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Tuesday, January 21st
US Global Mail makes it so very easy to get and use your virtual mailbox. Whether you need an address near you or you want your mail to be personally handled by their employees, you'll have plenty of options with this company.
Three low-cost plans to choose from
You won't pay a ton of money for your virtual mailbox at US Global Mail. There are three options you can consider:
Get a lot for your monthly fees
You'll be stunned at how much you get with your USGM virtual mailbox. There's no limit to the number of inbound envelope scans, and check deposits are free too. Given that most rival services have limits on how many pieces you can receive each month and charge you $4.95 or more for deposits, US Global Mail could save you a lot of money if you anticipate getting a lot of mail or making many deposits.
Pay-per-scan on content
The one little downside of USGM's virtual mailbox plans is that they don't include any content scanning. If you need to see what's inside an envelope, you'll pay $3 per piece plus $0.50 per page. It's also an extra charge if you need their staff to open and inspect a package or if you go in person to pick up your mail. Why? US Global Mail has a strong digital-only approach to mail processing, so their locations aren't really designed to prioritize in-person interactions or lots of hands-on work.
USGM helps you "go green”
That hands-off mindset is part of US Global Mail's "green” initiatives. Not only do they recycle all junk mail and pieces that clients indicate should be discarded, but they also plant a tree for every customer who signs up for their virtual mailbox service. We support their efforts.
Remote notarization available
Remember how you'll need to turn in a notarized USPS Form 1583 to authorize any virtual mailbox service to receive your mail? That can be tricky to do if you're already abroad somewhere. US Global Mail has you covered: you can schedule a Zoom appointment with a remote notary right on the USGM website. You'll pay either $15 or $25 for the service, depending on the date you choose, but there's no more convenient way to get it done from just about anywhere.
30-day guarantee
US Global Mail offers a 30-day guarantee on all virtual mailbox plans. It could be more clearly worded - since the FAQ says "if you leave in the middle of your account term, you will not get a refund” - but we're fairly confident that the statement applies after the initial 30-day period.
Stellar reputation
This virtual mailbox service has an excellent reputation. Not only has the company earned the Better Business Bureau's top accolades - an "A+” rating and accreditation -but thousands of clients give US Global Mail a perfect five-star rating too. The reviews from long-term clients who wouldn't trust their mail to any other company are particularly convincing. We were especially pleased to see comments from expats who describe USGM's support team as having a "can-do attitude”, getting mail and packages forwarded to destinations all around the world - without any hefty markups on shipping fees.
#1 for virtual mailboxes
US Global Mail earns our highest recommendation for virtual mailboxes. While it would be a nice perk if their plans included a few scans in the monthly packages, there's still so much value included in what USGM already offers. No other virtual mailbox provider gives you unlimited envelope scans and check deposits for less than $10/month. US Global Mail should be the first company you consider when shopping for a virtual mailbox service.
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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