Question About USPS, PO Boxes And Packages.
@danishcanadian (28955)
Canada
June 1, 2009 9:22pm CST
I am thinking of sending a package to a friend, however she has a post office box not affiliated with an address. It's just a box down at the post office.
I'm wondering what will happen to the package, if it's too big for the mail box. Will she get a notification in her mailbox, and the package held at whatever postal outlet it's sent to? I just want to make sure she'll get what I send, even if it's too big for the P O Box.
Thank you!
4 people like this
20 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
2 Jun 09
We have a post office box and when a package comes that is too large for out box they will either put it in a large box and leave the key to that box in ours or they will leave a note in our box to pick up the package at the counter. Since we run a business that the post office does not deliver to we've received some very large packages addressed to the P.O. box.
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
Thank you!! We had the key in the large box thing, in AZ. Up here in Guelph, they just take it to the post office. I really like the large box thing we had in AZ, and wish they had it here. I am totally nutty and paranoied about sending things, because enough things haven't come through, and there have been enough screw-ups, that I really REALLY hate letting things out of my hands like that. LOL
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
2 Jun 09
If it's too big for her box, they will put a notification in her p.o. box that she has a package to pick up. She'll be able to pick it up anytime that the post office is open. All she'll need to do is show the card that they leave in her box.
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
Thanks a million. I've never lived in a place where the post office wasn't affiliated with the apartment, or in the case of my childhood, it was just attached to the house with no number. This "lives in one place, gets the mail elsewhere" is a foreign concept to me, especially if it's in a foreign country. haha
Again, it seems logical enough, but I've learned not to assume, even in the most logical areas.
My American husband assumes a lot "it's that way in the States" HAHAHA This Canadian has caught him a few times. I keep teasing him about Americanizing the entire world, whereas Canadians don't tend to do that. LOL Where he tends to assume, and then wonder later, I am asking, even about the simpliest things, because I'd rather get the answer I thought, than screw up because I didn't ask. LOL Thanks!
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
2 Jun 09
In the past, that is what would happen when I had a post office box. There would be a little slip, and I would have to go to the counter to get my package.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
2 Jun 09
my bro has one of those-i think he said they put a notice in the box and hold it behind the desk.you might want to call the post office and ask them,because some will return to sender.
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
Return to Sender? That's what I was worried about, but to find the post office, I'd have to ask my friend about packages, then she might have a clue that I'm thinking of sending a package, and that would screw up the surprise. Grrrr... LOL Hmmm... Maybe I'll just ask her to put the P O on notice that I heard a rumour a package is coming (heck, she's having a baby today. I'm sure she'll be getting A LOT OF PACKAGE in the mail, that makes me feel a bit better)
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
2 Jun 09
the main for that city should be able to tell you which post office it is by the PO's zip code without her knowing-chances are there's only one within the zip code.
a baby? aww:)
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
2 Jun 09
I live in Texas and my daughter has a Post Office Box and if a package comes via mail they will leave a notification in the box letting her know. If she post office is closed she will just go back the next day when they are open to pick it up.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
This is wonderful, since I'm actually sending the package to Texas. I don't think I mentioned that. :) Cool that I'd get someone from TX to tell me what goes on. I don't know if things are different from State to State or what. LOL I'm glad that P O boxes are handled the same all over North America. THANK YOU!
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
This is wonderful, since I'm actually sending the package to Texas. I don't think I mentioned that. :) Cool that I'd get someone from TX to tell me what goes on. I don't know if things are different from State to State or what. LOL I'm glad that P O boxes are handled the same all over North America. THANK YOU!
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
18 Sep 09
I know this is an old discussion & you've probably already sent your friend the parcel but the post office will hold the box for your friend & put a notice in her post box... well that's how it happens here in Australia so I shouldn't imagine it'd be too different elsewhere.
@riyasam (16556)
• India
2 Jun 09
here the package is hand delievered but we are supposed to give the serviceman a tip.if noones at home,the package goes back to post office and then the recepient has to collect it from the postoffice,ofcourse she/he receives a mail from the staff intimidating them.
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
6 Jun 09
It's just like your mailbox. If there is something too big you will get a yellow card that will say they are holding something for you at the post office thenwhich you will have to go up there and pick it up. A PO Box is just a lot shorter walk!
Thanks
Zelo
Zelo 
@ElicBxn (63639)
• United States
4 Jun 09
The post office will put a notice in her mailbox (either a P.O. Box or one on a house) if they have a box they can not deliver.
Many P.O. now have a way to deliver boxes that don't need signatures, by putting a key in the mail box and they can use the key to retrieve their item from a larger lock box. If the package is too large for that, then it has to be picked up at the desk or pick up door (during busy times they will open them to deliver packages and letters that need signatures) and take people out of the line who want to mail things or buy stamps.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 Jun 09
It might depend on the size of her post office and the area it services. we live in a small community and our post office will hold it for us - but in larger areas it may not be so generous. I would ask her for advice. Does she have a street address? the post office WILL send to the street address if you paid the postage - even if she normally receives her correspondance in from a po box.
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
2 Jun 09
I used to have P.O. box at post office before and every mail that sent to me, I always get them. if the box is too big then they just put in another box that available for big box and left a key in my mail box. So, everytime I see the key then I know I have another big box for me. And some place, they will leave you a note
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
2 Jun 09
I have a PO box... if the item is to big, they will leave a note in her box to pick it up at the window or, like at my PO, they have large keyed boxes... they put the item there and the key in my box and I can go get it. Just watch who you use to ship....UPS and Fedx don't deliver to PO boxes.
@cowgirl26 (17)
• United States
2 Jun 09
Wow. I can answer this since I worked at a postal shop before. What happens is that the P.O. box owner will get a slip of paper in their box saying that they have a package/box that arrived. The P.O. box owner will go to the front desk and show the person their slip. The postal worker will then go into the back of the store, find their package, and bring it out to them. It happens all the time so don't worry that you can't send anything big.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
2 Jun 09
ups needs and address from what I understand, you better call them and ask them.
@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
2 Jun 09
Yes, that is exactly what happens. She'll get a note in her post office box. If her post office box is at a post office, then the parcel will be at that postal outlet. The note will indicate at exactly which outlet the parcel is being held and will probably give a certain number of days in which she has time to pick it up.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
2 Jun 09
She will get a message in her mail box telling her a package is being held for her.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Jun 09
I think the mailman will leave them a message that they have a package to pick up. Our mailman brings the package right to our door here though. She may want to call her post office and tell them she has a package coming and that she will either pick it up or maybe they will deliver to her.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Jun 09
If it's too big for her Post Office box, she'll get a notification to pick it up at the counter. They'll hold it for her for a few days or a week, can't remember how long before sending it back to the sender. The same goes with a regular home address, they'll leave behind a notify for the person to pick it up at the post office.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
2 Jun 09
Yes, she will get a notice that she has a package to pick up at their depot.
