Comments on: Renting a Post Office Box

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:32:29 +0000

I’ve had a box at my local post office for more than 20 yrs.

I pay by the year. I’m paid up through December yet the Post office locked my box.

WHY?

This is not the first time this has happened.

I’d like to sue. Who do I talk to first?

By: Alexa

Alexa — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:44:08 +0000

Terry, I believe you are wrong. I have had a UPS store mailbox for a year now and the address doesn’t include ‘PMB’, just the address and box number. These mailboxes are more expensive than a P.O. box you can get package deliveries there.

By: willie sabree

willie sabree — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:41:48 +0000

Is it possible for me togetthe name of every business that has a post office box at the downtown Birmingham,AL post office?

By: MITBeta

MITBeta — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:07:00 +0000

I second the use of a UPS Store box. It will cost a bit more, but you’ll be able to receive not-USPS shipments including UPS and Fedex. Plus for all the shippers who say “Can’t ship to PO Box” a UPS Store box is almost always okay.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:11:22 +0000

There is often a waiting list for the smallest size PO boxes, and the larger sizes are almost always readily available.

The postal regs were changes about ten years ago to require mail addressed to Private Mail Boxes (e.g. The UPS Store) to use the format “street address PMB #nnn”. For example, 123 Main Street PMB #234. Before this change, mail could be addressed to 123 Main Street #234 and the sender could get the false impression it’s a real office or apartment at that street address. The PMB currently required sticks out like a sore thumb as a mere mail drop.

By: Frugal Duchess

Frugal Duchess — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 05:24:56 +0000

Thanks for the info.
The P.O. Box and the UPS store both seem like valid options.
Take Care!

By: Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:38:54 +0000

Why not just rent a box at the UPS Store?

See: http://www.theupsstore.com/products/maiandpos.html

This is from their website:

Discover the benefits of mailbox services at The UPS Store:

A real street address, not a P.O. Box
A street address can provide a professional image for your business.
Secure, 24-hour access*
Pick up your mail when it?s convenient for you. Your mail and packages stay-safe and confidential.
Package notification
We?ll let you know when your packages arrive.
Full-service mail and package receiving
We accept packages from all carriers, so you?ll never miss a delivery.
Mail holding and forwarding**
We?ll hold your packages in a secure location for pick-up at your convenience or forward them to you, wherever you are.

Seems like the better option to me. Having a “real street address” verses a “PO BOX” is worth the extra money in my mind.

By: nickel

nickel — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:20:12 +0000

A physical address is required for the registered agent. We’re using our attorney as our registered agent, so his name and address is what’s listed. But the regular mailing address is our P.O. Box. Make sense?

By: Jermaine

Jermaine — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:09:52 +0000

What address did you use to register your LLC though? From my understanding in most circumstances you cannot use a PO Box to register an LLC as a physical street address is required.

By: Blaine Moore

Blaine Moore — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:55:11 +0000

I use a post box for any correspondence that might be searchable online at some point, such as for the whois registry, race registrations, or having somebody mail me something in an email message. I haven’t officially created a business though; I’ve just been operating as a sole prop.