Reasons for not shipping USPS PO BOX?

[testingforms_com]

I understand there is no way to search for this. One has to search each listing to find out.  

What is the reason for so many sellers not accepting PO Boxes?  One would think they are safer than physical addresses. I  understand they are drop shipping of course.

[anthemshop247]

If USPS is the preferred carrier by the seller, I don't see a logical reason not ship to a PO box. 

Other carriers though do not ship to a P.O. box. 

[lintbrush*]

There really is no reason to block a PO box if the item is shipping via USPS, but it's an option when you set your selling preferences thus some people think there must be a reason to block them and do.  

[chrysylys]

There really is no valid reason.  Despite what many will claim, I have in the past had both UPS and FedEx deliveries to a former PO Box.

On another note, you may want to read this:  https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/identity-user-ids.html#what

[berserkerplanet]

>>There really is no valid reason. Despite what many will claim, I have in the

>>past had both UPS and FedEx deliveries to a former PO Box.

That is incorrect as a general statement that FedEx and UPS deliveries can be delivered to PO Box addresses

Your exception to the rule does not make it a valid option in general. FedEx and UPS WILL NOT deliver to, or allow label creation for PO Box addresses. (and you must have left a detail out - like those deliveries were Smartpost or Surepost for non-eBay purchases)

IF the recipient has enrolled in the USPS Street Addressing Program and uses a properly formatted street address for the PO box, then FedEx and UPS will permit label creation and will deliver to the PO Box.

Even if you have some sort of podunk PO and FedEx/UPS "good old boy network" thing working where the locals are ok with it, a shipper can not create a FedEx or UPS label to a PO Box address through eBay labels or FedEx.com (other businesses with negotiated contracts may have more options, but that isn't what is being discussed here)

UPS will only accept shipments to a valid street address. We do not deliver to P.O.
Boxes. If a shipper should use a P.O. Box address, the recipient´s telephone number
must be included on the label. Your package that is addressed to a P.O. Box may be
delayed, will not be covered by any UPS Service Guarantee, and will require an address
correction charge. Additionally, Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO)
addresses are not accepted.

https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/ship-box.page

http://www.fedex.com/us/fedex/shippingservices/package/

FedEx policy covered on this page through explicitly stating that Smartpost will
deliver to PO Boxes, and omitting that from Express and Ground Services.

FedEx Smartpost and UPS Surepost services can deliver to PO Box addresses as they are last miled by USPS, but eBay labels will not allow label creation to PO box addresses for Smartpost either, and Surepost isn't an eBay or PayPal option. A shipper can create a PO Box bound Smartpost or Surepost shipment via the carrier websites.

So, yes, there is a valid reason.

[duggmills]

I don't ship to PO Boxes although I've been scolded and told they are ever so safe by more than one member.

Now, having been told that, I don't ship to PO Boxes.

Let's see, you ship to a PO Box and the item is placed in the buyers PO Box and the Post Office scans it are delivered.  Done deal? What if the buyer files a claim that the item was not received because he or she didn't pickup the package from their Box even when the Pot Office says the Box in empty.

What if the package is stolen by a postal employee after he of she scans it as delivered to the Box?   Of course we know this could never happen and the Post Office always stands ready to pay the seller for the cost of any internally stolen items... uh-huh. And you can't file an insurance claim since the tracking clearly states the package was delivered.

So as you can see, there is nothing wrong with shipping to a PO Box, sellers do it every day and they've never had that happen before.

That never happened before? That's what my uncle said when his cow died.

[creoleorchid]

When the post office scans it delivered, it becomes the buyer’s problem, not the seller’s. If the buyer opens a case for non receipt, all the seller has to do is upload the tracking number and the buyer loses. There is no scan for “put in box for buyer to pick up”.  

That delivered scan is done when the postal worker puts it in the box and it doesn’t matter what happens to the package after that. 

[takikawa4]

Some post offices allow you to use their street address + box number for UPS and FedEx deliveries.

http://www.mymoneyblog.com/po-boxes-real-street-address.html

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

The key word is "drop shipping." Large companies don't want to bother with "what is the best way to ship the package" -- they want simplicity.  They get bids from UPS and FedEx because USPS can't compete due to having too many variables.

~~C~~

[berserkerplanet]

You must have missed this?

"IF the recipient has enrolled in the USPS Street Addressing Program and uses a properly formatted street address for the PO box, then FedEx and UPS will permit label creation and will deliver to the PO Box."

It requires the PO box holder to sign up, set it up, and authorize USPS to sign for/accept deliveries. It is not a general purpose workaround for senders to use.

[takikawa4]

Nope, didn't miss that at all. In fact, the link I provided states just that. On the other hand, it can be a workaround for some, even if (gasp!) you have to sign up for it first.

[lja440]

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wrote:

I don't ship to PO Boxes although I've been scolded and told they are ever so safe by more than one member.

Now, having been told that, I don't ship to PO Boxes.

Let's see, you ship to a PO Box and the item is placed in the buyers PO Box and the Post Office scans it are delivered.  Done deal? What if the buyer files a claim that the item was not received because he or she didn't pickup the package from their Box even when the Pot Office says the Box in empty.

What if the package is stolen by a postal employee after he of she scans it as delivered to the Box?   Of course we know this could never happen and the Post Office always stands ready to pay the seller for the cost of any internally stolen items... uh-huh. And you can't file an insurance claim since the tracking clearly states the package was delivered.

So as you can see, there is nothing wrong with shipping to a PO Box, sellers do it every day and they've never had that happen before.

That never happened before? That's what my uncle said when his cow died.

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You make no sense.

Sure if a package can fit in a P.O. Box or Parcel Locker it will be scanned delivered. Just as it would be if delivered to a mailbox or porch.

What if it is stolen by a Postal Employee. Couldn't that happen out on a route also? Plus it is exposed to Porch Pirates, Roving Dogs and Nargles.

Insurance will not fly if it has been scanned delivered to a mailbox or Porch either.

[berserkerplanet]

Stop being dense.

It is not a workaround for shippers, and is only a workaround for buyers if they enroll in the program.

[berserkerplanet]

( continuation of previous post)

It is not a workaround in the context of this thread for sellers who will keep their PO blocks in place - completely transparent to the seller and label software.

IF the buyer enrolls in Street Addressing, they remove the PO box issue entirely from the equation.

100% on the buyer to take these steps as I did.

[itsjustasprain]

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Let's see, you ship to a PO Box and the item is placed in the buyers PO Box and the Post Office scans it are delivered.  Done deal?

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Yes.

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What if the package is stolen by a postal employee after he of she scans it as delivered to the Box?   Of course we know this could never happen and the Post Office always stands ready to pay the seller for the cost of any internally stolen items... uh-huh.  

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Now youre just getting silly.