Letterboxes

Have you tried delivering a leaflet through your own letterbox?

Some are set up by complete dipsticks. Heavy duty spring on the outside one, then a brush system that needs a jack hammer to penetrate it, then a magnetically held inner one.
Then have the whole thing at ground level.
I'm surprised the Post Office doesn't refuse deliveries to houses that can't be civil enough to make it an easy operation.

Nice houses have a light that comes on to illuminate the approach and porch but doesn't blind you. Then the flap opens inwards with a light spring and if there has to be an inner one it too is lightly sprung. If it opens outwards then there needs to be something to open it with, not a section of only one inch projecting a bare 1/16th.
And no silly brush systems. They are completely porous to draughts if they get through a properly fitting main flap.

Even worse for the postie than the brushed rat-traps you describe are the brushed rat-traps with an angry hound waiting on the other side of it to sample the warm sausages that are pushing the letter through the hole.

It is nice when the buggers can't get their plastic "clothes collection with a minute donation to charity" bags through the door though...

Our paper delivery bloke has one like that. Strong Spring Brush etc, and it irritates me every time I pay our paper bill. So Much so that I always ensure that the envelope the cheque is in gets screwed up into a nice tight ball. Not sure he will ever get the message. He also has the cold caller clear off and don't return notice posted on the door too.

regards Martin

Hi, in my father's last year as a postman, he was in a local paper highlighting a campaign by the GPO, for householders to see if they could update their letterbox to make them more user friendly, this was back in 1969 / 1970, but it didn't seem to make much difference.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 29/11/2021 21:47:08

My front door is in a corner and the wind in certain directions lifts the outer flap, dog responds by barking thinking there is someone there. I tell it's the wind and after a while she quietens down.

I had to fit a cage as she will grab the letters and rip them up.

The outer flap only goes so far when lifted and of course it gets damaged as the spring is a plastic torsion rod made of unobtainium.

One house nearby had a low level flap with strong spring and a razor sharp burr on the lower edge. Someone delivery the Village newsletter got a very nasty cut trying to push it through.

You're all far too sophisticated. Out here in't sticks we have an old bread bin by the front gate that Postie puts small stuff in. Any bigger parcel and he drives down to the house, opens the kitchen door and chucks it through.
Handy, though, 'cos junk gets moved from the bread bin to the recycling up by the gate.

pgk

When I was press ganged into delivering leaflets for "Slimming World" we were issued with a wooden spoon, to poke the leaflets through the letterbox, using the spoon end. I didn't use mine, too slow, but i did wear gloves.

Blame the Building Regs for the "air lock" style letter plates, houses have to be air tight these days.

Mark.

Hi Postie has to lift mine, which isn't heavy and has no spring and there is no brush thing on the inside and no dog or any other thing to snatch at their fingers, small parcels that don't need a signature can be put into a lockable steel cabinet on the wall beside the door all in an open fronted porch, so they don't have to stand in the rain doing their delivery.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 29/11/2021 23:10:49

As a student, as temporary poistie, one Christmas a spring loaded man trap grabbed my hand.

While I was putting down my bag to use the other hand to open up the flap to release my hand there was the sound of a dog approaching!

Fortunately it only wanted to lick me rather than maul my my hand.

Have hated letterboxes with strong springs ever since

Howard

The next door neighbour had a Staffy dog. It could read. It always shredded the Hubby's letters & left the wife's undamaged.

Well it made me laugh when he told me that.

Steve.

I do not have a letter box through the front door (no drafts!) but a wall mounted steel unit with a broad opening. Most mail fit and I do not have the possibility of any crook fishing their way in!

Cast metal letter box front fixed to integral garage wall at side of front door with box on the inside. No flap to trap fingers, no draughts in the house.

My wife sometimes takes out flyers for one of her groups. She always uses a wooden spoon ( wrap flyer over end of spoon) to poke them through the letter box. The spoon does show signs of doggy abuse.

regards

Our letter box has been duct taped up and a mail box screwed on the adjacent wall. Why? A 'box allows the same volume of cold air into the hall as a brick missing from it. You would be amazed at the improvement in comfort. Plus, should we go away there is no evidence of our absence.

Ah for the simple life, as PGK says !

Our letter box is one of those that bites but the springs could really be stronger because when the wind blows it keeps banging the front cover.

Lockable box outside and the old slot filled with a brass door finger push pad either side.