Customer Reviews

Architectural Mailboxes Oasis Mailbox, Black

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This locking mailbox is sturdy and easy to install and use.

However, we bought it especially because we order quite a few books (from Amazon, of course), and we wanted these treasures to be secure if we were away when the mail came. This mailbox is designed to make it just about impossible to insert anything thicker than one inch unless it bends easily. We convinced the thing to do what we wanted by removing an extension piece from the inner door and bending back the top of the inner frame--now it can accept a box 2 x10 x 12. That was NOT easy.

We wish the manufacturer had planned for small package delivery.

My wife and I liked the style of this mailbox, so we bought it. It has a locked storage compartment, so you can go away for a week and not have to stop the mail. It appears well made with heavy gauge steel (and the mail stays dry when its raining outside).

Because its rectangular, you want to make sure the post is plumb while it sets in concrete. You could always shim the mailbox with washers to trim it later if need be.

Only issue is that it takes a bit of wiggling to get the key into the lock (the key hole weather shield sticks a little).

Overall we are very satisfied with this mailbox.

I bought this mailbox because I order frequently online and receive most of my packages in USPS priority mail boxes. Boy, was I disappointed to find some priority boxes wouldn't fit. While the opening is big enough to accept the priority mailboxes, the way the "hopper" is constructed keeps them from being deposited. Otherwise, I would have rated this mailbox 5 stars. Note: this does NOT refer to the Junior model.

I researched several locking mailboxes for the benefit of 104 homeowners in my neighborhood. I did a careful hands-on comparison of the Oasis [not Oasis Jr] and the Mail Boss (see disclosure below). Advantages to each, but I preferred the Mail Boss overall.

Advantages of Oasis:

- - Hopper style door will accept some thicker packages up to appx 4" x 6" x 12". Mail Boss max: 1-7/8" x 10.2" x 14.5"
- - Similar Capacity: appx 1400 cu in. (but Oasis has appx 28% more capacity than Mail Boss at hand-fishing limit. See below.)

Advantages of Mail Boss:

- - Much more pry resistant. Thicker steel (14/12 gauge vs 16/14). Recessed door top. Heavier lock, Hook-style lock tab.
- - Clean look. Not too tall (14" vs 20"); Looks OK mounted next to smaller mailboxes
- - Includes 3 keys and reflective address numbers (vs 2 keys, no numbers)
- - Slightly less expensive

Other Points:

- - Wind-blown rain: Mail Boss protects pretty well using inset door-tops. (I tested it with a hose.) Oasis has a protruding door top with a rubber seal, which will easily take in water if its rubber seal degrades. I like the Mail Boss design better, but would probably add weatherstripping for "belt and suspenders" protection.

- - Rust: Either box will rust out eventually...(Avoid white model.)

- - 10"x13" envelopes hang in the mail slot due to textured mailbox floor (like most other mailboxes) (add smooth cardboard to rear of floor)

- - The Mail Boss has a Mounting Plate system for easy installation, but not an issue vs the Oasis. Oasis has about 10"+ of vertical clearance inside the box -- probably enough for your cordless drill/driver.

- - Workmanship on both mailboxes is flawed, but acceptable

Security Comparison:

Prying and "fishing" are the two main concerns. Fishing means reaching in and pulling mail out through the slot. No evidence of tampering, so you may not know whether some of your mail has been stolen. Tested with my arms, which are just a little thinner than average adult male arms.

Pry Open . . . . Fish for Mail . . . Model
------------ . . . . ------------- . . . --------------------
Bare Hands . . . Bare Hands . . Solar Group RSKB0000
Screw Driver . . Bare Hands . . Oasis Jr.
12" prybar? . . With Tool(1) . . Oasis
24" crowbar? . With Tool(2) . . Mail Boss
24" crowbar? . . . . No . . . . . . 4-C Aluminum Cluster Box Units
. . . No . . . . . . . . . No . . . . . . . Armadillo

(1) or with hands if mail is piled higher than appx 4.25". Packages in the Oasis may stand tall and thus be more vulnerable to fishing.
(2) or with hands if mail is piled higher than appx 3.5"

Disclosure: The manufacturer of the Mail Boss sent me a free mailbox for review after seeing my amazon review of the Solar Group RSKB0000 Curbside Locking Mailbox. I feel this is an impartial review. I have no connection to any mailbox manufacturer.

This is a nice mailbox but I have found that I can retrieve the mail through the drop slot. This is a handy feature if I go out to the box without the key. I would suggest getting the larger model if you think someone with thin arms might take the time to go through the minor contortions needed to reach inside.

The mailbox construction is top quality, no surprises. The instructions provided were also accurate. One issue is that my postman turns large envelopes (9" x 13") and the weekly free ads such that they don't fall into the drop area below. They're sitting in the top deposit door, so I always check in the locked drop area below AND pull the top door down, and find items in both locations. It makes me worry a little about going away for a few days - is it all going to be stuffed in the top hopper? One of the reasons that I purchased this mailbox was so that I wouldn't have to put my mail on hold anymore when I go away. On the other hand, the normal-sized envelopes seem to fall below. The bigger items, which have a higher probability of being junk mail, are the ones that don't drop.

My mail was just stolen from this box. Theives popped it open like a top. There is a design flaw that allows for easy access with a screwdriver at minimum to bust the door off. My neighbors both have different syle boxes than mine and their mail boxes were uncompromised. If you care about criminals accessing the contents of your mailbox do not buy this box.

I went to our local hardware store to look at the Oasis. The clerk in the store was explaining how it worked to another customer and I was looking on. When he opened the ingoing mail door (not the locked portion) I stuck my hand in through the opening and pulled out the mounting hardware box and mounting instructions that are in the bottom of the mailbox. Needless to say neither I or the other customer bought this product.

This is a high-quality product. It is well-made and is finished well. The entry door is designed and operates much like a standard, US post office, mailbox. When open, the rear portion of the door blocks access to the lower chamber of the box. Mail drops from behind the entry door into the lower chamber, when the door is closed. The door to the lower chamber is secured from the outside front by a keyed lock. The mailbox itself is all painted, heavy-gage, steel construction. It should not be easily damaged by inclement weather conditions or light impacts. It is doubtful a single swing of a bat or club would severely damage it. I also doubt if an exploding plastic soda bottle would do serious damage to the box.
The security level is low, but sufficient to prevent the casual passerby from reaching in and extracting items. However, I feel quite sure the lock could be easily picked and the lower chamber door could be pried open by a determined thief.
The box has a flag and the entry door has an inside-mounted clip to hold outgoing mail, for those individuals whom utilize mail pick-up from their home mailbox. However, there is no security with this feature.
Those who want to mount the mailbox on a post should consider purchasing the optional 46-1/2 in. long, tubular steel, mounting post. They may also want to embed the post in concrete. It will require about one (1) cubic foot of concrete (apprx. 150 lb). The mounting plate on the post fit right up w/ the four (4) mounting holes in the underside of the mailbox. Threaded-fasteners are supplied w/ the post. It makes a great looking and highly-functional, finished package.
One additional thought, those homes on motor routes that have newspaper delivery will have to retain their present newspaper receptacles as this box has no provision to receive and hold a newspaper. Although, a newspaper receptacle could be mounted to the side of the mailbox, the highest point on the mailbox mounting post is too low for directly mounting the paper receptacle.

This mailbox works great! It is very secure and has plenty of room in the locking compartment to hold lots of mail. This is actually my second mailbox. The first one was going strong at five years before being struck by a road maintainer. It hit so hard that it knocked the mailbox out of the ground along with the 160 pounds of concrete it was set in. The only damage was an unsightly dent on the side. The County paid for a new mailbox so I bought the exact same one and reused the steel post. Oasis mailboxes are built to last!