Receiving goods while on the road

[Rollin]

For those of you that travel&nbsp;a lot,&nbsp;how do you go about&nbsp;receiving goods/merchandise from an "on-line"&nbsp;retailer (like Amazon&nbsp;for instance)?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>Are you having to open a P.O. box ?<br><br>Also, given that your home&nbsp;address&nbsp;maybe states away. Do you have trouble with&nbsp;financial&nbsp;institution?<br><br>Edit: Abroad was a poor choice to be used in the heading, "on the road" would have been a better choice.

 

[sl1966]

I fixed it the title for you.<br><br>I know that UPS will hold and ship your packages to anywhere you need it to go to. For a price of course, but this goes without saying for whomever you use.<br><br>

 

[Rollin]

Thank you!&nbsp;<br><br>So if I understand correctly, I could just have goods shipped to a ups store. For an "added" price?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Maybe you can also use the postal service general delivery option (at least on packages sent by people, i never tried it direct from a store like amazon).&nbsp; I have sent a couple packages to a homeless street musician i met from his blog this way.&nbsp; Basically you mail the package to the main post office of a certain zip code (followed by -9999) and they go in, present id, and collect the package. &nbsp; No extra charge, they hold the package for like 30 days or something. I don't see why amazon would have a problem with it.&nbsp; <br><br>Example:<br><span>JOHN DOE<br>GENERAL DELIVERY<br>ANYTOWN NY 12345-9999<br><br>Ive added tracking to the packages and the delivery is actually faster than if i delivered to a home address.&nbsp; Hes gotten apackage from me next day before with just regular shipping <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/redface.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br></span>

 

[Lifemagician]

Wow, that is valuable information.&nbsp; I have always used family addresses, but then it could be weeks before I got to pick it up.<br><br>Thanks DG.<br><br>Lifey

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Yep...tho only problem is retailers like amazon often use other shipping companies (ups, fedex) than us postal service....so not sure how that would work out, now that i consider it.&nbsp; Curious now what ups would do if they get a package addressed to 'general delivery' instead of an address line.&nbsp; I do know that near me, the ups and fedex guys work with the post office to get their stuff delivered, but i think it may be a post office specific thing ( like professional courtesy kinda deal).<br><br>Probably is better to get a ups store account or whatever when ordering from retailers that don't use usps.<br><br>Also, all motels I know of will take packages for you as a courtesy (some only if you are a guest or have reservatons though).&nbsp; I have all my packages delivered to the motel, but then i work there <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[owl]

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Most towns have a mailbox rental store that will accept packages for box holders or for a fee if you don't need a box. Check with UPS, FED EX in the area you are in and they will give you names and addresses of businesses that will receive packages for you. Here in Q there is a lady who runs a Fax, copy/gift store who receives packages for anyone. She charges a dollar if she can lift the box and two dollars if she can't. There's always a way!</P>

 

[blars]

For mail and small packages I have my parents receive them, then use a flat-rate box to send them to me general delivery where I will be in a few days.&nbsp; http://usps.com/ lists the post offices that do general delivery, with a paypal business account you can get the labels cheaper and with free tracking than at the post office.&nbsp; I email the pdf to my parents.

 

[mockturtle]

The general delivery option works well!&nbsp; I found that the smaller the town, the better.&nbsp; Single zip code towns lessen the possibility of error.

 

[vagari]

These are free and I have used them all in the last year to buy items online from Amazon, eBay and some others. I also have my USPS mail forwarded to me this way as well. I just used the facility's address as the shipping address. If ordering from Amazon or eBay make sure you contact the seller before buying and verify who they use for shipping and which methods they allow. You just have to know with a couple days accuracy where you will be when the facility gets your package.<br><br>FedEx Hold At Location Service<br>http://www.fedex.com/us/services/hold_at_location_overview.html<br><br>UPS Hold For Pickup Service<br>http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/value_added/hold_pickup.html<br><br>USPS General Delivery (click the general delivery tab)<br>https://www.usps.com/manage/forward-mail.htm<br><br>

 

[Rollin]

Thank you all for all the great info!&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br>@ vagari, Did your&nbsp;financial&nbsp;institution&nbsp;have any issues with this ?

 

[vagari]

I use a mail forwarding service so all my mail goes there. Then I have the mail forwarding service forward my mail to me where ever I am every month or two. All my banks, credit cards, financials, bills, etc. I do online and don't get paper mail anymore.<br><br>Here are some mail forwarding companies.<br>mydakotaaddress.com<br>MyRvMail.com<br>mailboxforwarding.com<br>maillinkplus.com<br>escapees.com<br><br>If you use a mail service as your "domicile" (primary residence) state then look to states with no income tax (SD, TX, FL, etc.) and states that are debtor friendly if you are in debt. Some states like Texas have no wage garnishment (except child support) and protect your paid-off vehicle from creditors. You only need to visit Texas to renew your drivers license in person every 12 years. Please note I am not saying don't pay your debts, but sometimes life throws curve balls and survival comes first.<br><br>Collection laws and exemptions by state<br>www.bills.com/collection-laws/<br><br>

 

[Rollin]

Thanks so much for this valuable information, vagari. I'm blessed to be able to use a&nbsp;relative&nbsp;address (no charge)&nbsp;in one of the said states you mentioned above. I just&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;want to&nbsp;inconvenience them by them having them&nbsp;receive&nbsp;and reship packages for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[Sheryl]

I like using the Gen Del for a small town where we will be going and having our mail forwarded there from here. We'll just put in a "change of address" at the PO (for a fee, of course). I think that's what we will do when we drive south...whenever that is...<br>We had been a little worried about that.&nbsp;