Putting mail in people's mailboxes

[JeffBlake15]

What is the name of your state?
Washington.

I am starting a local business, and I was wondering if it is legal to put flyers in people's mailboxes without postage?

Thanks

[BradleyS]

Direct from [url]www.usps.com[/url] ///////

Can a flyer/envelope be put it in someone else's mailbox without being mailed? What if a stamp was placed on it?

Postage must go through the Postal Service™ and be delivered for it to be valid postage and therefore acceptable in the mail receptacle. A flyer cannot be placed in a mailbox after putting a stamp on it unless the item was actually mailed.

"No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail."

The key to this statement is in the term "postage" which is defined as: payment for a delivery service that is affixed or imprinted to a mailpiece, usually in the form of a postage stamp, permit imprint, or meter impression.

For further questions in regards to flyers being placed into your mailbox without first going through the postal system, please refer to your local Post Office™.

Copyright © 1999-2003 USPS. All Rights Reserved.

[JeffBlake15]

would the newspaper bin apply to that as well? They are not owned by USPS...

[BradleyS]

I would guess the newpaper bin would be the property of the newspaper.

Why don't you get a rubberband and put in on the front door or screen door? And if they have a no solicitation sign posted, go to the next house.

[PghREA]

[quote=BradleyS]Direct from [url]www.usps.com[/url] ///////



Postage must go through the Postal Service™ and be delivered for it to be valid postage and therefore acceptable in the mail receptacle. A flyer cannot be placed in a mailbox after putting a stamp on it unless the item was actually mailed.

QUOTE]
Bradley, we went through this question once before on this forum. Anything placed in the mailbox must have proper postage on it but, it does not need to be delivered by the postal service. But, who would want to go to the trouble of putting proper postage on the item and then delivering it themselves?

OP - Be safe, mail the flyers or do as Bradley suggests, and but them on the door.

[BradleyS]

[quote=PghREA]

Originally Posted by BradleyS

Direct from [url]www.usps.com[/url] ///////



Postage must go through the Postal Service™ and be delivered for it to be valid postage and therefore acceptable in the mail receptacle. A flyer cannot be placed in a mailbox after putting a stamp on it unless the item was actually mailed.

QUOTE]
Bradley, we went through this question once before on this forum. Anything placed in the mailbox must have proper postage on it but, it does not need to be delivered by the postal service. But, who would want to go to the trouble of putting proper postage on the item and then delivering it themselves?

OP - Be safe, mail the flyers or do as Bradley suggests, and but them on the door.

I didn't actually know the answer to the question. I looked it up on the USPS web site.....where I copied/pasted the responsed, along with the copyright, of course.