- Jul 6, 2010
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OK, here's our story. When we first moved here 48 years ago we rented in town and took out a PO box. Three years later we bought our house 2.5 miles out of town but, since we were in town every day anyway, kept the PO box as our mailing/billing address. In fact, this was the time before 9-1-1 so we actually didn't have a street address all mail was either addressed to the PO or RFD--it predated UPS and FedEx too so the USPS delivered all packages. As time went on the powers that be gave everyone street addresses but we kept our PO box--I'd rather go to the PO every day than have mail sit out in the weather where everyone can go through it. The only time we actually had to use our street address was when delivery was being made by a carrier other than USPS--which we picked up in the PO. No problem until the last couple of years.
Of late, whenever we order something most companies refuse to allow us to use our billing address with the PO box number as as shipping address. While this is understandable if the item is being shipped via UPS or FedEx (both of whom have drivers that know us anyway), they also refuse it for stuff being shipped via USPS. This creates all kinds of problems since the local rural mailman can't make the delivery to a nonexistent address. Fortunately, we're well enough known at the PO that most of the time they'd hold our package there and we'd get a nasty note in the box about our address--the gal that works the window just laughed every time I come up with one of these. Amazon is probably the worst in this regard but we get the same thing with many catalog companies. I finally relented and put up a mailbox but instructing the carrier that, if the package can't fit in the box, to return it to the PO for pick up--we now have two addresses but keep all our billing addresses at the PO. This works but is a pita since it means it often takes an extra day to get delivery.
Before you come down on me in re to why I keep the PO box let me say I don't mind going into town once a day for the mail and, as a result, have avoided having to go through the hassle of changing our mailing address. People that knew it years ago can still write to us. Also, several years ago there was a rash of mail being stolen from rural boxes, something I'm willing to pay the USPS a yearly box rental fee to avoid. Also, apparently, there is some sort of security regulation regarding shipping certain items to PO boxes but I wonder what people whose only address is a PO box get these--in our town there is no carrier delivery, you have to go to the PO for mail unless you can get on a rural route.
So anyway, I'd rant longer but I have to go to the PO.
Of late, whenever we order something most companies refuse to allow us to use our billing address with the PO box number as as shipping address. While this is understandable if the item is being shipped via UPS or FedEx (both of whom have drivers that know us anyway), they also refuse it for stuff being shipped via USPS. This creates all kinds of problems since the local rural mailman can't make the delivery to a nonexistent address. Fortunately, we're well enough known at the PO that most of the time they'd hold our package there and we'd get a nasty note in the box about our address--the gal that works the window just laughed every time I come up with one of these. Amazon is probably the worst in this regard but we get the same thing with many catalog companies. I finally relented and put up a mailbox but instructing the carrier that, if the package can't fit in the box, to return it to the PO for pick up--we now have two addresses but keep all our billing addresses at the PO. This works but is a pita since it means it often takes an extra day to get delivery.
Before you come down on me in re to why I keep the PO box let me say I don't mind going into town once a day for the mail and, as a result, have avoided having to go through the hassle of changing our mailing address. People that knew it years ago can still write to us. Also, several years ago there was a rash of mail being stolen from rural boxes, something I'm willing to pay the USPS a yearly box rental fee to avoid. Also, apparently, there is some sort of security regulation regarding shipping certain items to PO boxes but I wonder what people whose only address is a PO box get these--in our town there is no carrier delivery, you have to go to the PO for mail unless you can get on a rural route.
So anyway, I'd rant longer but I have to go to the PO.