While cluster mailboxes do offer many advantages for homeowners and the mail service, there are lots of people who find them quite inconvenient. This is mainly because of the fact someone might have to walk a short distance to the cluster mailbox unit to gather their mail.
The use of cluster mailbox units is growing dramatically, with many townhome communities using them or communities where homes are placed closely together. They do offer great mail security and make it much easier on the mail delivery person because they require much fewer stops on their route. The USPS supports the use of these boxes mostly because they offer a more efficient way to allow them to deliver the mail.
The size of the development determines how many cluster box units are installed. Smaller developments may have only one group of boxes for the entire community while larger developments may have cluster box units scattered throughout the community to make it more convenient for the residents.
Cluster boxes were very much opposed when they were first introduced in the 70s and 80s. Because homeowners were accustomed to reaching outside their front door into their house mail box or accustomed to walking only the short distance to their curb to retrieve their mail, they felt cluster mailboxes left them with the chore of walking much further to retrieve their mail items. In fact, they felt cluster mailboxes were only used due to laziness of mail carriers during the time.
Today’s modern residents are less concerned about cluster mailboxes being used than the residents of the past. With many people living in highly populated areas, apartment communities or townhouse communities, they understand the significance of highly secure cluster mailboxes. They realize they offer more efficiency with regards to mail delivery, which often means their mail is deliver much faster than it otherwise would be.
While they may not offer great convenience for some residents and families, cluster mailboxes do offer high security for those living in highly populated areas. Cluster mailboxes come with locks and keys, which allow the mail to be much safer than it otherwise would be in a curbside unlocked mailbox.
Of course, the fact the cluster mailboxes are out in the open also make them naturally more secure. In addition, with a larger emphasis on walking and getting any kind of physical exercise possible, people are less likely to complain about a larger walk to retrieve their mail.
