PO Box or UPS Store for Mailing Address? (Austin, Round Rock: fit in, rent)

[salmuabe]

We're selling our home in the suburbs and buying a new home in Austin in the coming weeks. The new neighborhood is central and probably sees a lot of foot traffic, so we'll be getting either a PO Box or mailbox at a UPS store. Any advantages or experiences with one or the other option? I also want to have packages held, rather than left at the doorstep (something the carriers will often do in the 'burbs). Not sure if USPS will hold all packages upon request and I don't know if you can have a standing hold package order with UPS and FedEx...

[ScoPro]

My brother lives in the 'burbs of Georgetown and has two USPS PO boxes - one in Cedar Park, one in Round Rock (reasons are a long story). He hasn't had home delivery in 40 years, and likes it that way.

Of course the USPS holds his packages if they don't fit in the boxes. No big deal there.

[austin-steve]

I've used several different private mailboxes over the years and think it's worth the extra expense. You'll get to know the owner/employees and you're treated like an actual customer.

I have one kid in college now and we're always needing to send stuff, and it's easy to walk in and leave what I need with a sticky note with the address and they just take care of it and bill me. Try that at the post office. When I order something online from Costco, or wherever, I always have it sent there instead of my home, and they text and email when a package arrives. When I walk in, they say "Hi Steve". At the post office, you take a number.

I also use ours as a business address. Other agents and/or my tenants can walk in and pay rent or drop stuff off.

If possible, find an independently owned place instead of Mail Boxes, Etc. (now called UPS Store). The corp franchises are a bit more stiff shirted and inflexible. I previously used Postmark'd in Circle C (local/family owned) and currently use Westlake Mail (local/family owned). If they have an independently owned mail store half as good as these owners, you'll be glad you avoided the post office.

A PO Box is a lot cheaper, but walking into a post office every day, especially if you have to stand in line deal with the employees regularly, is depressing. Spare yourself that misery and use a local entrepreneur instead.

Steve

[Idlewile]

Have had a UPS mail box for more than a year here. They hold all packages. It's worked out great. I want as little interaction with USPS as possible.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

Have had a UPS mail box for more than a year here. They hold all packages. It's worked out great. I want as little interaction with USPS as possible.

I hear that.

[salmuabe]

Great feedback! Thanks, everyone!

[Topaz]

I've had accounts with UPS stores in a half dozen cities and the quality of the customer service is completely dependent on the individual store owner and employees but all of them are 2000% better than the USPS.