[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by Speedie

That is why stamps to deliver to TV are less expensive than places with home delivery

Uhhhh what?

[Regorp]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The Villages has very little to do with it. The U.S. Post Office decides the method for delivering the mail. But, postal stations or neighborhood box stations are used in many areas around the country to reduce the cost of mail delivery. The small size of the house lots makes it more likely that they will erect a common area for picking up the mail, rather than delivering mail to individual houses.

Been here in DeLuna for a month and like the postal station for mail. Can pick up mail daily same time unlike up north sometimes not delivered until dark. Good idea.

[patlerro]

While I like the stations, would like to see an additional post office in the newer areas. Currently the Post Office cannot hold any mail for those leaving the area for a week or so; anything placed in the larger boxes will be returned to sender after two days. Lady Lake says they cannot handle routine hold mail items.

Originally Posted by RicNic

Why does the Villages use postal stations instead of letter carriers?

[Whitley]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

My parents house had a mail slot in the wall. No mailboxes anywhere to be seen in the neighborhood. Wonder if that is common anywhere now.

A mail slot in the wall? One day someone is going to be doing renovation and find hundreds of old letters behind the drywall.

I had a condo in Miami, where there were fancy art deco style maildrops on each floor, but I can not see it working in a house. I am curious as to how this worked.

[LG999]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

My parents house had a mail slot in the wall. No mailboxes anywhere to be seen in the neighborhood. Wonder if that is common anywhere now.

What do people in TV do if they are unable to physically go to the mail station perhaps bcs of a medical issue, inability to drive, etc? How do house bound Villagers get their mail?

Growing up on Long Island NY all homes in the area had a slot in the front door for mail.
When I moved into an apartment bldg we had a bank of locked mailboxes in a wall in the lobby near the elevator -- similar to what we have in TV except right inside the bldg. For the past 15 years I have been living in a 2-family townhouse with a mail slot in the door. Mail slots are convenient, safe/secure and are excellent if you can't get out for some reason. They do require hand delivery so work best in higher density areas.

I have never had to leave my abode to receive mail. This was a huge help during hard rain, heavy snow, the flu, broken leg/foot, etc. Now that we are older with potential physical issues in our future, we will have to somehow get to the mail station and I am wondering how.

[GATORBILL66]

Originally Posted by ricnic

why does the villages use postal stations instead of letter carriers?

i don't want a mailbox in my yard!

[vonbork]

We could have ones that look like flamingos, alligators, golf bags, golf carts, canes, and Ooo, Ooo, Ooo! How about a pair of lovebugs! Stores would open to sell, booths at the squares!

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I consider the method of mail delivery in TV to be another example of a well designed community. The postal stations are well located, and plentiful enough that there is seldom a difficult crowd to negotiate around, and close to the neighborhood pool, as well as a few other minor amenities. Between the DW and me, one of us is nearly everyday driving right past it. Very easy to pop in and get the mail.
The only minor inconvenience is that DW is very short and our box is on the top row, but that is balanced out by the very tall man we often meet there who has his box on the bottom row. I looked into switching with him, but the Postal Service doesn't have a way to do that. Well, I'm sure they do, but they don't want to be bothered with it.

I heard recently that the mailboxes are assigned by address and that can’t be changed. They’re actually designing the new stations differently now with the bottom row of mailboxes higher above the ground than the older ones. Not sure about the top row height though. I’ve heard some people bring step stools to stand on if they have a high mailbox.

Here in SoCal in our 50 y/o neighborhood we have a mailbox on the wall next to our front door, and some neighbors have a mail slot installed in their front door.

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by Whitley

A mail slot in the wall? One day someone is going to be doing renovation and find hundreds of old letters behind the drywall.

I had a condo in Miami, where there were fancy art deco style maildrops on each floor, but I can not see it working in a house. I am curious as to how this worked.

It's a small slot in the wall that goes from the outside to the inside of the house (or business).

The mailman puts the letter in the slot (outside) and it drops thru to the inside.

It was invented at least 45 years ago.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by LG999

What do people in TV do if they are unable to physically go to the mail station perhaps bcs of a medical issue, inability to drive, etc? How do house bound Villagers get their mail?

.. Now that we are older with potential physical issues in our future, we will have to somehow get to the mail station and I am wondering how.

What they do is that they research the problem and find using Google that the USPS has anticipated such a problem and has a free easy solution for you.

USPS.com FAQs

Customer Information


"Hardship" or "Medical Problems" is defined as an illness or handicap which would present a physical challenge for an individual to retrieve mail.

To request door delivery, you need to write a letter requesting this change and attach a statement from a Doctor. The doctor's statement should indicate you are unable to collect your mail from a curb or centralized mailbox. Both your letter and the doctor's statement must be sent to the Post Office™ that delivers your mail for approval or denial. Final determination on whether or not door delivery will be granted will be made by the Post Office.

Request letters should be addressed to:

POSTMASTER
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
<YOUR CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE>

[LG999]

Thank you, Blueash
Good to know

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by sloanst

With the small footprint of our homes, could you imagine what the streets would look like with a mail box in front if every home.

My thoughts exactly!

[Laker14]

The idea of a neighborhood letter carrier is a quaint reminder of another era. I eventually ran the dental practice started by my grandfather in 1925 in what was then a charming little Upstate NY town. My dad told me that when he was a kid, the office mail was delivered TWICE every day.
And who can forget the mailman in the comic strip "Blondie". He was practically family, and knew everyone's business.

He and the 3 cent postage stamp are as long-gone as a daytime World Series baseball game.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by vonbork

We could have ones that look like flamingos, alligators, golf bags, golf carts, canes, and Ooo, Ooo, Ooo! How about a pair of lovebugs! Stores would open to sell, booths at the squares!

The ARC and the ladies with clip board would have a field day with all the non conforming mailboxes.
Would lead to good posts here. And for those who say “require all mailboxes to be black”, how many do you think will try to put up the pink flamingo?

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Because letter carriers would walk across you lawn, and then you would complain about that !