Private Mailbox vs PO Box

What is the difference between a PO box (rented at the Post Office) and a Private Mailbox (rented at a The UPS Store location)? There are several, including:

• The PO Box is only accessible when the Post Office is open, and perhaps an hour before and/or after normal Post Office hours. The Private Mailbox is generally accessible 24 hours a day - you get a key to the front door to come and go as you please (in most cases)!
  
• The PO Box cannot accept any parcels on your behalf. If you receive an overnight letter via UPS, the Post Office cannot sign on your behalf and hold the letter for you; therefore, most common carriers will not accept for shipment any packages addressed to PO Boxes. The UPS Store can act as your Commercial Mail Receiving Agent and can accept parcels on your behalf. The staff will sign for your parcel(s) and then notify you that the parcel is available for pickup. They will usually ask that you sign a log to indicated receipt of the parcel from the store.
• A PO Box address is just that - a PO Box. When you rent a Private Mailbox, you get a real street address. You can actually operate a business right out of the store because you have a real street address.

There are other benefits to renting a private mailbox at a The UPS Store location, such as mail forwarding, mail holding, and acceptance of any size parcels. So, visit your local The UPS Store and see how a private mailbox rental might work for you!

Fred Savio is a multiple center owner in southern New Jersey. He can be reached at fredsinfo2006@yahoo.com.