Find Similar Products Like Architectural Mailboxes Oasis Mailbox Black @ Amazon.com
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful. Summary: Takes some small boxes. Somewhat secure. Probably the best sub-$100 choice. I took a careful hands-on look at several locking mailboxes for the benefit of 104 homeowners in my neighborhood. The hopper-style door is a good idea, but don’t be misled by the manufacturer’s picture on their web site and all over the carton. The string-tied parcel in their picture will NOT fit through the hopper…not even close. Maximum package sizes: – Boxy packages up to about 3.5″ x 5″ x 9.9″. PROs: – Takes some packages that other mailboxes won’t CONs: – Larger flats may not drop in (see Tip 1) – - – Prices – - - Home Depot stocks these (usually Bronze) for about 97 + tax. Low tide on amazon is around 97. There’s an “Online Price Alert” that will email you whenever this or any amazon product dips below your target price. Google it. It’s nicely done. For almost 2x the price, the Epoch 7106 MailBoss Curbside Locking Mailbox is larger and much more secure. The larger Oasis Mailbox is also worth a look. – - – Security – - - Fishing: It means grabbing your mail without actually breaking anything. A fish-able box is much worse than a pry-able box. Why? You don’t know for sure whether your mail has been taken. Or when. Maybe you figure it out a week later. But you’re not sure. Maybe the sender has a problem, or the USPS. Maybe, maybe, maybe… No verifiable event, no evidence to share with neighbors or police. How Much Security is Enough?: Some say, Do it once, Do it right. Get a mailbox that’s very hard to fish and very hard to break open. Others say, save your money. If it’s better than your neighbors’ boxes, it’s good enough. There’s a funny story that ends with a punch line: “I don’t need to outrun the bear…I just need to outrun you.” It’s usually true. A thief won’t mess with your box if nearby boxes are easier targets. Security Comparison: Pry Open . . . . Fish for Mail . . . Model (1) Hand fishing is difficult, but I could reach mail piled higher than .75″ – - – Tips – - – 1. Large flat pieces don’t always drop down. Two tips… Ask your letter carrier to give the hopper one extra flip, it will help a lot. Also, cover those dimples on the mailbox floor. Lay down a piece of glossy cardboard. Maybe spray some Teflon on it. Helps larger envelopes slide back and down. 2. Anti-fishing tip: Add a little toothy strip made out of aluminum or polycarbonate behind the top flange. See if Liquid Nails will hold it. Or bolt it on. Ragged edge, but not too sharp — You don’t want to annoy your letter carrier, you just want to engage the guy who’s mashing his upper arm against this top strip. (I’ll post pics or video when I get a chance.) 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful. Fit and finish is really nice. No rough surfaces or sharp edges, and the paint job looks great. It feels quite sturdy, even the flag. My only suggestion for an improvement is to replace the hex bolts used to secure the box with carriage bolts, and add lock washers to the installation. The included hex bolts would be trivial for a thief to detach in seconds, making this box a tempting target for thieves or practical jokers. I took one star off five because of the hex bolts, and because the post sold with it had a top plate that’s not at exactly 90 degrees from the post. So though we set our post dead vertical on both axes, the box sits a tiny bit off level. You can’t see it though, it takes a level to spot. A good solution is to set the post, WITH the mailbox attached, and level the box rather than the post. I set the post in 3 cf of concrete in a 12″ wide hole, 28″ deep, and it is dead stable. Would buy and recommend again. EDIT: Over a year later, I must say that the finish still looks like new, and the box works very well. No rust, no lock problems. The mail is secure and I would still recommend this fully. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. After doing a lot of research I settled on this box. Pros: Cons: Overall, glad we got it, Amazon stuff all arrives 100% of the time again, we’ve made it just inconvenient enough that the thieves have moved on to easier marks. |
Good Low-end Choice