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Why 'community' mailboxes?
There's been something in the news about newly built homes having community mailboxes.
The row is about the cost to the developers and that cost being passed on. But why on earth can't these places have their own mailboxes like the rest of us? They're not in the middle of nowhere and at the end of a long driveway from the road, they're just ordinary houses. It wouldn't be so bad if the mail was delivered at a definite time. Ours arrives anything from 9.00 am to some time at night. Literally late in the evening. I check the mailbox at the front door several times a day. I'd hate to be having to walk to the end of the street in bad weather. Is it really too much to expect front door delivery (or at least at the end of your footpath) in suburbia? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
A bank of mailboxes reduces the overhead of delivery. I only check mine (which is 4kms from home) a couple of times a week. It's rare that anything I receive can't wait a day or 2 to be picked up.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 10371858)
There's been something in the news about newly built homes having community mailboxes.
The row is about the cost to the developers and that cost being passed on. But why on earth can't these places have their own mailboxes like the rest of us? They're not in the middle of nowhere and at the end of a long driveway from the road, they're just ordinary houses. It wouldn't be so bad if the mail was delivered at a definite time. Ours arrives anything from 9.00 am to some time at night. Literally late in the evening. I check the mailbox at the front door several times a day. I'd hate to be having to walk to the end of the street in bad weather. Is it really too much to expect front door delivery (or at least at the end of your footpath) in suburbia? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
What if you live in a city, with mail sorting offices, several post offices as well as those outlets in pharmacies and supermarkets, loads of mailboxes around for posting mail and where door delivery happens throughout the city but a new street of houses goes up on a new road within the city and much closer to the sorting office than where they are delivering? :p
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 10371899)
What if you live in a city, with mail sorting offices, several post offices as well as those outlets in pharmacies and supermarkets, loads of mailboxes around for posting mail and where door delivery happens throughout the city but a new street of houses goes up on a new road within the city and much closer to the sorting office than where they are delivering? :p
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
This is not something new for Calgary. We have lived in our present house for close to 20 years and we have always picked up our mail at the end of the cul de sac in a supermailbox. It is actually quite convenient as it is where you pick up your regular mail but you can also drop off your outgoing mail at the same time. There are also oversized boxes for larger parcels that don't fit in your individual mailbox.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by bats
(Post 10371910)
I feel and "it is what it is" coming on. I've seen these boxes around, they aren't a new thing by any means. I can't see it worth getting wound up about but I do feel for those who aren't mobile and have no one to collect their mail for them. What happens then?
Not a nice place. But as you point out, in this respect better than small town Canada. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
I'm not sure they're that common. According to the report I just read, one in four households in Canada use community mailboxes.
That sounds like 75% have their own. :thumbup: |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 10371926)
I'm not sure they're that common. According to the report I just read, one in four households in Canada use community mailboxes.
That sounds like 75% have their own. :thumbup: |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 10371926)
I'm not sure they're that common. According to the report I just read, one in four households in Canada use community mailboxes.
That sounds like 75% have their own. :thumbup:
Originally Posted by Novocastrian
(Post 10371928)
I guess it depends on where you live. Around here the new estates tend to have community boxes, in the countryside they have their own at the end of the drive. We have one on our front door. We're British you see.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Our first home here had a superbox, a few doors down, took less than three minutes to walk there. Our second house we had a mailbox at the front door (older subdivision). Our current house a box on a post at the end of the road 1km away - no locks.
I fully support the idea of superboxes especially in residential areas in town. A postie has to deliver in ALL weather. Unfortunately even though there is a Bylaw that says you have to clear snow, I would say 1 in 3 don't bother. When it gets icy the postie has to risk slipping and breaking bones delivering mail. I wouldn't have a problem collecting mail from a superbox at a collection point some where on the mail road either as long as it was locked - the locked ones are all booked out atm. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
It's because letter boxes are so hard to insulate, innit?
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Several years ago Canada Post decided that, in order to save money, they would no longer deliver to individual houses that were built after that date. Existing boxes continued to get door letter box delivery, and still do, but any new builds would have community boxes. That's why, if you move to a house that was built prior to the CP deadline, you get door delivery.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by Piff Poff
(Post 10371978)
I fully support the idea of superboxes especially in residential areas in town. A postie has to deliver in ALL weather. Unfortunately even though there is a Bylaw that says you have to clear snow, I would say 1 in 3 don't bother. When it gets icy the postie has to risk slipping and breaking bones delivering mail.
A lot of people are quite happy for their confrontational dogs to greet the postie too. :thumbdown: (My husband is a postie so I get to hear all the tales of woe.) This is a new development about four years old so it has community mailboxes dotted around it. Our box is a 5 minute walk away but you have to pass it to get to our house anyway so my husband stops off when he's coming home from work each day. I don't mind it particularly. But as mentioned by someone else, it is no doubt a nuisance for older or immobile people. I'm guessing they must rely on family or neighbours to help them out. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Given what comes through the mailbox these days, bills & junk mail, having it delivered to community box is no big deal!
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by Deficient
(Post 10372036)
Nailed it. I believe the posties can refuse to attend your house if it is isn't clear and you would be notified to this effect but in reality there are so many uncleared that it's not really practical to do that unless it's a particularly dangerous situation.
A lot of people are quite happy for their confrontational dogs to greet the postie too. :thumbdown: (My husband is a postie so I get to hear all the tales of woe.) This is a new development about four years old so it has community mailboxes dotted around it. Our box is a 5 minute walk away but you have to pass it to get to our house anyway so my husband stops off when he's coming home from work each day. I don't mind it particularly. But as mentioned by someone else, it is no doubt a nuisance for older or immobile people. I'm guessing they must rely on family or neighbours to help them out. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 10371858)
There's been something in the news about newly built homes having community mailboxes.
The row is about the cost to the developers and that cost being passed on. But why on earth can't these places have their own mailboxes like the rest of us? They're not in the middle of nowhere and at the end of a long driveway from the road, they're just ordinary houses. It wouldn't be so bad if the mail was delivered at a definite time. Ours arrives anything from 9.00 am to some time at night. Literally late in the evening. I check the mailbox at the front door several times a day. I'd hate to be having to walk to the end of the street in bad weather. Is it really too much to expect front door delivery (or at least at the end of your footpath) in suburbia? When the mail came to the end of my driveway we used to check every day. now its about a mile away we check maybe once a week. They changed our service on "Safety" grounds, but we all know its entirely about saving a little money on delivery costs. Its just another nail in the coffin of old style snail mail Im afraid. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by Deficient
(Post 10372036)
Nailed it. I believe the posties can refuse to attend your house if it is isn't clear and you would be notified to this effect but in reality there are so many uncleared that it's not really practical to do that unless it's a particularly dangerous situation.
A lot of people are quite happy for their confrontational dogs to greet the postie too. :thumbdown: (My husband is a postie so I get to hear all the tales of woe.) This is a new development about four years old so it has community mailboxes dotted around it. Our box is a 5 minute walk away but you have to pass it to get to our house anyway so my husband stops off when he's coming home from work each day. I don't mind it particularly. But as mentioned by someone else, it is no doubt a nuisance for older or immobile people. I'm guessing they must rely on family or neighbours to help them out. Canada post do nothing to try and clear the ice/snow around the mail boxes, making it a nightmare for mental people who actually walk places. This is in NS though - land of not much, so maybe they don't have enough salt to spare :blink: |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 10372667)
Do you think we can refuse to collect our mail if the ******* post people do not salt around the mail boxes? Every winter I will fall over when collecting the mail, because most other people (and the mail delivery man) drive right up to them, compacting the snow and making it icy.
Canada post do nothing to try and clear the ice/snow around the mail boxes, making it a nightmare for mental people who actually walk places. This is in NS though - land of not much, so maybe they don't have enough salt to spare :blink: |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 10372667)
Do you think we can refuse to collect our mail if the ******* post people do not salt around the mail boxes? Every winter I will fall over when collecting the mail, because most other people (and the mail delivery man) drive right up to them, compacting the snow and making it icy.
Canada post do nothing to try and clear the ice/snow around the mail boxes, making it a nightmare for mental people who actually walk places. This is in NS though - land of not much, so maybe they don't have enough salt to spare :blink: We only got our community box foisted on us in the spring, so we are yet to see how bad a job they do here. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
The onus is not on Canada Post to clear the snow around their boxes. It's not like the walkway in front of your house
Unfortunately, for those that opt to live in the boonies, this is part and parcel of choosing to live away from subdivisions. It's a lot easier for the posties to drive to a set of boxes and just dump the letters/parcels in the individual boxes as opposed to stopping in front of every house in the middle of nowhere |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372705)
The onus is not on Canada Post to clear the snow around their boxes. It's not like the walkway in front of your house
Unfortunately, for those that opt to live in the boonies, this is part and parcel of choosing to live away from subdivisions. It's a lot easier for the posties to drive to a set of boxes and just dump the letters/parcels in the individual boxes as opposed to stopping in front of every house in the middle of nowhere |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372705)
The onus is not on Canada Post to clear the snow around their boxes.
A quick google finds the advice that Canada Post is responsible for clearing snow away from super mailbox areas. Please contact Canada Post at 1.800.267.1177 if you have any questions. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
In todays world one has to think of how much mail (not junk type) is actually delivered.
With most financial banking establishments asking you to go paperless for bills and statements etc soon the posties will have even less to deliver. Most of us pay bills by direct deposit or have them set up online. Do we really need statements that tell us X amount will be taken from your account on such a day. Yes my car needs servicing on such a date didnt you call me the other day to remind me of that or even emailed me those details. So how much real mail actually gets delivered? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
(Post 10372719)
In todays world one has to think of how much mail (not junk type) is actually delivered.
With most financial banking establishments asking you to go paperless for bills and statements etc soon the posties will have even less to deliver. Most of us pay bills by direct deposit or have them set up online. Do we really need statements that tell us X amount will be taken from your account on such a day. Yes my car needs servicing on such a date didnt you call me the other day to remind me of that or even emailed me those details. So how much real mail actually gets delivered? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 10372667)
Do you think we can refuse to collect our mail if the ******* post people do not salt around the mail boxes? Every winter I will fall over when collecting the mail, because most other people (and the mail delivery man) drive right up to them, compacting the snow and making it icy.
Canada post do nothing to try and clear the ice/snow around the mail boxes, making it a nightmare for mental people who actually walk places. This is in NS though - land of not much, so maybe they don't have enough salt to spare :blink: |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by iaink
(Post 10372676)
My understanding is C-P subcontract the snow / ice clearance. The mail boxes are supposed to be clear of hazards in a timely manner, but its not directy the mail carriers job to do it.
We only got our community box foisted on us in the spring, so we are yet to see how bad a job they do here. |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Perhaps people are just wearing the wrong shoes to go pick up their mail? Here is a weird thought, how about people just get together and clear the snow as a joint effort instead of waiting for it to be cleared?
We are lucky (or not), the super mailbox is right in front of our house across the street, 3rd house in a row now, same goes for the fire hydrant. I get to see who is going and coming |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by bats
(Post 10371935)
Some of that 75% have PO boxes and rural mail boxes at the end of their own driveway.
Of course one can put forward the Canadian view - that's the way it is, if it aint broke don't fix it etc. You buy a rural home, you have to walk to collect mail. But how odd does it look when you can buy in one street and have delivery to the box at your door but buy in a road just off that street and trudge in bad weather to get your mail. (Or find the mail box empty because delivery might be later that night. :() Of course, if you're not collecting it, then the posties have to deliver it. But isn't that what they do? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372773)
Perhaps people are just wearing the wrong shoes to go pick up their mail? Here is a weird thought, how about people just get together and clear the snow as a joint effort instead of waiting for it to be cleared?
We are lucky (or not), the super mailbox is right in front of our house across the street, 3rd house in a row now, same goes for the fire hydrant. I get to see who is going and coming Why should we clear the snow around the mail boxes? Do you want me to clear the snow on the highway that I drive about on as well? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372773)
Perhaps people are just wearing the wrong shoes to go pick up their mail? Here is a weird thought, how about people just get together and clear the snow as a joint effort instead of waiting for it to be cleared?
We are lucky (or not), the super mailbox is right in front of our house across the street, 3rd house in a row now, same goes for the fire hydrant. I get to see who is going and coming |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
We have a so-called 'community mailbox' - no real issue with collecting wanted mail but wish they had somewhere you could leave all of the junk they insist on delivering instead of having to carry it home.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Just throw it on the road.
Kidding! |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by cxx
(Post 10372865)
We have a so-called 'community mailbox' - no real issue with collecting wanted mail but wish they had somewhere you could leave all of the junk they insist on delivering instead of having to carry it home.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by cxx
(Post 10372865)
We have a so-called 'community mailbox' - no real issue with collecting wanted mail but wish they had somewhere you could leave all of the junk they insist on delivering instead of having to carry it home.
http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/pers...dmail_stop.jsf |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by iaink
(Post 10372809)
They took our mailbox delivery away on a flimsy pretext. Ill be damned if Im going to help clear the snow away in front of the box they foisted upon us:thumbdown:
So much for being a team player, and doing your bits for the community :unsure: This has been about mails, what about flyers...do you all get your flyers on Thursdays or whatever day it is where you are? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372884)
So much for being a team player, and doing your bits for the community :unsure:
This has been about mails, what about flyers...do you all get your flyers on Thursdays or whatever day it is where you are? |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 10372893)
We get them on a Thursday, thrown on the end of the drive. After winter you generally find a big pile of them once the snow has melted away/.
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Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
(Post 10372899)
Shame some of the coupons have expired by then :rofl: Oh look Crappy Tire have a deal on a circular saw 50% off good until Feb 12th :rofl:
I know right :rofl: Not only is our delivered to the house, it is nicely tucked in the strategically placed mailbox along the interlocking walkway to the front door 5:45pm on the money every Thurs by the delivery lady and her son who live down the street ;) |
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
(Post 10372884)
So much for being a team player, and doing your bits for the community :unsure:
This has been about mails, what about flyers...do you all get your flyers on Thursdays or whatever day it is where you are? Canada post made the decision to centralise them for "safety reasons", and THEY made the promise that the box would be snow and ice free. If they cant do that to keep it safe, then they should go back to delivering to my mailbox, right?:sneaky: |
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