I’m Confused. Please help.
May 12, 2008 | random randomness
When the flag on the mailbox is up, does that mean
a. your mail has arrived OR
b. you have mail that you need the mail carrier to take with them/mail for you?
I always thought flag up meant (b), but after seeing a couple of scenarios on tv where the mail is delivered and then the flag is raised, I’m seriously confused. Also, in one of Jojo’s books, Biscuit the dog receives a Valentine’s card in a mailbox with a raised flag.
What’s going on here? Is this a regional thing? We don’t even have a box with a flag — our mail carrier walks and puts it in the placed-too-high-on-the-door-frame box that I have to reach up, over and into and holy shitballs once there was like a moth or bird in there and it all fluttered around and almost bit me/gave me rabies/killed me and I think I might have peeeed a little bit.
Please help me. On any of the issues displayed here.
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UPDATE: Ok, it’s clear from your responses that B is correct, which I always thought. But now that you have read my mystery, you’ll see it on tv commercials or in kids books. You’ll see that when they pick up their mail from their mailbox, the flag is up, as if the mail carrier was alerting them that mail was there. Seriously. Go forth and see this craziness.
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May 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pm, Jessie Says:
I always thought it meant there was mail in the box that needed to be picked up by the carrier. At least that’s how I’ve always used it. As far as I know it’s not a regional thing. However, it is always quite possible that I’ve been doing something wrong my whole life, as I seem to be quite set in my ways until someone else tells me I’m doing it wrong, which has happened several times recently.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pm, Nic Says:
I thought flag up meant the mail carrier had to come and take the mail away.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm, Rhi Says:
B! But, I could totally see how A would make more sense.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pm, Isabel Says:
I was always taught it meant that you had mail for the mail person to pick up.
But dude, what do I know?!
May 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pm, Audrey Says:
I always thought flag up = (b). I assume my mail has arrived by the time I get home every day, therefore there is no need for the mailman to raise a flag to alert me of this fact.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm, Ree Says:
It our little rural setting, it’s definitely B.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:45 pm, Susan in va Says:
Interesting - we put the flag up when we have mail to be mailed, then the kind mailman puts the flag down after retrieving our mail.
Maybe your mail carrier was sick the day they went over the meaning of the flag…
May 12th, 2008 at 3:06 pm, Julie Says:
Here in Northern VA we go with option B. Definately option b.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:35 pm, Operation Pink Herring Says:
In NJ, flag up = mail for the mailman (mailperson) to pick up. In Baltimore we don’t have mailboxes, we have mail slots, and the mailperson does whatever they damn well please with your Netflix.
May 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm, liz Says:
I aint never heard of having the flag up for GETTING MAIL…only for OUTGOING.
But just as OPH in Baltimore, here in Brooklyn if you have something to mail out, you have to haul your arse to the nearest corner with a mailbox and put it there.
May 12th, 2008 at 6:39 pm, liz Says:
Oooh, a quick Google search showed a real concern: “Red flag identity theft”
Evidently, the USPS recommends you do not place your outgoing mail in your mailbox with the flag up:
“Thieves know very well to look for mailboxes with the red flags up, and they’ll quickly steal the mail. To prevent being a “red flag” victim, leave your mail in a blue postal collection box, or at your local post office.”
WHO KNEW?!
May 13th, 2008 at 12:44 pm, Rachel Says:
I had always been taught it was “b” also, but how nice would it be for the mailman to let you know when the mail had been delivered.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:23 pm, Gretchen Says:
I’m blog surfing, and can’t even claim that I’m un-lurking as this is my first time visiting, but my 2cents:
“B” is the answer, but they also make mailboxes with 2 flags. One gets put up by for sending out mail, the second pops up when the door is opened. That way even on days there is no outgoing mail you can tell when mail has arrived. (and no we don’t have one of those, but my gramdparents did)