A commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA), also known as a mail drop, typically operates as a Private Mail Box Operator. Addresses at a CMRA are therefore given the designation "PMB" (private mail box) instead of "POB" (Post Office box). Postbox redirects here. ... A Post Office box is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a Post Office station. ...

A customer of a CMRA can receive mail and other deliveries at the street address of the CMRA rather than the customer's own street address. Depending on the agreement between the customer and the CMRA, the CMRA can forward the mail to the customer or hold it for pickup. An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earths surface. ... Mail forwarding is a service typically offered by post offices and other mail services to redirect mail destined for one location to another for a period of time. ...

A customer may wish to use the services of a CMRA for privacy; for example, a person running a home-based business may not wish to divulge the home address. Alternatively, a customer in one community may contract with a CMRA in another community with a better known or more prestigious address.

A CMRA is able to receive parcels shipped by means other than a postal system; some postal authorities, such as the United States Postal Service, will not. CMRAs also provide ancillary services such as copy or courier services. Many CMRAs will discount their other prices for mail box subscribers. The cons of having a box at a CMRA include getting mail at a later time than one could at a Post Office box. A USPS logo A USPS truck in San Francisco A smaller truck (a Long Life Vehicle or LLV) used in suburban areas The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States government (see 39 USC Â§ 201) responsible for providing postal service...