Winter Mailbox Protection

We’re right in the middle of winter, meaning snow, ice, and snowplows. Is your mailbox safe from all of these dangers? We’re here to give you a few tips to keep those mailboxes safe.

1.      Clear the snow away from your mailbox. This is not only helpful to the letter carriers delivering your mail, but for incoming cars and snowplows. If your mailbox is located on the street, snow alongside your mailbox will be kicked up into your mailbox. Keeping your street clear will reduce the amount of snow hitting your mailbox.

2.      Place reflective tape on your mailbox. This will make it easier for people, including those driving the snowplows, to see it. This will significantly reduce the chances of your mailbox being hit by a plow or vehicle.

3.      Check to see how securely your mailbox is mounted. With the ground frozen it may be too late to make adjustments to the post, but you can make sure the mailbox itself is mounted securely to the post. This will also help prevent it from taking great damage.

4.      If you have a warm spell and are able to do so, move your mailbox as far away from the road as possible. You must of course adhere to USPS standards, but the more distance between your mailbox and the street the better your chances of no mailbox fatalities.

5.      Keep the mailbox itself clear of snow. If the top of your mailbox is covered in snow, it’s going to be difficult to see. This goes hand in hand with tip number two. You want to do everything you can to make sure your mailbox is visible.

None of these tips are, of course, perfect. Accidents do still happen. While there are specially designed mailboxes created to reduce the risk of snow plows, they can be very expensive and even though don’t guarantee your mailbox won’t be damaged or destroyed. But take heart, because the end of January approaches which means spring, and no more snow, is on the way. 

Give Your Child a Letter From Santa

Christmas is a magical time of year, especially for children. You can make Christmas even more

magical by giving your child a letter from Santa!

The Letters From Santa program by the USPS allows your children to get a personalized response from Santa, including a postmark from the North Pole. You don’t want to wait too long to make this magical holiday memory though, because the deadline is coming up. All letters must be received by December 15^th, so you want to get those letters out ideally by the end of this week.

So, how does it work exactly?

First, have your child write their letter to Santa. You’ll want to have them address their letter to “Santa Claus, North Pole.”

Next, open the letter when you are alone and read the letter. Now is when the response comes in. Write a personal response to your child’s letter. This response should directly respond to the content of your child’s letter. It’s also a good idea to highlight some of your child’s accomplishments in the letter, such as good grades or how they help around the house. If you’re worried they will recognize your handwriting, ask another family member or a friend to re-write the response for you.

Put this response letter in an envelope and address it to your child, with the return address reading “Santa Claus, North Pole”. Don’t forget to add a stamp, preferably a Christmas one.

Now you need to place this response letter into a larger envelope, along with the correct postage, and address it to:

North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998.

Please remember that your child’s letter must arrive in Alaska by the 15^th to guarantee a response!

The look on your child’s face will be priceless when they see the envelope addressed to them from Santa. So what are you waiting for? Remind your child to write their letter to Santa so you can get working on that response for them!

Tools of the Trade

Have you recently been inspired to start writing letters? But are you also intimidated by the letter

writing tips you’ve found on Pinterest? While you can certainly strive to create beautiful letters like you see online, if you’re just starting this new hobby you have to remember it takes practice. We’ve put together a list of supplies you’ll want to have on-hand if you want to take up the habit of writing letters.

1.      Stationary. There’s thousands and thousands of options out there when it comes to stationary. Choose one that you send all the time, giving your letters a signature look. Or choose different types so you can change it up based on the person, occasion, and season. Stationary will make your letters stand out, plus it’s more fun to use than plain paper.

2.      Pens. It may be obvious, but there’s many types of pens you can choose from. Want to keep it simple? Go for black. Want something more eye-catching? Write in a different color. Maybe you want to learn to use a fountain pen, which will give your letters a more elegant appearance. Invest in some high-quality pens specifically for letters!

3.      Stickers. If you’re looking for an easy way to dress up your letters and envelopes, stickers are a cheap and easy way to do that. There’s tons of options out there to choose from. Just make sure you don’t block the address or the return address.

4.      Stamps. Stamps are another easy way to dress up your letters and envelopes. Like stickers, you can find tons of options at your local craft store or online.

5.      A letter opener. If you’re going to be sending a lot of letters, you’re going to start receiving a lot of letters as well. You’ll want to have a tool to make it easy to open those letters without destroying the envelopes. Maybe this is to keep the return address safe, maybe it’s because a lot of work went into the envelope. No matter the reason, you should plan to invest in a letter opener.

These simple items will help you get started when it comes to letter writing!

Top Movies Involving Mail

Looking for something to watch during your next movie night? We’ve compiled a list of great movies that heavily feature the Postal service and letter writing!

1.      Dear God – Dear God is a film about a con artist who gets caught, arrested, and convicted. His punishment? Either find and keep a full-time job or go to jail. He begins working for the USPS in the dead letter office, a facility where undeliverable mail is handled. He discovers letters addressed to the Easter Bunny, God, and more. After inadvertently answering one of the letters to God, his co-workers, and he himself, become inspired to answer even more letters to do good in the world.

2.      Dear John – This movie about an American soldier is sure to pull at your heartstrings. While on break from the war, he meets and falls for a college girl and the two begin a relationship via mail. Through almost nothing but letters, they slowly get to know each other. We won’t spoil the end for you, but it’s written by Nicholas Sparks, which should give you a clue.

3.      The Lake House – When a woman buys a beautiful home located beside a lake, she could never have imagined the mailbox was magic. But that’s exactly what it is. She begins corresponding with a man who is living two years in her past. Through these letters they begin to get to know each other and eventually, fall in love. The movie chronicles their difficulty in finding a way to finally meet in person.

4.      The Postman – This post-apocalyptic adventure film may seem far removed from the world of letters and mailboxes, but it is actually just the opposite. It takes place fifteen years after an apocalyptic event that wiped out most technology and severely damaged humanity. The protagonist of the film happens to find an old USPS uniform. He puts it on, and through a series of events inspires hope and other individuals to join the “USPS” to re-establish communication and rebuild the United States.

5.      The Notebook – This famous tale may not feature letters and mailboxes as prominently as our other selections, but there’s one bit that has always stuck with us. During the course of the movie, Noah writes one letter to Allie every day for an entire year. His dedication to the woman he loved was moving enough that this move made our top five.

This is, of course, not a comprehensive list. If you’re looking for a fun film to watch for the first time, or even to re-watch, we recommend you give one of these a try. 

Stamp Out Hunger Tomorrow

Tomorrow, May 14^th, is the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive! Over 10,000 cities are invited to participate in the nation’s largest one day food drive.

Image courtesy of usps.com

Participating is easy. All you need to do is leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday May 14^th. Make sure to drop it off early before your letter carrier arrives. They’ll pick it up and your donation will be taken to local food banks, homeless shelters, and more. At this time of year, donations are extremely important. Many people tend to donate during the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. By May, these donations are growing thin, leaving food banks in desperate need of food to serve to millions of hungry Americans.

While any donation is appreciated, we have some tips of you want to go the extra mile. While some donations will go to families who simply don’t have enough money for enough food, some of your donations will likely go to homeless individuals without the conveniences most of us have. By keeping this in mind, you can provide food that will work for anyone, whether they have access to a kitchen or not.

·        Donate foods that don’t require any type of cooking at all. These are great for homeless individuals, who will be able to eat on the go and have nowhere to prepare food. Examples include cereal, granola bars, and fruit cups.

·        Canned food is great and provides good meals. Soup, beans, and chili are great easy options for those who are hungry. If possible though, try to donate canned food that has lids that do not require can openers. Imagine how frustrating it would be to have access to dinner but be unable to open it.

·        When donating foods that do need to be prepared, try to provide foods that are filling. Ramen is quick and easy, but not a very filling meal. Instead try options such as pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, and rice.

·        Food banks see a lot of donations of canned vegetables and fruits. While this is great, protein is often lacking from food banks. Throw in some canned chicken, tuna, or stews with some type of protein included.

·        Don’t be shy of including some luxury items. When you don’t have enough to eat, splurging on luxury items isn’t possible. People will really appreciate something a little special. Great options include instant coffee, tea, apple sauce, and more.

Your food donations will be a great help to your local community, so consider using your mailbox for something extra special tomorrow! 

The History of the Mailbox

You may be surprised to note that mailboxes were not common until the 1900s. In fact, it wasn’t until 1923 that it was required each house have a residential mailbox or letter slot.

During the early 1800s nearly all letters in the USA were taken to the post office to be mailed. Similarly, each individual had to check with the post office to see if they had received any mail. During the second half of the 1800s, mail started to be delivered to citizens in cities, and eventually, to everyone. There was a period when USPS employees delivered to the citizens themselves, rather than the house. Due to this, the mail would be delivered across the same area multiple times a day. This is when mailboxes began to be encouraged and eventually, required.

At the beginning mailboxes didn’t even have any mandates when it came to size and shape. This meant that individuals could use nearly anything for a mailbox. Now there are many requirements when it comes to your mailbox, such as height, door size, and more.

Mailboxes have gone through many changes through the years. Residential mailboxes can come in all sorts of styles, including locking mailboxes. Mailboxes may be manufactured from plastic, wood, and more. Cluster box units were developed to serve many individuals in just one, single box. It has been suggested in recent years that door-to-door delivery be replaced entirely by CBU delivery to save on money. This has been met with a lot of protests.

Mail delivery is an important part of US history. The mailbox allows for both outgoing and incoming mail. It provides storage for all types of items; a postcard from a relative overseas, a letter from a family member, a business letter for employees, advertising for companies, a package ordered online, and more. The mailbox is incredibly important, even if it has been around for a shorter time than any of us thought. It is so essential, in fact, that one may have believed it had been around as long as the US Postal Service. 

When to Use Snail Mail

Even the USPS can admit that sometimes using emails and social media is simply faster. That doesn’t mean that technology should be used exclusively. There’s still certain times when using traditional snail mail is the way to go. Here’s a list of some of the best times to send your message through the mail and to someone’s mailbox, versus their inbox.

1.      When you want to contact an elected official, send them a letter. The amount of emails they get in a day is incredibly large, so a hand-written letter is more likely to draw interest than an email. Even President Obama is known for regularly reading letters from ordinary American citizens.

2.      Sending thank you notes through the mail is much more appropriate than sending an email. If you want to express your gratitude, take a bit of extra time and mail a letter or card. It really shows that you appreciate the person.

3.      Send loved ones physical cards during the holidays. It’s easy enough to write on someone’s wall for their Birthday or send a text during Christmas. However, it is unlikely that the person will remember you even acknowledged the holiday among the rest of their digital well-wishes. Sending a card in the mail will get their attention and show you thought of them.

4.      On the same token, send cards for more personal occasions. Examples include graduations, new babies, engagements, retirement, and more.

5.      Mail postcards while you’re on a trip and thinking of someone. Tagging them in pictures or sending them a text just isn’t the same as a classic postcard.

6.      Getting married? Send out wedding invitations the traditional way. There are many reasons for this, a big one being that if you email it, it’s likely to be missed!

7.      In love? Put pen to paper and write a love letter to your significant other. This is great for long distance relationships or even if you live in the same house or apartment. They’ll be surprised, pleased, and touched by your gesture.

8.      Most people know that after an interview, you should follow-up with a thank you note. These are often emailed, but try mailing one instead. It’s sure to make you stand out!

9.      If you work in the business/marketing world, using direct mail can actually have a larger impact than emails. People receive more spam emails in a day than spam mail, and with the right design work your direct mail could really stand out.

10.   Above all, send letters to people. It’s much more personal, and it will be an item they can treasure for many years.

You’ll note that there is something in common with everything on this list. If you want to stand out from the crowd, properly express yourself, and get noticed, sending snail mail is the perfect way to do it.

Advantages of CBUs

You can’t look into the USPS without finding articles and opinion pieces revolving around ways to assist with their financial struggles. There have been a multitude of proposals, from eliminating Saturday delivery to adding postal banking to all post offices. Another idea that has been thrown around is the idea of eliminating door-to-door delivery. What this means is that in future developments, all mailboxes will be cluster box units. In some cases old developments may even be encouraged to make the switch. If you aren’t familiar with CBUs, we’re here to explain all the fantastic advantages that come with them.

Most American citizens are aware of the USPS financial situation. Due largely in part to declining mail volumes and a law requiring the Postal Service to pre-fund retiree health benefits, the USPS rarely makes a profit. In fact it turned a profit this financial quarter for the first time in five years. However, without further reform, it is unlikely that this is a trend that will continue. With this in mind, one must consider the amount of money the USPS would save by switching to CBU delivery. CBUs allow letter carriers to make fewer stops, thereby saving time and money. Instead of walking around an entire block to deliver the mail, a letter carrier would be able to stop at just one CBU and service the entire block. This would make mail delivery much faster.

CBUs are also much safer than traditional mailboxes. The typical door-to-door mailbox has no type of lock or security. This opens you to the possibility of mail and identity theft. Citizens are particularly vulnerable around tax season, when thieves are seeking tax documents and checks. They may go through all mailboxes on the block, or just mailboxes with the outgoing mail flag up. CBUs require a key to gain access which creates an extra barrier between thieves and your mail.

Another advantage of CBUs is that they remove headaches for ordinary citizens. With a typical residential mailbox, you have to maintain it. You must make sure the post is secure and that the mailbox is painted. You have to mow and shovel around the post. Depending on where you are, you may even have to shovel a path to your mailbox or risk the letter carriers refusing to deliver your mail. With a CBU, all those hassles disappear. All you have to do is walk (or drive) to the CBU, take your mail, and go.   

Residential mailboxes go through a lot of use, and often they will show it. CBUs are designed to be

more resistant to use and the elements, especially if they are made for outdoor use. A CBU will not require painting and regular maintenance. Not only is this good for the mailbox, but it is good for mail and parcels too. With extra protection parcels and mail are less likely to get wet and damaged from the elements.

This final advantage we want to discuss today admittedly will not apply to all CBUs, but it will apply to some. Many CBUs do not have only tenant mail compartments, but parcel lockers as well. This eliminates the need for you to make a trip to the post office to pick up your packages. It also means your packages won’t be left on the porch for all to see. Packages are secured in a durable parcel locker, accessible only by key.

There are many reasons why CBUs are a great option. If you encounter them at your next home, give them a chance before you write off these high quality units.  

Decorating Your Mailbox: Christmas

Looking for a way to spruce up your mailbox for the holiday season? We have some great tips for decorating your mailbox for Christmas!

Residential Mailboxes

·        Add a Christmas themed mailbox cover to your mailbox. Many retail locations sell these, making this a very simple way to decorate.

·        Wrap lights around the mailbox post, or even on the mailbox itself. Remember that your letter carrier must be able to get access to the mailbox when you are doing this! The colors of lights you use depend on the theme of your yard. Multi-colored, white, and blue lights are all popular for Christmas decorations.

·        Use elements of a wreath, or even a wreath itself! Adding swags of pine to the sides or on top of your mailbox will give it a very festive look. With some mailboxes it may even be possible to hang a small wreath on the mailbox itself.

·        Attach outdoor decorations to the top of your mailbox. There are many small decorations that you may choose from. Try decorations such as wrapped presents, santas, and more.

·        A very easy way to make your mailbox more festive is to wrap some garland around your mailbox post. It will add extra festive color to your yard.

·        Attach a bow to your mailbox. This can be on the post, or the face of the mailbox itself. Just remember to keep the mailbox accessible!

Cluster Box Units

What you can do with CBUs is a bit more limited and depends on what authority you have when it comes to the units. Once you know what you are able to do, here are some tips!

·        For CBUs that have flat tops, you can easily place Christmas themed items along the top. If it is outdoors the decorations should be weather-resistant. This idea works best for indoor units, on top of which you may place any type of Christmas knickknack.

·        Some CBUs are more decorative and may have slanted tops. Depending on the top, you may be able items to the tops such as bows.

·        Some companies have created holiday decals. These decals can stick to all sorts of surfaces. Place them along the sides of your CBUs!

·        Many CBUs have shorter posts. If yours has a longer post, you can attach garland or lights to it like you would a residential mailbox!

We hope that these ideas were helpful! Happy Holidays! 

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Christmas will be here in less than two months and while some of you may think it is too soon to be thinking about mailing gifts, shipping deadlines may be closer than you think. This is particularly true for packages that are shipping internationally and more specifically, the military.

For example, if you wish to mail to the military using standard post, your deadline is November 7^th. The latest you can ship to a military address so your package will arrive by Christmas is December 17^th, but that only applies to certain destinations. You can find a detailed list of deadlines for military mail here.

Shipping an item internationally but not to the military will allow you more time. For select parts of the world, and for the right price, you can ship packages as late as December 22^nd. But if you are looking to save some money and ship for a cheaper price, you need to have your gifts ready to go by the very start of December. Plus these deadlines from the USPS do not take into account how long packages may take to get through customs. Plan accordingly. 

If shipping domestically you still have a lot of time. Standard post can be shipped as late as December 15^th for a Christmas arrival. For most locations across the country you can ship as late as December 23^rd, for the right price. You can get further details here.

You can buy shipping supplies in stores, online, and even at your local post office. Some boxes may even come complimentary with shipping! Before you ship make sure you have the correct address. You don’t want to waste time and money sending something to an incorrect address. Be sure to also package your items with care, lest they get damaged during transport.

Keep an eye on those shipping deadlines so your packages make it to your loved ones in time for the holidays!

Prepare Your Mailboxes for Winter

Winter is coming, which makes now the perfect time to repair mailboxes. It’s fairly common for individuals to repair mailboxes after winter, but if you take the time to fix them up now, winter won’t be nearly as tough on them.

A mailbox that is old or damaged needs maintenance before the winter months to avoid extra work in the cold. This is especially true if residents need to perform maintenance on mailbox posts. Mailboxes that are damaged by snow plows are often the result of snow, not the plow itself. Many places have rules regarding replacing a mailbox, and the majority of the time a damaged mailbox does not meet the criteria. For example, many areas require the mailbox to be physically struck by the plow itself, not the snow from the plow.

There are steps you can take to prepare your mailbox for winter. That first step comes with the mailbox post. In general you can choose between a wooden post, a plastic post, or a metal post. A sturdy post made from high-quality wood is recommended. Plastic can also be durable depending on the manufacturer. If you plan to go with a steel post, use caution. Your mailbox must give way in an accident or you will be liable. In addition, before installing a post be sure you meet the USPS standards, which you can find here. If you have a mailbox post that is rotting, damaged, or can be easily shifted, make sure to repair that now before the ground freezes. Once the ground freezes replacing a mailbox post will become very difficult or even impossible.

The post is the most important step for preparing your mailbox for winter, but there are other steps as well. For example, you should check on your mailbox hinge to see if it is rusty or otherwise damaged. If your hinge is damaged mailboxes may fall open exposing your mail to the elements. It’s also important that your address is clear on the mailbox, preferably using reflective numbers so it is easier to see.  

Take these steps to fix your mailbox before the problem is too severe in winter! 

Who Should Have Mailbox Access?

There has been some discussion in recent weeks about who exactly should have access to your mailbox. Should this be exclusively for the USPS? Or should third parties such as UPS have access?

One of the biggest debates is about if allowing others access to your mailbox will be bad for security. Right now, only you and your letter carrier should have access to your mailbox, and inviting others to as well is a security threat. However, those in favor of allowing third parties access argue that most mailboxes do not lock, so they can be access by additional individuals anyway. If that is the case, wouldn’t it make more sense for other companies to place small packages in mailboxes, instead of out for everyone to see on the porch? With all the parcels that are shipped now, mailboxes have gotten bigger. The argument is that allowing parties other than the USPS access will make the larger mailboxes worth the investment, and keep packages safer.

Not surprisingly, the USPS is concerned about how this will affect their profits. Allowing other companies to have access to mailboxes is leading to fear over competition. The USPS has been struggling to turn a profit for years, and anything that may lead to more debt is obviously alarming for the USPS. The main concern is allowing open access will allow other companies to deliver items such as catalogs or ads, taking away a chunk of the Postal Service’s profit.

One of the most compelling arguments for why the USPS should have exclusive access is that additional mail and parcels in a mailbox will cause confusion for letter carriers. As it stands, letter carriers are aware that any mail left in a mailbox is outgoing. If anyone is allowed access, then letter carriers have to sort through the mail to see if it is meant for you or them. This is inefficient and confusing, and is sure to cause issues.

There are compelling reasons to allow third parties access to mailboxes, and compelling reasons not to. At the moment, it does not seem likely that other parties will be using your mailbox any time soon, but that doesn’t make it impossible. This may not be the last time this question is raised.  

CBUs VS Door-to-Door Delivery

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding which method of delivery is better. On one hand, there is door-to-door and curbside delivery, which has been around for many years. On the other hand, there is cluster box unit delivery, which is already common in apartments, but not in neighborhoods with individual homes. Yet door to door delivery is something that has been phased out in other countries, and could be phased out in America as well. Today we are going to look at the pros and cons of making a switch to CBUs.

Cluster Box Units (CBUs)

A cluster box unit, also known as a CBU, is a single structure that holds multiple individual’s mail. This type of mail delivery is very common with apartments. A letter carrier gets access to the entire unit and is able to deliver multiple people’s mail in one place. This way, a mail carrier can deliver a handful of people’s mail at once instead of walking from door to door. This unit is placed in a centralized location to be accessed by many people.

Door-to-Door and Curbside

Both door-to-door and curbside delivery has been commonplace for a very long time. Door-to-door and curbside both see letter carriers delivering mail to individual homes. The only difference is with door-to-door, they must walk to each door while with curbside, letter carriers can often drive from mailbox to mailbox. Curbside is fairly common in more rural areas with rural letter carriers, but is also in cities.

Pros

The biggest pro to switching to CBUs is that it will save a great deal of money. According to the USPS, CBUs will cost $160 per address a year, versus curbside which is $224 and door-to-door which is $353. That is a huge cost difference. This is because letter carriers are using less gas, their vehicles are lasting longer, and mail delivery takes less time.

Another great pro for CBUs is security. With standard residential mailboxes, there is no type of lock. Mail can easily be accessed by any individual that thinks to open the mailbox. This can lead to stolen mail and sometimes even stolen identity. With a CBU, the only people with a way in are the letter carriers and the individual’s who have a key for their mailbox.

Cons

A big flaw with CBUs is that while many people can walk a block to retrieve their mail, individuals who are elderly or disabled often have a much harder time. This is even truer in inclement weather, such as rain and snow. It could lead to this demographic getting hurt, though some have proposed that if CBUs are installed there should be exceptions for the disabled and elderly.

Another flaw is that CBUs have an initial cost that is fairly expensive. Not only that, but it is not entirely clear who would be responsible for maintaining the CBU. This includes not only keeping snow away from them, but keeping them in working order.

One of the biggest concerns that have arisen in other countries is the actual placement of the CBUs. Many believe that CBUs will end up being placed in areas that are unsafe for individuals to access. This is an issue that has been raised many times in Canada as CBUs are installed. Many people worry about safety from passing cars, or the neighborhood itself.

So as you can see, there are pros and cons to installing CBUs instead of using door-to-door delivery or curbside delivery. If the cons of cluster box units are considered and addressed, they can be a great cost efficient method of handling mail delivery.

Prevent Mail Theft

It happens more often than you’d think. You send a gift card to a relative or friend, but they never get it. You’re waiting for a rebate check in the mail, and it never shows. While it may be tempting to blame the USPS for these annoyances, it likely isn’t their fault at all. There’s all sorts of reports of mail theft in the media, and these thieves might be the ones who are responsible for your missing mail.

So, now you know that mail theft exists, and it’s not a rare occurrence. But what do you do about it? Well, we’ve got some tips for you that may prevent you from becoming a victim.

One big tip is to never send cash though the mail. While that is common with sending birthday and graduation cards, it is an easy way for your money to be stolen and no one to know. You can’t track cash, so always use a check or money order. If you do plan to send money, it is best to warn the receiver in advanced so they’re watching for it.

On the same note, you should also pick up your mail as soon as you can after it’s been delivered. This is especially true if you yourself are expecting money, credit cards, or gifts in the mail. If you cannot get to your mailbox, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to retrieve your mail.

When sending mail, placing mail in your mailbox with the flag up is the least secure way to do it. Instead, mail your items from a public building or, better yet, from the post office itself. It prevents mail from getting into the wrong hands.

Consider paying bills online, and attempting to get personal financial information all delivered digitally. When you receive mail such as credit card offers you do not want, be sure to dispose of them carefully. Shred them or cut them up so they can’t be stolen and taken out in your name.

If you are going out of town, put a hold on your mail or ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail for you. If thieves see an overflowing mailbox, they’ll feel free to take mail from it.

You may also consider investing in a locking mailbox. With these types of mailboxes, you are the only one with access to your mailbox. That way you don’t have to be concerned about thieves approaching your mailbox.

Of course, these tips aren’t foolproof, but they’re a step in the right direction to preventing mail theft.  

Vacation Precautions

We’re right in the middle of June, which is a clear sign that vacation season has started. The next three months are going to be busy in terms of travel. Many people will be headed to vacation hotspots such as Florida, California, Chicago, and more. Others will be heading to visit family and friends. Some will even be leaving for international destinations. No matter where you are going, it is important you protect your home while you are gone.

This goes for everyone, whether you are in an apartment or house. While all of these tips won’t apply to every situation, many of them will. So take some time to read on and get some home security safety tips for while you are away! You’d be surprised at how much your mail can give away!

·         Ask a friend, neighbor, or family member to pick up your mail while you are away. A full mailbox is a clear sign that you aren’t home. This could get your mail stolen, or worse, your home broken into. If you live in an apartment, it may be good to alert your landlord that someone else will be picking up your mail so there’s no confusion.

·         If you don’t want to put your loved ones through the hassle, eliminate the problem by having the post office hold your mail for the duration of your trip. You can do that on the USPS website, HERE. Hold mail has to be for a minimum of 3 days, and the maximum is 30 days. If you need mail to be held longer than 30 days, contact your local post office.

·         Make arrangements to have someone take care of lawn maintenance while you are away. This includes watering plants, mowing the lawn, etc. If your yard looks unkempt, thieves may know you are away and be more likely to target your home.

·         Let neighbors know you will be away, and who you will expect to stop by the house. This way if anyone suspicious approaches your home, there will be people keeping watch.

·         Make sure your home is well protected when you are away with locks on your windows or doors. If they can be easily broken, invest in something better!  

·         If you have lawn decorations and furniture, either move some of it inside, or ask neighbors to keep an eye on it. Weather can blow items around, and if no one is there to pick up your yard, it is an alert to thieves.

·         Don’t leave a key on the premises! If you want to let someone in to check on your home or apartment, leave the key with a trusted individual, not somewhere anyone could find it.

·         Do not make posts on social media about your vacation. This one can be difficult, but your information is never as private as you think. Also, don’t state in your voicemail that you are going to be away. Anyone trying to call you will know your home is unguarded.

·         Have someone pick up anything else left at your door. This includes flyers, yellow page books, and more. These and newspapers are a huge red flag.  

  Follow these tips to help protect your home while you are away! 

Snow and Your Mailbox

January is underway, and for much of the country that means snow is likely in the future. Parts of the country have already had snowstorms this year. You may be distracted by the idea of clearing your car of snow, getting to work in traffic, and keeping your driveway clear, but don’t forget about your local letter carrier!

Letter carriers brave the elements all year to make sure you have your letters and packages. In spring this often means rain, in summer it often means hot temperatures, and in fall it means cooling ones. Arguably the toughest time of the year for letter carriers is winter. During winter they brave snow, harsh winds, and freezing temperatures. Do your part to make this a little easier on them by clearing snow and ice around your home.

There are some very simple steps you can take to do this:

·         Shovel your sidewalks, not just a path from your door to the street. Letter carrier’s travel along the sidewalk, so even if a path is clear to your door it’s only polite to clear the entire sidewalk.

·         Shovel your stairs. This is important not only for letter carriers, but for anyone who may come to your door during winter.

·         Shovel the area around your mailbox. Don’t make your letter carrier stretch to reach the mailbox or step in snow to deliver your mail. Be sure there is a decently sized area around your mailbox shoveled out.

·         If your sidewalks are icy use salt. Letter carriers can easily fall and get hurt due to ice, especially if it is covered by a layer of snow. Not only that, but you and your neighbors could be harmed as well.

·         Individuals who have mailboxes at their door should keep railings on stairs clear of snow and ice.

·         Be sure your mailbox is secure on its post to reduce the risk of damage from a snowplow.

·         If snow is plowed into your mailbox clear it away promptly.

If streets or walkways are too dangerous mail delivery might be delayed or curtailed. This may happen on occasion due to inclement weather, but may also happen if people do not do their part to keep streets and mailboxes clear.  

Blue collection boxes must meet those same standards, and the USPS asks that those are kept clear of snow and ice as well.

If you have further questions about mail delivery and snow conditions, the USPS site has a Q&A HERE.

Holiday Shipping

Christmas is under two months away, which means it is time to start thinking about shipping presents out to loved ones across the country, or even out of the country! You might be thinking that it seems a bit early to worry about this, but the U.S. Postal Service has announced their recommended holiday shipping times already!

It is always better not to wait when it comes to shipping gifts. Of course it is not always that simple. You may not have the gifts yet and cannot get them for a while. Maybe you are waiting on an address. Either way, it is always better for a gift to arrive too early, rather than too late.

Outside of mailing dates, what are some other tips when it comes to mailing holiday items? We have a few for you. The first is to be positive that the postal service can ship your items. This is rarely a problem, but it is better to be safe. Be sure to pack your items intelligently. You want a sturdy box with plenty of padding for larger items, or a bubble mailer for smaller items. No one wants your gifts to break while they are in transit. You can also save time by requesting the post office to pick up the package from you, saving yourself a trip to the post office.

In summary, don’t rush to send out your packages to loved ones right now, but don’t wait too long!

Below we’ve listed the USPS recommended shipping dates. You can get more information about shipping items at usps.com.

USPS 2014 Christmas Shipping Deadlines: 

 

• Dec. 2 – First-Class Mail International

• Dec. 2 – Priority Mail International

• Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International

• Dec. 15 – Standard Post

• Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed

• Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail

• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail

• Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express

Fight Mailbox Vandalism

There are constantly news stories out there about mailboxes being vandalized. But what can you do to prevent this? Vandalism often happens while people work, or during the night when everyone is asleep. There’s not much you can do, right?

Wrong.

While it is true that you have little control over vandalism, there are steps you can take to help prevent it. These steps don’t guarantee your mailbox will be safe, but it might deter vandals or prevent further attacks.

1.  Consider in a heavy-duty mailbox. These can be made with steel, mounted on tougher poles, and more. It will make your mailboxes more difficult to destroy and vandals will likely seek easier targets. Be careful though that the mailbox is strong without being a liability. Do your research before installing something and be sure it is USPS approved.

2. If possible, keep your mailbox mounted closer to your front door or porch. Vandals are more likely to go for curbside mailboxes rather than approaching a front door.

3. Invest in a motion sensor light. These are often installed near porches or garage doors. If a vandal approaches your mailbox and the area is suddenly lit, they may reconsider. If you don’t want to have that bright of a light on the road, consider something such as solar lights to stop the mailbox from being concealed in darkness all night.

4. Report any vandalism. This can lead to the USPS or police looking into the incident, which may prevent further problems.

5. Obtain Label 33 and attach it to your mailbox. You can get this from the Postal Inspection Service, and it warns that intentional damage to a mailbox or theft is a crime.

Of course, there’s only so much you can do to prevent vandalism, but these tips are a good start. See if any of them work for you!