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No drive-up/ride-up mailboxes in West Seattle right now. USPS says that’s temporary

(WSB photo, Westwood mailbox’s usual spot)

Thanks to the reader who tipped us that the Westwood Village Post Office‘s drive-up/ride-up mailbox is gone again. Since the Junction Post Office has been without its drive-up/ride-up mailbox for 10 months, that means right now – with another mail-in election approaching – West Seattle is without this type of mailbox. We asked USPS‘s regional spokesperson Kim Frum what happened to the WWV box and whether the Junction box is ever coming back. First, she said, “The box at the Westwood Post Office was removed for repairs. As soon as the box is fixed it will be reinstalled. Our maintenance team estimates it should be no more than a week until it is back in place.” (What kind of repairs, she didn’t say, but we’re asking on followup.) Regarding the Junction box, gone since it was stolen last November: “The box at the West Seattle Post Office had a replacement ordered, however, it was the wrong design. A new box was requested, and the office is currently waiting for it to arrive from the manufacturer. Once the box is delivered, maintenance will install the lock, the sticker with posted collection times, and replace it at its location at the West Seattle office as soon as possible.” Both drive-up/ride-up mailboxes had somewhat decreased in utility since they were replaced earlier in 2023 with smaller mailboxes that were described at the time as more secure.

25 Replies to "No drive-up/ride-up mailboxes in West Seattle right now. USPS says that's temporary"

  • brizone September 23, 2024 (4:14 pm)

    Louis DeJoy making the USPS great again.

    • A September 23, 2024 (9:16 pm)

      Exactly. The explanations provided as to resources and equipment are inadequate.  It is no coincidence that USPS is somehow STILL led by a Trump-installed gremlin. 

  • Marcus September 23, 2024 (5:04 pm)

    Just a thought. Maybe a bigger heavier mailbox wouldn’t of been so easy to steal. It has been quite the pain getting mail out with no mailbox and limited access to the lobby at the Junction. 

    • My two cents September 23, 2024 (10:22 pm)

      Just a thought … how much heavier would it have to be? 50 lbs? 500 lbs?  Having to walk an extra 15 yards is truly an imposition,

      • J September 24, 2024 (9:01 am)

        Most ableist comment ever. NOT everyone has the ability to park a block or so away due to the very limited parking at the junction PO. So yes, it is more than a minor inconvenience to many. 

  • bill September 23, 2024 (5:10 pm)

    A normal business would have a couple of boxes in storage. Or it would offer suppliers a premium for fast delivery. Radical and visionary the Postal Service management is not.

    • K September 23, 2024 (8:46 pm)

      The postal service is paid for by taxes, and taxpayers are pretty miserly and don’t like to pay for backups (unless we’re talking about military or police, but there’s no redundancy in anything else).

      • KBear September 24, 2024 (7:23 am)

        That’s incorrect. USPS is self-sustaining. It is not funded through taxes. 

      • CB September 24, 2024 (8:12 am)

        This is not true. USPS is self-funded.https://facts.usps.com/0-tax-dallars/

  • Phil Sweetland September 23, 2024 (6:25 pm)

    I hope that the Westwood mailbox will be assessable without getting out of the car.  The last placement was not.

    • Azimuth September 23, 2024 (9:11 pm)

      I second that.

  • Scott September 23, 2024 (6:26 pm)

    This what happens when no one is being prosecuted for the federal crime of mail theft.

  • PDiddy September 23, 2024 (7:12 pm)

    I prefer to drop my ballots at South Seattle College box. But yeah the lack of boxes is kinda worrying. I dont even like the smaller ones I prefer the original ones that were bigger and you could reach easier. USPS seems to be lost.

  • Darren September 23, 2024 (7:50 pm)

    The WWV “drive up” box had pry marks on the top of the access door. Maybe that’s what is being repaired?

  • Rod September 23, 2024 (8:31 pm)

    The absence  of drive-up mail boxes and the absence of handicapped parking is a real challenge for some. 

  • Alki resident September 23, 2024 (8:33 pm)

    2024 and some people can’t figure out how to secure a community mailbox. Embarrassing 

  • Oakley34 September 23, 2024 (9:46 pm)

    Well at least there are a lot of mail boxes on busy streets and well travelled corners…oh wait…used to be you could mail a letter on your morning walk

  • RT September 23, 2024 (9:57 pm)

    the absence of additional local boxes…like the one that used to be on the corner of California Ave SW and SW College is also a loss.  Despite personal goals to reduce vehicle use the lack of regional drop boxes means many must drive or bus to the post office just to drop off a letter or card.  Sad result of the continuing attacks on public drop boxes, mail trucks, carriers and residential boxes. 

    • Rae September 23, 2024 (10:22 pm)

      +1 there’s no sidewalk boxes in admiral until near freshies

      • T September 24, 2024 (8:07 am)

        There is one at California and Hanford, walk an extra 1.5 blocks.

  • Cogburn September 24, 2024 (9:11 am)

    It’s hard to understand how USPS could not have a couple of spare mailboxes and a spec sheet that can ensure the right size box be made.  Having spare parts is just part of running a business effectively. 

  • LPM September 24, 2024 (10:01 am)

    Instead of blaming USPS, how about blame the a$$hats who keep  vandalizing the boxes?  This is why West Seattle can’t have nice things.  Start shaming the criminals.

    • Jon Wright September 24, 2024 (12:55 pm)

      There is plenty of cause to blame both.

  • Lola September 26, 2024 (5:13 am)

    I have been wondering about the WS Junction mailbox and when it might be replaced.  It was always full.  Of course they sent the wrong one to begin with.  Also people need to remember once it is installed, parking in front of the mail-box is a big no, no.  It does not help that the Post Office takes all the parking spots thus people think that its ok to park right in front of the box.  

  • eluke October 2, 2024 (5:04 pm)

    The WWV mailbox is still not there and it’s been over a week (according to the OP the USPS regional spokesperson Kim Frum said it would be back in a week).  Has it been moved, or is it still out for repairs?

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