You've got mail! Need a box?

There are several options. Some are sturdy, and others have personality.
It's time to send and receive holiday greeting cards.
Is your mailbox ready for a fat pile of Christmas cards, or is it lopsided and rusty, with gaps around the door that let in rain and snow?
If so, better ask Santa for a new mailbox.
John Paulenich, a manager at Lowe's in Boardman, said Rubbermaid mailboxes are all the rage.
"Lots of people are choosing the Rubbermaid mailboxes," Paulenich said. "Rubbermaid mailboxes are more durable than other types and are maintenance free. They're the kind of mailbox people tend to buy after their old metal mailbox has been hit by a snowplow or has been smashed by kids playing pranks."
Rubbermaid mailboxes retail for about $60 and most come with a mounting post.
"The Rubbermaid posts are made to slide over the top of a [wooden] 4-by-4 that is secured in the ground with concrete, so they are very sturdy," Paulenich said.
The 4-by-4 is sold separately.
"Another reason people like the Rubbermaid mailboxes is because they don't show wear and tear. Rubbermaid boxes are made of a resin that is the same color all the way through, so if it gets chipped, you won't really be able to see the chip," Paulenich added.
Other choices
Of course, the world of mailboxes expands beyond Rubbermaid.
Many folks still opt for standard, inexpensive metal or vinyl mailboxes that sell for about $10 and up, while others choose rust-free aluminum mailboxes that can sell for as much as $100, or opulent, solid brass mailboxes that can also cost more than $100.
Charming cedar wrapped mailboxes please people who like the rustic look.
"One cedar mailbox that you can special order at Lowe's has a planter for flowers in the top. It sells for about $100," Paulenich said.
And of course, some people like to get silly and invest in mailboxes that are shaped like cows or tractors or cars.
At www.mailboxworks.com, for example, customers can purchase mailboxes shaped like fish, rabbits, crocodiles, parrots or airplanes, just to name a few.
Specialty mailboxes such as these usually sell for $100 or more.
But whether your mailbox is a standard type or is shaped like a cow, it should be mounted on a post that is level and secured with concrete.
"The two most common types of mounting posts are metal and wood. When setting up the post, most people dig a hole that's a couple feet deep and then fill the hole with a product like Quikrete," Paulenich said. "Quikrete is easy to use because you can just pour it in the hole and then add water. You don't have to mix it up the way you mix concrete."
One type of mounting post that is gaining in popularity is a post with a braced angle board.
"The braced angle board post has a small arm that extends out at a 90-degree angle. The mailbox sits on the smaller arm," Paulenich explained.
Braced angle board mounting posts range in price from about $20 to more than $100, depending on what they are made from.