Mailbox question......
- Thread starter ruralfool
- Start date
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
Look on the front.
They say approved by postmaster general.
So yes, they are legal.
They say approved by postmaster general.
So yes, they are legal.
carrier789
Member
There are minimum requirements that the opening have to be I'm sure someone on here will post it. I found it before... I had a couple people with homemade boxes made from steel with slots to small they were pissed when I notified them to make them wider.
macon
Well-known member
I had the same situation. Slot so small a magazine would not fit. And of course they have several subscriptions. I had already spoken to the customer about it. I asked the PM if I was supposed to walk a magazine to their door every time they get one. He said, "Write it up as a parcel. Let them come pick it up. That will solve it." He was right. 2 weeks later,,,new box.
ruralfool et al -- "Are those mailboxes that have a little "slot" you push in to get the mail in legal? I can barely get their mail in (especially day after holiday) let alone small chucks, especially their pill packages."
-- Guessing you are dealing with [ cast metal? ] mailboxes that are locked. You put the mail in the slot and the customer opens the mailbox with a key.
-- "Any thoughts?" -- Yes, not enough specifics listed in Step 4's ( M-9 ) and ( L-24 ) as both cite: a mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer's daily mail volume.
-- The DMM's Section 508.3.2.3. -- Locked Box: a mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer's normal daily mail volume.
-- The DMM's Section 508.2.1.6 -- Door slot ( as in a building's front door ): A door slot for mail must meet specific criteria:
a. The clear rectangle opening in the outside slot plate must be at least 1.5 inches wide ( read "high" ) and 7 inches long ( read "wide" ).
- request the customer enlarge the existing slot ( if possible ) to 10 inches wide.
- way back when, carriers used to get "extra" time if having to make multiple passes to get all the mail in slotted mailboxes. ( Page 7 of the 2018 MCG. Probably has changed. )
"I'm suppose to walk a tiny package to their porch? "
-- Unfortunately, yes, until Section 331.21 -- Attract Customer to Box -- of the PO-603 is changed.
-- Have the customer fill out Form 4232 -- Delivery Instructions -- regarding parcels that won't fit in the slot.
-- Leaving 3849's for the customer to go to the post office to get small parcels that won't fit in the slot may be sufficient to get the slot enlarged.
-- Guessing you are dealing with [ cast metal? ] mailboxes that are locked. You put the mail in the slot and the customer opens the mailbox with a key.
-- "Any thoughts?" -- Yes, not enough specifics listed in Step 4's ( M-9 ) and ( L-24 ) as both cite: a mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer's daily mail volume.
-- The DMM's Section 508.3.2.3. -- Locked Box: a mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer's normal daily mail volume.
-- The DMM's Section 508.2.1.6 -- Door slot ( as in a building's front door ): A door slot for mail must meet specific criteria:
a. The clear rectangle opening in the outside slot plate must be at least 1.5 inches wide ( read "high" ) and 7 inches long ( read "wide" ).
- request the customer enlarge the existing slot ( if possible ) to 10 inches wide.
- way back when, carriers used to get "extra" time if having to make multiple passes to get all the mail in slotted mailboxes. ( Page 7 of the 2018 MCG. Probably has changed. )
"I'm suppose to walk a tiny package to their porch? "
-- Unfortunately, yes, until Section 331.21 -- Attract Customer to Box -- of the PO-603 is changed.
-- Have the customer fill out Form 4232 -- Delivery Instructions -- regarding parcels that won't fit in the slot.
-- Leaving 3849's for the customer to go to the post office to get small parcels that won't fit in the slot may be sufficient to get the slot enlarged.
Windindaface
Well-known member
Slots for incoming mail must be at least 1.75 inches high by 10 inches wide.
As to bottles of Meds and other Chubbies not fitting into the space. Those items are a parcel credit based on current dimensions for count. Therefore a front door drop is done.
As to bottles of Meds and other Chubbies not fitting into the space. Those items are a parcel credit based on current dimensions for count. Therefore a front door drop is done.
MiddleOfNowhere
Well-known member
Unless this has changed , I think the slot has to be two inches high. Had a box that was just under two in and happen to have a pill bottle on the day I had route inspection. PM saw that the pill bottle wouldnt fit through this lot and notified the customer to remove the insert. Haven't had to go to the door with a package since
Windindaface
Well-known member
Don't know how the rules are enforced in your area. But the rule is if it does not fit into the box you actually leave the ride and drop the item at some scanner option choice.
If you want to cut your pay with RRECS on the horizon leave those items on the flat tops so you can be home those few minutes sooner.
MiddleOfNowhere
Well-known member
A couple years back, we ended up having a carrier dismissed,when a postal inspector saw a bag hanging on a box as he traveled through the area. Carrier was warned, and soon after was set up with a few possible fake oversized parcels to different addresses on his route,. More packages hanging on boxes. After about 6 or 8 months to get through the grievances, it was lesson learned. Just because your pm would allow it, you would be playing with fire, as you never know who might see it.
Windindaface
Well-known member
From a feeble recall and not having the count ruler at home. A item for a parcel credit under current rules, is any item thicker than 1 9/16 inches is a parcel from OP topic.
Oh, it's not by the book, but I haven't heard any complaints.
I have probably two dozen boxes on my route without doors. Is that a more secure place to leave a package?
As far as RRECS, which no one seems to truly understand, or know when it may or may not be integrated - I will cross that bridge when and if I get there. But most def, I'll take the minutes!
Windindaface
Well-known member
@drakeME .. not knowing your area because I am in a snow globe world now. I do not enforce the notice of your mail box needs attention when the front door is missing. Just saying $20 for a cheapo depo box and sometime spent by them for DYI repair to a damaged box is small change. Compared to a complaint by them because they have no door and found their mail on the ground.
PostalServiceEmployeeNewman
Well-known member
Gotta love the customers who think they are King.
They are getting a free service and want you to accommodate to their needs.
"What do you mean i need to buy a new box that isnt all smashed up and the lid dont close. You need to find a way to close the lid! You leave it open everyday. It only take 25 seconds to to get the lid to close. You mail carriers are lazy!"
They are getting a free service and want you to accommodate to their needs.
"What do you mean i need to buy a new box that isnt all smashed up and the lid dont close. You need to find a way to close the lid! You leave it open everyday. It only take 25 seconds to to get the lid to close. You mail carriers are lazy!"
I drive a POV and not an LLV and If the neighborhood is so dangerous that you have to have a slotted box, it's way to dangerous for me to drive a 1/2 mile on my $dollar up your rutted driveway ( the postal service does not pay me for this additional mileage) to leave it in plain view on your your porch. This is just a scheme to get everything brought to the porch on my dollar and yes I'd rather get home earlier because I need to do repairs, get brake pads, tires, oil changed, before DARK. Just because I'm a rural carrier doesn't mean I don't know when I'm getting took advantage of and I hope for all of you who don't quite agree, I hope every customer puts up one of these sumbitching slotted boxes on your route sincing you don't want to get home early!
You all know what RRECS is?/ Poor ole rural carrier thinks there a city carrier without a time clock to work longer not smarter!
You all know what RRECS is?/ Poor ole rural carrier thinks there a city carrier without a time clock to work longer not smarter!
And how many seconds do we get to delivery a parcel inside a mailbox vs driving it a 1/2 mile in which POV carriers incur this expense and not the customer or USPS. Move the damn slotted box to the porch and see who would not want to pay for this 1/2 mile POV FREE expense then!
Windindaface
Well-known member
A related question here.. Have you noticed most of the mail these customers receive with these secure boxes is mostly solicitations from those looking for a donation for whatever cause?
