The Post Box

There are many styles of Letter Boxes on the market, and it will depend on whether you live in a house which is an individual dwelling or a multi occupancy building as to which type of Letter Box suits your requirements. Multi occupancy buildings such as apartments and office blocks will often have a Mail Box with individual compartments either inside or outside the building. This will make the postman’s job much easier, as he will not have to visit every individual apartment or office in the building to distribute the post, unless he has to deliver a package which must be signed for.

As with Post Boxes for individual residences and businesses, there are many styles and designs of multi occupancy Mail Boxes on the market. These can be horizontal or vertical, mounted on supports or fixed to a wall inside or outside the building. When a new apartment or office block is commissioned, the style and location of the multi occupancy Mail Box will often have been decided by the developer. Security of the mail should be taken into account, and each individual Mail Box will have a key so that the recipient can retrieve the delivered mail. Each box will be labelled with the name of the person or the office or apartment number to ensure that the mail goes to the correct addressee. The Mail Boxes are usually made of stainless steel or steel and are fire resistant.

The sizes of the Mail Boxes will depend on whether the building is a residential or commercial premises, and there are multi occupancy Mail Boxes which are of a larger capacity than the standard A4 and will accept bigger C4 mail without bending as well as more post.

Communal Mail Boxes in large apartment blocks are often the target of vandals, so they must be fire proof so that a fire started in a Post Box will not spread to other parts of the building. Some Mail Boxes are specifically designed to extinguish fires and are fitted with fire extinguishers which detects the fire and puts it out before it can spread to other parts of the building. It is always important to protect the important documents which are delivered to your premises, so investing in a Mail Box with the additional feature of being anti arson is money well spent. If you are moving to new premises which already has a multi occupancy Mail Box you can ask whether it is fireproof, and if it does not have this feature, it would be worth lobbying the other occupants of the building to agree to a new Mail Box for the building. If the building is still under development and are considering a lease for an apartment or office within the block, you can request the management company to negotiate with the builders to agree the style of the multi occupancy Mail Box which is fire proof. Often these details are overlooked in the rush to finalise and commission a building.

With the phenomenal growth of the internet and digital media, the question arises as to why there is a still a need for letter boxes and why they are so important. Many firms, especially banks and lawyers, still send documents by snail mail and you need a letter box as a receptacle for the incoming mail. Security of incoming mail is very important and you do not want other people accessing your mail, especially if it contains confidential information such as bank details or information about legal transactions. Much of this is sent by recorded delivery and must be signed for, but it is still important to have a letter box in case you are not in and the postman has to leave a card so you can collect the letter from the post office later.

There is a rising crime rate in data theft and you must always consider the security of your private information. By providing a letter box, you are making it easy for the postman to deliver the mail which is not then accessible to other parties than the addressee. The Royal Mail is legally bound to deliver mail only to the addressee and not to a third party, even if you are out, so a letter box is a must. Lockable letter boxes, arson proof letter boxes and letter boxes which can be built into the walls or doors of your property are all available to maximise the security of your mail.

Some people do not wish to provide bank details over the phone or internet and may prefer to have paper contracts for some documents which must be signed and returned instead of downloading them from the internet. When opening a new bank account or setting up a new insurance policy, the financial institution concerned will always want an original signature. This means sending out original paper documents which are delivered through your letter box to prevent money laundering and identity theft.

Security is becoming more and more necessary these days as criminals find ever more ingenious ways to steal identities when payments for goods are made via the internet. This can be avoided by insisting that bank details and other personal information are only provided in writing and sent through the post. The recipient will also then require a letter box to receive the documents, making it more difficult for the would-be thief to intercept your information for their own use, or to sell on to a third party.

Letter boxes for incoming mail have been in use in the UK for many years, and red post boxes for outgoing mail a national institution. The Royal Mail is legally obliged to keep your mail safe at all times while it is in their care and are very diligent when you request redirection of your mail to another address, requiring the signature of the person to whom mail is addressed as well as photographic identification. This will ensure that mail is delivered to the correct letter box at your new address.

Even the modern world of communications and the internet, people are still inundated with mail received through Letter Boxes both at residential and at business premises. As we all try to cut down on waste in all forms, it is annoying to receive unsolicited mail and to have to sift through communications which are delivered through post boxes to separate bona fide letters from unwanted mail. Advertising fliers posted through letter boxes are often thrown away without being read, and even glossy magazines received through letter boxes can be put in the paper recycling without even having been opened.  This is not only a waste of paper, but a waste of money for the advertisers and promoters. People lead busy lives, and do not want to receive unsolicited mail through their letter boxes and to have to sort out the mail at the end of a busy day.

Some people who do not wish to receive unwanted mail through their post boxes put notices with “no junk mail” above their letter boxes, but this is bad news not only for the postman who has carried the mail and has to sort it out, but also for the company who has spent money producing the material.  It is not cost effective for advertisers to have their hard earned cash basically thrown in the bin. According to the BBC News site (November 2011), new measures are being introduced to reduce the amount of junk mail received through letter boxes. From April 2012 there is to be a single web site where the people can register to opt out of receiving unsolicited fliers and other mail.  Direct marketing companies have agreed to only use recyclable materials in advertisements whereas at the moment 80% of items received through your letter box do not fall into that category.   Currently people have to register on three separate web sites if they do not wish to receive junk mail – the Mailing Preference Service, the Your Choice Preference System and the Royal Mail’s Door-to-Door opt-out service.

Mail Boxes are often overflowing or letters are piled up behind the door when people return from holiday and much of it is unsolicited mail.  This all has to be sorted, causing aggravation when the majority of what has been delivered through the letter box is effectively rubbish. According to the BBC News report, on average the UK householder receives more than 370 items of unsolicited paper mail through their letter boxes each year, the greater part of it unaddressed.

In the same report, it was stated that an estimated nine billion items of unaddressed post are delivered through post boxes every year. Such mail inevitably ends up in the bin creating a lot of waste.    The Government are so concerned about the level of waste that they have brokered a deal with the Direct Marketing Association to reduce the level of unsolicited mail being delivered through post boxes in a crack down on junk mail as part of its waste review in the UK’s effort to forge ahead with a zero waste economy.

Even in these days of emails and other electronic transmission of correspondence, the humble Letter Box is of paramount importance for your communications.   There are four main designs of Letter Boxes for incoming mail – a simple slot in the door,  a box attached directly on to your house, a Post Box on the street and a unit which is designed for multi occupancy buildings which provides Letter Boxes for individual residents.

The simple slot in the door style of Letter Box by far the most commonly used in the United Kingdom, especially in urban areas.   It is convenient for the postman as he can simply deliver the mail without having to open individual receptacles.  The Letter Boxes are often pre-fitted into new doors and can be made of aluminium, chrome, brass, uVPC or stainless steel.  The design of the Letter Box allows weather proofing by having an interior draught excluder.  Many Letter Boxes have spring loaded flaps to ensure that they close automatically and are weatherproof.   The slots in the door are usually horizontal, but can be vertical, and measure 30 cm by 5cm (12inches by 2 inches).

Letter boxes which are directly attached to your property  may be more beneficial if you regularly receive larger envelopes which will not fit through the standard slots.  .  The Letter Boxes can be mounted on the door and be made of stainless steel, cast aluminium, uVPC or wood.  Security of your mail may be an issue with this style of letter box and the slot should be small enough so that the mail cannot be retrieved once it has been delivered.  The front of the box usually has an aperture which can be opened with a key by the owner of the letter box.

Standard letter boxes on the street in North America consist of a metal box mounted on a post, usually with a tag which can be reset to indicate that mail has been delivered.  In the UK,  there is a selection of letter boxes which can be mounted by the roadside on posts or on walls for the convenience of the postman.  If you have a dog who does not like the postman, this may be an option for you as you can mount the post box outside the gate so that the postman does not have to come into the garden.  To keep your mail safe, the post box will have a key so that mail can be retrieved only by the owner.

Letter boxes for multi occupancy buildings usually consist of a bank of individual boxes with keys.  This style of letter box can be located either inside or outside the building with the numbers on the boxes corresponding to that of the apartment or office.   The Letter Boxes can be constructed to suit each building, with the same number of individual boxes made available for each company or residence.

All in all, Letter Boxes continue to be an important part of any communications, despite the phenomenal rise in the usage of email and electronic messaging.

The letter box could be considered one of the unsung heroes of the front of your home. You and your postman interact with it daily, and it probably sees more use than the expensive outdoor umbrella stand Aunt Maud gave you for Christmas in 1993!

Our mail boxes are designed do one of two things, either perform the basic function of a secure, simple post box, or make a stylish statement to the front of your home that you can rely on 100% in terms of security and durability.

Statement Mail Boxes
In the current financial climate, most folks don’t have the resources to get the brickwork of their house re-pointed and have a Groundforce-like garden makeover on the front garden. That said, there are still thrifty little ways to make a difference; re-painting the fence, re-painting the front door, clearing weeds and defining pathways using large stones/bedding fences etc. can have a huge effect on the frontage of your house. Item number two – statement mail boxes! When all the other bits and bobs of your front area facelift are to do with simplifying and generally tidying up a bit, something cheap and cheerful like a statement letter box could be just the finishing touch!

Simple Mail Boxes
Simple and stylish needn’t be mutually exclusive. Many of our simple mail box designs are ideally suited to nestle harmoniously with the frontage of your property, adding that little extra subtle final touch to your own makeover elbow grease!

If you are buying a new front door, you may well need to decide whether to fit a traditional letter box in it to receive your mail, or install a modern, residential postbox outside. Both options have their own respective benefits, so a little consideration may be needed before making your decision.

Traditional
Probably the most convincing argument for fitting a letter box is that you can pick-up your post without going outside. This can be a compelling factor on those winter days when the last thing you need is a an Arctic breeze in your face first thing in the morning. Security is also not an issue as once your post has been delivered, it is safely inside your home. Sadly, the key disadvantage of this option is in having to cut a hole in your attractive, new front door.

Modern
Residential boxes are made from highly-resistant materials with robust locking systems so they are incredibly secure. A residential box typically has a bigger access slot than a standard letter box, so it can accommodate those larger packages which you normally have to collect from the post office. A postbox can also be fitted near enough to the front door so that you don’t need to slip out of your pyjamas to collect your post first thing in the morning.

For more information, and to view our great range of residential and commercial mail box collection solutions, feel free to browse our pages here at Mailbox Mania.

Whether country houses or city apartments, all properties need to have an effective way of receiving mail. Residential postboxes are becoming an increasingly popular way for people to receive their mail as they are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and have reliable security features. They can also help to give a property character as they have very stylish appeal.

Size
Mailboxes are available in standard sizes and larger sizes. Standard sizes can typically  accommodate mail which a standard letterbox would allow, whereas larger sizes can cater for plenty of over-sized mail such as parcels and multiple newspapers.

Security
Most postboxes are very secure as they can only be accessed from the top or back with a security key. Stainless steel boxes are a very popular choice as they are constructed from a thick, high grade steel which makes them incredibly robust and secure. Steel boxes are also incredibly durable and so are able to easily stand up to inclement weather. For added security, through-the-wall mailboxes can be the perfect option. These boxes are installed within the wall of a residence so that only the front panel of the box is accessible from the outside. This means that items deposited in the box can only be accessed by the occupant from the inside. These type of boxes represent maximum security as the postman only has limited access from the front when delivering post.

To learn more, spend some time with us here at Mailbox Mania.

These days, a great deal of the correspondence your company deals with will probably come through cyberspace. Indeed, emails and messages sent through networking sites are now a major part of business.

However, it is still vital that you have an attractive and functional letter box. Traditional post remains a highly important part of trading and without it, you might struggle to function.

When you are seeking a new mail box, you will no doubt be looking not only for great value but also for an object that looks attractive and is durable. This is where we come in here at Mailbox Mania. We are specialists in the field and know exactly what makes a great product.

That is why we provide a huge selection of offerings. For example, you might need an extra large capacity letter box to cope with the volume of mail you deal with. Also, we stock a parcel safe option, which can come in handy.

Meanwhile, you can be certain of the quality of the products we supply. We use the highest grade steel to ensure that the items you buy last longer. Not only does this save you hassle in the long run, it can also save you cash.

To ensure that your mail box looks the part, we produce offerings in a range of styles and colours, so you will be able to find something that matches your company perfectly.

If you are eager to find out more, simply have a look around our website.

Www.mailboxmania.co.uk is the premium purveyors of post boxes and mailboxes in the United Kingdom. We stock every kind of post-boxes imaginable in classic, contemporary and modern designs but some of our most stylish, popular and prestigious products are our steel mailboxes.

For example, our Avon steel postbox is a simple yet durable design available in a range of great colours. It is constructed from tough steel and has a top opening covered posting slot and is great value for money.

Another fantastic model from our premium selection of steel mailboxes is the Humber Steel post box, which is a stylish classically curved design with a fully covered front-opening mail slot. Designed to hold general mail and magazines, it is perfectly capable of holding A4 sized mail safely and securely.

Alternatively, fans of Americana will no doubt appreciate our iconic US steel/aluminium post-boxes, which will be familiar to anyone with knowledge of suburban and rural America and feature a little flag which indicated when the postman or post-woman has placed mail inside the box. Available in white or black steel models or white, black or silver aluminium models, these beautiful boxes are aesthetically attractive yet perfectly practical.

For extra strength and durability, we have an amazing selection of stainless steel post-boxes which will stand the twin tests of time and the harsh and changeable United Kingdom climate.

For our full range of brilliant letterboxes for all types of private and business locations, please take time to make yourself a lovely refreshing cup of tea before browsing our website at your leisure.

Are you an individual with a big personality? If so, you probably love being different, and trying to stand out from the crowd. Well, here’s another way to do that—decorate your postbox! Why not make it a statement of your creativity and personality? Here are some ideas on how to decorate a postbox or letter box.

First, gather together some craft materials. You can use stickers, vinyl cling-ons, paints, glitter glue, and anything that you could glue onto the postbox or draw onto it with.

Now, get some ideas down on paper. Do a rough sketch of what you have in mind so that you can work from it with your final design. That way you will make fewer mistakes and you will have a basic idea of how your letter box will look when it’s finished.

If you want to do a flower/garden theme, you could use flower stickers and paint stems and blaids of grass with green paint. Be sure to use waterproof paint, or go over the whole box with a waterproof finish when you are done so it won’t be spoiled by the weather.

Another idea is to paint the outside with little windows and doors as if it were a house or barn. You could even paint little animal faces looking out of the windows of your barn.

Bring a smile to the faces of everyone who sees your new post box. Be creative, colourful, and express your personality to the world.