Scanning Packages

We treat your packages with a little extra love! We define 'packages' as any items that, due to their size or shape, aren't compatible with our standard document scanners. That’s why you’ll notice that these specific items don't have a scanning option available in your account.

The VPM Guide: Packages vs. Standard Mail

Because we don’t open your mail or packages without your request, we can't always tell if the contents are scan-friendly. Therefore, we use a simple heuristic based on the item's exterior to determine if it should be classified as a package:

Any item that comes in a box, bubble envelope, or vinyl packaging.
Any envelope (Tyvek or otherwise) that weighs over 13 oz.
Arbitrary factors through look and feel that may indicate the contents are not documents.

Can you open packages to see what's inside?

The short answer is: Only if you want us to! To protect your privacy, we never open your mail or packages by default. This is why we use our 'package heuristic' to classify items from the outside. However, if you need to see what’s inside a package before forwarding it, you can send an email request for a content photo.

What's a content photo?

A content photo provides a 'bird's-eye view' of your package contents. Our team will carefully lay out each item and take as many photos as needed to give you a complete look at what’s inside

Here's an example:

To keep your electronics safe, we don't remove items protected by molded styrofoam from their boxes by default. Since this padding can easily break during removal, we only unpack these items if specifically requested.

Do you charge extra for package scans?

Because package scans require extra care, there is a fee for this service. However, we know that surprises—like unexpected gifts—happen! To help out, all plans include 2 FREE package scans per billing cycle. For more information on additional scans, please visit our Detailed Pricing Page.

What if I want detailed information of the contents of my package?

If you need detailed images like close ups of individual items, please let us know at the time of your request. If there is very specific information you are looking for, such as a serial number on the back of a laptop or phone, make sure to indicate this so we can process it accordingly. Anything outside of the standard photo manifest is billed as a custom service request and is not considered a standard package scan.

What if the package content contains a bundle of mail?

If a mail bundle is inducted as a package, you can request that we verify and process the contents as separate mail pieces.

While we typically bill for package scans, we do not charge a fee for this specific verification process. However, please keep in mind that these items will still count toward your package purge limit. To keep your limits clear and ensure the most efficient processing, we highly recommend using Smart Address Tag Z with your mailers. This allows your bundle to be unboxed automatically for induction without any package scan fees or manual requests.

What happens when a package contains thick documents?

Since we are not able to determine whether a package contains documents in advance, there may be cases where thick documents are inducted as packages. In these instances, once we determine the content is a document, we will convert it into a mail item for you and scan it accordingly. The original package record will be removed and a new mail item will be inducted into your mailbox.

We do not bill you a package scan fee for this conversion.