Mailbox services in Boston are a practical safeguard and not just a convenience. Boston is a high-delivery city: dense neighborhoods, lots of multi-unit buildings, heavy foot traffic, and a constant stream of Amazon/USPS/UPS/FedEx drop-offs.
That mix makes missed deliveries, Amazon missing packages, USPS missing packages, UPS stolen packages, and plain old stolen packages (porch piracy) feel disproportionately common, especially when packages are left in unsecured lobbies, vestibules, or on stoops.
At the same time, mailbox services (USPS PO Boxes, private mailboxes, delivery lockers, and package receiving services) are booming because they solve one basic problem: getting your deliveries out of the “unattended last 10 feet.”
Boston Package Delivery Problems: What News Reports and Audits Reveal
Massachusetts and Boston authorities have issued direct local warnings and documented incidents:
“Missing Packages” Doesn’t Always Mean Stolen: Delivery Scans, Mis-Deliveries, and Building Breakdowns
A famous Roxbury case initially reported as 138 packages stolen later became a lesson in how easily package rooms can break down (access systems down, confusion, poor tracking), and police later said packages were accounted for/picked up, i.e., not necessarily “stolen packages,” but a systems failure that looked like theft.
Delivery performance issues add fuel (especially for USPS)
A USPS OIG audit of Boston-area operations (Boston Processing & Distribution Center and associated units) reported deficiencies affecting delivery operations, including delayed mail and package scanning issues.
When scans are wrong (e.g., “Delivered” when it’s not actually in your hands), it directly increases “Amazon marked delivered but not received” disputes, and it complicates claims.
In practice, “mailbox service” can be one of five models:
Each exists because the default alternative, packages left unattended at a door or lobby is where most “porch piracy” happens.
What you get
USPS describes a PO Box as a secure numbered box at the post office, with the ability to manage online, and notes options like keeping your signature on file so packages can be placed into the box/parcel locker when available.
What it’s good for
What it’s not great for
Pricing
USPS pricing varies heavily by box size + location + rental term. USPS explains you choose size and payment period during signup; exact costs are location-specific.
Third-party summaries commonly describe a wide range (roughly single-digit/month up to $100+/month in expensive areas), but you should treat these as directional, not authoritative for your exact Boston ZIP.
The key advantage: “multi-carrier” + street-style addressing
UPS Store mailbox programs emphasize:
That “multi-carrier” point matters in Boston, because a lot of residents receive a mix of Amazon (often delivered by Amazon Logistics), USPS, UPS, FedEx, and regional couriers.
Services commonly bundled
A UPS Store location page for Boston describes features like secure package acceptance from all carriers, mail receipt notifications, holding, and forwarding (exact offerings can vary by store).
Pricing (how it usually works)
UPS and UPS Store pages generally do not publish universal pricing because it’s location + size + services dependent.
Many independent summaries put “typical” PMB costs in the teens to a few dozen dollars per month depending on size/location, but again, Boston can run higher than suburban areas.
Boston reality check: call or check your exact location for the real rate, then compare it against how many packages you lose (or time you waste) each month.
These don’t replace a mailbox, but they are often the fastest fix for:
Common patterns:
Massachusetts consumer guidance explicitly encourages prevention behaviors (planning delivery timing, secure receiving options, etc.) because porch piracy is often a crime of opportunity during high-volume periods.
Below are recurring, well-documented complaint categories (Boston + broader U.S.), including examples from public sources.
A) “Delivered” scan, but package is not there (the #1 trigger for disputes)
This often leads people to assume stolen packages, but it can also be:
Boston-area USPS audits found issues including package scanning problems, exactly the kind of operational issue that can inflate “marked delivered but not received” situations.
Amazon’s own guidance for “Find a Missing Package that Shows as Delivered” tells customers to check delivery photos, around the property, with neighbors/household members, and then proceed via Amazon support workflows.
B) Apartment lobby / package-room failures
Boston’s Roxbury “138 packages” story shows how quickly a package-room breakdown can become chaos: access systems down, confusion, and uncertainty over whether theft occurred.
C) Porch piracy / quick snatches (especially in dense, walkable blocks)
Local reporting and police posts show the classic pattern: the theft happens within minutes and is over fast, often before a resident can react.
D) Service experience complaints (not just delivery outcomes)
Mailbox and shipping centers get complaints too, often about staff behavior, unclear policies, or handling.
Example: a BBB customer review of a Boston UPS Store location describes a negative in-store experience around Amazon returns and dismissive service.
(That’s not “package stolen,” but it is a real, public customer grievance tied to mailbox/shipping ecosystem friction.)
E) “Will the carrier flag me if I report stolen packages repeatedly?”
This comes up frequently in social communities. For instance, a Reddit thread discusses repeated stolen package reports and whether buildings get flagged for requiring signatures later.
This reflects a common fear: that reporting theft repeatedly could make deliveries harder.
A few Boston-area stories worth noting because they show different failure modes:
If you mainly need mail security (letters, checks, government mail)
If you need multi-carrier packages and fewer missed deliveries
If theft is your #1 problem (porch piracy / apartment lobby risk)
These align with official guidance and observed patterns:
If you’re comparing mailbox services in Boston options, Stowfly stands out for one simple reason: it’s built around packages, not just mail, so you are not stuck dealing with delivery hassles in busy buildings and neighborhoods.
With Stowfly, your orders can be delivered to a secure pickup location in Boston, helping you avoid the common problems people run into with home delivery, missed drop-offs, packages left in shared entryways, and stolen packages.
Stowfly makes package delivery easy. Our Boston package receiving services network offers secure pickup spots near you, so your deliveries aren’t sitting unattended outside.
Pick a plan that matches your routine: $7.50/month for 5 packages or $15/month for 15 packages. No more worrying about missing Amazon packages in Boston, or issues like UPS lost packages, FedEx stolen packages, or USPS missing packages.
Sign up today and claim your first month free, then enjoy stress-free package storage and pickup at a trusted Stowfly package storage location in Boston.
For anyone weighing mailbox rental Boston choices, secure handling and full carrier acceptance are what actually protect your deliveries.
Take a look at the complete guide for mailbox for rent in the USA in this blog.