letter box for larger post

cyclonebri1

Post office now seeming to have the jobsworth hat on means more and more trips to the sorting office simply for non-sign for but thick packages. Couries have no problem leaving in a designated place but PO won't.

I'm looking for a way to reduce this cheaply.

Most large letter boxes that can be bolted to an outside wall still seem to have a max inlet size of about 38mm, not much bigger than a standard letter flap.

Security matters so a thought I had was to sight a "catflap" in the top half of the garage door in a position that nothing can be reached from the hole. Mine has electrical opening so there is no release mechanism from the inside.
It will be simple to install a sight screen behind the flap to prevent prying eyes, all other windows being frosted.

Any views?

FiremanDave

Will it be as easy to train postie to use it as tiddles?

DirectDebacle

Have a look at this site. Expensive I know but I feel confident that a competent diy moneysaver such as yourself would be able to design and build something similar at a fraction of the price.

sniggings

Couriers tend not to deliver post box size mail. Hence why they don't use your small post box.

Your postman can't just leave your mail anywhere, as couries seem to do,they have far stricter rules.



http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland/consumer_ni/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/your_mail_was_left_in_an_unsecure_or_visible_place_at_your_home.htm

whenIretire

What about something like this which is bigger than a standard letter box

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LARGE-LETTERBOX-PARCEL-BOX-LOCKABLE/dp/B00B0VNF5K

It was the first one I found so there may be cheaper versions out there.

Another option is to construct something like this (which is what I'm intending on doing) and integrate a lock into it.


http://www.riverford.co.uk/shop/farm-shop/useful-things/eco-cool-safe-small

A.Penny.Saved

How about the leave with a neighbour that caused a fuss a while ago when the RM posted the leaflets to people's homes?

I have a small window in my porch that I leave partly open that the RM can drop small parcels and packets through with instructions on how to do it without causing any damage. So far it has worked well and they seem to like it because it means that they don't have to wait for anyone to get to the door. I just have to remember to open the window in the morning when I am expecting anything.

The problem with locked collection devices is that it has to be big enough to get something into without allowing access which could be difficult unless it drops to an unreachable depth which it does when it drops through my window.

If you could fit a parcel hole in your garage wall where the parcels will drop to the floor it might work similar to my porch. It needs some way to prevent anyone looking in to check out your garage. A chute or false wall should do it providing you make it so that the RM cannot jam anything and get it stuck.

cyclonebri1

FiremanDave wrote: »

Will it be as easy to train postie to use it as tiddles?

#
I've come close to trying to ram through a standard letter box


Last week, saw postman walking away from next doors, he saw me.
I had grandson asleep in my arms and needed to strap him into the car which I did.
Knelt in the car and it took a while, was surprised to see postie leaving our drive.


He'd written a red card while I was still in the drive, that's the issue round here they are afraid of losing their jobs.


Anyway, rant over but that's why I'm asking.

cyclonebri1

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Have a look at this site. Expensive I know but I feel confident that a competent diy moneysaver such as yourself would be able to design and build something similar at a fraction of the price.

Yes, I've looked at loads and for anything sturdy they are expensive, but given that anything that doesn't need a signature is likely to be low value, it isn't worth it, just trying to avoid a 15mile round trip for say a pack of screws or similar.

cyclonebri1

sniggings wrote: »

Couriers tend not to deliver post box size mail. Hence why they don't use your small post box.

Your postman can't just leave your mail anywhere, as couries seem to do,they have far stricter rules.



http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland/consumer_ni/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/your_mail_was_left_in_an_unsecure_or_visible_place_at_your_home.htm

No issue with couriers, I try to organise it myself when buying from ebay, then they go by my instructions.

cyclonebri1

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

How about the leave with a neighbour that caused a fuss a while ago when the RM posted the leaflets to people's homes?

I have a small window in my porch that I leave partly open that the RM can drop small parcels and packets through with instructions on how to do it without causing any damage. So far it has worked well and they seem to like it because it means that they don't have to wait for anyone to get to the door. I just have to remember to open the window in the morning when I am expecting anything.

The problem with locked collection devices is that it has to be big enough to get something into without allowing access which could be difficult unless it drops to an unreachable depth which it does when it drops through my window.

If you could fit a parcel hole in your garage wall where the parcels will drop to the floor it might work similar to my porch. It needs some way to prevent anyone looking in to check out your garage. A chute or false wall should do it providing you make it so that the RM cannot jam anything and get it stuck.

I don't have any suitable windows other than high level in a conservatory, don't fancy anything ugly inside, hence the garage door idea as the windows are all opaque glass


I off the links was for a box that latched on lock when something was delivered, seems a flawed idea if you are expecting multiple item??

A.Penny.Saved

My porch window is window is at the top immediately below the ceiling of the porch beside the door in a small glass side panel and is about 30cm square. It was put in shortly after I had the porch fitted because it became apparent that some ventilation was necessary because it gets very hot in the summer and I later found it useful for small parcel/packet deliveries. I mentioned it because you might be able to construct something similar with your garage. Maybe put in some form of lockable opening so it can be secured with a chute or panel behind so no one can use it to look into your garage. Then a postie could open it and drop small parcels/packages down. Maybe put a step if necessary so that they can reach.

Thieves will use any opportunity they can get so preventing anyone using it to look into your garage for potential things to thieve is worth protecting against IMO.