In today’s digital age, physical mail might seem old-fashioned, but it remains an essential part of our lives. Whether it’s receiving packages, important documents, or running a small business, having a reliable mailbox service is crucial. For individuals and small business owners looking to keep their home address private, there are several options available: independent mailbox rental or pack and ship stores, Canada Post PO Box services, and UPS stores. In today’s blog post, we’ll compare these three options to help you make an informed decision.
Providing an Alternative Address
All three mailbox services—independent stores, Canada Post PO Box, and UPS stores—offer an alternative address for receiving mail and packages. This is particularly valuable for small business owners running their operations from home, as it helps maintain privacy and professionalism. By using a mailbox service, businesses can register their address or display it on their website without revealing their home location. But how do these services stack up against each other in terms of advantages?
Independent Mailbox Stores: The Underdog with Hidden Advantages
Independent mailbox stores often fly under the radar, but they pack a punch when it comes to offering value and flexibility. Here are some key advantages they have over Canada Post PO Box and UPS stores:
Competitive Pricing
Independent mailbox stores typically offer more competitive pricing compared to Canada Post PO Box and UPS stores. Since they aren’t bound by corporate pricing structures, they can adjust their rates to better suit the needs of their customers. Furthermore, independent mailbox service providers would not generally nickel-and-dime customers or incidentals such as computer access or mail/SMS notifications, or even charges for pick ups. This makes them an attractive option for budget-conscious individuals and small business owners. Finally, when it comes to shipping, independent mailbox stores are able to access wholesale rates at multiple carriers, including both Canada Post and UPS, and choose the most affordable option to help reduce shipping costs, while Canada Post would only have Canada Post rates and UPS stores would typically ship using UPS only.
No Restrictions on Carriers
One significant advantage of independent mailbox stores is the lack of restrictions on carriers. While Canada Post PO Box services only accept mail and packages from Canada Post, and UPS stores primarily use UPS, independent stores accept deliveries from all carriers. This means you can receive packages from FedEx, DHL, Amazon, and other couriers without any hassle.
A Wide Range of Additional Services
Independent mailbox stores often provide a wide range of additional services that can be tailored to meet the needs of their customers. These services may include international mail forwarding, long term mail and package storage, ecommerce fulfilment for local businesses, international money transfer services, gift card and phone plans purchases, notary services, document shredding, luggage storage or even tax filing services. This versatility makes independent stores a one-stop shop for many small business owners.
Better Customer Services
Most independent mailbox stores are not franchises of large corporations, but rather small businesses operated by local entrepreneurs that are known within their community. As such, you will typically receive better customer service at such store as they are more dependent on maintaining their reputation within their community and for growing their customer base, and do not have the brand advantage and large marketing budget that UPS or Canada Post have that bring large amount of new customers to their stores, regardless of their customer service level, or lack thereof.
Canada Post PO Box: Reliable but Limited
Canada Post PO Box services offer a reliable and secure option for receiving mail. It also has a large footprint all over Canada, with almost 5,900 locations across the country. In fact, at many places, Canada Post is the only option when you want to rent a private mailbox or to send out mail and packages. However, there are some limitations to consider. The primary drawback is that Canada Post PO Boxes only accept mail and packages delivered by Canada Post. This restriction can be inconvenient for those who receive packages from various carriers. Additionally, the range of services provided by Canada Post is relatively limited compared to independent stores. As a subscriber, you receive a PO Box and not a street address which can be an inconvenience. Finally, Canada Post does not provide virtual mailbox services. You need to physically go to the store to retrieve your mail. There is no notification or mail scanning option.
UPS Stores: Convenient but Pricey
UPS stores offer a convenient and professional option for receiving mail and packages. Similar to independent mailbox stores, they provide a street address, which can be more appealing than a PO Box number for business purposes. However, UPS stores tend to be more expensive than independent mailbox stores and may primarily focus on their own shipping services. This can limit flexibility and increase costs for customers who use multiple carriers. Stores may offer additional services such as printing, passport photos or short-term computer access, but you will be paying through your nose for each of these services.
Spotlight on Beavership: An Independent Mailbox Store in Cambridge, Ontario
One shining example of an independent mailbox store is Beavership, located in Cambridge, Ontario, with new locations planned for Waterloo, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver in the coming months. Beavership offers all the advantages mentioned above—competitive pricing, no restrictions on carriers, and a wide range of additional services. Beavership goes above and beyond to cater to the unique needs of its customers, located primarily within the Region of Waterloo and the Greater Hamilton area, providing personalized service and a friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to keep your home address private or an individual seeking a reliable mailbox service, Beavership is a fantastic choice. In these times where relations between the US and Canada are at their lowest point in decades, going with Beavership also means you are supporting a locally grown, 100% Canadian owned business that reinvests all its profits within Canada.
There you have it! Independent mailbox stores like Beavership offer a compelling alternative to Canada Post PO Box and UPS stores, combining flexibility, competitive pricing, and a wide array of services to meet the needs of their customers. If you are interested in learning more about Beavership’s mailbox rental services, please contact us. Please also follow our Facebook page, in order to be informed when a Beavership store opens in your city or community.