Green Boxes that look like post boxes

thunderdog · 23-09-2021 7:48am #1

Does anyone know what the on street Green boxes are that look similar to a postbox but sit on top of a black pole (probably been around the last 10 years or so)?

I've been caught out a few times over the last few years, thinking these boxes are post boxes, but only to find there is no hole to post the letter in.

Is there something electrical inside them? Why are they painted Green? So many questions

odyssey06 · 23-09-2021 7:50am

It's a test. An Post messing with your head.

Someone posted a while back it's meant for the postal staff on foot, to leave packages in or something as they do their rounds, before delivering.

But I don't believe them.

Why paint them green and have them look like actual post boxes!

Ficheall · 23-09-2021 7:52am

Those are pre boxes.

vandriver · 23-09-2021 7:54am

They keep spare sacks on them.

L1011 · 23-09-2021 7:57am

They're boxes for An Post to leave post to be picked up by delivery staff later in their route to reduce how much they need to carry at one time

Since they have been given cargo bikes in a lot of areas they are not used as much

xper · 23-09-2021 8:08am

A postal worker on a delivery round that’s done on foot or bike would normally have 2-3 bags to complete. In the past, the 2nd or 3rd bags would have often been dropped off by another worker on a van round in a local newsagent or even a private house somewhere on the route if a sub post office or the delivery office weren't handy. These were very ad hoc/it’ll be grand arrangements which generally worked fine but had obvious security issue potential.

A few years ago now, An Post introduced these drop boxes so that they retained control over the mail at all times.

thunderdog · 23-09-2021 9:41am

cheers for the replies-I can sleep easy tonight now knowing what they are used for. They could paint them something other than green to stop idiots like myself confusing them for post boxes