posted on December 11, 2004 07:46:13 PM new
OK, here's an unusual one. I'm getting ready to try a distributor that requires that I have a "delivery address zoned commercial or retail" for UPS to deliver to.
I technically *DO* have one, so it's not a current problem. HOWEVER, I've been considering giving up my office and working from home. If UPS doesn't consider my home a business (which they won't) this wholesaler won't sell to me. I'm not going to explain why, but their decision DOES make sense in their industry and is pretty standard, so going elsewhere is not an option.
I have a "commercial" office now, and I can always keep it for deliveries, but was hoping to eliminate the expense after the holidays.
Any interesting workarounds? Something like a PO box for "business zoned" deliveries? I cannot be the first seller to run into something like this.
[ edited by replaymedia on Dec 11, 2004 07:46 PM ]
posted on December 11, 2004 08:11:36 PM new
There are many reasons a wholeseller or distributor would have a requirement like this. The best workaround would be to have it shipped to a commercially zoned address, such as a friend who could receive it at his place of business, or a mini-storage facility that could receive it and put it into a unit you are renting. The most obvious, of course, is to apply to the city for a zone change. Most zoning codes have classifications for very light commercial businesses such as bookkeepers, hairdressers, Avon distributors, etc. Any Ebay seller who sells from his home and completes more than two transactions per year (in California at least) is probably technically in violation of a local zoning ordinance if they live in an incorporated city and are subject to enforcement action if they are zoned residential.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on December 11, 2004 09:00:39 PM new
Max...Good observation. I'm not sure how the property tax laws work in Replay's state (I believe he's in Oregon), but that would not be a problem in California unless the property changes owners or unless there is a major physical improvement, such as building a warehouse or other building on the site. It's a little perk property owners have after we shoved Prop 13 up the tax assessor's kazoo in 1978.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on December 12, 2004 06:20:04 AM new
It's Ohio, actually.
1) My city is particularly nasty with zoning. Back when I had a store, I had to go three years without a sign because the people next door had a sign that was too big. No exceptions.
2) I'm a renter. My landlord doesn't care about me having an office in my 2nd bedroom, but I doubt he'd be pleased at a zoning change
No, what I was looking for in an answer was some kind of chain of "mini offices" or something I can contact. Something like those self-storage places but more for what I had in mind.
I'm probably stuck paying for the real office. It kills me to put out a couple hundred bucks a month and only go there to pick up UPS orders...
--------------------------------------
Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 12, 2004 06:27:47 AM new
i dont know what you sell,but can you pay someone to have your merchandise delivered to his store and you go and pick them up??
or someone who has a one man office and is there all the time to receive your package,i know in our city,self employed folks have offices which go for 200 a month,if you give them 25,it sure help lower his cost.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on December 12, 2004 07:36:49 AM new
Mail Boxes Etc. or a similar "private" mailbox company. They are located in commercially zoned areas and can accept deliveries from UPS, FedEx, etc. A PO Box won't do because they can't accept those type of deliveries. Low cost as compared to maintaining a separate office.
The Private Mail Box companies offer a street address that is preferable to a PO Box for a lot of sellers.
posted on December 12, 2004 08:34:33 AM new
very good advice.
But i have found some of these places run by dishonest operators !
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on December 12, 2004 10:57:40 AM new
I was going to suggest the same thing ExExec suggested. Rather than using one of the larger chains that tend to be more "structured" and "regulated" by the bosses, I would suggest one of the "mom & pop" shops though. Get to know mom or pop and you should have no problems. I pay $15 a month for my box and they accept all deliveries for me. At the end of the year I get the owner gift certificates for dinner & a movie downtown for him and his wife in thanks for all the headaches he helped me avoid during the past year. Added bonus... no missed deliveries - someone is always there to sign.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
