Why the Mailbox Endures

You might think that the mailbox has been a standard part of houses forever, but actually, it was only in 1915 that the basic round top/flat bottom/little red flag design we know was adopted.

OK, I didn’t know that either until I looked it up. And it turns out that mailboxes or mail slots weren’t mandatory until 1923.

What prompted this post is that my buddy Tim told me last week that he and his wife were going shopping for a new mailbox after too many hits to their old post from a snowplow this winter. They’re replacing a small ancient weathered box with something much bigger and durable. Hopefully more protected than the old one was by the previous homeowners.

We hear constantly it seems about less mail, delivery delays, and rate increases. Cluster mailboxes have become required in developments in recent years to save carriers some time. After all, the number of delivery points keeps growing. Logistics tighten up to optimize delivery.

So buying a new mailbox might seem like a small act, a way to be contrary in our digital age.

I can’t relate, not exactly. I’ve only ever gotten my mail from cluster boxes (CBUs in USPS lingo) or through a slot.

But for them, it’s intentional.

At the individual level, people are still investing in their mailbox. Industry estimates show over a million residential mailboxes are sold each year, many as replacements. Homeowners are choosing designs, materials, and styles that reflect their identity and their home.

I’ve seen a lot of interesting ones on my drives: log cabins, flower pot holders, lamp posts, dogs (some really cool ones), both homemade and luxury.

Maybe some of it is about curb appeal, or welcoming visitors like banners or flags. But I also think that it’s support for what people still believe is a vital channel.

The mailbox is one of the last physical touchpoints that is both universal and personal. It’s public and accessible, but it’s also owned. Functional, but expressive.

People are still making room for something tangible and meaningful. Fewer pieces in the mailbox means an opportunity for your envelope, jumbo postcard, or catalog to be noticed, handled, and considered. Once it arrives, the big question is whether what arrives is worth the moment it receives.

The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions. Artificial Intelligence may have been used in part to create or edit this content.