Will be Renting this summer but homeowner will not allow me to use her mailbox.
 

The homeowner will not allow me to use her mailbox when I rent her house. She suggested I signup for SafeShip or the UPS store to get a PO box. Problem is these places give you a physical address, not a PO Box number. So how do I get Amazon packages delivered to my physical rental address, and not my mailing address? Amazon does not have a section for mailing address only and the 2 addresses would be different zip codes so I can't have both addresses on one form. This becomes more problematic when Amazon decides to ship via USPS (and normally you don't know in advance). Hopefully someone has dealt with this.

Thanks,

Cindy

If this is a short term rental, you may not have much choice. But if it is a long term rental, you can change your mailing address at the Post Office and get a new lock and keys. The landlord cannot control the box. The mailbox is owned by the USPS, not by the landlord. I would check with the Post Office about their policy for long vs short term rentals.

I have a 3 month rental with right of first refusal for subsequent months. Homeowner says because of Squatter rights, it is not good to let a tenant use your mailbox. I am not familiar with squatter rights, but that might be true.

Anyway, wish Amazon would let you know what shipping method they plan to use in advance so one can select the appropriate address.

Just to clarify, it is not their mailbox. It is the property of the U.S. Government.

I don't think Amazon will tell you what shipping method they will use, but you can have packages delivered to a nearby Amazon locker for you to pick up.

The landlord is right to not let you use their mailbox. True story:

Someone nearby rented their house to someone, who filled out a change of address form, and had mail delivered to the mailbox at the postal station. The tenant then used mail sent there as proof of residence, and then used that proof of residence to hire a locksmith to change the locks at the house, thus locking the landlord out of their own home.

OP, maybe just live without Amazon for a couple of months.

:Impossible! LOL :a040::a040::icon_wink:

Amazon will deliver ~98% of your boxes directly to your front door. If they end up shipping via USPS, go to the mail center while the carrier is there, knock on the door, and ask for your package and/or explain the situation. They are familiar with this dilemma and are generally accommodating. YMMV

That may work at your mail station, but not at mine. The guy there won't give you the time of day, or a package. Besides, it is illegal to deliver a package that has the wrong name on it.

They give you a box number
When you get a package they hold it
I use them and never miss a package

Best Delivery Option for Renter...
 

"...you can have packages delivered to a nearby Amazon locker for you to pick up."

This is your best option. Just select the locker location of your choice when you order. They are literally available everywhere these days.

The only potential problem is that, if Amazon decides to use USPS, they will not deliver the package to an Amazon locker.

Isn't it more likely that if Amazon was shipping to an Amazon locker they would choose a delivery method that would be successful?

Wow that is so bizarre. If the tenants were intent on changing the locks, I wonder why they didn't just go to Home Depot buy a new lockset for the front door and replace it. Its a 1 hour job. Their more devious method seems more difficult and expensive.

And I wonder why they did it? Were they planning to squat? Or did they want to block landlord access during the tenancy? Answers not expected, just questions in my own mind.

Well then there should be no problem. Correct? Renter call the post office and demand a key !
:22yikes:

If its that important, find another place to rent, where you can use the mailbox

The problem is that some Amazon orders are shipped by a third party seller who choose to use USPS to save money. I try to always select a 1 or 2 day delivery where it is not possible to use USPS because they cannot deliver that quickly.

I believe you can have Amazon packages delivered to a neutral box location. I have never used this service but I know it asks me that question at checkout.

Why would it have the wrong name on it?

Because the name on the package is not the house owner's name, which is registered to the mailbox.

Not all packages. If the item is shipped by a third party seller, they can choose to use USPS, in which case USPS will not deliver the package to an Amazon locker. In that case, Amazon will not ask if you want the package delivered to a locker.

I would rent out a 3 month PO Box box near by at either a shipping store or post office. We do that every summer at our rental. They’ll let you use both the P.O. Box as address, or the shipping store address with your P.O. Box number as unit number, depending on how your deliveries come. It’s a very cheap charge, under $50 for all 3 months.

Live without Amazon? Now you’re just talking crazy talk. This is not a fantasy novel! lol!!

I’ve seen this recommendation several times. I know many are retired, but I pray that in my retirement that watching for the carrier isn’t one of my daily activities.

If they are literally available everywhere, why not have one installed on my front porch? That would solve the problem.

Use an Amazon locker

[QUOTE=azcindy;2424344]The homeowner will not allow me to use her mailbox when I rent her house. She suggested I signup for SafeShip or the UPS store to get a PO box. Problem is these places give you a physical address, not a PO Box number. So how do I get Amazon packages delivered to my physical rental address, and not my mailing address? Amazon does not have a section for mailing address only and the 2 addresses would be different zip codes so I can't have both addresses on one form. This becomes more problematic when Amazon decides to ship via USPS (and normally you don't know in advance). Hopefully someone has dealt with this.

Thanks,


Cindy [Have you spoken with one of the wrap and ship places? My sister owns one in Nashville and they accept packages for their mailbox renters.

Note that the Amazon locker option will not solve the OP's problem. A locker delivery is only available for "items sold or fulfilled by Amazon.com". These items would normally be delivered to the OP's rental house anyway. USPS will not deliver an item to an Amazon locker. So, if the shipper decides to use USPS, the package cannot be delivered to a locker.

If I were you, I would NOT follow that advice to gain control over the mailbox.

If you did circumvent the landlord, speaking as a tenant and a landlord, I would do everything I could to evict you immediately or bring suit against you.

Why create a horrible, adversarial relationship when you could simply rent a mailbox as the owner suggested?

Some would give you advice that stirs up a hornet's nest, because they're not involved and like to see others in turmoil because it's fun for them.

My advice... Let this go....it's not worth it.

That landlord seems overly paranoid. I once rented a courtyard villa in the Villages for a season (think mega bucks up front). The landlord spent over 45 minutes on the phone with each of my references then checked my professional licensure with the state of Florida. Then, once I was in residence in the villa, the landlord wanted to conduct monthly checks of the house by asking a neighbor to walk through the houst and take pictures. I was appalled by his intrusiveness and his paranoia. Obviously, I did not rent from this couple again.

It was obvious to me that this person really had never been a landlord before. Nor should he ever be a landlord in the future! When you rent your property, you take all appropriate legal safeguards, but then you have to trust that your due diligence was adequate to the task!

just have someone from back home overnight your mail once a week or so.

You may have to buy local while you are here.

Just only buy items shipped by Amazon and have them shipped to an Amazon locker.

You can have many "ship to" addresses in your amazon profile. Handy to send a present to someone in another state.
One possible workaround would be to only use prime next day delivery. Those always go to the physical address because USPS cannot economically deliver that fast.

I am still getting mail from two previous customers owners (at my house up north). They have not lived there for 3 and 5 years, respectively.

I also get mail for someone named Current Resident, which is obviously no one's name.

The name only matters for who opens the mail, not for delivery of the mail.

Hopefully, they handle packages differently, but maybe not.

I doubt that having a package delivered to an Amazon locker will prevent a USPS delivery. If they offer delivery to a locker, then they will either deliver it to the locker or directly to the rental house. I would prefer to receive the package at the house.

We faced a similar problem and chose Safe Ship. Bad decision. Never got a single piece of mail delivered. It was beyond maddening. Suggest trying the post office. Good luck.

I agree plenty of rentals especially during summer.

When I rented I had pick my mail up at lady lake post office.

If the delivery address that you give to Amazon is the locker then that item is not going to show up at the house.

If the locker is not an available option for a particular item then you're taking a chance that USPS could be involved which would be a problem for the OP.

If you use the house address it will always be a gamble. You may feel it is a safe bet because you are *sure* Amazon will use the proper shipping method and you may be right most of the time but just like going to Las Vegas, I would only gamble with money I am willing to lose.