So you are a private kind of person and you get all your mail from a PO Box. Or maybe you are from a rural area and the only way you can get mail is through a PO Box. You may be wondering if the retractable garden hose reel you ordered can be sent to your PO Box as well.
But then you enter your PO Box address into your shipping details and find that the site is rejecting it. This can be frustrating and you may be wondering why. Well, not all mail can be delivered to a PO Box address – this includes some packages you purchased online. Read on below to find the common reasons why.
Reasons why your retractable garden hose reel can’t be delivered to your PO Box
Package size
The major reason (and the most obvious one) why your retractable garden hose reel can’t be delivered to your PO Box is the fact that they will not fit. The biggest PO Box size available is an XL size of 22.5″ x 12″ x 14.75. And most post offices do not even have the Large and XL sizes.
A retractable garden hose reel package will definitely not be able to fit the XL-sized PO Box. You are better off sending them to your home address.
The shipper is using a non-USPS carrier
Non-USPS carriers will not be able to deliver to a post office box. It is a general rule for these carriers that they only deliver to a physical address – whether it is your home or office. This is to ensure that someone is around to acknowledge that they have received the package.
An exception to this is if the carrier works directly with the post office such as FedEx or SmartPost.
Signature required
Most delivery services would require a signature from the recipient before they can release the package. This documents that the package was delivered. Some would require other proof of delivery like a picture of you receiving the package.
An exception to the rule
The good news is there is a way to get your retractable garden hose reel delivered to the post office instead of your home. Have the package sent through the US postal service.
When this happens, the package will not be able to get in the box but they will hold on to it. A slip will be placed in the PO Box to inform you that a package is being held for you and where to claim it.
Take note though that there is a time limit on how long they can keep a package for you. If you are unable to claim it at the said time, the package will be sent back to the sender.
Receive your retractable garden hose personally
Now that you know why you can not send your retractable garden hose reel to your PO Box, ditch that habit and have it delivered to your home address instead! This way, you get to receive it immediately and you do not have to go to the post office!
