The MailboxWorks has prepared this mailbox buying guide to help you understand what you need to know about buying a residential mailbox or buying a commercial mailbox…before you purchase.
While this is not an exhaustive mailbox buying guide, it will provide enough information to assist homeowners who are looking to buy a residential mailbox for home mail delivery. It will also provide some helpful tips to developers, homeowners associations, and university or business complexes that are looking to buy commercial mailboxes.
Walk Up Mail Delivery – If the postal carrier delivers your mail right to your door, you might want to consider buying a wall mount mailbox or a mailbox slot (through wall or door mailbox slot). Many wall mount mailboxes can be purchased with or without locks (and/or newspaper holders).
Curbside Mail Delivery – For rural or curbside mail delivery, you should consider buying a post mount, column mount, or a pedestal locking mailbox. Some post mount mailboxes are ground mounted (installed into concrete) while others are surface mounted (bolted to an existing concrete base). You can also buy just the mailbox post, just the mailbox on its own, or purchase a mailbox and post package.
In order to prevent mail or identity theft, we recommend you buy a locking mailbox. Alternatively, you can purchase a locking mailbox insert if the home mailbox you purchase does not include a secure lock. Locking mailboxes are essential if you happen to run a home-based business and receive lots of mail. Many of our home mailboxes are also available without a lock if that is your preference.
Mailbox Style – Depending on your tastes and your home’s architecture, residential mailboxes can be purchased in a wide variety of styles. From buying an antique looking pedestal or wall mount home mailbox to searching for a vintage looking, Victorian style mailbox, The MailboxWorks carries them all. We even offer a wide variety of novelty mailboxes, plus modern stainless steel, copper, brass, and wooden mailboxes for sale.
Mailbox Finish – Depending on the mailbox type, there are a myriad of color choices to choose from. A good guideline is to try to match your mailbox finish to some accent on your house. For example, if you have nickel hardware, a good match would be to buy a satin nickel mailbox. If you have green shutters, a green mailbox finish might be a good match.
When installing your residential mailbox, be sure your installation conforms to USPS mailbox guidelines.
USPS Postal Service Delivery – If the postal carrier is delivering the mail, all of the commercial mailboxes we carry come prepped to install a USPS postal lock. The USPS Standard 4C regulation (STD-4C) requires that all new construction (or major renovation projects) install USPS approved 4C horizontal mailboxes.
Private Mail Distribution – With the commercial mailboxes we carry, you also have the option to add a private master lock if your mail will be delivered through private distribution. Buying private distribution mailboxes is common for areas like colleges, universities, and government complexes.
Surface Mounted – For indoor mail delivery, such as apartment buildings and business complexes that have a lot of tenants, the commercial mailboxes can be surface mounted onto a wall.
Recessed Mounted – In some cases, someone within the building will be in charge of distributing the mail from a private mailroom. This is true of many universities, colleges, and government buildings. In these cases, buy commercial mailboxes that can be recessed into a wall with rear access from a secure room.
Pedestal Mounted – Pedestal mounted commercial mailboxes are ideal for up to 16 tenants and can be installed either indoors or outdoors. They are common in many apartment buildings and business complexes.
Number of Tenant Doors – This may be the biggest question of all since the number of tenants will determine really what your commercial mailbox options are. Not only should you be aware of how many doors you will need, but also how much space you have to put the number of doors you need.
Door Numbering or Engraving – Another thing to consider is the type of door numbering you would like to have. Buying commercial mailboxes with custom tenant door numbering is available, including adding address tags, or the numbering can be engraved into the doors.
Door Sizes – With commercial mailboxes, there are a variety of door sizes and compartment configurations that will allow you to have total customization of your final product. Mailbox door sizes are important if the tenant receives a lot of magazines or small packages.
We hope this mailbox buying guide has been helpful.
Along with commercial and residential mailboxes, we also offer a wide selection of mailbox address plaques and house numbers as well as home and garden products.
For additional mailbox buying guidelines or if you have a question, please call our mailbox experts toll free at (866) 717-4943 or send us an email. We can also be reached through our online contact form.
We look forward to serving you.
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