what is the point of po box numbers?

[tali122]

what is the point of po box numbers?- they make a small company look like a fly -by -night -outfit
they cost money to use , and are companies offices designed in such a way that they are unable to cope with mail that they recieve?
the only benefit the post office claim is "that it gives your company a profesional image"
im not convinced

[Buenchico]

I've used a PO Box number (complete with a Freepost address) in the past. I was running a perfectly legitimate business from home but I preferred to make it look as if I was working from an office. Part of the reason for this was to avoid personal callers -planning officials aren't normally bothered about businesses operating from domestic premises as long as there is no inconvenience to neighbours.

How 'image' is perceived obviously varies from one person to another but, for the home-trader, I think that a PO box number can be beneficial, especially if the 'real' address has something about it which signifies a housing estate. (e.g. ICI, 4a Acacia Crecent doesn't sound quite right to me!).

Research has shown that things like PO box numbers, Freepost addresses, Freephone numbers and 'Ltd' all imbue a company with a certain amount of 'respectability' and 'soundness' in the minds of many members of the public. (Incidentally, the last one of these ('Ltd') actually shows a complete misunderstanding, by most of the public, of the way business works. If the firm you're dealing with got into difficulties, you'd have a much better chance of recovering your money from a sole trader than you ever would from a limited company!).

Chris

PS: If this mail annoys you, please address all complaints to PO Box .... :-)

[atheana1]

you seem to of missed  the point! the point is that anyone can get a po box ad. if you do not want your post sent to your home, or you dont have the man power to control the volume of mail likely to recieve. also if there is a lacking entrance to the building ie.. in an archade, you would need a po box =. come on, the post man isnt going to walk the length and width of a mall type building to post everyones mail ! or could be used for posting u  ur porn so ur mum dont find it!!!!!!!!!!

[Marc J]

Apparently, to add weight to the "fly-by-nighters use PO Boxes" argument, Yellow Pages won't accept adverts with PO Box addresses. So I was told, although I find this hard to believe. I don't have a Yellow Pages to hand to check it.

I work from home and considered using a PO Box, but decided against it. For the Yellow Pages reason, and also because I personally would rather not do business with anyone using a PO Box or only giving a mobile contact number, the same as I wouldn't trust anyone using a free email account either. Call me paranoid.... :)