Method and apparatus for illuminating advertising and marketing metered and unmetered parcel and package smart drop boxes and receptacles

A drop box comprising:

• at least one panel made from translucent material located on at least one side, front or rear of the box;
• at least one internal light source located inside the box and visible through the translucent material for illuminating information on the box;
• at least one power source to power said light source;
• electrical circuity control means located inside said unit;
• and
• communicating means for communicating with each drop box or receptacle remotely to gather, retrieve and store the information from each drop box or receptacle said electrical circuity including a built-in clock;
• and
• wherein said electrical circuitry includes LED's and clock is set to automatically start to flash the LED's to create a flashing backlit message at a predetermined time prior to parcel pick up.

A drop box comprising:

• at least one panel made from translucent material located on at least one side, front or rear of the box;
• at least one internal light source located inside the box and visible through the translucent material for illuminating information on the box;
• at least one power source to power said light source;
• electrical circuity control means located inside said unit;
• said electrical circuity including printed circuit boards and includes at least one photo eye, or photo diode;
• and
• communicating means for communicating with each drop box or receptacle remotely to gather, retrieve and store the information from each drop box or receptacle.