Experiences with P.O. boxes?

[Reality's Fringe]

I'm going to be getting a P.O. box soon and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. Any delivery problems? Difficulty of after hours access? What happens if you get a package and it doesn't fit?

I'd ask my local P.O. but it's closed for some construction (lobby) and no one is answering the phone. I'd rather not just jump in and waste $80 for an 11X5.5 right away.

 

[FloodsAreUponUS]

I have a PO BOX.

If something does not fit in your box they leave you a slip and you claim it with the Clerk.
I have never had a delivery problem.

 

[Reality's Fringe]

[quote name='FloodsAreUponUS']I have a PO BOX.

If something does not fit in your box they leave you a slip and you claim it with the Clerk.
I have never had a delivery problem.[/QUOTE]

Good stuff. A few more questions:

How strict/difficult is registration for one? I know that most government applications want to know everything you've ever done and when you've done it, in addition to like, 4 forms of I.D.

Can I register it under an alias? For example, if I were doing a side business and wanted it under my business name.

Thanks for your help, btw. The USPS website just gives you a little blurb about the benefits, but doesn't give you any detailed info.

 

[Machine]

You can sign up using a business name. You will need to give a valid home/street address. Registration is easy. The biggest problems are 1) you can't get deliveries from UPS or Fedex and 2) you can't get packages late at night or on weekends. If that matters to you, you are better off getting a box from Mailboxes Etc. or a UPS Store since they will accept UPS/Fedex deliveries and you have 24 hour access.

 

[neocisco]

I had a PO Box at one point and a couple of times I received packages that didn't fit. They put the package in a bigger box and the key to it in mine. Ask yours if they do that to make sure.