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po boxes
 

just a question for po boxes...if im importing stuff from dhgate ( legit of course) and my supplier uses DHL for shipping

does DHL deliver to a PO BOX say opened at the post office , the lady at the counter said i would have to sign an additional piece of papaer allowing dhl to drop off item at the USPS PO BOX... was also told the DHL & FEDEX TRUCKS come there dropping off stuff

any help at all...trying to seperate business from personal

Also i assume you have to use your real ID...but couldnt there be a way to put it under a different name ...idk im just asking random questions

thanks guys for the help in advance

Re: po boxes
 

Not sure where you live but you might want to find Ma and Pa P.O. Box rentals because most allow to use a "Business" name as well as your real name....which yes, you have to use to open a box. Most of these locations will accept all packages from Post office to DHL, Fedex, etc.

Re: po boxes
 

No. P.O. Box only EMS would deliver too. Even for domestic shipments UPS, FedEx, DHL will not deliver to a P.O. Box. You have a to get a UPS store box or some other Mail Center type service.

MM78 I have no idea what you are talking about. I have had a P.O. Box for 10 years now. They only deliver U.S. Mail and items sent through each different countries national carriers.

Re: po boxes
 

I have ordered stuff to my own po boxes both in Canada and in US - like vogeltron stated, EMS comes fine

Re: po boxes
 

@MM78 i live outside Niagara Falls USA

Re: po boxes
 

@vogeltron yes i have heard UPS store will allow dhl shipments , i was actually going to contact them today , but what other outlets ( like stores and centers or whatever) can i use if i cant use the post office?

Re: po boxes
 

No, PO Boxes issued by United States Postal Service, USPS, will not accept packages from DHL, Fedex, UPS. Only packages that are accepted there are packages sent by the countries postal system not private companies. Like EMS, Hong Kong Post, Singapore Post, Chunghwa Post, etc etc.

Like someone said, you will have to find a UPS store or some mom and pop Mailbox store. Using Google, search "mailboxes", it will bring up just that.

Re: po boxes
 

yes, UPS stores accepts packages from all mail services. I have 2 that do just that.

Re: po boxes
 

@yotano211 well i called and there closed for the day ...but asking this ...can you get a mailbox a cheap one and they can slip a note in there saying something has arrived and you come get it you show the slip to them ...forgive me on my lack on knowledge , how much does it cost is it month to month...i live outside Niagara Falls USA

Re: po boxes
 

ok went to there website gonna call them tomorrow but here is what it said

A real street address, not a PO Box number: Providing a more professional image for your business ...(THIS IS WHAT IM CONFUSED ABOUT) what is this real address they use?

Receipt notification: We'll text or email you when your mail or packages arrive

24-hour mailbox access: Pick up your mail when it's convenient for you

Full-service mail and package receiving: Never miss a delivery

Mail holding and forwarding*: Peace of mind knowing your mail is held in a secure location or can be forwarded to you wherever you are

Package acceptance from all shipping carriers

Re: po boxes
 

Its Sunday, everything mail is closed on Sundays.

When you get a package at the UPS store, they will leave a UPS sticker in your mail box. You normally pick it up from the box and sign it, give it to the person behind the counter and they give you your stuff. Or you can just walk in and say you have a package for box # so and so and they give it t you. That only works if they your face. But sometimes they might ask for ID to comfirm its you.

Sometimes they might call you at your number to say that you have something her for you from so and so shipping company. Most of the time, if not all, they will email you that you recived something from this shipping company with this tracking #.

The cost is about $12/month, sometimes higher sometimes lower. But average overall is $12. I have been quoted a rate of $7/month in Tennessee and $20/month at the larger intercity UPS stores.

There you go,
https://www.google.com/maps/search/N...-78.9448834,9z

Re: po boxes
 

Its just what they say, its a real address. PO Box and a mailbox address is different. PO Box address is only given by USPS, mail box address is given by any private companies that provide that service.

PO Box address will be this,
123 GreenBean St
PO Box 294
Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Mailbox address will say this,
124 GreenBean Ave #94
Niagara Falls, NY 14303

The Mailbox address kinda looks like an apartment address.

Re: po boxes
 

@Yotano211 So my real address will be used at the ups store? I thought it would be shipped there...of couse ill be asking them all these questions tomorrow

FIRST NAME LAST NAME
ADDRESS OF THE UPS STORE
NIAGARA FALLS NEW YORK 14030

Again im trying to seperaye business and personal

Re: po boxes
 

When you sign up for one, you will need your real ID, sign some paperwork from USPS, its the law according to USPS. The UPS store will send all of that info to the post office. Everyone that rents a mailbox has to sign and provide this info.

The UPS store will be your 2nd address. Send all of your mail, parcels there. It can be either personal or business, makes no difference. You can still use it as 100% pure business only if you like, its up to you how you operate it. Its your mailbox afterall.

Re: po boxes
 

Vogeltron, I have a P.O. Box at a Ma and Pa shop that has accepted every package from EMS to DHL to Fedex, UPS without issues.....This location is not a US Postal P.O. Box.

Re: po boxes
 

Ma and Pa shops are usually much cheaper than any UPS store. I always try to find them but not every town or city has any, esp. the smaller towns.

Re: po boxes
 

@yotano211 so i went ot he ups store today and they quoted me a price of 12 bucks a month for 6 months...and if i did the year package i would get 3 free months...here is what the address will look like

MY NAME
THE UPS STORE ADDRESS #______ OR PMB _____
CITY, STATE ZIP

my questions are #____ or PMB____ what do you recomend ?

and 2 can i have the opportunity to get a second one as well just to flip flop addresses?

thanks to all who have helped , i may have a few more questions, but i hope to have this completed by the end of the week

Re: po boxes
 

@yotano211 one thing for DHL what is recomended because my supplier from dhgate says it can not ship to PO BOX number was what i was trying to ask ....

#____ or PMB____ what do you recomend ?

Re: po boxes
 

Just go with "#" it will be easier.

Re: po boxes
 

dhl from overseas has issues with PO box numbers.parcel goes on hold sometimes and then if they have your contact number theyll call you for an alternate address for delivery

Re: po boxes
 

You referring to Canada, alim, or other country?

Re: po boxes
 

Thanks for the info but I dont think OP did not say anything about overseas, he/she just said DHL within the US.

Re: po boxes
 

yea within us no issue with po box if international coming into us and canada they put in on hold most of the time.

Re: po boxes
 

1st DHL doesnt officially operate within the US, they left years ago, and that hold is called customs. Every package coming from overseas goes into customs. But USPS PO Boxes still only accept packages from other countries postal system only, not from private companies.

Re: po boxes
 

custom hold for dhl is if your tracking shows shipment on hold in Cincinnati which is where all international parcels for dhl land for onward shipment into different states.If I ship Po box it will shows shipment on hold in the customer's city and then I usually ask them for an alternate address and update it with dhl online after which delivery is within 24 to 48 hours or else they call themselves with the tracking.custom hold is in Cincinnati not in customer's city from my experience.Plus whenever I have PO box i use ups or fedex instead .I usually ship 25 -30 parcels into US everyday and ups never gives issues for po box.ship much more everyday into US with dhl but they only do normal addresses and refuse po box

Re: po boxes
 

Exactly, nobody delivers to Post Office Boxes in the US for international except EMS.

Re: po boxes
 

I don't know where you guys are with prices like 12 bucks a month for UPS mailbox. Here in NYC it cost $50 a month! and there is limit on how many names you can add too!!!

Re: po boxes
 

If you reread on what you said, NYC, you will get the reason why PO Boxes in NYC are so expensive. Everything is NYC is expensive. I once worked in lower Manhattan, in the financial district, the cheapest PO Bx there was $36/month.
Some UPS rentals are $7-8/month is the mid east small towns.

And every UPS store has a limit on how many names you can put on. And every name has to have to ID to even be put on.

Re: po boxes
 

Supply and demand issue. There are some Mail Box centers in my area way out in the cuts that are much cheaper than in the larger population base. As far as names on the Box. Doesn't matter if it P.O. Box or a UPS box or something similar. I always use a business name. Any returns, etc. I don't care how many accounts I run. I always have a business name that they send packages back to. When I ship the packages I always use that name and addy as well. Never put stealth info on a package. Ever.

Even if that means blacking out my return address on USPS labels and taping a good address box with a biz name. Been doing this for 5+ years. Have not had an issue.

Re: po boxes
 

Good going, not enough people do this.

Re: po boxes
 

That's not true. I have a PO Box in financial district at 90 church st and I pay $128 for 13 months. A block away there is a UPS store and they charge $600 a year! Given that there is some things that you can do with UPS mailbox that you cannot do with PO Boxes that can justify the high price:)

Re: po boxes
 

Whats not the true?

The price that I quoted was back in 2008. The price that I said was the cheapest I was able to get or the things that I wanted the mail box for. I'm sure there were cheaper one but they where further.

Re: po boxes
 

I rent (4) P.O. Box's at a Check Cashing places (Ma and Pa Location) and I pay $10/Month and Yes they accept all Mail/packages from EMS, DHL, FedEx, UPS, HK Express, etc.

Re: po boxes
 

Thats not a Post Office Box then. It is a mail box like at a UPS Store or mom and pop place. Post Office Boxes are only issued by USPS at their locations.

PO Box = Post Office Box
PMB= Private Mail Box

Re: po boxes
 

90 church st street is right next to the new World Trade center, it doesn't get closer then that. This location is like New York Strip dry aged steak and I don't believe that prices were higher in 2008 then they are now in 2014. Unless you had one of those HUGE boxes, mine is a small one.

Re: po boxes
 

I use those too for some US operations - less formal that the USPS boxes