Two local postal and shipping store owners have announced their campaign to protect their neighbors’ deliveries from porch pirates and prying eyes. Ann Marie Marvin, owner of Postal Connections in Clairemont, and Rita Warren, owner of Beach Mailbox and Gifts in Pacific Beach, are veterans of the package receiving business and they have a solution for keeping packages safe. Both stores have offered private mailbox service for over 10 years. “With hundreds of mailbox renters receiving mail and packages at my store each week,” said Marvin, “we know how much our customers appreciate using our address for their online orders, especially during the holidays.” Many customers already benefit from using a private mailbox location for packages. Beach Mailbox customer Bret Contreras has been subscribed to PackageSafe for the past year. “I love this service,” he said. “My house is on a busy street in PB and there’s no way I’m letting packages sit on my front porch. They’d be gone in a second.” Contreras said. “This is such a great solution – all my packages in one place and I know they’re signed for and secure.” This year, an estimated 55% of gifts will be purchased online. And more shoppers would buy online if they didn’t risk their spouse, mate, or kids being the one to answer the door when the delivery arrives.
“We help keep your gifts out sight from family members so that your surprise stays a surprise!” Marvin said. “Families can save so much time and money by shopping online and we can keep packages safe from prying eyes before the big day.” An added benefit, customers get email or text notification when a package is delivered and checked in. They can pick it up during business hours and know it’s being handled by staff who are trustworthy and dedicated to fast and friendly service. For non-mailbox customers, many private mailbox stores typically charge a one-time fee for each package. But this December, these two locations are doing it at no charge. Anyone with proper ID can register at holidaypackagesafe.com or in-store for free Holiday PackageSafe service. There is no credit card required. You simply pick a location – either Clairemont or Pacific Beach – and start using your name and the store’s address when you order online. The first time you pick up, you will be asked to present two forms of ID and sign the required USPS 1583 form.
Each store will accept all packages for registered customers in December for free. After December, if a customer loves the service, they can sign up for ongoing service for a small per-package fee, or subscribe to PackageSafe service. “We are expecting a huge response,” Warren said, “and that’s great. Our motto is ‘no sneakers, no peekers.’ We believe this is the way package receiving should be for everyone.”