Customer Reviews

Epoch 7106 MailBoss Curbside Locking Mailbox, Black

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Disclosure: The manufacturer 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.

I researched several locking mailboxes for the benefit of 104 homeowners in my neighborhood. Hoped to find a 5-star box. Not yet. Mail Boss is one of the better choices.

Security: It's way more secure than your neighbor's sub-$100 locking mailbox. Prying it open with a 24" crowbar would take some time and effort. However, someone could fish for mail using a 10" grabber tool, and you'd never know. (Security comparison below.)

Comparison with Architectural Mailboxes Oasis Mailbox: [not Oasis Jr.] I did a careful hands-on comparison. Advantages to each, but I did end up preferring the Mail Boss. The Mail Boss is:

- - Much more pry resistant. Thicker steel (14/12 gauge vs 16/14). Recessed door top. Heavier lock, Hook-style lock tab.
- - About equally resistant to fishing for mail.
- - More resistant to fishing for packages (Packages in the Oasis may stand tall.)
- - Will not accept packages thicker than 1-7/8" (Oasis hopper style door will accept appx 12" x 6" x 4")
- - Will accept some large 1-3/4"+ packages that the Oasis won't (rare)
- - Deeper and much less tall than the Oasis (MB: 11.2"w x 13.7"h x 21"d; Oasis: 13.5"w x 20"h x 18.5"d)
- - Similar Capacity: appx 1400 cu in. (Oasis has appx 28% more capacity than Mail Boss at hand-fishing limit. See below.)
- - Protects from wind-blown rain using inset door-tops (Oasis will more easily take in water if its rubber seals degrade.)
- - Slightly less expensive

Pro's:

- - Serious anti-pry design
- - Includes 3 keys and reflective address numbers
- - Clean look. Not too tall; Looks OK mounted next to smaller mailboxes
- - Easy mounting system. Lag screws & drill bit provided

Cons:

- - Rust will eventually get to it (like any steel mailbox)...(Avoid white model.)
- - It's possible to fish for mail.
- - 10"x13" envelopes hang in the mail slot due to textured mailbox floor (like most other mailboxes) (add smooth cardboard to rear of floor)
- - Workmanship is flawed, but acceptable (like most other mailboxes)

Specs:

- - Inbound Slot: 1-7/8"h x 10.2"w
- - Max Package: 1-7/8"h x 10.2"w x 14.5"
- - Mail Capacity: 11"w x 18-1/4"d x appx 3-1/2"h*
*(3-1/2" to 7" high mail pile is reach-able through slot)

Warranty: "Limited Lifetime Warranty...original owner...requires proof of purchase...does not cover lock replacement...finishes...or rust."

Security Comparison:

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"
(2) or with hands if mail is piled higher than appx 3.5"

First, anybody that wants to break into your home, car or mailbox bad enough...WILL GET IN. That said, the MailBoss will at least take them quite a bit more effort than other locking mailboxes. I looked at their video (see link below) and figured if I'm trying to keep my mail safer I'm gonna get a box that will do a better job of keeping it safer.

I bought my MailBoss and it's mounting post on Amazon but the mailbox came through Ron's Home and Hardware and the post shipped from DrillSpot. Shipping was very quick from both suppliers. The MailBoss shpg weight is 50 POUNDS, and I'd say 48 of those pounds are the MailBoss. It's heavy.

The hardest part of the install was digging a hole and sinking the mounting column into the concrete I mixed. I bought their post cuz I checked out what a heavy steel post and some professional welding would cost me (Buying their post and paying for shipping was less expensive than getting it locally)

Mounting requires four bolts and two screws (supplied by Epoch, the MailBoss folks) and takes less than five minutes.

Solid, American Made, great product.

[...]

Heavy it is, but well-made it isn't. The box slides (with a lot of effort due to poor fit) onto a mounting plate which then attaches to it via screws which are concealed when the lower door is closed. My example, however, had been assembled with a distorted lower door hinge. The assembler then tapped one of the two securing screw holes at an angle such than when disassembled for installation, the fascia/hinge screw holes no longer lined up with the tapped holes. So out came the rat-tail file for a lengthy curbside modification to complete the install. If the post hadn't already been set in concrete, I might have sent this thing back. Then I noticed that the top mail slot door, which uses a magnetic closure, had one magnet loose and falling out. This is evidently what one gets at this price, but it is not a quality product.

It's a armored tank of mailboxes. Very well made. Your personal information and mail will be safe from thieves. Installation is easy. I suggest buying the mailboss mail post and newspaper holder as well. You'll have this mailbox for life. I was very satisfied with the mailboss mailbox,post and newspaper holder. Put a light coat of car wax on it to protect it. I' was very satisfied with my purchase from Amazon.

rc
Dunmore,PA

We are absolutely thrilled that we purchased this mailbox. We are particularly pleased for the following reasons: (1) It came even earlier than expected, (2) It is well made and heavy, (3) It is safe enough that we felt we could give up our post office box, (4) It is big enough to hold lots of mail, in case we were away for a while, and (5) It was as easy as everyone said to put up. Thanks for a great product!

Fantastic product! I'm very impressed and I only expected to be "satisfied". This Mail Boss already seems indestructible and I can't wait for the little neighborhood wanna-be-gangsters to try their aluminum baseball bat on this thing!

Installation was actually easier than advertised.

I'm not an easy person to impress, but this little tank on a post has done it!

At this price point, this is the only truely secure locking mailbox on the market. Plus, it is simple to install, far easier than most locking boxes.

This looks like the Fort Knox of mailboxes...However there is one craftsmanship issue. The opening mail slot does not appear to be square. One side is off by about 1/8". I hope it will not limit what will fit. It bugs me everytime I look at it. It should have been caught before it left the factory.

We recently had some mail stolen from our street side mailbox and decided to upgrade to a locking mailbox. My wife found this one on the internet and I did some additional research, including watching the you tube videos. This mailbox is everything it is advertised to be. Solid construction, great security features and the mounting system is ingeniously effective and simple. Highly recommended.