PO Box Question?

Howard_Wolowitz

Hi All

Firstly if this is in the wrong place please feel free to move - and pls accept apologies!

I am in the process of setting up my own handmade jewellery company and need to get a secure address or PO box number. The post office PO Box numbers are quite expensive and I wondered if anyone has had any experience of using alternative companies such as British Monomarks or Pay As You Go Post which offer a confidential mail forwarding service?

I know a lot of people feel a PO Box number can look unprofessional but for the sake of my families security I do not wish to attach my home address to anything in the public domain.

Thanks for any help

Carer

Good luck with your new business.

However, I would NEVER buy anything (and particularly expensive luxury items) from a business without a proper address, it just screams scam.

AbbieCadabra

i wouldn't buy from a p.o. box address either

if you look for virtual office, some of these are actual addresses instead of p.o. box numbers.

a couple to get you going, i can't personally recommend them but they post on another forum i use.
http://www.firstclassvirtualoffice.co.uk/
http://www.registeredaddress.co.uk/

Howard_Wolowitz

Thanks guys - yes I agree hate the idea of po box but don't want to risk my family - had been looking into virtual addresses but wasn't sure how reputable these are. Appreciate both your help

Wywth

If you are not prepared to stand up for the goods you sell (i.e. tell me where I can find you should the need arise), you can count me out as a customer too.

If you think what you hope to sell could cause isssues for you or your family, that tells me all about the faith you have in the products you are hoping to sell.

fguk

Wywth, I am going to guess that this PO Box is more to do with the value of the goods and not having the home address advertised, not the quality of the workmanship.

Try some of the local business centres, they often have virtual addresses available, they are local so you can pick up the mail at your convenience, and they may be able to rent you a small room should you ever need to see a client face to face.

Wywth

fguk wrote: »

Wywth, I am going to guess that this PO Box is more to do with the value of the goods and not having the home address advertised, not the quality of the workmanship.

Try some of the local business centres, they often have virtual addresses available, they are local so you can pick up the mail at your convenience, and they may be able to rent you a small room should you ever need to see a client face to face.

Perhaps, but the OP makes no mention of this.

Howqever, it that is the case, the OP would be better off securing the premises, or perhaps even finding a better, more secure place alternative place to store the goods.
Most home insurers will not wish to insure a home where stock is held on the premises, especially if it's high value stock.

Howard_Wolowitz

Wywth - the reason I want a secure address is because I am a jewelery designer, it is nothing to do with the quality of my work nor really the stock that I will be holding (so no issues with mortgage company or insurance) it is more to do with the perception of what stock (jewellery) may be in my property...........it may sound OTT but I don't want anyone turning up at my door with a shot gun demanding the jewellery - no matter how minimal that risk I wont jeopardize my children in that way.

Thanks fguk - I will look into that

Wywth

Howard_Wolowitz wrote: »

Wywth - the reason I want a secure address is because I am a jewelery designer, it is nothing to do with the quality of my work nor really the stock that I will be holding (so no issues with mortgage company or insurance) it is more to do with the perception of what stock (jewellery) may be in my property...........it may sound OTT but I don't want anyone turning up at my door with a shot gun demanding the jewellery - no matter how minimal that risk I wont jeopardize my children in that way.

Thanks fguk - I will look into that

Lol. If you don't ever give the perception you are holding the Queens jewels at your home, what makes you think anyone will come knocking at your door hoping to find any???

I don't know of any car designer that has been held up at gunpoint on their doorstep hoping to be given keys to a Lamborghini :rotfl:

Brassedoff

Howard_Wolowitz wrote: »

Wywth - the reason I want a secure address is because I am a jewelery designer, it is nothing to do with the quality of my work nor really the stock that I will be holding (so no issues with mortgage company or insurance) it is more to do with the perception of what stock (jewellery) may be in my property...........it may sound OTT but I don't want anyone turning up at my door with a shot gun demanding the jewellery - no matter how minimal that risk I wont jeopardize my children in that way.

Thanks fguk - I will look into that

I totally understand. Advertise and wait for the burglars! Instead of a Po Box! Do the virtual office names. It's easier and you will have far less issues. How much you pay is subject to where you want to be located.

I am in the process of setting up a mini business enter that will also offer virtual office addresses in Coventry. If it works for the client, I will do the same as their locations in London, Birmingham and Glasgow too. You would be surprised at the amount of people who work from home who like to separate their home from business. After all, someone cold calling all day would do my head in.

djp64

Please remember that under the Distance Selling Regs you must have a 'proper' address to give to your customer as part of the prescribed pre contract information under the act. The OFT do not consider a PO Box address is sufficient. See top of of page 6 of the OFT guide
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft913.pdf

Debbie