Are there any cons to shipping to a P.O. Box?

[sweetteagirl]

Are there any negatives to shipping to P.O. boxes?

If I shipped to a P.O. box and buyer did not pick up the item, does it come back to me and I have to reimburse the buyer?

Could a buyer see it in the P.O. box, change their mind and refuse it and it come back to me and I have to reimburse them?  It seems this could happen more if sitting in a p.o. box than if shipped to them in a physical mailbox...hense it would be more difficult to return to sender unless they caught the mailman right then and there.

When exactly is the item considered delivered if shipped to P.O. box? When postman puts it in the box or when buyer picks it up from the box?

Thanks.

[loveyourimagination49]

Just think of it as a mailbox. The only difference is the P.O. Is in a secured location.

[lja440]

Many Pro's, no Cons other than you can't ship UPS or FedEx.

It's the same as with home delivery, a buyer can always refuse a package. All they have to do is write refused on the unopened package and leave it for the carrier to pick-up.

First Class and Priority come back to you free of charge. If you use "economy" methods (eBays term not USPS term), you will have to pay return postage. 

When is it considered delivered to a PO Box? When the item is placed either in their PO Box or in a self-serve parcel locker. If it is too large for either then a notice is left in their PO Box and the item scanned Attempted until they come to the counter to pick it up.

Rural mail carrier since 2000

eBay seller since 2004

[readabouthorses]

The only other con I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is that it may take longer for the buyer to get their package if they work and cannot get to the PO every day. When I had a PO Box and also a full time job I could only go on Saturday mornings because my little PO did not have the lockers and I had the smallest PO Box one could get. So all of my packages and even some of my large magazines were held behind the counter with just a notice left in my box.  However buyers should be aware of this delay if it impacts them.

[johnrj1226]

1.  There are some areas of, mainly remote areas, the buyer can only pick up their mail at a PO box.

2.  We ship to PO boxes w/o issue.   But when we see from the tracking report, the buyer hasn't picked up mail (our shipment) from their PO box we send them a nice message via eBay message  to remind them it has arrived.  Most often the buyer is appreciative of the notification and pick it up.

3.  Yes, if the buyer does not pick up the item it will be returned to you and you are expected to refund them.

Here is what eBay says:

"As a seller, you have 6 days to refund the buyer after you've received their returned item. You can issue refunds through the Returns dashboard.

If the item wasn't in the expected condition, or didn't match the listing description, the refund amount is the total price of the item, including original shipping costs. You're also responsible for paying for return shipping costs and you may not deduct a restocking fee from the refund amount.

If the item was returned for any other reason, the refund amount is the total price minus the original shipping cost and your restocking fee (if you had specified one in your return policy). You or the buyer may be responsible for return shipping costs, according to your return policy.

If you cancel a sale after the buyer paid, you have 10 days to refund them the total price of the item."

[sweetteagirl]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

1.  There are some areas of, mainly remote areas, the buyer can only pick up their mail at a PO box.

2.  We ship to PO boxes w/o issue.   But when we see from the tracking report, the buyer hasn't picked up mail (our shipment) from their PO box we send them a nice message via eBay message  to remind them it has arrived.  Most often the buyer is appreciative of the notification and pick it up.

3.  Yes, if the buyer does not pick up the item it will be returned to you and you are expected to refund them.

Here is what eBay says:

"As a seller, you have 6 days to refund the buyer after you've received their returned item. You can issue refunds through the Returns dashboard.

If the item wasn't in the expected condition, or didn't match the listing description, the refund amount is the total price of the item, including original shipping costs. You're also responsible for paying for return shipping costs and you may not deduct a restocking fee from the refund amount.

If the item was returned for any other reason, the refund amount is the total price minus the original shipping cost and your restocking fee (if you had specified one in your return policy). You or the buyer may be responsible for return shipping costs, according to your return policy.

If you cancel a sale after the buyer paid, you have 10 days to refund them the total price of the item."

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Thanks. So if a buyer has regrets about the purchase they made, they know all they have to do is let it sit in their P.O. box until it automatically gets shipped back to the seller. They receive a full refund? I have to pay return shipping back to me? Or that is free when the USPS returns to sender?

I lose out on Ebay fees and Paypal fees or they get reimbursed back to me?

I have 'no returns' on all my items.

Also, if an item is delivered to the physical mailbox, they can write on it "Return to sender" and the mailman returns it unopened? I thought you had to be there at time of delivery to refuse a package, I didn't realize you could refuse it the next day and stick it back in the mailbox.

[sweetteagirl]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

1.  There are some areas of, mainly remote areas, the buyer can only pick up their mail at a PO box.

2.  We ship to PO boxes w/o issue.   But when we see from the tracking report, the buyer hasn't picked up mail (our shipment) from their PO box we send them a nice message via eBay message  to remind them it has arrived.  Most often the buyer is appreciative of the notification and pick it up.

3.  Yes, if the buyer does not pick up the item it will be returned to you and you are expected to refund them.

Here is what eBay says:

"As a seller, you have 6 days to refund the buyer after you've received their returned item. You can issue refunds through the Returns dashboard.

If the item wasn't in the expected condition, or didn't match the listing description, the refund amount is the total price of the item, including original shipping costs. You're also responsible for paying for return shipping costs and you may not deduct a restocking fee from the refund amount.

If the item was returned for any other reason, the refund amount is the total price minus the original shipping cost and your restocking fee (if you had specified one in your return policy). You or the buyer may be responsible for return shipping costs, according to your return policy.

If you cancel a sale after the buyer paid, you have 10 days to refund them the total price of the item."

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Crazy that I made a reply and it disappeared when originally it showed as posted. lol

To clarify, a buyer can return to sender if delivered to their physical mailbox without refusing acceptance from the postman right then and there? So a buyer can stick it back in the mailbox the next day and write on it "Return to sender" and the buyer gets a refund? Wow. So if between buying it and receiving it, if buyer changes their mind about wanting the item, they just refuse it and get a full refund and seller is out of selling fees and shipping costs? Wow.

So really that is no con with shipping to a P.O. box if buyers are allowed to return when received from physical mailbox also.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

The package is considered "delivered" when it is placed in the PO box. The box holder can pick up his/her mail once a month if desired. Now, if the box gets too full, then the PO can recommend renting a larger box. Packages that don't fit at all are placed in a locker or on a shelf, with a key or notice in the PO box. If space gets too tight, the PO makes several attempts to contact the box holder -- they do not automatically return mail to the sender. Also, even non-box holders can place a vacation hold on mail for up to 30 days.

Personally, I've had virtually all packages (plus some other mail) delivered to a PMB for 30 years. Sometimes I don't bother picking up mail for 3 or 4 weeks. It is still "delivered" even though I have not taken physical possession.

~~C~~

[creoleorchid]

If the buyer never retrieves it, either from his box or the counter, and it somehow gets returned to you, eBay considers that refused and the buyer would lose any claim for non receipt.

[impalajohnny]

Delivery to a PO box is usually safer than the post office tossing the package on someones stoop or into the ditch alongside their mailbox.