<p>My son will be attending Bama in the fall. He’s headed down there by himself for orientation in early June. Is there a way to get him a PO box online or is that something he can do while there for orientation. Or do we just wait until we move him in, in August? They don’t sell out do they?</p>
<p>I don’t know if they sell out or not. Here’s their number. I don’t know if they are open today, but they will be on Monday.</p>
<p>The Ferguson Center branch of the U.S. Post Office is located on the First Floor. Phone: 18002758777.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll be able to get one at orientation or at move-in. Due to problems with my box(they don’t allow people to share boxes evidently), I had to get one in October, and I was able to get one. So, I wouldn’t worry about it if you can’t get one right now.</p>
<p>There should be a local number for the Post Office because the people at the National USPS number are really no help at all. You can open a box online, but the ordeal to get the PO Box number and have them verify your ID is hectic if you don’t go down to the exact post office (been there, done that, lol). Talking to the guys that work at the post office, reserving a box online may actually be more hassle than doing it in person when the year starts or at orientation. If your son won’t have the $46 ($44 plus a $2 key deposit) to pay in person (cash, credit, or debit), then do it online. I was able to get a box online and have my identity confirmed at my local Post Office, but is a hassle. On the other hand, the guys at the Post Office know me really well. There are hundreds of PO boxes, and I think less than half are currently being used. There should be no problem getting a PO Box.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I’ll have him try to do it during orientation if he has the time. If not, we’ll do it when we get down there in August.</p>
<p>My son got a US PO Box his first year (08’). I don’t think he has gotten more than 5 pieces of mail of packages since then. I prefer to use “Care Package Delivery Service” in Paty hall. At least in our case, we don’t send envelope mail or cards. We send care packages. I prefer to use the USPS Priority “Flat Rate” Boxes. You can print postage lables on line, use the automated postal machine in the Post Office lobby after hours too.</p>
<p>^^^Care Package Delivery Info at:</p>
<p>[Housing</a> & Residential Communities - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://housing.ua.edu/package.cfm]Housing”>http://housing.ua.edu/package.cfm)</p>
<p>I was under the impression that USPS does not deliver to the care package delivery center so one needs a PO Box to get USPS packages (the flat rate boxes do work really well). UA does want you to have a local address, as would your state’s DMV and elections office (mailing addresses do not affect your residency/elections as your child is only temporarily OOS). By having a PO Box, you do get some pretty good restaurant coupons and can receive letters, business documents, and magazines.</p>
<p>To Send a Package via UPS, FedEx or DHL to a student living on campus, please address the package to:</p>
<p>The University of Alabama
Student First Name and Last Name/Student Residence Hall
C/o CARE PACKAGE DELIVERY CENTER - Paty Hall
210 McCorvey Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401</p>
<p>^^^You are right, Sea_tide. Per the link I included in the post above yours: “Packages sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS) must be sent to the student’s post office box in the Ferguson Center. The Postal Service does not deliver to the Paty Package Delivery Center.”</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with “Care Package Delivery Center”. I asked them to explain how the Flat Rate Boxes that I send to Paty Hall via USPS get to my son and his friends (I have been sending anywhere from 1-4 packages a month to Paty for two years). </p>
<p>Here is the answer:
The Flat Rate Boxes sent via USPS do go to the Ferg PO first. Within one or two days, the Ferg PO brings the packages addressed to Care Package Delivery Center to Paty Hall. </p>
<p>IMO, It seems that UA Administration and the Ferg PO branch know that there are not enough PO Boxes available for the number of students that want them. In addition, some students do not have the money to rent a mail box. For these reasons, the Ferg PO will continue to redirect the Flat Rate Boxes to Paty Hall when time allows with the staff on hand OR when the Ferg PO needs the floor space. </p>
<p>I will continue to send the USPS Flat Rate Boxes addresses to Care Package Delivery Center.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! : )</p>
<p>Good to know USPS will forward boxes to the Package Delivery Center. I do know that the post office has a lot of boxes available (probably half or more of all PO boxes), but manyb people simply don’t rent one. One does get spoiled with the flat rate boxes. For less than $15, you can get a box full of stuff (like cookies, yum) in two days. One thing I should remind parents is that the Post Office is closed for package pickup on weekends, but the PO boxes still receive Saturday mail and are accessible 24/7/365.</p>