Using either your business cards or a flyer, place the cards:
1) Under the little metal flags on mailboxes (if your boxes are the rural type, that is). It is 100% legal to place something under the flag, outside of the box.
2) Either in the cracks of the doors or between storm door and front door.
3) Under windshield wiper blades
4) Tape cards or flyers to door frames. Be careful not to adhere tape to the door itself as the adhesive may remove some of the door's finish.
5) Go to door-to-door, introducing yourself and dropping off literature.
All of the above ideas are things that local businesses regularly do in my neighborhood.
BTW, ignore your cranky neighbor. Yes, what you did is illegal, but I highly doubt he'll actually follow through and call the feds. Even if he does, the FBI has far more pressing matters to worry about. You'll probably receive a letter of warning. At the very, very worst, you'll receive a small fine. I doubt that will ever happen.
The US Postal Service claims that THEY own all of the mailboxes in the US, and that it is illegal to put ads or anything else in them.
I don't think anyone has ever challenged that claim, since I bought my house, and my mailbox, and I attached my mailbox to my house.
And I have the receipt to prove it.
Therefore, I OWN MY MAILBOX, NOT THE USPS.
I don't see how that could ever hold up in court.
The FBI has better things to do.
At worst, you might get a letter from the postal inspectors office.
The guy's a jerk.
Don't worry about it.
Business card is one kind of public and mail box is private. If you open mailbox and put business card in it, then it is illegal. Because mailbox is private, no one can do anything in it without your permission, no one can not open it. if you are in fear or things getting bad to worse, then you might get a letter from the postal inspectors office. The FBI will handle it.
It is a violation of Federal Law to place anything in a Mailbox. So yes you should be worried.
You should have stuck the business cards in the door.
If open mailbox and put business card in, it is illegal. Because mailbox is private like home no one can not open it. Try Difrent way to promote your business.
Business cards is advertising tool but mailbox is not public property you can try to online advertising it is best way.
Hi, I just moved to a new town with my wife and child and was trying to promote my new lawn care business . So I placed my card in a few mailboxes of my neighbors and I got a call today from one of my neighbors saying that he is going to call the FBI on me for doing this and that it is a federal crime.
I am trying to make an honest living and wasnt trying to harm anyone. I barely can afford my rent and everything my family needs. I had no idea this was even illegal, should i realisticly be worried that I will have to pay fines or go to jail over this?
sigh....this economy is depressing me around here , its getting bad :(
