cant print a shipping label because of a us po box or no phone number?

[bentley65]

Hi!  Looking for help with this issue. Have a US buyer. Trying to print shipping label for US air light packet (no tracking). Keep getting no labels found or can't ship internationally without a phone number. Asked buyer to provide phone number. No reply. Checked their address to see if an error is in it - it has a pox number - for a Minnesota City address.  So i think the issue is either no phone number or the po box number is an issue. 

Questions - Are post office boxes allowed on USA address and what address line are they put on?

Also - are phone numbers mandatory for us air and other shipping? and if so and buyer refuses to supply number can i just put in 000 000 0000 or a fake number? or should i just cancel this sale?

Thanks for any info. Sorry to have to bother you over this. 

Sherie

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

The USPS doesn't ship to its own PO boxes?

Sounds more like the phone number is the problem and yes, use your own.

I have noticed that some/many US buyers seem to have apartment addresses, but actually have PO boxes.

Because at one time many American sellers were shipping by courier and couriers could not deliver to PO boxes since the clerks would not accept responsiblity for the packages.

Then unthinking sellers started copying the guys who couldn't ship to PO boxes and refused those addresses because: stupid.

The result is that PO boxes started to look like 123 Main St Unit 456 , instead of Main Stree Post Office, 123 Main St, PO 456.

I sometimes google map my customer's addresses because I get bored, which is when I noticed this.

[pooroldcancollector]

Personally I use my own phone number when shipping items to the U.S. The only reason they are asking for phone number is in case of an issue with delivery. I have never ran into any problems.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@bentley65 

As an add on you can use 000-000-0000 just to fill in that blank. As for services, Light packet is no longer available. Most economical options would be US Small Packet Air, Tracked or Expedited if customs is required. (Non document items)

-Lotz

[bentley65]

Thanks so much!

[kawartha-ephemera]

Questions - Are post office boxes allowed on USA address and what address line are they put on?

I assume you are asking is it OK to print a shipping label to someone who provided a PO Box shipping address. The answer is yes, perfectly acceptable for any Canada Post service to the USA.

Example address:

John Smith
PO Box 300
Beverely Hills CA 90210
United States

Or alternatively there may be a street address or building complex info included

John Smith
Oceanside Apartments
Box 300
Beverely Hills CA 90210
United States

[bentley65]

Thank you for this info!

[mrdutch1001]

the phone number would be the issue...I ship to PO boxes in the USA , no problem...whenever a buyer phone # not supplied, I just use the zeros and never have had an issue.

If there is no street address, just the PO #, that makes the PO Box # the main address line.