The UPS Store
National franchise
- Monthly
- Typically $30–$50/mo
- Per package
- Per-package handling fees common
- Setup
- Setup fee varies by franchise
More US locations if you travel. Notary often by appointment.
UPS Store vs PostalAnnex for mailbox rental in San Jose
The honest comparison between the two national chains most folks know — plus a local, family-owned option most San Jose folks don't realize is right around the corner.
That local alternative is Mailbox Plus — BBB Accredited, FedEx Authorized ShipCenter, USPS CMRA, 4.9★ across Google & Yelp. Family-owned in East San Jose.
At a glance
The two big chains — and a local alternative
Most San Jose folks comparing mailbox rentals are picking between The UPS Store and PostalAnnex. Here's a third option you probably haven't heard of.
PostalAnnex
National franchise
- Monthly
- Typically $30–$45/mo
- Per package
- Per-package handling fees common
- Setup
- Setup fee varies by franchise
Specialized printing and binding focus. Pricing & service varies more widely by franchise.
Mailbox Plus
Local · family-owned
- Monthly
- Starting at $25/mo
- Per package
- $0 within tier allowance
- Setup
- $30 one-time
Lowest starting rate with no per-package surprises. Photo of every piece of mail emailed to you. BBB Accredited. Family-owned right here in East San Jose.
Reserve my mailbox →Competitor pricing reflects typical franchise ranges as of May 2026. Each franchise sets its own rates, so we quote a range rather than a single store's number — call your nearest location to confirm.
Side by side
The full comparison
Pick which chain you're comparing against. The local alternative is always on the right.
| The UPS Store | PostalAnnex | Mailbox Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly rate | Typically $30–$50/mo | Typically $30–$45/mo | Starting at $25/mo |
| Per-package handling fee | Often charged after limits | Often charged after limits | $0 within tier allowance (15–25+ pkg/mo by tier) |
| Real street address (LLC / DBA-friendly) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Receives packages from any carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, Amazon) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outbound shipping you can drop off at the counter | UPS (parent brand) + USPS · DHL at some locations | Varies by franchise — typically UPS, DHL | FedEx (Authorized ShipCenter) + USPS |
| Mail-photo email notifications | No | No | Yes |
| FedEx Authorized ShipCenter on-site | No | No | Yes |
| Walk-in Notary Public | Often by appointment | Varies by location | Walk-in Mon–Sat |
| Live Scan fingerprinting on-site | Varies by location | Varies by location | Yes — CA DOJ approved |
| Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines | No | No | Yes |
| BBB Accredited Business | Check bbb.org for your local franchise | Check bbb.org for your local franchise | Yes — accredited |
| Ownership | National franchise (fees to corporate) | National franchise (fees to corporate) | Family-owned · independent · San Jose |
| Hours | Varies by franchise | Varies by franchise | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm |
“Found the best rate here! $25/mo vs $120 for 3 months at UPS across the street. Plus the service is amazing!”
Note: a meaningful share of Amazon returns are issued with FedEx labels — those can be dropped off at Mailbox Plus. Check your return label before deciding where to drive.
No-spin section
Where each one actually wins
We don't think we're the right answer for everyone. Here's an honest read on who should pick what.
The UPS Store
When it's the better fit
- ✓You travel a lot and want a location in nearly every US city
- ✓You need after-hours mail pickup (many locations have lobby access — we're Mon–Sat 10–6 only)
- ✓You're already locked into the UPS Store ecosystem for shipping
- ✓You're an established customer — switching means notifying banks, clients, the IRS, and Google Business Profile, which usually isn't worth the savings if your address is well-known
PostalAnnex
When it's the better fit
- ✓You need specialized printing or binding services bundled with your mailbox
- ✓You need after-hours mail pickup (many locations have lobby access — we're Mon–Sat 10–6 only)
- ✓Your nearest PostalAnnex happens to have pricing or hours that beat the local alternatives
- ✓You're an established customer — switching means notifying banks, clients, the IRS, and Google Business Profile, which usually isn't worth the savings if your address is well-known
- ✓Brand familiarity
Mailbox Plus
When we're the better fit
- ✓You want the lowest starting rate with no per-package surprises
- ✓You want a clean business address format — not a “Ste 320 PMB 354” suite-inside-a-suite that confuses banks, clients, and the public record
- ✓You'd rather support a local family-owned shop than a national franchise
- ✓You like getting an emailed photo every time mail arrives — so you only drive in when something's worth picking up
- ✓You also need Notary, Live Scan, passport photos, FedEx shipping, or Balikbayan boxes under one roof
- ✓You're new to the area or just starting your mailbox — switching is easy when there's no address to migrate yet
I still drop off my own Amazon returns at the UPS Store down the road. They're good neighbors and do that job well. But if you're renting a mailbox month after month, there's a better deal at Mailbox Plus.
Real switch stories
From people who came over
What customers tell us when they walk in. Two recent ones below — names initialized for privacy.
M.
Customer M.
Switched from The UPS Store
When she moved her mailbox over from The UPS Store, she told us she couldn't believe the value. Her favorite part? The mail-arrival photo we email her — so she never makes a wasted trip. Her old box didn't do that.
D.
Customer D.
Switched from The UPS Store
He told us he switched because he felt better supporting a local family-owned shop than a corporate franchise. He was also surprised that we're BBB Accredited — and that the UPS Store down the road on Toyon isn't.
Names anonymized for privacy. Stories shared with permission.
Do the math
What a year actually costs
Same usage assumption across the board: a typical customer with ~5 packages per month from various carriers.
- The UPS Store
- ~$40/mo × 12 + setup + per-package fees on ~5 pkg/mo
- PostalAnnex
- ~$35/mo × 12 + setup + per-package fees on ~5 pkg/mo
- Mailbox Plus (the local option)
- $25/mo × 12 + $30 setup, no per-package fees
~$540–$700
first year (estimated)
~$480–$620
first year (estimated)
$330
first year
Competitor totals are estimates based on typical franchise rates and per-package fees as of May 2026. Franchises set their own pricing, so we quote a range; your actual gap will widen further if you receive more than 5 packages per month.
Prepay 12 months and get 2 free — $300 covers 14 months of mail instead of 12.
Have questions before you decide? Call (408) 372-8689 — talk to MJ or Eric directly.
No phone tree, no call center. We answer it ourselves Mon–Sat, 10am–6pm.
Switching questions, answered
What people ask us when they're thinking about coming over.
The #1 question we get from people considering the switch from The UPS Store or PostalAnnex is "how hard is the address change?" Short answer: it takes about 30 minutes if you have 5–10 senders to update, and we'll help you make a checklist. Detailed switching FAQ below.
Is Mailbox Plus cheaper than The UPS Store and PostalAnnex in San Jose?
Yes — and the gap widens over a year. Our Small tier starts at $25/month and includes up to 15 packages with no extra handling fees; Medium and Large tiers go up to 25+ packages on the same flat-rate basis. The UPS Store and PostalAnnex base rates typically run higher ($30–$50 and $30–$45 respectively, varying by franchise) and often add per-package fees once you cross a monthly limit. Over 12 months that can easily be a $200–$400+ difference for a typical e-commerce or small-business customer.
How do I move my mail over from The UPS Store or PostalAnnex?
Three steps. (1) Open your Mailbox Plus box — about 15 minutes at the counter with two IDs. (2) File a USPS Change of Address from your old mailbox to your new one, and update key senders (banks, employers, the IRS, DMV, business filings). (3) Let your old mailbox run out the current paid term, then close it. There's no rush — you can keep both for a month while you make sure nothing's missing.
What's the actual price difference over a year?
Mailbox Plus at our Small tier: $25/mo × 12 = $300/year, plus a one-time $30 setup = $330 first year. A typical UPS Store or PostalAnnex mailbox at ~$40/month with even modest per-package fees would run roughly $500–$700/year. Higher tiers and heavier package volume widen the gap further. Competitor figures are typical franchise ranges — call your nearest store to confirm their exact rate.
Does The UPS Store also send mail-arrival photos?
Not as a standard feature. The UPS Store offers package text notifications at some locations, but not the kind of photo-of-the-envelope mail notification that we email on every physical mailbox tier. This is one of the most common reasons customers tell us they switched.
Are you actually BBB Accredited?
Yes. Mailbox Plus is a BBB Accredited Business. The UPS Store and PostalAnnex are franchises — accreditation is per-franchise, not corporate. You can look up any specific location on bbb.org. Several customers have remarked to us that they were surprised their nearby chain location was not accredited while we are.
Can I use the address for my California LLC or DBA?
Yes — all three options give you a real street address that California Secretary of State recognizes for LLC and DBA filings. The decision usually comes down to monthly cost, per-package fees, and which services you also need under the same roof.
Is there a contract or commitment?
No. All our mailbox plans are month-to-month. You can cancel, upgrade, or downgrade anytime. Prepay 6 months and get 1 month free, or prepay 12 and get 2 months free if you want to lock in savings.
What if I'd rather not switch — can I still use you for shipping or notary?
Absolutely, and many customers do exactly that. You can keep your existing mailbox elsewhere and still come to us for FedEx shipping (we're an Authorized ShipCenter), walk-in Notary Public, Live Scan fingerprinting, passport photos, Balikbayan boxes, or document shredding. No mailbox required.
Find us in East San Jose
3477 McKee Rd, San Jose, CA 95127
Country Club Villa Shopping Center, near McKee & Toyon. About a 5-minute drive from Berryessa, Alum Rock, or East Foothills — and right between the UPS Store on Toyon Ave and PostalAnnex locations to the west.
Come meet your new mailbox.
Apply online in about a minute, drop in with two IDs, and start getting mail the same day.
4.9
Google & Yelp
Read more reviews — or leave us one.
Customer feedback keeps us honest. Our reviews are public on Google and Yelp — read what neighbors say, and if we've helped you, a quick note goes a long way.
Visit us
Come by the store.
We're in the Country Club Villa Shopping Center, near the CVS at the corner of McKee and Toyon. Free parking, wheelchair accessible, and a real person behind the counter.
Mailbox Plus
3477 McKee Rd
San Jose, CA 95127
- Mon – Sat
- 10am – 6pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Other services at Mailbox Plus in San Jose
All under one roof at 3477 McKee Rd, San Jose. Walk-ins welcome Mon–Sat 10am–6pm.
Private Mailbox Rental
Flat-rate physical mailboxes from $25/mo or virtual from $9.99/mo.
Private mailbox rental in San Jose →FedEx & USPS Shipping
Domestic, international, overnight. Prepaid FedEx/USPS return drop-off.
FedEx and USPS shipping in San Jose →Notary Public
$15 per signature. California-commissioned. No appointment for 1–2 documents.
Walk-in Notary Public in San Jose →