Return to Center Mailbox System

RTC Mailbox FAQ

Installation Questions

How far from the road should the ground post be installed?

Generally, the post office requires the front of the mailbox be 6-8 inches from the postman's delivery point to the front of the mailbox. From the front of the mailbox to the ground post is 28 inches. Therefore, the total setback is from 34-36 inches.

Do I need the optional ground post extension?

Only if the ground post installation point is 6-12 inches below the road surface. The included, standard ground post extension is designed to place the bottom of the mailbox at the desired height (42-46 inches) above the road surface. If the desired post location is substantially lower than the road surface, an optional ground post extension may be required. Feel free to contact us with questions.

Is it difficult to drill (auger) the post into the ground?

The degree of difficulty will be most influenced by the type and condition of the soil. Soil consisting of or containing rocks, stone, gravel or tree roots may make the installation of the ground post difficult or in some cases impossible.

I'm nearly 74 years old and not as strong as I used to be. Will I have any trouble installing this system?

The most difficult part is installing the ground post; however, any person of average fitness and good health should be able to install it. The rest of the installation is simply putting pieces together.

Can concrete be used if desired?

We have not seen any situation in which concrete was needed to adequately anchor the Ground Post. Additionally, concreting the post is often not allowed by governmental regulation of roadside fixtures and structures. Check with local postmaster or other officials for applicable regulations.

We like the mailbox post system and the way it functions but we want to replace the mailbox with a heavy-duty mailbox because of a repeated vandalism problem. Can we do this?

Yes, this is not a problem. Your vandalism problem should definitely be minimized and this will not impair the performance of your Return-to Center mailbox post, as it is designed to accommodate a mailbox weighing up to 25 pounds.

Will the rotating feature continue to work in freezing weather conditions?

That is one of the most important times for it to operate properly. It is designed to “get out of the way” of harsh winter weather conditions and the formidable force of the snow plow. Its' function will not be impaired unless the snow/ice would accumulate past the two and one-half (2-1/2) foot mark; then, it may.

I note your brochure says, “some assembly required”. What tools are required and how do the pieces go together?

Generally, the only tools needed are a screwdriver and measuring tape. A screwdriver for attaching mailbox to mailbox mounting bracket and measuring tape to adjust Ground Post depth for proper finished mailbox height. Optional tools would be: a level, for perfectly positioning the Ground Post’s vertical orientation and a hammer or mallet with a small piece of wood. The hammer or mallet and piece of wood are used to firmly the “seat” the two “swedged” pieces (the Ground Post Extender and the Mailbox Mounting Arm) to the Ground Post.

Do you offer an accessory for your Return-to-Center mailbox that will hold a newspaper? The local newspaper keeps wanting to put their own box next to my new Return-to-Center mailbox (of which I am very pleased - thank you). But this will interfere with the rotation of the box and curtail its vandalism resistant properties.

Yes, there is a rather simple solution to resolve your problem. As you face the front of the mailbox there are two holes about 3 inches apart on the side and in the middle of the side of the mailbox mounting bracket. These holes are for use in mounting the standard newspaper mounting bracket along side of the mailbox. They already have welded and threaded flat nuts attached so all you need are two 10x24 machine bolts 1 inch long (same as used to mount mailbox to mounting bracket). Depending on the mailbox you have, one of the holes in mailbox should line up with a hole on the bracket but you may need to drill a hole in the side of bottom flange of the mailbox to access the other newspaper tube mounting hole bracket. It will most likely require removing the mailbox. Because the newspaper tube will be mounted directly to and along side of the mailbox, the rotation or function of the mailbox post system should not be diminished.

Payment Questions

I do not use a credit card on the internet. Can I pay with a money order?

Sorry, no money orders accepted; however, we will happily accept your personal check. We will however, wait until it clears before we ship the order. If security is your concern, we are a secured web site and all credit card orders processed through PayPal are encrypted for your protection and ours. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this feature. PayPal is a third party vendor that independently processes your credit card payment securely, and even we do not have access to your credit card number or other account information.

What credit or debit cards are accepted by Mailbox Post Solutions and More?

We accept Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover credit cards. Debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo are also accepted.

Does Mailbox Post Solutions and More charge sales tax?

Sales tax is only charged on orders shipped to Ohio addresses.

How much will the shipping and handling charges be?

Shipping and handling are free except for a 15% charge applied to orders shipped to Washington, Oregon or California. If any other charges are applicable, you will be notified prior to shipment for your consent/approval.

How can I contact you if we have questions?

You may email us at: sales@returntocentermailbox.com (target turnaround time for email response is 24 hours). You may call us at: 937-594-3563. Finally you may mail us at our administrative office: Mailbox Post Solutions and More, LLC located at P.O. Box 276, Marysville, Ohio 43040.

How can I place an order?

Order online from the home page or the product pages. From the home page, click on the product category and then click on which product you would like to purchase. From the product pages, click on "add to bag" or "buy now." You can add multiple products to your cart and check out when you are ready. To check out, click on your shopping bag in the corner of your screen and proceed to check out. For questions with orders, email us at: sales@returntocentermailbox.com.

Warranty Questions

What is your warranty?

We warrant the Return-to-Center Mailbox Post System and any other accessory products manufactured by or for Mailbox Post Solutions and More LLC, dba Return-to-Center for three years from the date of purchase.  Simply email us a photograph of the damaged part and we will promptly replace it.  In some cases return shipping of damaged item(s) may be required {see “Returns”}.  This warranty does not apply if the mailbox post system or accessory items were improperly installed, used for purposes other than intended, or if damage is caused by inherent vice or another party.

Products sold by but not manufactured or produced by Mailbox Post Solutions and More LLC, dba Return-to-Center are not warranted by us.  Only warranties expressed or implied by the products manufacturer are applicable.  Claims for damage or replacement of these items and shipping/return requirements should be addressed with the manufacturer.

In no event shall Mailbox Post Solutions and More LLC, be liable for any incidental, special, indirect or consequential damages, whether resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use this product or from defects in the product.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.