Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Florida resident to use Good Sam Mail Service?
Will I have a physical address in Florida?
Will I be able to use my new address to establish residency in Florida?
Can I use my physical address for voter registration?
Does Florida have state income tax?
What are the advantages of being a Florida resident?
Will my bank accept my Good Sam Mail Service address?
Can I get a US Passport with my Good Sam Mail Service address?
How much does it cost to set up?
What additional fees are involved?
When is mail typically processed and viewable online?
When does Good Sam Mail Service send my mail to me?
How is my junk mail handled once you trash it?
How do you protect my personal information contained in mail that is opened and scanned?
How does your mail service work?
How does Good Sam Mail Service receive my mail?
Why won't the Post Office accept my address with Good Sam Mail Service?
How do I update or cancel my change of address order with USPS?
How do I access my virtual mailbox?
How does my virtual mailbox work?
How do you ship my mail items?``
Can you ship to APO/FPO?
How do I sign up with Good Sam Mail Service?
Can I turn my account on and off?
When should I start the paperwork/application process?
What are acceptable forms of ID when notarizing the 1583 form?
Does my account go away after I expire?
How do I get my mail back home when I no longer need Good Sam Mail Service?
Do I have to be a Florida resident to use Good Sam Mail Service?
No. Residency in Florida is an option that can be established at a later time. A majority of travelers use our physical address as a mailing address only. This arrangement works well if you wish to maintain your home state residency and need mail forwarding services while you travel.
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Will I have a physical address in Florida?
Yes. The physical address we provide you can be used as a temporary mailing address or as your permanent home base. Also, most commercial carriers such as FedEx, DHL, and UPS will only deliver to a physical address like our own. (Note: If you have a business and want your new address to look more attractive, you can also use "suite", "unit" or the number sign/"hashtag" as the prefix for your box number.)
Example of New Address:
Name/Spouse/Business
5753 Hwy 85 North #0000
Crestview, FL 32536
Will I be able to use my new address to establish residency in Florida?
Yes. We provide each member with a physical address in Florida which can be used to obtain a driver's license, vehicle registration, RV/Auto insurance bank accounts, etc. Establishing residency will take time and special planning. When that time arrives a physical presence in Crestview, Florida will be required. Residency is also optional, some members prefer to use our physical address only as a mailing address for mail forwarding purposes.
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Can I use my physical address for voter registration?
Contact the Supervisor of Elections office for information on registering to vote, 850-689-5600.
Source: Supervisor of Elections, Okaloosa County, FL http://govote-okaloosa.com/
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Does Florida have state income tax?
No.
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What are the advantages of being a Florida resident?
- No state income tax.
- No personal property tax
- No tax on pension checks and Social Security benefits
- No annual vehicle inspections
- No emission testing requirements
- Drivers license valid for 8 yrs
- Low annual vehicle plate fees
- Quality health care and health care providers
- Florida voted most beautiful & friendly RV parks
- Florida residency discount for state parks
- Florida residency discount for Disney World
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Will my bank accept my Good Sam Mail Service address?
Generally banks will accept our address, and we have members using every major bank in the country. However, some investment companies (e.g. Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade) and online banks (e.g. USAA) have a history of refusing commercial addresses, except for use as a mailing address. The exact policies and systems vary from bank to bank, but note in case of challenge that your address here is perfectly legitimate even for legal residency. In every case we have encountered, there is at least some method by which any bank will accept your address with us. Depending on the bank, you may need to format the address a particular way or request an additional hearing, override, or assistance from your bank on the phone.
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Can I get a US Passport with my Good Sam Mail Service address?
Yes, you can use your address here to get a US Passport. However, it some cases you may need to omit your PMB (Personal Mailbox Number) in order for it to be accepted. If you need to do this, the passport will still make it to your mailbox after we have looked it up by hand.
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How much does it cost to set up?
When you sign up with us, you pay for the service plan, a one-time $25 setup fee, and an initial postage deposit. The plan costs can all be found on our home page. Your postage deposit will fund your shipments, and we require an initial deposit of $30 or more. So, for example, if you signed up for 12 months with our Premium plan using the Good Sam discount, your total could look like this: $224.10 plan + $25 setup fee + $30 starting postage = $279.10 or Monthly $22.41 plan + $25 setup fee + $30 starting postage = $77.41.
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What additional fees are involved?
The following is a table of all fees beyond the service cost:
| Item | Additional Cost |
|---|---|
| USPS First Class (Flats) under 13 oz | actual postage plus $1.75 handling |
| USPS First Class (Package) under 13 oz | actual postage plus $2.95 handling |
| USPS Priority Flat Rate Envelope (USA) | actual postage plus $3.20 handling |
| USPS Priority Flat Rate Padded Envelope (USA) | actual postage plus $3.70 handling |
| USPS Priority Flat Rate Legal Envelope (USA) | actual postage plus $3.45 handling |
| USPS Priority Flat Rate Box (USA) | actual postage plus $6.50 handling |
| USPS Priority (USA) | actual postage plus $5.10 handling |
| USPS Priority (our packaging) (USA) | actual postage plus $1.00 per pound |
| USPS Express Flat Rate Envelope (USA) | actual postage plus $8.50 handling |
| USPS Express Flat Rate Padded (USA) | actual postage plus $8.50 handling |
| USPS First Class Flats (International) | actual postage plus $11.00 handling |
| USPS Priority Flat Rate Envelope (International) | actual postage plus $15.50 handling |
| USPS Priority Medium Flat Rate Box (International) | actual postage plus $19.50 handling |
| USPS Priority (International) | actual postage plus $19.75 handling |
| FedEx/USPS (our packaging) (USA) | actual postage plus $1.00 per pound |
| FedEx Ground | actual postage plus $7.75 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Envelope | actual postage plus $3.30 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Pak | actual postage plus $4.50 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Small Box | actual postage plus $5.25 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Medium Box | actual postage plus $6.35 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Large Box | actual postage plus $7.25 handling |
| FedEx 2 Day One Rate Extra Large Box | actual postage plus $8.35 handling |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | actual postage plus $12.50 handling |
| FedEx Priority (International) | actual postage plus $30.50 handling |
| Enhancement fee for extra packing tape | Level 1: $2.00, Level 2: $3.00, Level 3: $4.00 |
| Overweight fee (for packages 10 lbs or more) | $10.00 + $1.00 per pound over 10 lbs |
| Parcel Consolidation Fee | $5.00 (Multiple pkgs/boxes consolidated into one) |
| Open/Inspect Single Package (International) | $25.00 fee |
| Repack Package Contents | $12.50 Domestic, $25.00 International |
| Open & Scan ― Normal (receive scan of letter contents by end of business day) | $2.50 per letter beyond monthly free scan allotment (20 for Premium, 30 for Business) |
| Open & Scan ― Urgent (receive scan of letter contents within 30 minutes) | $4.50 per letter |
| Inbound and Outbound Faxes (Business only) | $0.10/page |
| Local number inbound calls (Business only) | $0.015/minute |
| Toll-free number inbound calls (Business only) | $0.033/minute |
| Outbound calls (Business only) | $0.02/minute |
| Outbound calls to Alaska (Business only) | $0.12/minute |
When is mail typically processed and viewable online?
Processing of mail is done the day it arrives at our facility, usually early afternoon. Once we sort out all of the obvious junk mail, we then start imaging all mail for your viewing convenience.
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When does Good Sam Mail Service send my mail to me?
Your mail and packages are held at our facility until you request for us to send it. You can request a shipment on your online account or by calling one of our friendly representatives.
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How is my junk mail handled once you trash it?
Rest assured, your mail and personal information are never floating around in dumpsters or the garbage by the curb. We have a local shredding company that comes twice a week to shred unwanted mail on site. In the meantime, mail that is queued for shredding is placed in a large locked container. All shredded paper materials are recycled into new paper products at the end of the year.
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How do you protect my personal information contained in mail that is opened and scanned?
All scans uploaded to our servers are encrypted both in transit and in storage. Only one, well-vetted employee is assigned to perform and access scanned documents. After a mail item is scanned, it is sealed back in its original envelope and returned to your box.
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How does your mail service work?
Once you receive your physical address, along with your personal mailbox number (PMB), you may make a temporary or permanent change of address at your local post office or online at www.usps.com. Your mail items would be forwarded to Good Sam Mail Service in Crestview, FL, where it would be imaged and held until you have provided us with a shipping address.
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How does Good Sam Mail Service receive my mail?
There are two options:
- Fill out a USPS Change-of-Address form, either permanent or a temporary forward, with your local Post Office or at https://www.usps.com.
- Change your address directly to us with individual mail senders as needed, bypassing the USPS forwarding system
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Why won't the Post Office accept my address with Good Sam Mail Service?
If you attempt to submit a change of address request with the Post Office online, and you receive an error message, it may be because of their formatting requirements. The Post Office website will only recognize the Good Sam Mail Service address with your Personal Mailbox number if you enter it in exactly the following format, replacing "0000" with your own box number:
5753 Hwy 85 N PMB 0000
Crestview, FL 32536
Note especially that a space is required both before and after the letters "PMB."
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How do I update or cancel my change of address order with USPS?
You can manage your forwarding order with the Post Office online at https://managemymove.usps.com/ using your confirmation code. For more information on this process, see this article: https://www.mymove.com/moving/guides/how-to-update-or-cancel-your-change-of-address/.
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How do I access my virtual mailbox?
You access your account by entering your (PMB # or email) and password that you provided when you signed up in the appropriate fields on our login screen.
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How does my virtual mailbox work?
Once you login, you will be able to see the front face of each mail item in your mailbox, including magazines and packages. If you want to see the envelope contents, you can request a scan. Check depositing service, deposit checks directly to your bank. You can also view the items that have already been shipped in the last 30 days. You can update your shipping address and even add money to your postage account. A trash feature is also available for unwanted mail.
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How do you ship my mail items?
We use USPS and FedEx. The cheapest method is USPS First Class (5-7 days), but this option has no tracking and is only available if the shipment weight is less than 13.0 oz. Most members choose the FedEx 2 Day One Rate, which can fit about 25-30 pieces of mail. If your mail is forwarding overseas, we use USPS International and FedEx International Priority.
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Can you ship to APO/FPO?
We can indeed ship mail to an APO or FPO address. The rates are the same as normal rates for USPS shipments, which depend on weight, distance, and shipping method.
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How do I sign up with Good Sam Mail Service?
You can create your account directly at our website on the Join Now page or by calling our toll free number and speak to one of our friendly representatives. After signup, you will need to complete a USPS form 1583. This can be easily generated from the new account checklist after logging into your account for the first time. The 1583 form will need to be legally notarized either by our 3rd party virtual notary service or through in-person traditional means. Once complete, mail your documentation to us:
Good Sam Mail Service
5753 Hwy 85 N
Crestview, FL 32536
Note that your account will not be fully active until we receive your signed and notarized 1583 form.
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Can I turn my account on and off?
Yes. For example, if you sign up for 12 months and only use 4 months, you can turn your account off and use the remaining 8 months next year or the year after.
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When should I start the paperwork/application process?
You should start the application process about 2-3 weeks before you begin traveling. This gives Good Sam Mail Service ample time to receive your 1583 form, setup a mailbox for you, and inform you of your new address.
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What are acceptable forms of ID when notarizing the 1583 form?
Valid driver's license or state non-driver's identification card; armed forces, government, university, or recognized corporate identification card; passport or alien registration card or certificate of naturalization; current lease, mortgage, or Deed of Trust; voter or vehicle registration card; or a home or vehicle insurance policy. One form of ID must contain a photograph of the applicant.
Social Security cards, credit cards, and birth certificates are not acceptable for a 1583.
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Does my account go away after I expire?
No. Your account never goes away. Only the mailbox number may change.
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How do I switch my mail back home when I no longer need Good Sam Mail Service?
Important note: USPS will not allow you to submit a change of address or mail forward from a business to a residence. If you are traveling part-time, it is recommended to submit a temporary forward with USPS, which will automatically revert your mail to your home when it is over. If you are traveling full-time, a permanent change of address is recommended. If you select a permanent change of address, be aware that in the future, if buy a home or settle elsewhere permanently, you will need to update your contact address with each party sending mail here individually. USPS will not allow you to forward from our location to your new permanent address.
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