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Buying on Ebay...my PO address is getting the best of me! I can't buy!
 

So far my stealth Ebay/Paypal account is going great! I can sell all day long and never a problem! But when I want to buy something it will come to the address that I have provided, which is the physical address of the PO and things are being 'sent back to sender' because of unknown address.
I have tried to change my information with both accounts, but when on Ebay it will ask if I want to change my information to a PO BOX. I always decline because I know how they frown on PO Boxes now. I'm afraid to tamper too much.


Thanks
Any advice?

You can have things addressed in your stealth name with attention to your real name and then below it put general delivery. Then you can pick it up at the counter from a postal employee. Example below

Barack Obama (stealth name)
C/O LeBron James. (your real name)
General Delivery
1616 Screw Ebay Ln
New York, NY 01234

I thought deliveries made to PO boxes are required to come only in your name?

I've been using my PO BOX(S) for deliveries with no problems, 1 account has been fine for buying and selling for 6 months now....

Eye Candy,

Do you also have it written as "PO Box" in the address on your eBay/PP info, or do you put it as just "suite" or "#" or something like that?

I have a USPS PO Box address on 1 account for years, no problem so far.
I also have few other addresses at other postal services which are usually long, but look like street addresses.

there is no problem receiving anything address to a po box...

I use a uPS store addy for all buying on ebay - works great and never a problem since they hold items for you for quite a long time

For selling, I have quite a few people who only list a P.O. Box in the order details. Ebay doesnt seem to mind or enforce them to use a physical address either.

Thanks, for some reason I always thought that eBay had a problem with using PO boxes (at least for sellers). I'm not sure why.

A PO box is not a physical address... they hate this for several reasons. One is that subpoenas cannot be served at a po box, but they can be served at a UPS store box.

IMO, you're better off with a real physical address.

Maybe I should rephrase what I said. I know they don't mind you having a PO box on file as an address. What I thought they had a problem with was having a PO box as the ONLY address on file, and of course only for a seller account.

If you go into the "business information" section in your Ebay account, can you enter in two addresses? I "ONLY" have my PO's street number, street address and my po box #0000.
For example:

1234 West East Street #0000
Blankenville, OR
56789

I am very leary of entering the words "PO BOX" in their system thinking it will raise flags.

The problem with that is that mail that is sent to the post office for the post office employees meaning the post master and managers comes like: 123 West East Street etc.....so if the mail comes that way and it is NOT for the post master/managers then they can send it back "NA" or "IA" and they are doing this on purpose by the way.....they could easily put it in the PO box and the items are DEFINETLY getting to your post office by the way, but they arent giving it to you and they dont have to at this point. I work at a post office so I know this for sure. What you can do is call up and ask to speak with the post master or supervisor and tell them that you are so and so at box number 0000 and that your mail is coming as 123 West East Street #0000 and can you please put those pieces in your box because they are getting sent back. Tell them that for some reason when you purchase something and they print out your label with paypal it comes out like that. Now this will solve your problem more than likely as post offices really cant send back mail if they have confirmation of where it is SUPPOSED to go and technically the post office could get in some heat for denying your request because all you would have to do is call the 800 usps number and tell them that your mail is being sent back because the box number is not in the correct area (they take those complaints SERIOUSLY!). But your post office is within right to ask you to change it to proper mailing form. Weather you do or not will be up to you. Good Luck! :)

And by the way, I have a PO Box and ONLY a PO Box as both my paypal/ebay address and NEVER any issue. so if you change your address to PO BOX you shouldnt have any issue. Best suggestion if you dont want to take to anyone in the post office, get another box with another number, add the PO BOX address to your account and set it as the preffered method of shipment. Ebay will think that 1234 whatever street is your physical address and the new po box address wont cause any concern or flags and you will get your items fine.

Thank you very much 'needhelpplease'! Very useful information and was straight to the point, also great "inside" help.

Thanks again!
waterproof

You are more than welcome! :)