P.O.Box owners

Information

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 Talking Bird on January 16, 2009 at 9:17pm: The town where I live is like Namibia -- no delivery to street addresses. We have to pick up the mail at the post office. Everyone who lives here gets a free standard size PO box.

Comment by Carla Cryptic on January 16, 2009 at 4:43am: I've been trying to find the photos I took of the PO Boxes in the local post office around here but still can't find it yet. Either I'll find it soon or I'll go take some more. :)

Comment by Ruud Janssen on January 15, 2009 at 5:31pm: How do the other P.O. Boxes look like? Especicially the inside would be nice to see. Actually the one is a historic one; the one I had in Tilburg for over 20 years. Will have to take a photo of the one I (we) have in Breda..... (we actually have a large one for big parcels too....

Comment by Carla Cryptic on January 10, 2009 at 7:57pm: That's what we like to see - a FULL po box. :)

Comment by Ruud Janssen on January 10, 2009 at 6:34am

Comment by Ruud Janssen on December 21, 2008 at 11:43am

Comment by Ruud Janssen on November 29, 2008 at 6:18am: It is great to have a P.O.Box. Always wanted to have such a small room for all the mail that gets in. It is safe for rain, snow and wind, it treasures my mail, even when I am on vacation.

Comment by Ruud Janssen on November 28, 2008 at 5:25pm: Typical P.O. Boxes in Germany.

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