Do i have to use a PO Box for my email marketing?

18 replies
I know I have to use a valid physical postal address...

I know I can use my current street address or a po box...I guess it's also possible to use the street address from my lawyer or accountant if he is ok with that...am I right?

I found this on The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business | BCP Business Center


"must include your valid physical postal address. This can be your current street address, a post office box you've registered with the U.S. Postal Service, or a private mailbox you've registered with a commercial mail receiving agency established under Postal Service regulations"
#box #email #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Um, think it's pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?

    As it says right there, use either your street address, PO Box, or a private mailbox. You could also use your business address if had an office, which would one of the points of having an office.
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  • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
    I would go with the PO Box. My Post Office charges $44 for the year. A small price to pay for keeping your actual address and whereabouts private.
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  • Profile picture of the author SeanSupplee
    I got with a P.O box I don't like giving out my location of my house to the general public online. I'm sure it already is somewhere but still
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  • Profile picture of the author SB274
    Yeah... I think I should look into getting a P.O. Box, especially if they are that cheap.
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  • Private mailboxes do have some advantages to a P.O. Box. For one, you'll have an actual street address on there, which some people have more trust in. You'll have to write it like this, though:

    Your Company Name
    123 Main Street
    PMB 46
    Wherever, State 00000

    PMB stands for Private Mail Box, and it is required on the address now because so many people were using these for illegal purposes a while back. It's actually just your box number, and most people have no idea what it means, so they just assume it's like a suite number or something like that.

    Also, private mailbox places usually offer a number of other useful services, as well. The one I use is called Mailboxes, etc.:

    Products & Services - Mailbox Services
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    • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
      Originally Posted by Bradley J Anderson View Post

      Private mailboxes do have some advantages to a P.O. Box. For one, you'll have an actual street address on there, which some people have more trust in. You'll have to write it like this, though:

      Your Company Name
      123 Main Street
      PMB 46
      Wherever, State 00000

      PMB stands for Private Mail Box, and it is required on the address now because so many people were using these for illegal purposes a while back. It's actually just your box number, and most people have no idea what it means, so they just assume it's like a suite number or something like that.

      Also, private mailbox places usually offer a number of other useful services, as well. The one I use is called Mailboxes, etc.:

      Products & Services - Mailbox Services
      Heh. I never knew those existed. You learn something new everyday
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      • Originally Posted by Charlotte Jay View Post

        Heh. I never knew those existed. You learn something new everyday
        I pay quite a bit more than $44/yr, but that's because all of my mail is forwarded automatically to my home address. They hold everything for the week, and at close on Friday they put everything in one package and send it out.

        Technically, I could just have all my online-related mail sent to my office for free, but that would be a nightmare trying to go through everything and sort it out and figure out what was what and what I need to respond to first, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
      Originally Posted by Bradley J Anderson View Post

      Private mailboxes do have some advantages to a P.O. Box. For one, you'll have an actual street address on there, which some people have more trust in. You'll have to write it like this, though:

      Your Company Name
      123 Main Street
      PMB 46
      Wherever, State 00000

      PMB stands for Private Mail Box, and it is required on the address now because so many people were using these for illegal purposes a while back. It's actually just your box number, and most people have no idea what it means, so they just assume it's like a suite number or something like that.

      Also, private mailbox places usually offer a number of other useful services, as well. The one I use is called Mailboxes, etc.:

      Products & Services - Mailbox Services

      Just an FYI for folks.

      You can do that with a P.O. Box as well.

      P.O. Box 12345
      Anywhere, CA 55555

      That's the one everyone knows but all you need to do is use the street address of the postal office. So...

      1212 Anywhere Street
      #12345
      Anywhere, CA 55555

      And you'll get your mail as well no problem. I've used the street address before.

      There are other benefits to using PMB vs USPS but the street address shouldn't be the only factor to sway a person to a PMB.

      Prices vary as well. I pay $110/per year for the 2nd size mail box (so it's not the smallest) one here in San Francisco.

      But it is cheaper than UPS Store or another PMB. So far in 4 years the USPS has been great so I just use them. But again, you do get more service and bells/whistles with a PMB.
      Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
      Originally Posted by misterkailo View Post

      I use my own home address. I have nothing to hide. Do you?
      I have my TV, jewelry, kids and pets to hide from strangers on the internet. You never know who will find your home address and do something unsavory. Just sayin'
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    • Originally Posted by misterkailo View Post

      I use my own home address. I have nothing to hide. Do you?
      You obviously don't get a lot of mail from your internet activities or offline ads. :rolleyes: My home mailbox would never fit all of them. And I also have a family to protect, so 'Yes, I do have something to hide' in that I prefer that the 'weirdos' on the internet don't know my home address and therefore have access to them.

      If you have nothing to hide, why don't post your address here in the open for us, then?

      I bet you get a lot of junk mail, too, don't you?
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  • Profile picture of the author frontiergold
    With a private mailbox you can usually add things like "Suite" or "Office" etc to make it look more like an office building. But locally most people know the address of those private mail boxes. I know my banker does but she still was willing to send our bank statements there.

    One advantage with the private mailbox is that they are willing to forward mail to you if you pay for that service. This is an advantage if you move often and can't get in for your mail.
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    • Originally Posted by frontiergold View Post

      With a private mailbox you can usually add things like "Suite" or "Office" etc to make it look more like an office building.
      Not for the last 10 years you can't. You have to use 'PMB xxxxx' now. Federal law requires it. If you use 'suite' or 'apt' or anything other than PMB, the mail gets sent back immediately. They will not process it. I've been using Mailboxes, etc., since the early 90's, and I used to use 'Suite xxxxx' way back then, myself, but that doesn't fly anymore.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
        Originally Posted by brucerby View Post

        I know some say this will work fine, but test it out with your local post office. I tried that 'trick' and my post office said they do not allow using the street address of the branch as a my street address followed by the box number....I'm just saying I would check with them.
        _____
        Bruce
        That's a good point. I did test it before trying it so it's a good idea for folks to do the same. I just mailed myself an empty envelop.


        Originally Posted by misterkailo View Post

        I use my own home address. I have nothing to hide. Do you?
        Oh please spare the sanctimonious judging. My home is my home. My business is my business. Just because I work from my home doesn't mean I have to use my home address. And yes, I do have something to my hide. My family. My home.

        I've never once had anyone say they won't do business with me because I use a PO Box for my business address. And if someone has a problem with it so be it.
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  • Profile picture of the author DocReed
    Great Posts. Thanks for the tips. I'll try the P.O.Box street address and see if my post office lets it slide.

    Doc Reed
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  • Profile picture of the author darrenscrawford
    I've used the UPS store in the past. I think it was $20 a month. They had it listed as 123 Main St #555, City, State, Zip. That is how it validated in the USPS tools too.
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