Mail Box Rentals?

[Walter]

Folks,

I've seen this topic discussed before, but couldn't bring anything up doing a search, so here goes again: I'm looking at an attended mat in an urban area with lots of extra floor/wall space and was thinking of installing mail boxes for local customers. The attendants could also accept oversize packages, etc.

Has anyone had experience doing this, and what are the pros & cons?

For example, do your employees need to be bonded & insured to protect you from lawsuits related to theft, etc? Will the Post Office simply deliver bulk mail to your laundry's address and do you then need to sort the mail into the boxes?

Thanks in advance for your help...

Walter

[JBTcajun]

www.postalwatch.org
www.mailboxes.com
Tell them you saw their link on Coinwash.com
There is paperwork involved. Learn from postal watch. Visit web sight go to local re-mailers. Get a feel for it.
The boxes are very inexpensive and easy to install.
Go to the local Post Office asking weather they run out boxes for rent, and what sizes and prices.
There is good money in re-mailing too. Locally the re-mailer buys the priority mail envelopes for 3.80? same as you and I and charges folk 6.90 for them. You can double ups. Be careful this could easily turn into an enterprise of its own.

[RBHII]

Pardon my ignorance on this topic, but I've seen a few mats with mailboxes in them....and I've often wondered, why would people 'rent' a mailbox in the first place? I've heard people say they do well with them, but don't quite understand who the 'customers' are for this type of service.

[TotoMongo]

why would people 'rent' a mailbox in the first place?

There are a many reasons why one would buy a P.O. Box. Some are:

1. To have a central location where only a certain type of mail is delivered, e.g. billing checks that are delivered to your box which is situated next to your bank.

2. Privacy is probably one of the biggest reasons, e.g. ordered merchandise you dont want anyone from your residence to see.

3. P.O. boxes many times allow for packages to be recieved by a human when no one is available at your residence.

And many others.
Toto

[SmartCard]

In many areas the Post Office does not have any boxes available-sold out.

You can offer an address that is on a commercial street. Unlike your home address. Looks better if you are running a home based business.
A friend of mine sells motorcycle parts from his website from home and uses a P.O. box for mailing address. He doesn't want people to know where he lives.

[pete f]

Pardon my ignorance on this topic, but I've seen a few mats with mailboxes in them....and I've often wondered, why would people 'rent' a mailbox in the first place? I've heard people say they do well with them, but don't quite understand who the 'customers' are for this type of service.

I had often wondered that myself, and found out the answer years ago when selling real estate. The buyer had an address of 1234 12st N suite 123
I went there to deliver a contract, and it was a mail box etc franchise place! Outside appeanace is everything I guess...
Also, you can have shipments delivered, someone can sign for, it is like having an office without paying for one.
Then again, I agree iwth point #2 on TM.
If you get into mailboxing, then shiping becomes a side business. I was a UPS shipper "store" in a small town once, so there is more profits.
Of course, time, room and costs will determine what willo work for whom.