Why no individual mailboxes in most newer communities? (duplexes, rental, cheaper)

[Pink Jazz]

From 1994 to 2001, we lived in a neighborhood in Virginia Beach where everyone had matching individual mailboxes. Since last year, we have lived in Gilbert, Arizona, and it seems that most (if not all) of the newer communities have the large metal cluster mailboxes.

I would like to know, is there any particular reason for this? Security, perhaps?

[Weedsnake]

It's easier for the post office to deliver to the group boxes.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Weedsnake

It's easier for the post office to deliver to the group boxes.

They are also lockable which gives added security and it cleans up the street view.

I like it.

[blazerj]

Cheaper for the PO to deliver the mail. With enough mailbox clusters, they can cut staff. There's really no other reason.

Also, they charge you for lost keys and for rekeying (when someone moves in/out).

[399083453]

Typically its a private road, an HOA. So typically the postal box is where the public road ends.

[Magic78]

I like the clusters better. The box is locked.

[youthinkso]

Cost savings. it's been like that for over 30 years in Canada and I prefer it. First off you don't have to worry about the postie slipping on your sidewalk and having him sue you. Second, when you are gone for a day or two you don't have to worry about anyone sorting through your mail box trying to steal your ID.

[bowian]

The only thing I don't like about it are when the post office puts the wrong mail in my box. This happens rather frequently. Sometimes, if I know the neighbor, I will knock on his or her door and hand over the mail. If I don't, or if I am getting my mail at night, then I have to put it in the outgoing mail slot.

In fact, I pretty much do that most of the time now, because if the post office can't get it together to put the mail in the right box, let them resolve the issue.

This method of delivery is not a cure-all for lost (or stolen) mail. I have had more lost or stolen mail or packages with this system than when I had my inidividual box. Is that more of a post office issue? No comment. Also, mail has been dropped outside the boxes before. I suppose the neighbor could have done that by accident, or the post office.

I prefer having my own box.

[Lacerta]

Actually, most newer subdivisions in my area are still going with individual mail boxes. A few have the locked clusters, but most do not.

The only place I've ever lived that had a cluster box system was in an apartment.

Out of about 150 rentals (houses and duplexes) my office manages, I would estimate that maybe 20-25 of them have keyed boxes. The rest all have normal mailboxes.

So I haven't seen that trend happen here, at least not yet.

[Hemlock140]

The mail carrier used to walk, and mailboxes were next to the front door on the house. In the more rural areas they were on posts near the street because of long driveways. In new developments built since about the late 1970s the USPS has required clustered boxes,
most being the big old fashioned long box with flip-down door. That was to allow a drive-by delivery, with more stops per carrier to save on staff. Recently the identity theft problems
have started to result in the new big square box with individual locked doors. Once the USPS discovered that those are very fast to fill, by opening the whole front and loading quickly, they started to require them in new developments to save even more money on labor. Here we have no real problems with theft and still have clusters of 4-6 old fashioned non-locking boxes, but for with our large corner lot we are lucky and still have our own by itself in front of the house. The mailman will not leave our mail, however, if someone parks there car within 20' of the box so he would have to get out of the truck.