Why are some virtual mailbox providers so cheap?
Earth Class Mail tries to keep its services affordable for all its customers, which is why our entry level plans start at $19 a month. Some local storefront mail centers offer virtual mailbox options for $10 a month.
What’s the difference? Many inexpensive options that provide postal mail online limit services to only exterior envelope scans. You’ll pay more for a scan of mail contents. Service and security varies because operations aren’t centralized.
How virtual mailbox services work
When you use a virtual mailbox, someone else will receive, scan, and upload your incoming mail before you get to see it.
That’s true whether you’re an individual or a business and for most of the virtual mailbox providers you can use. Virtual mailboxes can help you protect your personal information, such as your home address, and make sure that information contained in your postal mail gets securely shredded.
While all options might provide an anonymous street address separate from your personal address, not every virtual mailbox service sets security requirements for its operations, personnel, and data management.
Storefront mail centers with virtual mailboxes
If you want an online mailbox, you can pick from centralized providers like Earth Class Mail or use one of thousands of storefront mail processing stores, copy shops, and business centers that offer virtual mailbox services.
When you sign up with a virtual mailbox through a local mail center, your mail arrives at the store and employees at the center scan the envelopes. If you want to see the contents of your mail, you typically have to pay an additional fee per mail item.
These virtual mailbox providers often operate under a central brand - Anytime Mailbox, iPostal1, or Postscan Mail - but they don’t have centralized processing or systems.
If you use these providers, the employees opening and scanning your mail work for the mail center. They follow whatever safeguards those individual stores have. Service and security varies from sore to store.
Benefits of centralized virtual mailbox providers
Virtual mailbox providers with centralized operations have more control over their employees and mail systems. Earth Class Mail ensures the physical and digital security of our customers with:
Physical security of mail: We process all of our mail at our center in Beaverton, Oregon. We monitor the building 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with video surveillance. All mail and packages relieve a unique bar code so that they’re tracked. You can access your mail online from anywhere.
A team you can trust: All of our technicians pass thorough background checks and undergo extensive training. Customers can access our dedicated customer success team - we don’t outsource our customer service. We also meet strict security standards in all areas of our operations.
Digital security: With all your paper mail a digitized document, managing your mail becomes paperless. But data-based mail can introduce data security concerns as well. Earth Class Mail uses encryption standards similar to what banks and other financial institutions use to protect sensitive data - a 256-bit encryption on all its data.
The difference between Earth Class Mail and mail centers
Mail centers may offer virtual addresses and mail scanning, but their business model differs from us. These mail center versions of virtual mailboxes, such as Anytime Mailbox and Post Scan Mail, rely on a network of mail centers to operate.
They don’t have a centralized center, so customer service and security varies from each location. If you need more than one address, you have to sign up for multiple accounts.
Earth Class Mail only uses its own employees to process mail. You’ll always receive the same high quality standard of service, security, and privacy from Earth Class Mail that we provide to all of our customers no matter which plan or virtual address you choose.
Interested in learning more about which virtual mail plan fits your needs? Take our quiz here.
Find out more with The Postcard
Subscribe to get updates, special offers, and more!
invisible
Most Read
Access postal mail anywhere with a virtual MailBox
Get your physical mail professionally scanned and ready to view on any device
Find out more with The Postcard
The Postcard, our monthly email, keeps you updated on new products, event invites, virtual mailbox tips, and special promotions.
invisible
Related Posts
Is it hard to get your mail delivered? A virtual address fixes that.
Odd addresses or number mix-ups aren’t the only reason for mail delivery issues. If your address is difficult to deliver to, it can be a major inconvenience. .
By Sara Yonker
June 30, 2021
How does USPS informed delivery work?
Informed Delivery, a no-cost, opt-in U.S. Postal Service service, gives customers the ability to preview incoming mail electronically before it arrives at their mailbox. Users receive an email notification with a preview of some of their letter-sized mail.
By Joanna Heep
June 23, 2021
What’s the difference between Informed Delivery and a virtual mailbox?
What’s waiting for you in your mailbox? When you’re anticipating a payment, important paperwork, or a package, you don’t have to physically check your mail anymore to know what’s there.
By Joanna Heep
June 21, 2021
Virtual Mailbox for you!