September 22, 2020 | 3 min read
Anytime Mailbox’s Virtual Mailbox service and the United States Postal Service’s Informed Delivery service are often confused. Many think why should I get a virtual mailbox from Anytime Mailbox if the USPS Informed Delivery service is free? There are reasons to argue both sides of the fence here, but what really matters are your needs and which service fits them best.
What’s the Difference Between a Virtual Mailbox and Informed Delivery?
First off, the key difference is that Informed Delivery is a useful postal mail alert provided for free by the US Postal Service while an Anytime Mailbox Virtual Mailbox allows you to fully manage your postal mail from anywhere, anytime, and it includes a real street address, useful for business privacy and security reasons.
USPS Informed Delivery is a great service that helps the USPS transition into the digital age. Knowing when your mail and packages are arriving can be helpful when you have a busy day and you're unsure if someone can sign for it, at home or at the office.
However, the USPS’ Informed Delivery main limitation is that it’s only real purpose is to tell you that postal mail is coming your way and what it looks like from the outside.
By comparison, Anytime Mailbox’s Virtual Mailbox service not only provides an alert of postal mail but also has the capability to request that a mail item be opened and scanned, forwarded, shredded, or discarded, or even have checks deposited. Packages can also be managed and stored securely in the same way. All mail items are instantly digitized, encrypted, and backed up in the cloud, keeping your postal mail secure and accessible, being able to assign dates, names, and categories, so you can maneuver it as easily as your email. This is why an Anytime Mailbox Virtual Mailbox has a nominal monthly subscription cost, on average about $9.99 a month, a significant value, similar to the cost of a Netflix or HBO monthly subscription.
A Virtual Office Option
For many people starting a business or transitioning to remote work or self-employment, an Anytime Mailbox Virtual Mailbox serves as the backbone to their "Virtual Office". Simply combining a virtual mailbox with a phone number and live reception service essentially provides all the services of a Virtual Office at a significantly reduced expense.
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Compare the Features and Benefits of Anytime Mailbox’s
Virtual Mailbox and USPS’ Informed Delivery
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| Cost | Avg Monthly Cost: $9.99 | None |
| Notified of mail/package in transit | ✘ | ✔ |
| Notified of mail/package arrival | ✔ | ✘ |
| Professionalizes Your Business w/Real Street Address | ✔ | ✘ |
| Secures Home Address w/ Alt. Real Street Address | ✔ | ✘ |
| In-App Request to Forward via FedEx, UPS, DHL or USPS | ✔ | ✘ |
| In-App Request to Open & Scan of Mail Items | ✔ | ✘ |
| In-App Request to Shred Sensitive Mail Items | ✔ | ✘ |
| In-App Request to Recycle Unwanted Mail or Junk Mail | ✔ | ✘ |
| Receive FedEx, UPS, DHL or USPS at Real Street Address | ✔ | ✘ |
| Postal Mail Securely Encrypted and Stored in the Cloud | ✔ | ✘ |
| 100% Contactless Mail and Package Management | ✔ | ✘ |
How Do I Know That I Need A Virtual Mailbox?
A virtual mailbox is a great fit for people starting a small business. When you’re self-employed, starting a home-based business or are a startup entrepreneur, a virtual mailbox is right for you:
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If you need the practicality and value of a real street address instead of a PO Box.
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If you want to professionalize your business address in a downtown business area, another city or across the country.
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If you’d rather use your home address as your business address.
Frequently on the go, living abroad or just a wanderluster at heart and can’t be bothered to deal with...
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postal mail filling up your mailbox at home
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not having a permanent address
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constantly have no one to sign for your packages
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keep missing important postal mail that you wish could magically appear and be read on your phone or laptop
If you identify with any of those points above, you’re a perfect candidate for a virtual mailbox. It’s not just for busy professionals, either! Even kids that live away from home at college or young adults embarking on their careers in a new city can use a virtual mailbox to manage the postal mail they receive in their hometown.
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