PO Box Or A London Address?

[SueDi]

Hi
I have a new e-commerce business launching soon and will require an address so that returned goods can be posted back as and when.
Has anyone has any experience with using a Royal Mail PO Box service or one of these virtual addresses you can obtain in major cities such as London?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[finleydesign]

I think you may find the virtual London address quite an expensive option, as they send official post etc, and letters, but will charge quite a bit for parcels

You would be better off with a PO box

 

[cjd]

PO boxes are not legal if you're selling to consumers - you need to publish a real address.

 

[finleydesign]

PO boxes are not legal if you're selling to consumers - you need to publish a real address.

Could be wrong, but I think they were talking about using a PO box for returns, also PO boxes are "legal" I don't think you would go to prison

 

[SueDi]

Thanks for the replies above.

I was wishing to use for returns and also as the address placed on my website rather than my home address. Will this be at all possible?

 

[finleydesign]

You do need to provide a business address, so on that basis, you could opt for a combination, as in use a virtual address for company information, then PO Box for returns etc

Or maybe look for a business address or virtual office near you that you can operate a collection from, that way they accept the return parcel, and you collect from their office, I know you can do this with most virtual address setups

 

[SueDi]

Fab, thank you for the advice. If you can recommend any websites for a Virtual Office over others (as there are many), please feel free to suggest.
Thanks all.

 

[finleydesign]

Not sure it matters, as you say there are many, and as you only need them for address purposes, i suppose go for the cheapest offer, you don't need to office hire, or calls answered etc

 

[cjd]

Could be wrong, but I think they were talking about using a PO box for returns, also PO boxes are "legal" I don't think you would go to prison

Under the old Distance Selling Regulations and the updated e-commerce regulations you must provide a real, geographic address if you are selling to consumers. A PO Box address is specifically described as inadequate. A virtual address wouldn't cut it either.

If he publishes his real address on the web site that's fine, he can use any address for returns, but it's common for start-ups to think they can be totally virtual. They can't, they must be real for the customer.

 

[silvermusic]

As someone who does the majority of all my shopping online, I won't deal with anyone that provides a PO Box or virtual address.

 

[TODonnell]

We are a virtual office provider. We don't encourage the use of our address for returns.

The reasons: 1. We charge to forward parcels. Clients obviously don't want to pay £15 - £30 to get something their clients have rejected. 2.It adds a delay to their client refund process 3. We have to store small parcels of 'pixie varnish grommets'. For a month.

Using a virtual office provider for returns would only work if a) The provider were happy to store the boxes and b) They were near enough to you for you to collect the parcels as you go along.

Just my 2p.

 

[finleydesign]

Under the old Distance Selling Regulations and the updated e-commerce regulations you must provide a real, geographic address if you are selling to consumers. A PO Box address is specifically described as inadequate. A virtual address wouldn't cut it either.

If he publishes his real address on the web site that's fine, he can use any address for returns, but it's common for start-ups to think they can be totally virtual. They can't, they must be real for the customer.

I think you are misinterpreting the definition of the law, the requirement is too display your physical address, there is no requirement for you to be physically sitting there, and in no way are they able to verify either, virtual offices are design for that exact reason, they provide you the ability to register your company at that address, and documents etc can be sent there, no one from the governments going to rock up and say you are not sitting in the office therefore the address doesn't exist, the law states

"these regulations also require businesses to provide a physical address of their business on their website amongst other things."

There is nothing wrong with using an office, it doesn't say you must man that office 24/7 so I think you are getting the wrong end of the stick, but based on that theory the PO Box is not a physical address so can't be used

So yes you can be virtual, you can't use a PO Box but you are permitted to use any registered physical address that you lease, rent or even pay a monthly to use the address itself.

However as noted the virtual route is an expensive one, as most virtuals handle mail but not parcels, as I say worth looking into a local office and see if they offer a collection service

 

[roydmoorian]

PO boxes are for letters / documents and cannot generally be accessed by parcel companies and will not record Proof of Delivery.

 

[SueDi]

Thanks all for the comments - Just to add, I am a Sole Trader.

Im reading online that its ok to have a PO BOX and some sites saying it's not ok. Its all very contradicting.

Would a Virtual Office nearby which accepts small parcels - less than 200g in weight - suffice? But all other registrations such as Trade Marks, HMRC etc have my home address.

 

[cjd]

Im reading online that its ok to have a PO BOX and some sites saying it's not ok. Its all very contradicting.

If the only address you give on the site is a PO box and you're selling to consumers it is NOT adequate. And quite apart from the legaility of it, it's a very bad idea anyway as most sane people wouldn't buy from you.

Would a Virtual Office nearby which accepts small parcels - less than 200g in weight - suffice? But all other registrations such as Trade Marks, HMRC etc have my home address.

You can have a returns address as a PO, so long as you give another real address where you can be found on the web site. The point of the legislation is that you're not allowed to hide from your customers - which is right if you think about it.

 

[stender]

A lot of companies have their registered address as that of their accountant.

 

[fisicx]

However, I doubt an accountant will be very happy if all the returns end up on their desk.

@SueDi, just use your home address and your home phone number. You aren't going to get crazies turn up at your door and the use of real address can work in your favour as it shows you are a real person.