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Ryan Price Special user winnipeg, MB, Canada 641 Posts |
Hi Guys,
In the past, I have always used my home address as my return address on all correspondence that I send out to clients and perspective clients. I would like to move away from using my home address to using a post office box. Well, considering purchasing/renting a box, two options have presented themselves; that being either have the box be a PO Box, or have an actual street address. Is there a difference in people's minds when it comes to these? Just wondering if there is any thought on how people perceive this? Thanks |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
No, they are so common, I don't think it bothers anyone. I do think Hotmail email addresses and stuff like that are a sign of lack of professionalism.
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The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Hello Ryan,
I think the Street Address seems best. Best, Tim Day 2 |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
I use a PO Box only because I do a hypnosis show. It can attract odd people to be mad at you, and I don't want them at my house!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
I agree. As an independent contractor, unless you have a "store front" where people actually come to meet you, a post office box will do just fine.
Mark. |
Kevin Viner Loyal user San Diego, CA 203 Posts |
I use a P.O. Box for all my correspondence. I currently live in an apartment, and my living location has the potential to change. This way, I can still keep my P.O. Box the same. It also looks better than letting potential clients know that you live in an apartment, and allows for a higher degree of anonymity.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Viner Corporate Magician in Los Angeles, CA | Magician in San Diego | Magician in Orange County, CA | |
The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Hello Guys,
I think Ryan was going to use a PO box regardless but was offered the choice of having it listed as a street address ( but still be a PO box) or just having it listed as a PO box. In that case I would choose the option that looks like a street address as it gives the impression of a brick and mortar location. Best, Tim Day 2 |
fallingblood New user North Dakota 98 Posts |
I would agree with Tim. If you can get a P.O. Box that's listed as a street address, it's a good idea to use. Simply because it will make some people feel more comfortable.
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Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3661 Posts |
I use a P.O. box as a BUSINESS ADDRESS, even though now folks can reverse look up my business phone number and arrive at my home address.
I use the P.O. box as I did not want to get into the hassles (should they arise) of operating a business out of my home, should the local level of government decide to start issuing permits. My home office is like a salesman's home office, with the P.O. box being the company's official business address. For me it was a tax and permit consideration. You would have to look into it in your own area. Directly to your question, a street address would be best, providing it was a business area, perhaps with a suite number/office number. Other than that folks can find you too easy to change just so they do not have your home address. I believe there are postal/courier stores which allow you to use a street address and suite number (which is actually your box number - LOL) Blair Marshall "ShaZzam!"
Visit My Facebook Fan Page At
www.Facebook.com/BlairMarshallMontrealMagician www.BlairMarshall.ca www.ShaZzamShow.com www.MontrealMagicien.com |
Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Having a real office to handle correspondence is the very best. Most of us lack the personnel to do that.
My second choice is the P.O. Box and I have used it at least half of my fifty years in the entertainment industry. It also gives continuity of address if you change living quarters. However, unless it is checked at least daily, I rank it below street address. Once again I live on a ranch far from P.O. Boxes. (You can't say it isn't a "gated community"!) Delivery to the ranch address does get seen daily. This is not like living in an apartment complex. I can be as unavailable to unannounced or uninvited callers as I wish. I do use the ranch address. There are usually 1-3 employees here in the compound to deal with visitors. Reality is, uninvited guests are seldom business opportunities anyway. Business people make appointments. I do like for my friends to drop in. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-03-02 10:40, Blair Marshall wrote: I remember when I was on a " Tour of the Stars Homes" in Hollywood. There was this little shack of a house on a famous street, like Sunset Blvd or Rodeo Drive (one of those anyway). The tour guide explained that the little house was making the owner a fortune as he used it as a mailbox depot for other businesses. Clients paid a lot of money to him to have a business address on Rodeo Drive, Hollywood. He could have rented the entire house to a tenant, but made much more money charging multiple clients for his mailboxes with the famous address. Best, Tim Day 2 |
Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3661 Posts |
Not sure if they are still around, I am sure they are, but there were "group" offices. You would rent a space, with various services being extra, and I believe mail "only" was an option. It was in one of the main business locations in downtown Montreal. Nice thing was, if you had to have a meeting at "your" office, you could rent a conference room, etc.
Blair Marshall "ShaZzam!"
Visit My Facebook Fan Page At
www.Facebook.com/BlairMarshallMontrealMagician www.BlairMarshall.ca www.ShaZzamShow.com www.MontrealMagicien.com |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
Bob, you only like friends to drop by because you actually HAVE friends. LOL.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
jackturk Elite user 463 Posts |
I really recommend getting a box and not using your home address. In my course on doing birthdays, I recommend it for a couple reasons:
1) For safety's sake... Why give out your home address if you really don't have to? 2) For positioning... If you live out in the sticks (which I do), it sounds better if you're the Big-City magician as opposed to "Puddleville's Finest." Lastly, call your box # "Suite #444" or just use the #555 -- you don't need to put P.O. BOX overtly. --Jack
"59 Ways To Recession Proof Your Entertainment Business -- FREE!"
http://www.GetLeadsLikeCrazy.com "How To Make $25,000 a Year Doing Birthday Parties Part-Time" http://www.magicmarketingcenter.com/birthdayPT |
wizardofsorts Special user Chicago, IL 935 Posts |
In Chicago PO box numbers at the actual post office are sometimes 6 to 10 digits long! So, most people that go this route use a "Mail Boxes, etc." or similar type business as their address.
I've been thinking about this recently, as I use my home address, and I've been weighing the cost/benefits. Plus, the inconvenience of going to the box everyday as opposed to going to the front door. Edd
Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts is a corporate magician available for your next trade show, hospitality suite, client luncheon, or company event. http://www.wizardofsorts.com
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
You can go to the UPS stores and other such places (mailboxes, etc). and get what is called a PMB. You get a street address and abox number, i.e. 5701 Wayne Street, PMB 345, Podunk, Idaho.
Also in some places you can find a few secretarial services/answering service companies that will receive your mail for you at their street address. PMB and the secretarial service routes cost a bit more than po boxes. I know UPS makes you get a larger box if it is used for business purposes rather than personal purposes. I once used a secretarial service for an address for my business, it ran me about 25 a month for the service, which is high compared to a box, but it was a street address in an office. If anyone came by looking for me, they would tell them I was out and take a message. So anyone dropping buy never had a clue I didn't have an office in that building.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
In my experience, if you're getting a street address for your box, you're not getting a Post Office Box. You'll have a PMB, as Photius explained.
One advantage is that the location will often accept packages for you, too. One disadvantage is that once the mail carrier dumps the mail at the front desk, the US Govt considers it delivered. You're trusting the business to sort and handle the mail in a speedy and respectful manner. (Not like postal employees are saints, mind you, but you are indeed hiring a third-party to handle all your mail.) If you plan on using the box long-term, consider how long the business might stick around, too. I've been using PO Boxes for years and consider them indispensable. Some have mentioned the hassle of going to pick up the mail, but the other side of this coin is that when you go out of town, you don't have to put a vacation-hold on your mail. It will be waiting for you when you return. |
Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Today answering machines are too common. I don't use one. However, that is because of special circumstances. (My wife is a physician.)
Over the years I have enjoyed using real answering services. The good ones will also receive mail and freight for you. Mine also offer two types of phone messaging too. The basic incoming messages were saved until I asked for them. Priority calls (and mail received) resulted in an immediate call from the answering service. It isn't as cheap as a mail box. But it sorts the mail and gives priority to priority items. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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