How can I ship an item to my house or the post office without my family knowing?

What if you had it sent to a nearby friend or relatives' house?

You're complicating this. I take it you want mom to be surprised, too? If so, why not ask a relative or friend's mom to get the watch, and you'll fully reimburse before they do it? If a friend of one of my kids came to me and wanted to do this, I'd be impressed and happy to help. If not, you may have to bring mom into the surprise.

Also, your question about ebay is a really good one! All grocery stores sell their gift cards, but what I don't know is whether all their stores accept them. Many just want to use PayPal. There's usually a "contact seller" link somewhere and you could click on it and ask.

I do know you can buy anything on amazon with a gift card, because I'm on there all the time and this is how I buy stuff. Have you googled the watch name to see if amazon carries it? If so, this would be easy. You'd set up your account with a real name and address, add the code from the gift card ,and then when you go to order it, there's a place where you can have it sent to a different person. Just type in a friend's name and the gift will go directly to your friend.

The problem with eBay, especially if you use paypal to pay... sellers will usually only ship to the confirmed address you have set up with eBay & PayPal. A post office box, you have to pay for that first and most sellers won't ship to one because it doesn't match the billing address.

You can get an eBay gift card they're sold just about everywhere (Target, Kroger, WalMart, etc.. my local post office even sells them).

The only alternative is to see if the post office can hold your mail and you can go pick it up or have it sent somewhere else, but you'll need to contact the eBay seller first and see if they will ship to another address. To hold your mail, there is a form you need to fill out at the post office.

On the flip side, since it's a gift for dad... why can't mom know? Just tell her aside from it making it easier, she also won't buy him a similar gift. This is the easiest route to go. My kids tell me when they want to buy something for their dad or step dad so first I know it's coming, sometimes as a consult to see what they like and well sometimes because they need more money.

first you buy a prepaid card - mom knows you spent money but not on what

use the card to buy the "watch"

then you you could just have the package sent to CO (in care of) you to a friends or other family members house

then you can surprise everyone with the "watch"

The only way you can have something sent to a post office instead of your home address, when you have home delivery service, is to open a post office box. As a minor, you can open one with a parent or guardian's permission. Once it is open, you can order items to be delivered to the PO box.

Most merchants won't ship to a PO box if it is different from the address your form of payment is billed to. If your eBay/Paypal account address is your home address, that is the address eBay purchases will ship to. Even if you use an eBay gift card.

The simple solution is to tell your mother what you're doing. Then the ordering won't be a problem. Between you and her, you ought to be able to get that item before he does.

Since it's for a good cause, you can tell your mom about it and maybe offer to pay her back. You can have it sent to your mom's workplace instead.

You could have the seller ship it via UPS to a UPS store, and then go pick it up there. Call your local UPS store (or other shipping store, such as Postal Annex Plus, etc.) to see if they offer this service.

Hi Shems,

My advice as far as your mom is concerned is to simply tell without anyone else overhearing your conversation with her. I am sure your mom will be happy to keep your secret.

As far as being worried about your father finding out about your present, how will he know the present is for him and how will he know what that present is? It will come wrapped in a parcel.

If you are that concerned and if you have a relative close tell him/her what you are doing and ask them to take the parcel in temporarily, or ask a friend that lives close by to ask his/her parents if they would accept it until you want to give it to your father.

I believe you can buy items from Ebay and ask them to deliver it elsewhere.

Good luck and I hope your father loves his new watch.

Poseidon

Can you have it sent to a friend's house? Perhaps use a friend's card or PayPal?