, some of them, not so much.

Sweet Jesus.

**Bwana** · 02-04-2011, 02:46 PM

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Originally Posted by notorious

Sweet Jesus.

Yeah huh!

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 04:45 PM

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Originally Posted by Jenson71

My girlfriend's dad is a mailman. I don't think he enjoys it much, but the benefits are good, and isn't their retirement package somehow funded by taxpayers, because they are federal employees, right?

His kids' professions, in order, are: 1) a computer engineer 2) a pharmacist 3) a physical therapist 4) a high school English teacher 5) a pharmacy student 6) a biology student looking into dental school

Whatever was going on at their house worked. The dad is very disciplined person. Maybe not the most bookish guy, but no moron at all. And a former marine with a Purple Heart while serving in Vietnam.

Alright. I asked dad, and he said his retirement is social security, just like everyone else. He has also done some investing via 401k, as well as some on his own, but all he gets from the post office or government is whatever he's paid into social security.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-04-2011, 04:52 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

Alright. I asked dad, and he said his retirement is social security, just like everyone else. He has also done some investing via 401k, as well as some on his own, but all he gets from the post office or government is whatever he's paid into social security.

No pension? I'm shocked. Ask him if a straight white guy that has never been in the military but scores high on their tests can get hired, if you don't mind. I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but I'm curious.

**Saulbadguy** · 02-04-2011, 04:56 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

Alright. I asked dad, and he said his retirement is social security, just like everyone else. He has also done some investing via 401k, as well as some on his own, but all he gets from the post office or government is whatever he's paid into social security.

Ahem. What about health care?

kstater · 02-04-2011, 04:58 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

Alright. I asked dad, and he said his retirement is social security, just like everyone else. He has also done some investing via 401k, as well as some on his own, but all he gets from the post office or government is whatever he's paid into social security.

Yeah, I have a hard time believing they don't have a pension plan.

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 05:10 PM

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Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

No pension? I'm shocked. Ask him if a straight white guy that has never been in the military but scores high on their tests can get hired, if you don't mind. I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but I'm curious.

In order to become a career employee, you have to take the exam. They hire temp employees. He thinks they make around $14-15/hour, but he's not for sure about that. Also, temp hires don't get benefits.

For temp hires - http://www.usps.com/employment/welco...r&page=careers

Info regarding 473 Battery Exam - http://postalwork.net/473_battery_exam.htm

Still trying to find a schedule for the exams. They only come to Springfield so often.

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 05:11 PM

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Originally Posted by kstater

Yeah, I have a hard time believing they don't have a pension plan.

They do. 401k

Also, why would he lie about that?

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 05:11 PM

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Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Ahem. What about health care?

What about it? Jenson asked about retirement.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-04-2011, 05:20 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

In order to become a career employee, you have to take the exam. They hire temp employees. He thinks they make around $14-15/hour, but he's not for sure about that. Also, temp hires don't get benefits.

For temp hires - http://www.usps.com/employment/welco...r&page=careers

Info regarding 473 Battery Exam - http://postalwork.net/473_battery_exam.htm

Still trying to find a schedule for the exams. They only come to Springfield so often.

Thanks. I'm going to look into it. I think my lack of military service, and white penis will hurt me, but it's worth a shot. Never know until you try.

**luv** · 02-04-2011, 05:28 PM

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Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Thanks. I'm going to look into it. I think my lack of military service, and white penis will hurt me, but it's worth a shot. Never know until you try.

You've met Matt, our grillmaster, right? He had no military service.

The last time I took it, it was the 470. Looks like it's changed a bit.

Brock · 02-04-2011, 05:33 PM

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Originally Posted by luv

They do. 401k

Also, why would he lie about that?

They have a pension plan.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-04-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

You've met Matt, our grillmaster, right? He had no military service.

The last time I took it, it was the 470. Looks like it's changed a bit.

I really don't know for sure, it's just what I've heard. I'd be pretty happy to get on there. Get paid to exercise. And paid well at that. I mean, it's not a ransom, but it sure as hell beats what I've been doing. I've gotten to the point where I'd rather be happy going to work every day even if I do make less money doing it. Thanks for the info on it.