# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/61 "2013-07-25T13:47:35Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > No, of course not. It’s a signal to mail thieves that there might be something to steal in the box. It saves them a great deal of time as they cruise down the street, since they only have to check the boxes that have their flags raised. I never use my mail box to mail anything preferring to drop my outgoing into a secure mail box. Then again, these days I almost never mail anything and pay all my bills online. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/62 "2013-07-25T21:34:35Z")
Well, this thread has solved one of my burning questions. My townhouse association replaced our cluster a couple of years ago and I thought they gave me 2 keys. I put one on my keychain and when I went to look in the envelope I couldn’t find another key. I was thinking that maybe that key was for the larger package box, since my regular mailbox key doesn’t fit, and I was wondering what to do if I ever got a package delivered there. Now I see that the key may be left in my box. (Not that it matters since for some reason the post office has decided to deliver all packages to the shed next to my garage where I keep the garbage cans so that I have no idea that I have a package until I take out the garbage.) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/63 "2013-07-26T12:41:22Z")
I am lucky to still have door-to-door delivery, but I guess I could adjust to cluster boxes. The worst I ever heard of was a colleague of mine when I was at U. Ill., Urbana. He got no mail delivery at all, just a free box at the PO. But he and his wife both left before the PO opened and got back after it closed. He could get his mail only on Saturday before noon. What a pain! What if they closed on Saturdays, as Canadian POs do. What would a person without a car do? This was nearly 50 years ago, incidentally. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/64 "2013-07-26T13:07:57Z")
:shrug: In our mountain county, we don’t get any delivery at all. Fine with me, I just run by the post office a couple of times a week. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/65 "2013-07-26T13:23:36Z")
The USPS went to roadside delivery in my mom’s neighborhood a while back. It was a tidy little addition with 1/8 acre lots with no curbs or sidewalks. Having all these mailboxes lined up along the street now makes the street claustrophobic and the neighborhood look trashy. Apparently this pleases our obese carrier who now does not have to leave her delivery truck, hang up her cell phone, or put out her cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/66 "2013-07-26T13:28:16Z")
Is that really called for? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/67 "2013-07-26T13:41:51Z")
It’s almost the last thing the mail has going for it is that it comes right to the house. If I have to go down to the corner to get my mail like an apartment dweller I think I’d eventually stop. First I’d go a week without checking it, then a month. It wouldn’t be long before I just give up on it completely. Then you’ll have to bring back telegrams to get a letter in my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/68 "2013-07-26T13:45:56Z")
I’ve been going to cluster boxes for the last 25 years and will for the forseeable future. So no big change for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/69 "2013-07-26T20:16:53Z")
When my husband and I moved into our home, we started having to use a cluster box. I’m usually the one who gets the mail, and I have to say I’ve met some nice people there. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/70 "2013-07-26T22:21:10Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I am lucky to still have door-to-door delivery, but I guess I could adjust to cluster boxes. The worst I ever heard of was a colleague of mine when I was at U. Ill., Urbana. He got no mail delivery at all, just a free box at the PO. But he and his wife both left before the PO opened and got back after it closed. He could get his mail only on Saturday before noon. What a pain! What if they closed on Saturdays, as Canadian POs do. The PO boxes at my local post office are open 24/7. When the office is closed, they pull out a partition and leave the main doors unlocked. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/71 "2013-07-27T00:17:36Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The PO boxes at my local post office are open 24/7. When the office is closed, they pull out a partition and leave the main doors unlocked. Are you quite sure about that? Our local PO is closed on Sundays & holidays and closes weekdays at 6PM (earlier on Sat), even though the windows are securely separate from the PO boxes. Branch offices have even more restricted hours. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/72 "2013-07-27T00:58:22Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Are you quite sure about that? The USPS website says the lobby hours are “Mon-Sun 12:01am - 11:59pm.” If you take it literally, it’s 23.98/7, but I assume they don’t actually clear people out so they aren’t in the building right at midnight. It’s just a little branch office too. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/73 "2013-07-27T00:59:28Z")
Yes, around here a lot of post office lobbies are open even when the service window is shuttered. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/74 "2013-07-27T05:41:28Z")
Fuck USPS. I live at an address similar to 6543 N. Maple St., Chicago 60617. A couple of weeks ago I got a letter legibly addressed to 6543 S. Maple St., Chicago 60628. I wrote “delivered in error” “deliver to SOUTH Maple St.” on the envelope and dropped it off in the nearest blue box. It was delivered to me AGAIN. Dropped it off again. Delivered to me a THIRD time. Today I finally took it to the local PO and explained what was going on. I successfully restrained myself from screaming “Is everybody at the PO FUCKING ILLITERATE???” I repeat: Fuck USPS. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/75 "2013-07-27T06:06:03Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Fuck USPS. > > I live at an address similar to 6543 N. Maple St., Chicago 60617. A couple of weeks ago I got a letter legibly addressed to 6543 S. Maple St., Chicago 60628. I wrote “delivered in error” “deliver to SOUTH Maple St.” on the envelope and dropped it off in the nearest blue box. It was delivered to me AGAIN. Dropped it off again. Delivered to me a THIRD time. Today I finally took it to the local PO and explained what was going on. I successfully restrained myself from screaming “Is everybody at the PO FUCKING ILLITERATE???” > > I repeat: Fuck USPS. When something like that happens, black out the bar code at the bottom of the letter (the one with the line of vertical bars). The letter was obviously miscoded and every time you put it back in the mail, the scanners will see the bad bar code and just route it back to the same place. Blacking out the bar code will force someone (man or machine) to read the address again. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/76 "2013-07-27T06:14:32Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yes, around here a lot of post office lobbies are open even when the service window is shuttered. It depends on the type of area where the post office is located. In the more expensive suburbs and rural areas, they let the lobbies stay open late or even 24 hours. In the city or the poor suburbs, they lock up everything when the window service closes. (They might make some strategic exceptions.) Where I live, it’s very frustrating. The post offices have lobbies with post office boxes and the self-service machine in a separate walled-off section that could be accessed 24 hours without endangering the full service lobby, but they lock that sucker up tight when the service lobby closes. But about 5 miles away into the suburbs, they have similarly designed buildings where the post office box and self-service area is open 24 hours 6 or 7 days a week. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/77 "2013-07-27T06:53:10Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > It’s almost the last thing the mail has going for it is that it comes right to the house. > If I have to go down to the corner to get my mail like an apartment dweller I think I’d eventually stop. First I’d go a week without checking it, then a month. It wouldn’t be long before I just give up on it completely. > Then you’ll have to bring back telegrams to get a letter in my hands. Hey, watch yer language, I get mail at my front door, thankyewverymuch. My parents still get front-door service, in a suburban neighborhood that used to be surrounded by corn and soybean fields and is now a sprawling multi-subdivision. The house was built in 1971 and the service hasn’t changed. I just checked Google Maps and took a toodle down the street, around the corner, and the newer houses all have curbside mailboxes. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/78 "2013-07-29T08:18:28Z")
> [@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." > [For new U.S. homes, no more mailman at the door under postal plan | Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/usa-postal-delivery-idUSL1N0FU01A20130724) This isn’t all that new - our neighborhood (detached houses) has a central mailbox location. Oddly, a neighborhood built _after_ ours has delivery to each house. I remember being surprised by that, as I’d thought that was done-away-with decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366/79 "2013-07-29T09:21:05Z")
The oldest subdivision in my city has curbside-style boxes, but next to peoples’ porches. Is there an advantage to that? These aren’t huge yards, so a curbside box would be just about as convenient for the residents but easier to deliver to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-mailman-at-the-door-under-u-s-postal-service-plan/664366.md?page=3)