I highly doubt it’s illegal – I live in a small town where there’s no street delivery of mail, so we all have to get boxes. What I think should be illegal is making us pay for them, since we have no choice!
It being a small town, though, I once had a package that was sent with my street address on it and the post office recognized my name and held it for me. Apparently “courier delivery” meant only within Canada, and once it landed in this country it went into the postal service. Sheesh.
I have two addresses, my street address and my box. Where I work we have three; a street address, a delivery address for FedEx and the like, and a box. “What’s your address?” “Well, what do you need an address for?”
In 1990 or so I worked on a construction jobsite in Rhode Island. There was lots of stuff we would get in the mail (new drawings, paychecks, that sort of thing), and it would all be sent to the local Post Office “General Delivery.” Every other day or so I would go to the Post Office and pick it up. No hassle at all, but I wonder if that would be the case nowadays.
Back in 1995 I had every dollar to my name sent to me via General Delivery. I was in San Jose and I shopped a few area Post Offices before I felt comfortable enough to let one handle the task. Some USPS clerks were totally baffled at the concept. I learned about it in a book much like the Anarchist Cookbook.
I was young and had no clue about wire transfers but in retrospect I saved some precious cash by avoiding transfer fees in lieu of a 39 cent stamp and a 2.50 cent bank cashiers cheque.
Then they’re obligated to provide you with what’s called a ‘Group E’ Post Office Box for free.
Now, this usually means that you live
[ol]
[li]Far off the beaten track, or[/li][li]Within 0.25 miles of the post office (ie: “if we can walk, then YOU can walk” to get your mail).[/li][/ol]
If you live in an apartment or subdivision with a centralized mail delivery room or box, then no, you cannot get one of these Group E boxes. If you qualify, you must apply for the box in person at the Post Office, as it cannot be done by mail or over teh Intarwebs.
The USPS is mandated to provide “Universal” delivery to all people in the US. Delivery is always free, but sending is what costs you the price of postage. Since delivery is mandatory and free, if they will not deliver any other way – bingo! – you get a free Group E post box.