I have friends and family come over for dinner or what-not and they often bring in the mail that is in our mailbox or on our stoop. This drives me crazy! I know they are trying to be helpful and all "oh, you have mail, let me bring it in for you as I am here so you don't have to". At the same time I'm not to thrilled of people taking things out of our mailbox. And bringing in the paper? We hate getting the paper, we never bring it in because we find they won't give us a new one if the old one is still there (it's a free paper so haven't mastered the canceling yet). When our visiting friends/family bring it in we be nice and take it in and put it in recycling as I can't well throw it back outside.

Am I the only one who is slightly offended by this act?

One time I saw a yard that had a toilet for the mailbox with a sign that said junk mail. Maybe if you have an unappealing box they will be grossed out to reach in it or you could maybe put a small lock on your current box. I see small easy key locks in the Dollar stores.

Hi, teddy0bear!

You were looking for opinions. I have no problem with friends or family bringing things in who are wanting to be helpful by doing so. If it were someone that I didn't know who was trying to solicit something to me, then yes, I would have a problem with that.

Nice mailbox, N0help4u!

Thanks!

Actually your friends are breaking the law. A mailbox is actually the property of the USPS. For them to take mail out of the box is illegal. You might suggest to them, if they were caught doing it they could be in trouble.

This is a new pet peeve for the books. Although you might disagree, as a pet peeve, it's actually rather cute.

Of course, scottgem is right; you can't put your hands in other people's mailboxes. This doesn't really count for free papers left on your lawn, but in any case, you're either going to have to accept the situation or say something.

While I liked the idea of using a lock on your mailbox, unless your box has a slit for the mail carrier to deposit your mail, it might just work a little too well and keep any mail from getting to you.

Why not post a cute little sign on your mailbox? You might be able to come up with a clever phrase that gets your message across. This way, you wouldn't have to say anything directly to your friends and family. If they ask you what the sign is about, tell them that it was given to you as a gift, and you liked the idea.

One idea of a phrase might be, "men and girls that touch and steal, / keep your hands off of my mail." (it's a slanted rhyme, okay? I didn't promise greatness here.) :)

Of course, you could tell your friends that seeing the mail stresses you out, and that you refuse to even touch it outside of business hours. :) keep it light, and don't make it into a huge deal. I'm sure they'll understand.

Let us know how it works out!

Yeah tell them the mail stresses you out so you only get it when you are mentally prepared to.
I know that is how I feel about my mail.

I think that your family/friends truly have good intentions. Next time say "Thank you, but I leave it in the box until I am ready to deal with it. That way it doesn't get misplaced." Then excuse yourself as you walk back outside and put it back in the mailbox.

As for the paper - tell them why you leave it out. I think it's a clever solution to the free paper issue.

You could just get a post office box then file a change of address form. That way you just "stop getting mail" at that address and nobody knows any different.
I did this because my family was always getting my mail, and they would lay it down somewhere and not tell me about it, and bills would go late, and other problems happened. The PO Box took care of that problem. And the fee is so small. ($21 for 6 months) That's $3.50 per month. The cost of a cheap cup of coffee.

When you are expecting company, empty your own box before they arrive and recycle the paper yourself.