P.O. Box vs. USPS

I think you'll find that a USPS PO box is quite a lot less expensive than a private mail service box. I've had my PO box for a very long time and have always been surprised when others have told me what they pay for the private service boxes. The problem on STT (and it may also be true on STX) is that USPS boxes are at a premium so you may have no choice.

OldTart...that is the issue we are running into! As the move date draws near we are needing a P.O.Box for misc. hook ups, registrations, connections etc...Cannot access anything online as we were advised to do via USPS. Our second choice were the independent services. Thank you for your knowledge, good day!

MM

You could go private mail box store until you get set up, then transfer to the US Postal PO Box once you're all settled in.

Any recommendations on a private store? Wife will be working near Sunny Isle and living in Cotton Valley area.

I've had both on STT. You're paying for the convenience with a private box which is probably well worth your time. You can call to see if you have mail or packages with a private box but you can't do that with a P.O. Box. You also rarely have to wait in line, and if you do, they may be servicing one person before you. You may even be able to get your packages on Sunday.

There were 8 people in line in front of me at post office this morning at 7:40 a.m. I didn't have to wait too long, though, because they had someone there to get the packages.

I've had this box for 6 months and only use it for Netflix and packages. I don't have problems with Netflix, but I am missing a package and today's package was stamped Final Notice though it was the first and only notice. The package arrived on Dec 10, but I didn't get a notice until Dec 30, and I have checked at least once a week to get my Netflix.

I am waiting to get a box at another post office but it'll be a long wait. I'm hoping to find someone who's looking to share.

I've had both on STT. You're paying for the convenience with a private box which is probably well worth your time. You can call to see if you have mail or packages with a private box but you can't do that with a P.O. Box. You also rarely have to wait in line, and if you do, they may be servicing one person before you. You may even be able to get your packages on Sunday.

There were 8 people in line in front of me at post office this morning at 7:40 a.m. I didn't have to wait too long, though, because they had someone there to get the packages.

I've had this box for 6 months and only use it for Netflix and packages. I don't have problems with Netflix, but I am missing a package and today's package was stamped Final Notice though it was the first and only notice. The package arrived on Dec 10, but I didn't get a notice until Dec 30, and I have checked at least once a week to get my Netflix.

I am waiting to get a box at another post office but it'll be a long wait. I'm hoping to find someone who's looking to share.

Thank you for the info!!

Since you can get a private box by the month, just go with one close to Sunny Isles until you get more things accomplished. Consider it temporary until you decide which is the best option for your needs.

One thing to keep in mind, if you order lots of stuff online and it comes by mail, that's more time you'll spend at post office unless you can get your packages at your job.

there is only 1 in sunny isle. we used them for years and had no problems.

http://www.viphonebook.com/app.php?RelId=6.6.5.2.1&BookCode=usv16htm

I read once that a benefit of a private box is that it looks like a real address....I.e. # and street versus Box #, and many places will ship to an address but not a PO Box. Any truth to that?

Yes, that is true. I forgot about that benefit!

Overall I think you will find a private service more expensive and more convenient.
It may also be the best option if you are trying to do this from off island.
Parking, lines, hours, service and the availability to receive FedEx etc.. You also won't make any wasted trips if you can call ahead.
My USPS PO box is $100 yr but the time I spend inline there is often frustrating. But it has been my address for more than 30 yrs and changing it all seems formidable.

I have seen numerous mail services come and go on STT too and that has been a consideration.

EZ, you must have a larger box - mine is $72/pa.

I rarely have a problem getting goods sent from the mainland delivered to my PO box but on the rare occasion when the supplier doesn't ship to PO boxes I simply enter my physical address as well as the box number.

When they "go", your box is transferred to another provider if you can't get a P.O. Box. The one that used to be in Nisky is now in Sugar Estates. Not sure where the others went. The ones in Crown Bay and Red Hook may be the most senior of the services probably due to their locations.

Hate the post office in Fsted!! The most rude and slow service I've EVER received in the VI. Not to mention they're closed normal hours most people would be off work (for package pick up). I would highly suggest a mail place. We had one in STT and they weren't the best by any means BUT soooo much better than the post office. I loathe going in there.

Funny that. I actually like going to the PO and always have as I get to see people there I don't see on a regular basis. A cheerful "Good Morning" is a great icebreaker in general and I've enjoyed some interesting conversations when the lines are long!

Well you don't live in STX, and the OP is moving to STX.

I love the ladies at the Richmond Post Office in STX. All very nice and they will collect package slips from everyone in line and make one trip instead of 5 or 6. I even pulled to postmaster aside to tell him it was the best treatment I've had in a post office. Including mainland post offices (granted I didn't go to them much up north) but still it is nice. i also like the "good morning chorus when someone walks in.

The VI post offices are short staffed, and I think there's a hiring freeze. The way Congress starves the postal system, I doubt we'll see shorter lines ever. And we don't even have UPS as an alternative. Well, we do, but it's not cheap!

i also like the "good morning chorus when someone walks in.

I do LOVE that. Its always in perfect unison too.

We only get the "Good Morning!!" at our local Waffle House stateside! LOL

It may be more expensive to have a mail service but many online stores and services won't ship to a P.O. Box and mail services have a physical address. You just have to figure out what suits you best.

for a fee, you can use the mail provider as a place to ship goods that dont ship to a po box

MikeandJessica, start a trend and start saying good morning/afternoon/evening stateside. maybe it will catch on.

and btw, when i say it first in the states, i always get it back

I'm hoping to find someone who's looking to share.

Thanks for that suggestion! A neighbor lost his PO box a while back when he left island for a short period. The renewal notice came in and, by the time he got back, the box had been given to someone else. There's a long waiting list for boxes so he's been using his landlord's PO address which has been a bit of a pain. Thanks to your suggestion, I'm adding him to my box (already have a spare key) and he'll pick up my mail when he gets his. Thanks for the suggestion and hope you likewise find someone to share with!