Decline of the Blue Box

[John in Covina]

It could work either way.

Red flag up to take mail, then the red flag was down to indicate the mailman had come.

Or flag down, mail man delivers and flag is up so you know he's been there.

Like I said they won't use the flag in our area.

 

["Skeet" McD]

Don't know if this holds true everywhere, but in my rural area you put the red flag up if you want the mailman to *pick up* a letter that you are mailing (or to pick up a misdirected piece of mail that he delivered to you). If the red flag is not up, anything in the mailbox just sits there.

Craig

Well, Craig...it's the same on the Massachusetts/New-Hampshire border in RFD land. Just used the flag today.

Greetings! I [mis]spent 4 years in the triple cities, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Haven't been back since...ah! Fitzies! ah The Paddock Room! ah! the Cask!

"Skeet"

 

[LizzieMaine]

Flags are still used here for RFD boxes, but you don't see them as much on house-to-house routes in town. When used, flag-up always means there's outgoing mail to be picked up.

It used to be that RFD boxes *had to* have flags and be of a certain design. They'd have APPROVED BY USPS or APPROVED BY USPOD stamped right into the steel door, but I don't think that's still true.

Does anyone remember when the mailman blew a whistle to announce deliveries?

 

[Tomasso]

Does anyone remember when the mailman blew a whistle to announce deliveries?

Not in my hood; that would just wake up the dogs......

 

[WideBrimm]

Maybe the Chicago suburbs are unlike the rest of the US... but there's still plenty around here. In fact, there's one right down the street from me.... and about 10 more in my immediate neighborhood.

My friend refuses to put bills in her home mailbox because she was taught it's not the job of the mailman to take your mail for you, just to deliver it. My argument for that was... why the little red flag then? Anybody know more about this?

Just like public transportation, mailboxes used to be within walking distance of every business and residence in town. Now one has to hop in the car and drive to find one. Mailboxes have been disappearing from Denver area corners for years! This time public outrage did limit the damage to "service" in the matter of closing our local post office. Maybe we won't be so lucky next time!

On the other hand we just got some spiffy new mail box clusters for the delivery of mail to my Townhouse complex. They are a forest green and much sturdier and bigger than the previous ones. As an added bonus they even include lots of slots for outgoing mail. Yes the carrier does pick up mail as he/she delivers! Naturally it helps that postal carriers all work from vehicles these days.