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Tuesday, January 21st
Anytime Mailbox has been in operation since 2013, and the company can connect you with more than 1700 choices for your virtual mailbox address - both inside and outside of the US (with the exceptions of Alaska, Nebraska, and North Dakota).
Price will depend on the address you choose
Anytime Mailbox relies exclusively on third-party mail centers to service your virtual mailbox. That means that even though they advertise plans starting at $5.99/month, it will always be dictated by the address you choose and who operates the location. As an example, one city in Florida had virtual mailboxes at several different mail centers with starting prices ranging from $9.99 to $63.99.
No responsibility for the service you receive
We reached out to Anytime Mailbox through their online chat during regular business hours. The chat said they were "short staffed due to the recent outbreak” (which had been ongoing for years at that point) and that replies would come in three minutes or less, but we didn't reach a rep until the 10-minute mark. When we asked what service Anytime offers once a customer has chosen a virtual mailbox address, she said that they are "only the software company for the virtual mailbox portal used by the mail center operator”. In plain English, that means that you have no recourse if your virtual mailbox center shuts down, loses your mail, or causes some other problem. You'll want to take note of the mail center's name when browsing available addresses: at least that way, you can check out their reputation and see if issues are likely.
Still gets lots of positive reviews
Shortcomings aside, Anytime Mailbox still garners lots of strong reviews: thousands of 4- and 5-star ratings representing nearly 90% of its clients. The Better Business Bureau also gives this virtual mailbox platform an "A+” and accreditation. That's surprising when you think about how small Anytime Mailbox's role is in the overall customer experience.
Results may vary
We have a hard time giving Anytime Mailbox anything other than a "just average” rating. Sure, the company gets a strong BBB rating and lots of positive client reviews, but essentially it's just a referral platform that can connect you to mail centers that offer virtual mailboxes. We don't love the idea of getting zero support if there's a problem, or relying solely on third-party partners to deliver good service. We suggest looking at Anytime Mailbox's higher-ranked rivals first.
When you hear the term "virtual mailbox”, you might think it's referring to your email inbox. The concept is similar, but it relates to your real-world, physical mail and making it 100% digital. Still, many people aren't sure how exactly it all works.
First, you authorize a company to act as your agent (by submitting a notarized copy of USPS Form 1583) and select one of their available addresses. Once you've forwarded your mail or changed your address on file with your credit card company, the DMV, and anywhere else that sends it to you, the virtual mailbox company will scan the outside of everything that comes in your name. You then sign in to your dashboard, indicate what you'd like done with each piece - scan the contents, forward to your location, or shred and discard - and you're done.
There are several other services that can be included with your virtual mailbox plan. These include check depositing (by forwarding them to the bank of your choice), package inspection, mail and package forwarding, and even remote notarization of your USPS form. Be aware that some providers include such features with your monthly or annual plan, while others will charge a la carte for any extra services you use. Those can really add up, so it's smart to have an idea of what your average needs will be and choose a virtual mailbox service that won't wind up costing an arm and a leg.
Wondering why virtual mailboxes are so popular? Think about how many people are traveling without a fixed permanent address, working as digital nomads around the globe, or operating a small business out of their home and don't want prospective customers to know the address of their residence? Virtual mailboxes can be a fantastic solution in those cases. Even large corporations are taking advantage of outsourcing their brick-and-mortar mailrooms and having all inbound mail received and sorted digitally, saving their employees time by having everything routed automatically to the right person.
With more than a dozen well-known options for virtual mailboxes, you might feel overwhelmed deciding which one is right for you. It's worth taking some time to compare them carefully, because it can be costly and time-consuming to set up the service - and to cancel and reroute your mail if you don't wind up liking it. Keep in mind these factors as you evaluate several different virtual mailbox options:
Virtual mailboxes can take care of getting your mail to you no matter where you roam, and TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular options. We're sure this information will help you choose the right service for your needs, business or personal!
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