How does mail redirect work

Mail redirect, also known as mail forwarding or address forwarding, is a service offered by postal services, courier companies, and online services that allows you to receive mail and packages at a new address, while keeping your original address private. Here's how it typically works:

Types of Mail Redirect Services:

  1. Postal Service Mail Redirect: Many postal services, such as the United States Postal Service (USPS), offer a mail redirect service. You can set up a temporary or permanent redirect of your mail to a new address.
  2. Courier Company Mail Redirect: Courier companies like UPS, FedEx, and DHL offer mail redirect services for packages and mail.
  3. Online Mail Redirect Services: There are also online services that offer mail redirect, such as EarthClassMail, Mailbox Forwarding, and others.

How Mail Redirect Works:

  1. Setup: You sign up for a mail redirect service and provide your original address and the new address where you want your mail to be forwarded.
  2. Mail Collection: The mail redirect service collects your mail from your original address and scans the contents (if you opt for this feature).
  3. Sorting and Forwarding: The service sorts and forwards your mail to your new address. This can be done daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the service.
  4. Delivery: Your mail is delivered to your new address, where you can receive it.

Benefits of Mail Redirect:

  1. Privacy: Keep your original address private by having your mail forwarded to a new address.
  2. Convenience: Receive your mail at a location that's more convenient for you, such as a business address or a friend's address.
  3. Flexibility: Easily change your address without having to update your mail forwarding service.
  4. Security: Protect your mail from theft or loss by having it forwarded to a secure location.

Things to Consider:

  1. Cost: Mail redirect services may charge a fee for their services, which can vary depending on the service and the volume of mail.
  2. Timeframe: Mail redirect services may have a delay in forwarding your mail, which can range from a few days to several weeks.
  3. Content Scanning: Some services may scan the contents of your mail, which can be a concern for sensitive or confidential documents.
  4. Package Handling: If you're forwarding packages, be aware that some services may not handle packages of a certain size or weight.

Overall, mail redirect services can be a convenient and secure way to manage your mail and packages, especially if you're moving, traveling, or need to keep your original address private.