An Post/PO BOX

Jacovs

I need to have a package delivered from abroad. The company says they can either deliver for free to a PO BOX, or else it could cost me between 200e-500e for a courier to deliver to my residential address. I dont know why it would be free to a PO BOX, but anyways. Far as I can tell from the An Post website it will cost me 140e to rent a PO BOX for the rest of the year, which is cheaper than the 200e-500e. I went into my local post office just now to ask about the service and they had no idea what a PO BOX even is. Then I went to the local An Post mail delivery unit, or something like that, and they didnt have any idea either and told me to call customer services. Seems odd that 2 different An Post offices dont know anything about PO Boxes.

Does anyone know if theres a cheaper alternative to get something delivered once off to a PO BOX? Renting one for 4 months seems a waste and 140e seems a lot.

Steviemoyne

Whoever you were talking to was absolutely clueless.

http://www.anpost.ie/anpost/maincontent/business+customers/managing+mail/po+box.htm

Would they deliver to parcel motel?

coylemj

Most legitimate mail order companies will not ship international packages to a PO box and if they do, it's likely to get special attention from the customs and Gardai when it lands in Ireland.

dudara

Not really a Consumer Issue. Moved to the Online Buying & Auctions thread as I think you'll get better guidance there.

dudara

Jacovs

Steviemoyne wrote: »

Whoever you were talking to was absolutely clueless.

http://www.anpost.ie/anpost/maincontent/business+customers/managing+mail/po+box.htm

Would they deliver to parcel motel?

Yeah they didnt seem too clued up about their own company.
The link is where I got the 140e from.
I doubt it, since they specifically said PO BOX, but I sent an email to ask anyways.

coylemj wrote: »

Most legitimate mail order companies will not ship international packages to a PO box and if they do, it's likely to get special attention from the customs and Gardai when it lands in Ireland.

Its a distance learning college abroad that has to send me my books and equipment for the course.

dudara wrote: »

Not really a Consumer Issue. Moved to the Online Buying & Auctions thread as I think you'll get better guidance there.

dudara

cheers

rubadub

Are you sure the place is legit? can you post a link to them?

I often hear of places not sending to PO boxes, and presume it leaves them open to scams as the credit card hold is not there to sign. So I'd be wondering if this is the reverse, them possibly trying to scam somehow. Is this mulitple deliveries?

I have gotten one off deliveries sent to my local post office and collected on a saturday. It cost nothing, just had to ask nicely. Dunno if they would consider this a PO box.

Jacovs

The legitimacy of the place isnt a factor. Very well known and ive used them before when living in that country.
Im not too sure which way delivery works, but I asked why its free to a PO Box and not a normal address where id be to receive the items myself.

I asked them if they have any such facilities, to just receive a once off package for me, but they had no clue. This was at both places I asked today.

Beano

how big is this pile of books that they cost 200-500 to ship?

Jacovs

No idea. And with courier its going to take 21 days apparently, and normal post 28 days.
So waiting 7 days longer could save me 500e. If I could find a PO BOX for cheaper than 140e.

delahuntv

Just sounds far too dodgy for me.

PO box is usually for large companies or for specific promotions - its not for one off items.

Either a scam or there's something lost in translation - not a good sign if its a language school!!

rubadub

Jacovs wrote: »

The legitimacy of the place isnt a factor. Very well known and ive used them before when living in that country.

Then there should be no problem naming them. I would be interested to see the site, it just sounds so weird to me that I want to see if there is something obvious you are possibly missing.

Also helps people find this thread who are searching the same problem in the future.

Jacovs

The consultant got back to me this morning and said they can send it to my address, just that it wouldnt actually be delivered here, id have to pick it up from my local post office or distribution centre or whatever. And its free, or they pay for it anyways.
http://www.intec.edu.za/
Definitely nothing dodgy.

L1011

I suspect it will be delivered in that case. They're obviously using some local postage option that offers that but An Post don't.