Why 'community' mailboxes?
Nov 8th 2012 | 1:35 am
#16
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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.
(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.
A lot of people are quite happy for their confrontational dogs to greet the postie too.
(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.
Nov 8th 2012 | 1:44 am
#17
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,771
From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: 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?
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.
Nov 8th 2012 | 1:45 am
#18
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,609
From: Ontario
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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.
(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.
A lot of people are quite happy for their confrontational dogs to greet the postie too.
(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
Nov 8th 2012 | 1:47 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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
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
Nov 8th 2012 | 1:50 am
#20
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,771
From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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
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
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.
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:15 am
#21
Banned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,342
From: Durham Region Extension
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
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
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:21 am
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
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
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
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:23 am
#23
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,771
From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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.
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:26 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
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?
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?
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:30 am
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
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?
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?
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:34 am
#26
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,345
From: Ottineau
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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
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
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:54 am
#27
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,609
From: Ontario
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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.
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.
Nov 8th 2012 | 2:55 am
#28
Banned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,342
From: Durham Region Extension
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
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
Last edited by ultrarunner; Nov 8th 2012 at 2:58 am.
Nov 8th 2012 | 3:02 am
#29
Thread Starter
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55,309
From: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Re: Why 'community' mailboxes?
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?
Nov 8th 2012 | 3:03 am
#30
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,609
From: Ontario
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
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?
