Postal Letter

Is the mailman actually obliged to put up the little flag on the mailbox if he put something inside it?

Some people have these freestanding letterboxes with little tin or plastic flags on a hinge. Sometimes when I drive past these, I am wondering if the mailman is actually instructed by the postal service to operate these things. Does anyone know?

Public Comments

1. No. the flag is for outgoing mail only, when you have something to send. The postman is not supposed to touch the flag other than to put it down when he picks up what you left him.
2. youre supposed to put your flag up when you have outgoing mail so the mailman knows to take it out- it isnt there to signal that the mail has come
3. You put up the flag when you have something to be collected. The mailman puts the flag down when he picks it up.
4. The OWNER puts the flag up if they have something to be picked up. The mailman then puts it down when he stops and makes the pickup. The mailman does not put the flag up.
5. Gee whiz, that's for the postal patron to use to notify the carrier he's placed OUTGOING mail inside his box, and to please pick it up.
6. I always thought the flags were to indicate outgoing mail, so the mailman doesnt have to stop if it was down and there was nothing incoming.
7. the flag is to notify the postman that you have outgoing mail. not that you have recieved mail.
8. The flag is to inform the postal worker that there is outgoing mail.
9. the flag is for you to put up if you have outgoing mail. That way the mailperson will stop even if they have no mail for you. When he/she picks up the mail they will put the flag down
10. No. That's not what the flag is for... The flag is for when you want something mailed. Put the package or envelope in the mailbox with the proper postage and put the flag up so that the mailman knows there is something inside for him to pick up.
11. The flag is an OUTGOING MAIL signal to the letter carrier. You use this because if he doesn't have mail to deliver to your address, he has no reason to stop unless he sees a signal that there is outgoing mail that needs picked up. I actually read once that picking up outgoing mail was a courtesy and not required under postal codes, but with the competition of other carriers (FEDEX, UPS, DHL) I believe this pick-up service is now directed under USPS Policies and Procedures.
12. Not in Germany, because there aren t flags on the mailbox. Here I am happy when a letter arrives - if at all !
13. Jeesh, I can't believe that nobody has pointed out that the flag is there to indicate outgoing mail.
14. No, those are only for when you have mail you want the postman to take. It's to let him know that the letter(s) in there are to be taken and processed by him, instead of it being mail he delivered yesterday that you forgot to pick up.