P.O.Box owners

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A post office box (often abbreviated P.O. Box or PO Box) is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station. Why do you have one? What do you do with it. What is the advantage? How does yours look like?

Members: 38
Latest Activity: Nov 21, 2023

In many countries, particularly in Africa, and the Middle East there is no 'door to door' delivery of mail. For example, should one post mail to a street address in Namibia, it will be returned to sender as undeliverable.[1] Consequently renting a PO box has traditionally been the only way to receive mail in such countries, although some, like Jordan, are now introducing home delivery.[2]

Generally, post office boxes are rented from the post office either by individuals or by businesses on a basis ranging from monthly to annual, and the cost of rent varies depending on the box size. Central business district or CBD PO boxes are usually more expensive than a rural PO box.

PO Boxes in the United States can now also be rented and renewed online at http://www.usps.com/poboxes. There is an online PO Box locator that allows users to find available PO Boxes in their local Post Office.

In the US, the rental rate used to be uniform across the country. Now, however, a postal facility can be in any of seven fee groups by location; in addition, certain customers qualify for free box rental.

In the United Kingdom, Royal Mail PO boxes are often little more than pigeon holes in the secure section of a Sorting Office, and are only accessible by staff. In such cases, the renter of the PO box will be issued with a card on which is written the PO box number and post office name, and must produce this to the desk staff when collecting mail. For an additional fee, the Royal Mail will deliver received items to the renter's geographical address.

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Comment by Samuel Montalvetti on March 3, 2009 at 3:48pm

Comment by Peter Dowker on February 3, 2009 at 11:55pm: More boxes from the wilds of Canada.

Comment by Talking Bird on January 30, 2009 at 4:20pm: Stainless steel! Very expensive mailboxes. Strong and durable. But the simple shape and plain finish is not what one expects in the city of Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell.

Comment by Nadia Aroca on January 29, 2009 at 11:00pm: That's my box. Not very nice. They are long with a small square section, so big envelopes do not fit. If so, they leave you a note for you to pick them inside the office. This post office is near Plaça Catalunya, a central place in Barcelona. It's just in front of a bus stop where I used to pass by every day when I lived outside the city, so I could check the mail dayly. Now I live in Barcelona but this office is less handy, although I prefer to keep the same postal address.

Comment by Celestino Neto on January 23, 2009 at 9:58am: rs,rs,rs,rs,rs,....... Trank Ruud

Comment by Ruud Janssen on January 23, 2009 at 7:16am: funny!

Comment by Celestino Neto on January 23, 2009 at 12:09am: Mail Box Toca do Lobo

Comment by Adriana Ferreira on January 23, 2009 at 12:09am: Mail Box Toca do Lobo

Comment by Peter Dowker on January 22, 2009 at 4:31am: Not always located at the Post Office. Here are some in the wilds of Canada.

Comment by Peter Dowker on January 21, 2009 at 2:24pm: If we're branching off into home mailboxes...here's mine.

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