# No more mailman at the door under U.S. Postal Service plan **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366 "2013-07-24T06:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/21 "2013-07-24T13:41:42Z")
When we bough this house 18 years ago, the neighborhood was two years old. They had mail box clusters on the curb. After about five years when we were ‘visiting’ the house, noticed everyone had mailboxes and the clusters were gone. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/22 "2013-07-24T13:52:28Z")
I haven’t seen housing built in the past 25-30 years around here that didn’t have the cluster boxes installed. Older areas tend to have the mailbox on the porch scheme, and some areas have the mailbox on the curb; I never have been able to divine what made an area go with one or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/23 "2013-07-24T13:54:28Z")
My neighborhood was built in the 60s, and the mailboxes are all by the street. I thought that was the norm for the average suburban American area? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/24 "2013-07-24T14:01:10Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Mailmen don’t come to the door > Meter reading is done digitally > Nurses in scrubbies instead of starched white uniforms > compression shorts instead of jock straps > Pizza delivery drones and pool roombas > > (sigh) Now I want there be pizza roombas… (double sigh) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/25 "2013-07-24T14:52:23Z")
This is news to me. I thought that everyone in the US had mail delivered to mailboxes by the curbside anyway, with those little flags that stick up when the mailman’s been. Are you telling me Snoopy has been lying to me all these years? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/26 "2013-07-24T14:57:11Z")
The flag sticks up to let the mailman know you have something for pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/27 "2013-07-24T14:59:29Z")
Yeah, all new 'burbs in Canada have had cluster mailboxes since way back in the eighties. I don’t think they’ve taken away existing door-to-door delivery though. I have to admit that, when I actually saw a letter carrier making her rounds in an older neighbourhood in Oshawa, it took me a few moments to figure out who she was and what she was doing. With the explosive growth of the suburbs since the eighties, it’s become that uncommon, relatively speaking. Small towns have been picking the mail up at the post office for years anyways. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/28 "2013-07-24T15:16:54Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Strange; in Great Britain the Royal Mail has a legal rule that mail goes to the address, not the person. So a letter to Chris M. of 24 Elm Row, must go to no. 24 whether or not Chris lives there, or is known to live next door, or moved, etc.. By following the letter of the law thus, they safeguard themselves from accusations of mishandling the post, wrongful or late delivery etc., since they did what was \*asked, \*not what was intended. same for USA. a person can do a change of address or mail forwarding, both have limited duration. if those aren’t in effect then it goes to the address. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/29 "2013-07-24T15:17:33Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Now I want there be pizza roombas… > > (double sigh) Pfft. That’s low tech. Soon there will be [pizza drones](http://www.psfk.com/2013/06/dominos-pizza-delivery-drone.html)! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/30 "2013-07-24T15:20:45Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > This is news to me. I thought that everyone in the US had mail delivered to mailboxes by the curbside anyway, with those little flags that stick up when the mailman’s been. Some do, some have mailboxes on their front porch or door slots. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/31 "2013-07-24T15:43:39Z")
The house I live in now was built in the 1950s. It has always had a mailbox out by he street. I don’t see what the big deal is. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/32 "2013-07-24T15:52:08Z")
In my neighborhood, we currently have door to door delivery. If they decide to change that, and if I have to have an individual mailbox rather than go to a cluster box, the mailman will have to still get out of his truck to get to the mailbox. There are so many cars parked on the street these days. An awful lot of neighborhoods weren’t built to accommodate three or more cars in the driveways. Take a look at an older suburban working class neighborhood- one car garages, one car driveways. My street is pretty well parked in even during the day. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/33 "2013-07-24T17:03:27Z")
My mailbox is in a cluster box (~20 feet up the street), though my neighbor to the south has an invidulal strteetside box. If I get a pacjage it is put on my porch. I don’t mind the clusterbox (it is nice having locked mail) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/34 "2013-07-24T17:15:51Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > "Under a cost-saving plan by the U.S. Postal Service, Americans moving into newly built homes will not have mail delivered to their doors and will instead have to trek to the curb or neighborhood cluster boxes. > > The Postal Service began the change in April, and Congress is considering an even bolder shift that would also affect existing houses. It’s unclear if delivery to the door will eventually be eliminated entirely." > [http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/usa-postal-delivery-idUSL1N0FU01A20130724](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/usa-postal-delivery-idUSL1N0FU01A20130724) This isn’t new. New subdivisions in Houston have had cluster boxes designed into them for years. Frankly, I’m surprised the USPS didn’t get rid of door-to-door a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/35 "2013-07-24T17:28:52Z")
My mailbox is across the street. I just pick it up from the car when I get home from work, before swinging into my driveway. Not horribly inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/36 "2013-07-24T17:34:09Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > I’d be sad to have my mail slot abandoned, as I like being able to go away and not worry about mail visibly piling up. I also like my mail carrier and would hope he gets a good deal out of any changes they make. The USPS has this nifty service called “Hold Mail” in which they will stop delivering your mail for a specific amount of time you set. At the end of the hold period, all your mail is delivered as it usually is. You can even [schedule the hold online](https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/) and avoid the post office altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/37 "2013-07-24T17:35:43Z")
This is news? I’ve been getting my mail out of cluster boxes since the mid-80s. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/38 "2013-07-24T17:41:52Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > The USPS has this nifty service called “Hold Mail” in which they will stop delivering your mail for a specific amount of time you set. At the end of the hold period, all your mail is delivered as it usually is. You can even [schedule the hold online](https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/) and avoid the post office altogether. Way too much trouble for a few days away. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/39 "2013-07-24T17:54:00Z")
I can’t see much changing in rural areas. We already get our mail in a box at the—well, we don’t have a curb, but at the edge of the gravel. Cluster boxes would be a problem; there’s no central location out here, just soybean fields and cow pastures. Our mail is delivered by a USPS “rural carrier,” a part-time, unbenefitted, non-career employee who uses her own vehicle. Maintaining cluster boxes would probably cost more annually. In town they might have to go to the PO to pick up their mail, which in our closest burg would be a 1/4-mile walk or drive for most of them. No doubt some of them would complain, but I think they’d survive. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/40 "2013-07-24T18:04:34Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Way too much trouble for a few days away. 🙂 Seriously? 😕 Filling out an online form that, if your browser is set to default auto-fill, takes all of less than one minute to complete and submit? How you managed to type out a reply to my suggestion is mind-blowing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366.md?page=3)