# Is a PO box such a mystery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081 "2006-09-25T16:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/21 "2006-09-28T01:47:36Z")
Maybe it’s getting better, but for some institutions, like mortgage companies or credit cards, they can’t wrap their mind around the fact that you do not get home delivery. And even after being explicity told to send something to a POB, some drone automatically puts in the home address. That happens to me. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/22 "2006-09-28T02:06:44Z")
I used to work with a sleazeball that decided it would be a good idea to cut out pictures from pornographic magazines and send them to high school girls. He gave a PO box. He was an exceedingly stupid criminal. Of course, the cops just staked out the PO box and waited. He is currently rotting in jail. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/23 "2006-09-28T04:17:10Z")
What’s fun is, in this town, if I want to get a PO box so I can get my mail seperate from my parents (what? I don’t want my Maxim magazines going through them), I have to pay $44 a year, and I have to bring one of my parents with me with a bill to our home address to prove that I live here. To get a mailbox at the local mailbox shop, it’s $100 a year, up front. It seems that mailboxes are in high demand in this town. Where I used to live? Cost me $20 for a PO box for a year. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/24 "2006-09-28T04:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=enipla] Maybe it’s getting better, but for some institutions, like mortgage companies or credit cards, they can’t wrap their mind around the fact that you do not get home delivery. And even after being explicity told to send something to a POB, some drone automatically puts in the home address. That happens to me. [/QUOTE] My favorite was when I ordered a video card online from some website, and I had the billing address (My parents house, where my credit card statements went) and my mailing address (my dorm, where the package was to be delivered). Of course, they sent the video card to my parents, in a city 3 hours drive away from where I lived. Had I spent the extra $20 for the version that came with Half Life 2 from Best Buy, I would have come out ahead, but instead had to spend money on gas for a drive up to Dallas and back. .. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/25 "2006-09-28T04:54:18Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Of course, they sent the video card to my parents, in a city 3 hours drive away from where I lived. Had I spent the extra $20 for the version that came with Half Life 2 from Best Buy, I would have come out ahead, but instead had to spend money on gas for a drive up to Dallas and back. .. :mad: [/QUOTE] Woulda been a helluva lot cheaper to UPS/mail/FedEx it to you. It probably would have cost about $7 and you would have had it the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/26 "2006-09-28T04:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Woulda been a helluva lot cheaper to UPS/mail/FedEx it to you. It probably would have cost about $7 and you would have had it the next day. [/QUOTE] Well yeah, I know that NOW. Back then I was young and foolish. Two years later, I’m still young and foolish, but I know how affordable USPS Priority Mail is. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/27 "2006-09-28T12:49:37Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Where I used to live? Cost me $20 for a PO box for a year. [/QUOTE] Mine’s free since I don’t have any other options. That’s the only plus. ---
**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/28 "2006-09-28T15:30:26Z")
Well what puzzles me about the fraud and homeland security arguments is that’s completely possible to have a mailbox with a street address. I once had a mailbox through a currency exchange, if I wanted mail delivered there I’d give this address: 0000 N. Clark St #000 Chicago, IL 60614 I’d think it would be safer to send something to a PO Box, than to one of those. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/29 "2006-09-28T16:03:27Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Folks that in your exact situation (no home delivery of mail)? Yes, it’s highly unusual statistically. You may well be outnumbered 1000-1 when counted against private home addresses. [/QUOTE] Make that 1000-2. 😉 We don’t get home delivery, so we have a P.O. Box. Do you know that if the post office will not deliver to your home, your P.O. Box is free? I hope you’re not paying for it! I always give the P.O. Box as the address, and if needed, the street address. I don’t think we’ve ever had anything go missing. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/30 "2006-09-28T16:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Make that 1000-2. 😉 We don’t get home delivery, so we have a P.O. Box. Do you know that if the post office will not deliver to your home, your P.O. Box is free?.. [/QUOTE] In my case, the PO that I can get the free mail box at is in the oposite direction of the way my Wife and I drive to work every day, so we do pay. Otherwise, it would be and 8 mile trip to get the mail. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/31 "2006-09-28T17:15:27Z")
I have no home USPS delivery, only to the PO box, but I still have a street address I can use for UPS, FedEx, 911, etc. If an on-line retailer requires one, I can use it. The pain with the PO Box is our PO is only open 7:30 - 5:00 and the attendant is only there 8:00 - 4:30 so getting packages means being late for good parking at work, or leaving early. The other kicker is that I live a few houses from the PO (in East OurTown) but don’t get mail delivery and my friends out on the dirt road miles from theirs (in OurTown Center) do; it just depends on the part of town. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/32 "2006-09-28T17:16:32Z")
Oh, and we have no choice but to pay for the PO Box. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/33 "2006-09-28T17:19:27Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Oh, and we have no choice but to pay for the PO Box. [/QUOTE] Why? We live within walking distance to the post office, but because they won’t deliver, in order to get the mail, we had to get a P.O. Box. There is a postal regulation that covers this, the clerk looked it up when I asked why we had to pay for a box, and confirmed that since it’s the post office that won’t deliver, we are entitled to a free box. We get a notice annually that it’s time to pay, I remind them of where I live, and they toss the notice. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/34 "2006-09-28T17:28:23Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] There is a postal regulation that covers this, the clerk looked it up when I asked why we had to pay for a box, and confirmed that since it’s the post office that won’t deliver, we are entitled to a free box. [/QUOTE] Same here. Though actually there is a third option. The mail can be (at least this used to be true at our PO) delivered to the PO and picked up at the window. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/35 "2006-09-28T20:27:12Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Why? We live within walking distance to the post office, but because they won’t deliver, in order to get the mail, we had to get a P.O. Box. There is a postal regulation that covers this, the clerk looked it up when I asked why we had to pay for a box, and confirmed that since it’s the post office that won’t deliver, we are entitled to a free box. We get a notice annually that it’s time to pay, I remind them of where I live, and they toss the notice. [/QUOTE] Hmm…I will have to ask about that. I just assumed I had to since they didn’t make a distinction when I signed up for it. They are certainly very lax about reminding me of it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/36 "2006-09-28T22:22:40Z")
Of course, they want their money. Confirm they will not deliver to your home, then ask for the free box. Otherwise, you can’t get your mail. Quite logical, actually. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/37 "2006-09-28T23:36:48Z")
You should hear them when you tell them you don’t have a physical address at all. My physical address was once “turn right, go through the gate (combo is 1234) onto the dirt road, go over 3 cattle guards, through another gate, turn left and go over the bridge, turn right and it’s the third red house on the right. If you get to a log cabin, you’ve gone too far.” Another physical address was “the first driveway past Grandma Lastnames’s house (everyone knew who Grandma was, including the fire department), park and walk over the log bridge across the creek, it’s the house directly in front of the bridge. If you get lost, ask for the house where the Dalmatian lives.” “No, ma’am, the fire department doesn’t care where my house is, if there’s a fire, they’ll be more concerned with the highly flammable forest around it than my actual house. No, I don’t have an electric company, I live waaaaayyyyy off the grid. No, no phone company either. No, I have a well for water. Ma’am, the address I have is what I gave you, the propane company delivers with those directions just fine, so long as I call for a refill before the rain starts. Ma’am, if I need a package delivered, you can send it to Jahdra Lastname, Town Name, State & Zip, with no street address and I’ll get it. In fact, you can send packages and letters to Jahdra Lastname & Town Name & Zip Code and I’ll get it. Hell, Lastname & Zip and I’ll get it eventually, after it’s been through all the members of my family. But you need to send it either UPS or US Postal Service if you want it delivered. I don’t **live** in Town Name, that’s just the closest post office.” And on and on and on. The only person who ever acknowledged that I wasn’t lying was a woman who grew up in on a farm in the Midwest on a rural route. I guess if you grew up in town, with pavement and street names and electricity, and “going to town” didn’t mean you made a list and asked all your neighbors if they needed anything, you might not realize that not everybody, even in the US, has all of those things. The really funny thing was that some of my neighbors did (and still do) have street addresses. Doesn’t do you much good, fraudwise, since they live anywhere from 2 - 20 miles from their mailbox and any stranger venturing back that far back into the mountains stands a better than even chance of being shot at. The crops, you know. Oh, and sometimes people “share” addresses, even if they live 5 miles apart. If you’re off the grid, pretty much nobody cares anyway, and anyone can find you, if you want them to. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/38 "2006-09-29T00:45:04Z")
> [@Jahdra](#): > > Hell, Lastname & Zip and I’ll get it eventually, after it’s been through all the members of my family. But you need to send it either UPS or US Postal Service if you want it delivered. I don’t live in Town Name, **that’s just the closest post office.**" And on and on and on. The only person who ever acknowledged that I wasn’t lying was a woman who grew up in on a farm in the Midwest on a rural route. I’ll acknowledge it. So there’s two. We don’t live in an incorporated (Town) area either. Many people don’t live in towns, but still get postal service. Rural Routes. We don’t have one. And for good reason. No real point in having someone try to get to our house everyday when we can just drive by the PO. That and the snow that we get just doesn’t make sense. I don’t want home delivery. It would be stupid and wasteful. It’s all I can do to get home in a 4x4 in winter. I don’t dis the Post Office a bit. Our road is plowed by articulated graders with a monster blade on front and a wing plow on the side. It’s no place for a mail truck. Or a Rural Route Mail box. So. I will dis the Patriot Act about this (that’s just a start really). And those that design the code at companies that does not allow input for a person that can only get US Mail at a POB, and not at home. Or, as I said earlier, some drone that just puts in the home address as a mailing address. I went through this when I got a loan for my car in May. I went through this with the FLEET salesman before delivery. He made some calls, put special instructions on my loan papers and still, the damn papers never got to me. Due to this I was late on my first payment. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/39 "2006-09-29T00:48:15Z")
[QUOTE=Jahdra] No, I don’t have an electric company, I live waaaaayyyyy off the grid. No, no phone company either. No, I have a well for water. [/QUOTE] Can you explain this a bit further? I assume you powered everything off a generator? No phone? Did you have a cell phone? How about garbage pickup? (Maybe you can start a “Ask the Doper Who Lives Out in the Boonies” thread?) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-po-box-such-a-mystery/374081/40 "2006-09-29T18:47:53Z")
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