After becoming a victim of parcel theft in 1999 ourselves we decided that we needed to create a receptacle that could receive and protect our parcels being delivered to our home while we were at work. We wanted to be able to shop online without the concern that we would be victimized again. I would like to share with you our solution to protect yourself from being victims of parcel theft. The Elephantrunk Parcel Drop can accept the most commonly sold items online. For more information on The Elephantrunk Parcel Drop by Architectural Mailboxes, please visit our website www.architecturalmailboxes.com. Wishing you successful shopping online, Vanessa Troyer CEO Architectural Mailboxes, LLC

Oh, okay, @Lervia. I follow that. Bottom line is, whatever works, since it's all a matter of personal choice. I still hate a thief.

donoho, you said: "I understand that if you choose to rent a PO Box from the USPS, that’s the ONLY location that FedEx and UPS can deliver to." That's what my last sentence was in reference to, but maybe I misunderstood you. My apologies if I did. I could have deliveries out here to the ranch, but we keep our gate to the property locked and they wouldn't be able to come all the way to the cabin, and I don't want them dropping the pkgs. at the gate, so it's either USPS or a drop off at the co-op if I can't use USPS for something I really need to order.

I was following you, @Lervia, until that last sentence. I also lived in the country for 16 years, most of them on an unnamed street, and amazingly, UPS always found us. We had a big ol’ mailbox up on the paved road (not the one we lived on, which was not paved) but still, UPS found me. Same thing for my in-laws, who lived in the hill country on a 200 acre farm off the highway on a dirt road. UPS found them for decades. So with regard to your last sentence, how in the world could FedEx or UPS deliver to your PO Box if you DIDN’T have one???

donoho, I live out on a ranch and my only choice for USPS service is a box at the little local post office, and I only get to town appx. every 7-10 days. Before I moved to the ranch and lived in our home in a different little country town where most people don't have marked streets & addresses, I never considered getting these deliveries at home because I was given the option of UPS or USPS, and I chose the latter, yet they shipped to the PO via UPS from day 1. I did, then, occasionally get UPS & FEDEX deliveries at the house, too. I have to think that your understanding that FEDEX & UPS can ONLY deliver to your PO Box if you have one isn't correct.

You’re right, @Lervia, I understand that if you choose to rent a PO Box from the USPS, that’s the ONLY location that FedEx and UPS can deliver to. It doesn’t increase the cost of your shipment, but you still have to pay rental on the PO Box and physically go there to pick up all of your mail and packages. That’s not convenient for all of us, but for those who choose to, it’s a secure option. Good on you.

I actually get shipments from two separate places that are sent from the retailer via UPS and are delivered to the post office (USPS) where I have my box and get my mail. I don't have a physical address to which UPS or FEDEX can deliver to, and this is the way one particular retailer has been shipping my standard quarterly shipment for years, and I didn't ask them to do it this way, nor does it increase the cost of my shipment.

Well, @LindaB, you’re wrong if you think that what FedEx and UPS deliver is US Mail. It’s absolutely NOT. UPS and FedEx are private carriers, and I for one do NOT want them to take my stuff back to their office. This is NOT “the mail.” They are not the problem. THIEVES are the problem. Of course you want to “sue UPS and FedEx.” The US Postal Service is a branch of the US Government so you can’t sue them. FedEx and UPS, which are much faster and more efficient, are private companies. I ought to put something on my porch, then lay in wait for the crooks and hold them at gunpoint for the police to come take them away. Either that, or just shoot them, and call the police to come dispose of the body. Now there’s an idea…

UPS/FedEx are not at fault unless it says signature required. Sometime SENDERS of the package has put no signature required.

ImPostorBob...nice concept...Christian Death Squads? Sounds both great and terrifying. I guess if we tought the Salvadorean right-wing nuts to use them, we can do it too.