Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Reduce collection boxes in front of Post Offices

We all know mail volume is down and probably will continue for years to come. So, do you think it's time to reduce the number of collection boxes we have in front of our Post Offices. We could reduce clutter like the picture below.


And just what are we doing with all those excess collection boxes? Can we make money off them? What kind of creative uses could people use them for?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Auto dealers often have key drop locations when you are having your car fixed. I'ts often a mail slot in the door...with your keys hitting the floor. Maybe offer them to dealerships for dropping off keys or other items after hours.

Anonymous said...

video rental stores have them for movie and game drop offs, donate them to video stores.

Anonymous said...

The problem is that the design is so identifable as a post office drop box, some people will not pay any attention and read the signs attached and will deposit mail in them. No matter what color or design you put on them, they will be misidentified. That is why we do not allow them to be used for any other purpose by any other business or organization.

wendyvee said...

I wouldn't mind the USPS removing large groups of them (like the boxes pictured) ... but it's harder and harder to find single boxes anywhere in my town and I really miss the convenience!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the comment about them being readily identifiable. My organization takes the old ones and cuts them up and puts them in the metal scrap bin. Can you imagine a terrorist taking one, placing a bomb in it and setting it in a prominent public spot to be detonated remotely?

Anonymous said...

...well, that was a pleasant thought....

Anonymous said...

LoL..yes it was a nice thought. As another writer stated."That is why we do not allow them to be used for any other purpose by any other business or organization".
They are only good for scrap.

Anonymous said...

I was a supervisor at a large carrier annex over two years ago and we reduced collection boxes then. There's no point in paying a guy to drive across town to take 2 pieces of mail out of a box.

Anonymous said...

People here in Modesto are always asking where blue boxes are.
Several have been taken out.
One time heard anouncement of blue box overflowing out front of P.O.
What to do with Blue:Use them!
Put them back out there for the public. More,more,more.
Mail flow flucuates.
Some days it's an overwhelming amount & then the next day LOTS less.
Darlen RR 17

Anonymous said...

Yes, the boxes in the photo seem excessive. I've seen large offices use the extra large collection boxes, you can replace 2 or 3 regular boxes with one of them. As for organizations using similar collection boxes - they are available from several companies and as long as they are not blue (possible not brown either) they can get them. Our town office has a green one for people to deposit payments in. I don't know if it would be worth it to repaint our excess collection boxes and sell them, do we get any money for them as scrap metal? That might be the best way to dispose of them.

Anonymous said...

Use them for Library drops for book returns after hours.

Anonymous said...

Why not give them to post offices where the current boxes are weather-beaten and rusty. That would really brighten the look at those offices.

Anonymous said...

I agree they should go to offices that need replacements. Our District has not been able to replace the old faded ones at many offices, saying there is not a supply to go to.

Anonymous said...

Certainly the best use is replacement of our worn, tired boxes. Sounds like there are some out there.
Library book drop-off is a good idea as is video store returns (but there are fewer video stores than before). Such collection boxes (painted beige w/ the county logo) are used by our elections office for ballot drop-offs. They set the boxes out during the voting period and remove afterwards.

Anonymous said...

First, send them where they are needed. Replaces rows like this with one or two large units.

The library book return would be a great idea, if libraries would only have the slot/snorkel visible. The rest of the box would be inside - unusable.

Employee suggeston boxes in very large units?

Inside PO as collection for used flags for disposal by Legion or Boy Scout troops.