Say goodbye to PO boxes: Discover the top PO box alternatives
As online shopping becomes more common, we’re seeing an increase in packages being delivered around the world. Online shopping is easier, faster, and more convenient in most cases, although having packages delivered can come with added risks like porch thieves who might steal them before you can pick them up. If you receive lots of items in the mail, you’ll want to read this article on How to deal with porch pirates: 3 strategies to prevent package theft.
One way to ensure your packages are safe is to invest in a post office box, which is perfect for people who don’t always have access to their physical mailbox. They’re locked mailboxes often located inside of post office locations where your mail will be sent, instead of having it sit out in front of your house. Although locked mailboxes have many pros such as being more secure, private, and occasionally receiving mail quicker than a residential address, they also have several limitations like the fact that you need to have a permanent street address to have one, you’ll have to go select one, and you can only get packages from certain carriers.
Digital mailbox solutions are another great option, especially for managing business mail. These services provide professional addresses and secure handling, which is crucial for image and convenience in today's digital business landscape.
What is a post office box?
Post office boxes, which are also called PO boxes, are small spaces that you can rent out in local post offices. They're very useful to people who aren't able to get mail delivered directly to their home address. PO boxes are also very safe since they're located inside a post office hallway where they can be monitored and require a special code or key to open.
Many people also get a PO box because it gives more privacy and security, with your residential address or business address not shown on the mailing address. Once you rent out a space and have your access code or key, you're able to stop by and pick up your deliveries anytime during the office's open hours. They're quite convenient, especially for people who are not always home, but they have restrictions that can be problematic as well.
Definition of a post office box
A post office box, commonly referred to as a PO box, is a lockable mailbox located within a post office. Individuals and businesses can rent these boxes to receive mail and packages securely and privately. The contents of a PO box can only be accessed by the owner using a key or combination, ensuring that your mail remains safe until you pick it up. This makes a post office box an excellent option for those who prioritize security and privacy in their mailing address.
Brief history of post office boxes
The concept of post office boxes dates back to the 19th century when the United States Postal Service (USPS) introduced the first PO boxes in 1855. Initially, these boxes were primarily used by businesses and individuals who needed a secure and private way to receive mail. Over the years, PO boxes have evolved to include various features and services, such as mail forwarding and package delivery, making them a versatile option for managing incoming mail.
Importance of a mailing address
A mailing address is a crucial aspect of both personal and professional life, as it provides a physical location where mail and packages can be delivered. Whether it’s a physical address like a home or office, or a virtual address such as a PO box or virtual mailbox, having a reliable mailing address is essential. It ensures that you receive important documents, packages, and correspondence without any hassle. For businesses, a professional mailing address can also enhance credibility and trust with clients and partners.
Limitations of a PO box
Before you commit to renting your own PO box, it's important to become familiar with the limitations that are involved with them. Keep reading to learn about some of the most significant restrictions that might make them impractical for you.
Requires permanent mailing address
If you need a PO box, chances are that you're often away from home, maybe because you travel a lot for work or you're a nomad that does not have a permanent address. If being nomadic is the case then this service will not work for you, since a physical address is required in order to have one. This is one of the most substantial problems of PO boxes and a big reason they can't be used by some people.
Limited access to certain carriers
Another big downside of PO boxes is that they can only receive mail from the United States Postal Service. This means that any incoming packages that you have from FedEx, DHL, UPS or any other carrier will not be accepted at the PO box. If you often use any of those companies you'll still have to have them sent to your actual street address and it can be inconvenient to not have all of your mail in the same place.
Restricted services
Another problem is that PO boxes come with restricted services. Coworking spaces, on the other hand, often provide comprehensive mail handling services, including mail storage, scanning, forwarding, and secure disposal, which offer greater convenience for individuals and businesses.
For starters, the box is restricted to just one location which will not work for digital nomads, frequent travelers or people who have multiple addresses in different places.
Your USPS mail will pile up in that one post office location and won’t be accessible to you from anywhere else, especially since international mail forwarding isn’t offered.
Physical location requirements
When choosing a mailing address, it’s essential to consider the physical location requirements. A physical address, such as a home or office, requires a specific location where mail and packages can be delivered. This can be limiting for those who travel frequently or do not have a permanent address. On the other hand, a virtual address, such as a PO box or virtual mailbox, offers more flexibility. These virtual options can be accessed remotely, and mail and packages can be forwarded to a designated location, making them ideal for digital nomads and frequent travelers.
Size restrictions
PO boxes and physical mailboxes come with size restrictions, which can limit the type and quantity of mail that can be received. PO boxes are available in various sizes, ranging from small to extra-large, and can accommodate different sizes of mail and packages. However, they may not be suitable for very large parcels. In contrast, virtual mailboxes do not have size restrictions, as all mail and packages are digitized and stored electronically. This allows for greater flexibility in managing your incoming mail, without worrying about physical space limitations.
PO box alternatives
With the drawbacks mentioned above you might not want to get a postal box anymore, but don't give up just yet. There are actually plenty of other PO box alternatives that each offer its own form of the service, and there is definitely one out there that can work for your lifestyle.
Virtual mailbox
Virtual mailboxes are sometimes called virtual PO boxes or digital mailboxes, and they’re very similar to a traditional PO box except they don’t have the same limitations. Virtual mailboxes efficiently manage business mail by providing professional addresses and secure handling, which is crucial for image and convenience in today's digital business landscape. A virtual PO box comes with a virtual mailing address where all of your incoming mail is sent. The physical mail will be digitized as a PDF using an online mail dashboard which lets you look at the now scanned mail online to determine what is junk mail so you can decide what you want to do with it.
A virtual mailbox or digital mailbox usually comes with handling and shredding services so you can decide if you want to be sent the physical paper mail using their mail forwarding service, have it sent to online document archiving, or have it safely discarded. They also do package forwarding so you can send any mailed items to wherever you’re at presently.
Package receiving service
Another great PO box alternative is a package receiving service, which is either a locker that can hold your parcels or a local business that can accept your packages for you. These services often include mail handling services, such as mail storage, scanning, forwarding, and secure disposal, providing convenience for individuals and businesses. A great example of this is Bounce Package Acceptance. Trustworthy and with convenient locations all over the world, varying subscription offers make it a sensible choice.
Unlike a PO box, Bounce can accept parcels from different carriers, and with multiple locations in most cities, it will be easy to find one near you. You can stop by and pick up your items at any point during the business’s opening hours, and if you have any questions, a 24/7 customer support team is ready to help you out. It's like having your own doorman!
Bounce offers three different subscription plans with varying costs and perks so you can choose the one that is best for you. This kind of service is great for people who order lots of packages or who often travel away from home.
Comparison of PO box alternatives: Finding the best option for you
Pricing
Bounce PA has three great options for you to consider:
- Pay As You Go: $5 per package
- Monthly Standard: $20 per month with a maximum of 10 packages
- VIP Unlimited: $250 per month with no limit on the number of packages
Location
There are hundreds of locations across different cities around the world, making it easy for you to find one near you. Just put your address into the website and choose the location that is most convenient for you!
Features
- Bounce Safekeeping Guarantee to protect your parcels against damages
- Easy set up and parcel delivery alerts
Commitment
- Pickup at any time during open hours, no scheduling required
- Pickup window of 7 days before late pickup fee of $1 per day begins
Amazon Hub Locker
Pricing
- No additional cost
Location
- Search by address, zip code or landmark on their website to see available locations in your area.
Features
- Lockers are secured with either a code or use of the smartphone app
- Notification when the package is available for pickup
Commitment
- Pickup within 3 days or the package is refunded and sent back to Amazon
UPS Access Point
Pricing
- The price of sending a package to a UPS Access Point Location is an additional $5.99, and free if you are a Premium member
Location
- Choose from many locations around the world
Features
- Delivery Alerts
- Alternatively, you can specify where at your home to leave the package, change the address, or request to leave it with a neighbor
Commitment
- If you are a UPS My Choice member they can hold your package for up to 7 days at no added fee, and customer centers can hold them for 5 days
Virtual Mailbox
There are many available companies including Anytime Mailbox, US Global Mail, Earth Class Mail, Virtual Post Mail, and Mailbox Forwarding.
Pricing
- The average price for a virtual mailbox subscription is between $30 and $90 dollars but prices can change depending on the services and virtual mailbox service provider that you use
Location
- As an online service, virtual mailboxes are available anywhere around the world
Features
- Virtual mailboxes are usually only used for mail and do not accept packages
- They can scan your mail to be put online as a PDF
Commitment
- After scanning your mail and uploading it online for you to view, you can then decide to archive it, shred it, send the physical copy to yourself or forward mail to another address
Finding the right alternative mail service for you
If you don't want your postal mail to be sent to your real street address for whichever reason, there are plenty of alternative mailbox services that are even better than having a PO box at your local post office. The services mentioned above can help to collect mail, offer mail storage, and even forward mail to wherever you need it.
If you want to learn more about how the Bounce package acceptance service works you can read up on How to Receive a Package Without Giving an Address and How to Get an NYC Package Delivery With No Doorman.
