Frequently Asked Questions

Hazardous & Dangerous Materials

• Explosives
• Fireworks
• Ammunition
• Gasoline or fuel
• Propane tanks
• Aerosol cans
• Paint thinners and solvents
• Pool chemicals
• Corrosive chemicals
• Radioactive materials

Weapons & Firearm-Related Items

• Certain firearms
• Handguns through USPS (with limited exceptions)
• Illegal weapon accessories
• Explosive weapon parts
• Tasers or stun guns in some states

Illegal or Controlled Substances

• Illegal drugs
• Marijuana products (depending on state/federal law)
• Unapproved CBD products
• Certain prescription medications

Alcohol & Tobacco

• Alcoholic beverages
• Cigarettes
• Vape products and e-cigarettes
• Smokeless tobacco

Perishable or Biological Items

• Human remains
• Biological samples
• Infectious substances
• Live animals (with limited exceptions)
• Certain food products

Currency & High-Value Items

• Cash
• Lottery tickets
• Precious metals or loose gemstones
• High-value jewelry without declared value procedures

Counterfeit & Illegal Goods

• Counterfeit products
• Pirated media
• Stolen property
• Illegal pornography
• Fraudulent documents

Lithium Batteries & Electronics

• Loose lithium batteries
• Damaged batteries
• Hoverboards or devices with recalled batteries

Other Restricted Items

• Nail polish
• Perfume containing alcohol
• Dry ice
• Magnetized materials
• Strong adhesives
• Flammable liquids

Private mailboxes provide a real street address instead of a PO Box number, accept packages from all carriers including FedEx and UPS, and offer 24-hour key access at Postal Plus. Post office boxes use PO Box numbers that many businesses won't ship to and have limited access hours.

Rate shopping compares pricing across UPS, FedEx, USPS, and other carriers for your specific package to find the lowest cost. Postal Plus checks all carrier rates before shipping, often beating the prices you'd pay at single-carrier stores like UPS Store or FedEx Office.

Low humidity in Boise's high desert causes static buildup and paper curl on consumer-grade equipment. Professional-grade printers regulate temperature and handle climate-appropriate materials to prevent feeding issues and maintain consistent print quality regardless of seasonal moisture changes.

Yes, private mailbox holders at Postal Plus receive 24-hour key access to retrieve mail and packages anytime. This differs from post office boxes which restrict access to lobby hours, typically closing evenings and weekends.

Authorized iPostal facilities provide digital mailbox services that scan incoming mail so you view it online before deciding whether to open, forward, shred, or hold it. Regular mailboxes require physical visits to check what arrived, while iPostal notifies you digitally.

HIPAA compliance and Idaho legal standards require secure transmission methods with delivery confirmation for protected health information and legal documents. Fax provides encrypted point-to-point transmission with verification records that email and online services can't guarantee under federal requirements.

Boise's dry climate causes paper brittleness, ink fading, and structural breakdown over time. High-resolution scanning creates searchable PDF archives that preserve documents digitally before environmental damage occurs, protecting records from the accelerated aging caused by low humidity conditions.

Postal Plus picks up packaged items from E-commerce businesses throughout Ada County, rate shops across carriers for lowest shipping costs, and handles all shipment processing. This serves garage-based and small online sellers who need daily shipping without maintaining carrier accounts.

Shipping supply specialists purchase boxes at commercial volume pricing unavailable to retail chains, passing savings directly to customers. Postal Plus beats Home Depot and Lowe's box prices while stocking professional packaging materials designed for temperature extremes and long-distance shipping.

Idaho-commissioned notaries must complete state training, pass examination, maintain surety bonds, and follow proper ID verification and record-keeping procedures. Postal Plus employs commissioned notaries who understand Idaho-specific notarial requirements and maintain legal compliance documentation for all transactions.

Treasure Valley package theft increases significantly during holiday seasons and in neighborhoods with visible front-porch deliveries. Private mailboxes eliminate porch theft risk entirely by receiving packages in secure facilities with controlled access, particularly valuable for high-value shipments.

High-volume copying, mixed paper weights, oversized documents, and consistent quality across hundreds of copies require commercial equipment that maintains registration and prevents jams. Professional copiers handle cardstock, legal-size, and specialty papers that jam or misfeed on consumer machines found at basic copy locations.