Product test

This letterbox protects your Galaxus parcel from thieves

3.1.2018

Translation: machine translated

Do you want a secure letterbox with enough capacity to hold larger parcels? Then this box is just right for you. I was allowed to assemble one, but only realised later that I had made a fundamental mistake.

Päckli-Gate

Unfortunately, it happens from time to time that thieves get hold of parcels. This has already happened to me once. There's nothing you can do about it. Until now. This letterbox offers a remedy. Its parcel compartment is designed in such a way that when you close the door, your parcel is safely stored behind a lock and bolt. If you press the lock lever, you can only open the door again with a key. This keeps your valuable Galaxus parcels safe until you get home from work in the evening.

Assembly

As always, there was a box to start with. Well packed and compact in size. Just as it should be. The first thing I did was open the box and spread out the contents clearly in front of me. This is the first time I've assembled a letterbox. However, it shouldn't be really difficult.

There are not so many individual parts. So it looks doable.

I quickly realised that something was missing here. The individual parts, screws and Allen key are there, but no assembly instructions. Hmm, not as easy as I initially thought. Perhaps the manufacturer has made them available to download online, we live in the 21st century after all. So I quickly picked up my smartphone and went in search of an instruction manual.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything on the manufacturer's website. However, they have uploaded a video on YouTube that explains the entire assembly process step by step. Welcome to the future! We have now also added the assembly instructions as a PDF to the product page. Or you can download it here: Mailbox assembly instructions

I watched the instruction video on my smartphone and was able to follow the individual steps without any problems. The only thing that got on my nerves over time was the constant pausing. The good old instruction manual on paper is clearly still ahead of the game.

Assembly starts with the rear panel. The base plate and the intermediate shelf, on which the letters ultimately rest, are attached to this. The next step is to screw the two side panels to the structure that has already been built. Now it almost looks like a letterbox. All that's missing is the lid and the front section including the letter slot and the lockable parcel compartment. I was able to carry out all the screwing work with the Allen key supplied, although a cordless screwdriver would have saved me a lot of time and nerves. I now realise that a letterbox is held together by far more screws than I initially thought. Fortunately, in most cases you only have to do this once in a lifetime. Because this piece gives me the impression that it will outlast my grandchildren.

An Allen key is sufficient. I would still have preferred a cordless screwdriver.

The highlight of this letterbox is its spacious and lockable parcel compartment. It feels twice as big as a conventional box. So you'll never have to struggle to get your parcel out again because the postman has stuffed it in so that there's not a hair's breadth of space between the parcel and the letterbox wall. Hooray!

The best thing about this letterbox, however, is that the postman can lock the parcel compartment. It works very simply. Once the compartment is unlocked, the lock faces slightly outwards. If the postman now closes the compartment and pushes the lock inwards, the parcel compartment is locked and can only be opened again with a key. This means thieves no longer have a chance of stealing your parcel.

Fundamental error on my part

A few days after I had assembled the letterbox, I looked at the photos I had taken on the computer. Something struck me as odd. The slot for the letters looks strange somehow. Does it really have to be like that? No! I've installed it completely wrong. Sorry!

I don't know why I didn't notice this when I was assembling it. It should actually be obvious that the letter slot should open inwards and not outwards. Perhaps I was a little confused by its size and remembered the yellow boxes from the post office. These are the ones where you can post letters on the street. They have a slot that opens outwards and not inwards like normal letterboxes. Janu, another lesson learnt. Next time I'll definitely do it right the first time. Although I hope I won't have to screw another square block of metal together in the next few years or even decades.

The letter slot looks a little strange.

Conclusion

I'm no expert when it comes to letterboxes, but I can say that I think this thing is great. The letterbox has a simple design that even a layman like me can easily screw together. As long as you don't make the same mistake as I did with the letter slot, of course. It offers plenty of space and is a good investment thanks to its lockable parcel compartment. If you are a tenant in a block of flats, buying one is probably out of the question for you, as in most cases you will be provided with a letterbox by your landlord. However, if you own your own home or are in the process of building a house, this letterbox is certainly worth considering. It will certainly give you the largest letterbox in your neighbourhood. Your neighbours with their small standard letterboxes can pack up right away.