From the USPS.GOV <http://usps.gov/> website (https://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/tx/2010/tx_2010_0909.htm):
Mailbox access restricted to postage paid U.S. Mail The U.S. Postal Service would like to warn people that only authorized U.S. Postal Service delivery personnel are allowed to place items in a mailbox. By law, a mailbox is intended only for receipt of postage-paid U.S. Mail. Recently, there have been reports of people placing non-mail items that did not bear U.S. postage in local mailboxes. The U.S. Postal Service recognizes customers may place non-mail items into mailboxes as a convenient way of “dropping something off,” but those items may cause a smaller mailbox to become full. When a mailbox is full, Postal Service regulations say the letter carrier cannot place mail in the box. Additionally, the Postal Service has received complaints of flyers without paid postage being placed in mailboxes. Though many may be unaware, it is important to know that this type of activity is illegal by federal law. It may seem to be an easy way to advertise, but only U.S. Mail delivered by authorized personnel may be placed in mailboxes. “We know many customers might not object to having a particular item placed in their mailbox from time to time, but the reasons for restricting use of mailboxes is really two-fold,” said Postmaster Keith Jackson. “First, if there is not enough room in a mailbox due to unauthorized items, the Postal Service can’t deliver the customer’s mail. Secondly, the Postal Service wants to ensure the integrity of our customer’s mailbox. That’s why only Postal Service personnel are authorized to place mail in or remove mail from mailboxes. In fact, U.S. Postal Inspectors advise customers to report people going mailbox to mailbox who are not postal employees. It could be someone completely unaware of the statute placing advertisements, but it could also be someone trying to steal mail.” "We recognize that, from time to time, the statute and the Postal regulations may cause conflict with some customers," the Postmaster continued. "When all factors are brought to their attention, however, we hope that the great majority of the public would agree that restricting mailboxes to U.S. Mail not only ensures customers receive their mail, but it also increases the security of the service." The Postmaster noted an exception to the general rule: newspapers can be placed in mailboxes only on Sunday; a non-delivery day for the Postal Service. He additionally noted that a newspaper receptacle can be mounted on rural or curbside mailbox post or support. > On Aug 4, 2024, at 09:40, kathryn Corbin <corbindes...@brown-corbin.com> > wrote: > > Just curious: sometimes Amazon will leave a delivery in my mailbox. > Is that a violation of “ "...it is a Federal Offense to put anything but > postage-paid USPS Mail in a Mailbox”? > Kathryn Corbin > > > > Sent from my iPhone > Please excuse any typos, > (which I declare are exclusively the fault of auto spell-check!) > >> On Aug 4, 2024, at 12:38 AM, Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Moral of the story-always ask before jumping to conclusions. >> I am not sure if there is an obligation by the PO to notify you. >> >> You were smart to track it down. >> >> Lead with kindness as we never know what the other person is going through. >> Sent from my iPad >> >>> On Aug 3, 2024, at 9:25 PM, Nicholas Ribush <nickrib...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Sorry. "Stole" was tongue in cheek, the ! supposedly indicating that. Still >>> and all, it was taken by the mailman and I was not informed. >>> >>> No miscommunication or misunderstanding. >>> >>> Clearly not outgoing mail. Very obviously addressed to me. >>> >>> Furthermore, and I have not fact-checked this, but someone wrote to me: >>> >>> "...it is a Federal Offense to put anything but postage-paid USPS Mail in a >>> Mailbox. And, I believe the law allows the USPS to confiscate and dispose >>> of anything put in the box that should not have been there. The courier >>> (and the courier service) should know this, and would be the ones liable >>> for their failure to observe the law. >>> >>> "The only thing the courier’s photo proves is that they committed a crime. >>> I would go to them and point out that it is in their best interest to play >>> nice and give you a full refund, and possibly a refund for the value of >>> whatever was lost as a result of their failure. Because, if you lodge an >>> official complaint against them with the USPS (with that photo they so >>> nicely provided as proof), they could face some pretty stiff fines." >>> >>> Nevertheless, I agree our local USPS do a great job, but there have been >>> these hiccups. This was a PSA in case anybody else has had a package >>> disappear. >>> >>> n. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Aug 3, 2024 at 8:39 PM Laura Glynn <mslc...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:mslc...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>> Thank you Katie! >>>> >>>> I have countless packages delivered, many are left in my mail box by >>>> delivery persons other than usps >>>> >>>> Nothing has gone astray >>>> >>>> My mailman always delivers usps packages to my door >>>> >>>> >>>> They are amazing >>>> >>>> I think there must have been a big miscommunication or misunderstanding >>>> behind your problems >>>> >>>> Laura Glynn >>>> >>>> Tower Road >>>> On Sat, Aug 3, 2024 at 8:08 PM Lido Bigelow <lidob...@gmail.com >>>> <mailto:lidob...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> I’m glad to hear you were able to get your package back. >>>>> >>>>> Did you ever think that the USPS carrier thought it was out going mail? I >>>>> cannot imagine they look at packages left in mailboxes to see if the >>>>> package belongs to you. If the carrier “stole” your mail I do not believe >>>>> they would have brought it to the post office. >>>>> >>>>> You are one house on your carriers route. Until you have done their job >>>>> let’s show some respect. Stating that your USPS carrier stole your mail >>>>> is a serious allegation. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Katie >>>>> One kind word can change someone's day! >>>>> >>>>> > On Aug 3, 2024, at 6:35 PM, Nicholas Ribush <nickrib...@gmail.com >>>>> > <mailto:nickrib...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > Dear All, >>>>> > >>>>> > I had a package delivered by a courier service and they made the >>>>> > mistake of leaving it in our mailbox. They even took a photo of it as >>>>> > proof (see below). But they didn't notify me of the delivery. So a week >>>>> > later when I went online to see what was going on I found that it had >>>>> > been delivered, à la aforementioned photo. Obviously I hadn't seen it >>>>> > in our mailbox. >>>>> > >>>>> > We've had a couple of other issues with our mailman's pedantry, and I >>>>> > don't know if it was the same one here, but remembering that only USPS >>>>> > is supposed to leave stuff in mailboxes, I wondered if he had seen it >>>>> > there when doing his delivery and confiscated it, perhaps in a >>>>> > righteous fit of pique. >>>>> > >>>>> > So, after a bit of unfruitful back and forth with the Lincoln PO >>>>> > counter staff, I asked if it was possible that the mailman had indeed >>>>> > confiscated it and, as a kind of trophy, taken it back to home base. >>>>> > And sure enough, in some kind of black hole tub in the back, there it >>>>> > was. Of course, they were not going to tell me. I guess eventually it >>>>> > would have been returned to sender (in China) or destroyed or...who >>>>> > knows what? >>>>> > >>>>> > All this to say, if you did not receive your courier-delivered package >>>>> > yet you're given photographic evidence that it was delivered, see if it >>>>> > was put into your mailbox and stolen by the PO! >>>>> > >>>>> > n. >>>>> > >>>>> > <image.png> >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > -- >>>>> > The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >>>>> > <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >>>>> > Browse the archives at >>>>> > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> > Change your subscription settings at >>>>> > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> > >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >>>>> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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