{"id":50723,"date":"2023-10-02T14:53:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T18:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=50723"},"modified":"2023-10-02T14:53:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T18:53:28","slug":"sailing-totem-an-update-on-virtual-mailbox-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/people\/sailing-totem-an-update-on-virtual-mailbox-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing Totem: An Update on Virtual Mailbox Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jamie <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie inundated by the boxes we had delivered to our friend\u2019s address in Arizona.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n

Getting mail while cruising is a problem all cruisers need to address (groan). It\u2019s been more than 15 years since Jamie and I received mail in a conventional manner at a fixed address we call home. I have intended to update our guide to the best virtual mailbox services<\/a> for a while. There are a number of market entrants since our 2017 summary. But more importantly, there\u2019s a key factor\u2014perhaps the<\/em> key factor\u2014easily overlooked when picking \u201cthe best\u201d service for your needs. Services to consider include those in the USA, Canada and select other countries. Don\u2019t miss the mail service FAQ at the bottom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a Private Mailbox<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a few main features to consider when choosing a virtual mailbox service (VMS), with some insight into how these features work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Location<\/strong>. Rarely does a VMS support residency. Most likely, users choose to consolidate in a particular state for convenience or personal reasons. In most cases, VMS does not count as proof of residency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Services<\/strong>. The baseline is simple: A VMS provides a digital scan of your mail (envelope exterior first, interior contents on request), then forwards the mail or shreds it based on your wishes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Cost<\/strong>. There is an annual fee and additional costs. Don\u2019t overlook the add-on charges for bonus services. Many are volume-dependent. Ruthlessly cut your mail by only<\/em> sharing the new address when required.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Most Important FactorThe factor I had not considered before: What is the actual storefront<\/em> for your virtual mailbox service?<\/strong> Outside a headquarters address, most brands and platforms are executed by a local business independent from the platform. We learned this when picking up a parcel sent to an iPostal1 box we rented in Phoenix, and arrived at a small shop called not iPostal1, but Biltmore Mailboxes Plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Mailbox <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
    \n iPostal1 in Phoenix. I mean Anytime Mailbox. I mean Biltmore Mailboxes Plus\u2026 in Phoenix.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

    Choosing a VMS is not just picking a plan or service, it\u2019s also trusting your personal mail to other humans. In that sense, don\u2019t you think it might be nice to know more about them? Friends cruising the Caribbean on their St. Francis 44, Majestic<\/em>, use iPostal1, one of the major virtual mailbox services. In Annapolis, the iPostal1 business (and Anytime Mailbox address) is run out of a Staples store. Staples feels like a faceless chain to some, but it knows the folks working at the mail service inside; this made it the right choice for Majestic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We recommend due diligence on the storefront, and one of member of our coaching community took it a step further and outlined a great process. In Pinky Parson\u2019s words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n