Is it legal to put fliers ect. on mail boxes

Was wondering if you guys put out fliers, postcards, magnets on mailboxes.
I have a bulk permit to mail at .25 @.
Recently I tried something different, I took my VW dunebuggy drove next to mailboxes in selected neighborhoods.. punched a hole in my postcard, looped a rubberband in it an attached it to the post.
I knew I could cover a lot of ground fast and have fun doing it, so i went to my postmaster and asked him the what the law says......
Here it is against the Law, can't attach anything to mailbox or post without permission from owner.
HERE If someone complains to "Code Enforcement" the have to inspect and remove attachment and will contact business and fine them separately for each violation.....That could get expensive real quick!!!
What is y'all experience with this type of advertising????
 
Standard USPS rate for postcards is .27. Let the USPS deliver and it saves a lot of your time and you don't have to worry about "code enforcement". I make them up a 100 at a time, use county property records online to target certain neighborhoods and put them in my mail box.
 
Hey Al, I have often wondered about this. I only place on the mailbox if there is no way to place it on the door. Kemp may have something with the post card thing. does this require any special bulk mailing permit/fee/yearly charge to receive the .27 price?
 
That's a federal mail-tampering law, and it is the same coast to coast. The intent is to keep people from marking up or staking out postal boxes thereby interfering with citizens' access to uninterupted mail service.

Postal inspectors have told me they will fine you for the number of violations they estimate you to have committed, plus the fee to remove your advertising where applicable.

Technically, the mailbox you own is postal service property by intent, don't mess with the inspectors because they relish their jobs. They have no limits on jurisdiction, and take the job seriously.

They WILL fine you and you WILL lose on appeal.

My experience is that people can be pretty hostile to door to door sales and leafletting, but some folks do well at it. Friends have told me they think it makes you look bush-league unless you are working nearby, or have a special running in an area, or something like that.

Your bulk mailers should be a pretty cost effective way of reaching your target demographic, how is it working out for you?


BTW, I'll bet the buggy was a fun way to leaflet, maybe you could do a handout from it to people you spot, or something along those lines. Seems like it would be hard to prequalify that way though.
 
Was wondering if you guys put out fliers, postcards, magnets on mailboxes.
I have a bulk permit to mail at .25 @.
Recently I tried something different, I took my VW dunebuggy drove next to mailboxes in selected neighborhoods.. punched a hole in my postcard, looped a rubberband in it an attached it to the post.
I knew I could cover a lot of ground fast and have fun doing it, so i went to my postmaster and asked him the what the law says......
Here it is against the Law, can't attach anything to mailbox or post without permission from owner.
HERE If someone complains to "Code Enforcement" the have to inspect and remove attachment and will contact business and fine them separately for each violation.....That could get expensive real quick!!!
What is y'all experience with this type of advertising????


it will benifit you to walk door to door , they know you made an effort that way , the other way seems lazy
 
I just renewed my permit...180.00 yr
depending depending on weather I use "postal customer" or physical address,
price is .25 or .27
I pick what Rural route I want my postcard delivered.
I usually mail out 600 at a time (average #pieces a mailman delivers)
No more hanging on mail boxes!!
just curious how many of you still market this way?
(we won't tell no one) :)
 
Here is my estimate/mail box gettaway ride!!!!
Problem with this is you are going to get attention driving up to their mail box...I hope they was more interested in my ride than me messing with their mailbox!! This is a good way to get a positive conversation going.
 

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I use a golf cart that has our logo in the housing developments. It seems less intimidating to the consumer, cheaper on gas and pretty quick on covering an area.
 
Al,
I saw your flyers in my neighborhood yesterday, off of Hwy 138, they look good.
I have been doing the same as you, going to selected neighborhoods and taping my flyers to the side of the mailboxes. I was told that as long as you don't put the flyers inside of the mailboxes your safe.
This has worked great for me and has generated a lot of work I usually do this if I’m working in the neighborhood, saves on postage and since I’m there I minus well do some marketing in the area. Good luck.


Loren
 
You may want to look into that, I am sure it is illegal to tape to the the outside of the mailbox as well. And just for what its worth from my stand point if some one puts something on my mailbox it gies straight to the garbage I dont even look at it.
 
Hey Al, I have often wondered about this. I only place on the mailbox if there is no way to place it on the door. Kemp may have something with the post card thing. does this require any special bulk mailing permit/fee/yearly charge to receive the .27 price?

Ask for the postcard rate stamp at the USPS, I usually get a roll of 100 for $27. It is just a lower rate for postcards, no bulk rate needed. I do not send out enough to take advantage of bulk rate mailing permits. Soliciting in most of the target neihborhoods is not allowed. Sneak it in through the USPS.:D
 
Al,
I saw your flyers in my neighborhood yesterday, off of Hwy 138, they look good.
I have been doing the same as you, going to selected neighborhoods and taping my flyers to the side of the mailboxes. I was told that as long as you don't put the flyers inside of the mailboxes your safe.
This has worked great for me and has generated a lot of work I usually do this if I’m working in the neighborhood, saves on postage and since I’m there I minus well do some marketing in the area. Good luck.


Loren
They said no one has been cited (Yet) I joked with her saying if someone turned me in....it was before I talked to her!!!
There was a truck ahead of me putting fliers out in the plumbing or septic business ...you probably got one of his too!
Do you live in the Deer Run s/d area? I thought you lived in Gwinnett,
give me a call and lets have lunch!!!!
 
In my neck of the woods we have a newspaper company called The Reminder and they put hooks on peoples posts by zip ties or with screws. They hire people to deliver their paper out once a week in these plastic bags and place them on the hooks. How is that any different then me putting a flyer on a given mail box with painters tape to avoid damage to someones painted mailbox.
 
Hey Al : I like the free movie ticket idea how has that worked out for you??DH

works good for me, been doing about 3 years as well....I want to be known as the Pressure washer who gives out movie ticket after I complete a job.
I had to order more today, some people notice the free tickets and some do not...some repeat customers ask If I still give away tickets.
for me its not a gimmick...its part of my package
 
They said no one has been cited (Yet) I joked with her saying if someone turned me in....it was before I talked to her!!!
There was a truck ahead of me putting fliers out in the plumbing or septic business ...you probably got one of his too!
Do you live in the Deer Run s/d area? I thought you lived in Gwinnett,
give me a call and lets have lunch!!!!

I'm in the Snapfinger Farm s/d by the Food Depot (155 & 138) I have a walk through at a complex this morning I will call you later and try to set something up for the middle of next week.
 
In Connecticut, if your mailbox is at the street, you are required by state law to have a metal hook attached to the post or the box. It is legal to hang flyers from the HOOK ONLY. We can not attach to any other part of the box or post. If the hook is broken or missing, we are out of luck. Most homes in my area have the box on the house so we have to walk up to the front door anyway. Boxes attached to the house do not have to have the same hook, but some do. Some towns require a permit to deliver flyers door to door. others do not. Always check with the Town Clerk and Police department for local laws.
 
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