How do I ship to a non-existent address? (cheaper, expensive, shippers)
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I plan to move cross country next week. I have couple of big boxes of heavy books and 3-4 large home depot style boxes of clothes. I was thinking about shipping the former using media mail, and rest through general USPS mail.
The problem- I don't have an apartment there. I plan to live in a hotel for a week or so and sign up for an apartment in the meantime. The local regulation require this to be done in person, so can't sign up online to get an address.
So what are my options? PO Box? Would post office or a UPS or Fedex facility hold it and roughly for how much? Anyone has had similar experience?
I would Ship it to the Hotel you will be staying at.
Just give them a call 1st and let them know that you are doing it. (Call the local number for the hotel Not the 800 number, ask to speak to the front desk manager (or the general manager), Not just the desk clerk. )
Ship your USPS media mail and forwarding letters to be held for pick-up at the post office closest to your intended destination.
Ship your other stuff (clothing) via FEDEX or UPS, to be held for customer pick-up at their freight terminal. They'll hold it for you without additional charge, and you may also find that it will be less expensive to ship because they don't have to deliver it to a residential address. Or, you can have them deliver same to your hotel to be held for your pick-up.
All of this is easy to do for you and this is business as usual for the shippers, no big deal.
Thank you all for your help. These are some really great suggestions and will indeed make life much easier for me. I will contact USPS and UPS on Monday. Thanks again!!
I checked with USPS and Fedex. The latter is cheaper. Sample prices:
30lb
UPS: 51.50
FedEx: 42.50
USPS media mail: 15
50lb
UPS: 76
FedEx: 62.50
USPS: 24
So whatever does not qualify for media mail, I will FedEx it.
Both FedEx and USPS say they will hold it for 5 days after it reaches there (which itself will take 5 days or so). Will send it 1 or 2 days before flying, which should give me ample time to collect those on arrival.
Looks like you figured it out. I was going to suggest getting one of those Mailboxes Etc.type mailboxes. I'm sure they'd let you order one over the phone, and would hold your packages for you.
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