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It
is worrisome to miss out on a mail especially if it is totally important or if
you paid for it. Unfortunately, most mail services do not guarantee a secure
and fast mail delivery if the mail is posted in a physical address. It is a
good thing that another option is available for us to receive our mails. This
is where a post office box comes in.
Once you have a post office
box, you will be entitled to a lot of advantages that are so favorable you will
never go back to having your mail delivered in your street address again. Gone
will be the days where you have to wait for your mail man in the front porch
and the times when you are left wondering where your October issue of Time
Magazine is.
Before you think of these
possibilities, learn first how you could get your own post office box. Don’t
worry. It is really simple and sooner than you know it, you can have your mails
sent to your post office box.
The normal practice is that
post office boxes are for rent. So the first step in getting your own PO Box is
to look for the most convenient place to rent one. There is an alternative to
the UPS post office box. Aside from the United States Postal Service, there are
other places where you can rent a post office box such as shipping establishments
and grocery stores. Take into consideration that these places have waiting
lists. For you to land on your ideal location, plan ahead. If you are one of
those people who switch residence thrice or more times a year, settle down on a
location that is accessible to the freeway.
To avoid the hassle of
running from the rental place to your home and back again, don’t forget to
bring valid identification cards. The reasonable number is three IDs. You can
use your driver’s license, passport, any of your bank cards, birth certificate,
your social security number, even a mail with your current address. If you are
renting a post office box which is not in the area of your current address, the
verification process may take a longer time.
Go to the counter person
upon entering the rental place for post office boxes. He or she will give you
an application form. Fill out the form accurately. If you encounter a question
that needs clarification, better ask for assistance so that it will not lead to
future inconveniences.
You have key decisions to
make before you rent a post office box. Decide on how long you are going to
rent one. Your choices vary from a month up to a year. However, your selection
may be limited depending on the availability of the boxes. Here’s a tip for
you: longer rentals are eligible for discounts.
Another factor that affects
the rental fee is the size of the post office box. Sizes range from small size,
which is 3” x 5.5”, to large size, which is 22.5” x 12”. Be wise in choosing a
box size. If you are going to use your post office box mainly for mails, better
stock with the small size. If you are expecting regular large packages, then,
by all means, rent the large size. Just remember, the smaller the box is the
cheaper is the rent. A case in point is the rent of a small post office box is
about $40 a year.
The accepted payment method
differs from one establishment to another. It is safe to say that it will be any
of the three Cs: cash, check, or credit card. Pay for your box and get your
key. The counter person will give you your post office box key and your box
number. If you are getting another key, you are going to be charged for it. It
is advisable, though, to get at least two keys for emergencies. When you
already have your key and number, you’re good to go.
The author is a contributor
of <a href=http://postofficebox.com>Post Office Box</a>
If you want to know more about
post office boxes like the numbering schemes and its advantages, visit the
website and satisfy your curiosity.
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