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Alternative Resources is moving...


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In case you South Dakota Alternative Resources people haven't heard, Alternative Resources, now operating under a new name, "Dakota Post", is moving. They're not going out of business, but they are moving to another location in Sioux Falls.

 

Joy of joys, that means we get to move our address. And my wife and I made the trek just last month, over 3,000 miles, to get her new drivers license and now, to find out it's about to be the wrong address kinda frosts me. Oh, and we just got a brand new box of checks from our bank which would then have the wrong address on them.

 

I can truly say I'm not looking forward to "moving". They have said that we don't actually have to move our address until about mid year 2015 but we WILL have to move it.

 

Seriously considering moving to another state at this point. If TN had such a place we could "move" to, we'd be considering that right now since it's a lot closer to our typical travel paths and one that we like very well anyway.

 

Not sure how many others this will affect or whether it'll be a non-event for some. But thought I might post something here as I'm sure there are others who will have to deal with the same thing.

 

 

 

 

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Bummer.

 

Your probably better off sticking with them. But if this irritates you enough to consider TN, you could change to a whole new SD mail service and keep your driver's license etc.

 

We went with a service a bit north of Sioux Falls in Madison called My Dakota Address. They have been great so far, but we have not used them much yet. They get good reviews on this forum from people who have used them for a while, and that's one reason we went with them.

 

Jim

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There used to be a service in TN that catered to RV folks but I think that they are gone now. I did a Google search and found several of them still listed but don't know what they do for RV folks. You may want to look into one or two of them.

 

Google TN address mail forwarding services

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Bummer.

 

Your probably better off sticking with them. But if this irritates you enough to consider TN, you could change to a whole new SD mail service and keep your driver's license etc.

 

We went with a service a bit north of Sioux Falls in Madison called My Dakota Address. They have been great so far, but we have not used them much yet. They get good reviews on this forum from people who have used them for a while, and that's one reason we went with them.

 

Jim

 

Thanks, Jim. You're probably right, probably better off sticking with them. Really, they've treated me very well in the past. Just wasn't quite ready to "move" yet. I doubt it'll be any issue but it really bugs me when something like the address on my drivers license isn't correct.

 

My Dakota Address would be an option but it would probably be just as much trouble, still a "move".

 

I'm kinda thinking I'm gonna let things ride until after the first of the year and see where we are at that point. It's not something I can put off indefinitely.

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I don't think the Escapees mail service (drivers licenses et al) will be moving. You might want to consider them for a PERMANENT address.

 

Dave O

 

Thanks, Dave. I do kinda doubt Escapees will be moving. Not much interest in moving to TX, though. It really doesn't work for us for a number of different things particular to us. We have friends that have been trying to get us to move to Texas for years. Not a whole lot we can say except we're glad that TX works so well for some.

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There used to be a service in TN that catered to RV folks but I think that they are gone now. I did a Google search and found several of them still listed but don't know what they do for RV folks. You may want to look into one or two of them.

 

Google TN address mail forwarding services

 

Thanks, Kirk. So far, I've seen quite a few mail services but none that would work well with RVers. The ones closest to where I'd like to be require that a person actually live in the county.

 

We had been looking seriously at trying to find property in TN anyway so it may be that we'll make a "move" anyway, to a "PERMANENT" address. We've been wanting a piece of dirt again anyway. Doesn't necessarily mean we won't be fulltimers anymore even if we find a piece of dirt we can park on (and maybe do a little small scale farming on... but that's another story.)

 

Who knows, maybe the address change is a little "push" to get us to make some changes in our situations from Someone bigger than all of us.(?) It's something we've not ignored the possibility of. :-)

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We got the same communication from Dakota Post and also are not at all pleased with having to change our address again, we just did last summer when we changed residency to SD. Because we'll have to change our address I will look at the other SD mail forwarding companies too. This move from Alternative Resources is a real pain is the butt. Greg

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Those of us that have been with Americas Mailbox more than the last few years also went through this "moving" experience when they moved from their old rented facility on W Main to their new owned facility.

 

Brian, I recall we were able to file a change of address form with the SD DMV by mail and they just mailed out a separate document with the new address, to carry with us. We didn't actually have to go in person to the DMV for a new license, until the regular renewal.

 

 

 

 

We chose Americas Mailbox for just that reason--they'll never have to move! They're the only place in South Dakota with their own property and campground. I hear they've started RV service this year too. We've especially liked their approach since they're owned by full time travelers, but the staff is always there to help us at any time of year.

Jim

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...

Brian, I recall we were able to file a change of address form with the SD DMV by mail and they just mailed out a separate document with the new address, to carry with us. We didn't actually have to go in person to the DMV for a new license, until the regular renewal.

 

 

Thanks, Jim2. I didn't figure we would actually have to make another trip to Sioux Falls just to change our address. The Dakota Post website says they're putting together a list / page / checklist (?) to make it easy to move one's address. It's not there yet. I suspect this will be one thing that's covered.

 

The whole thing still does not give me that "warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside". Oh, well...

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We got the same communication from Dakota Post and also are not at all pleased with having to change our address again, we just did last summer when we changed residency to SD. Because we'll have to change our address I will look at the other SD mail forwarding companies too. This move from Alternative Resources is a real pain is the butt. Greg

 

I've been with Alternative Resources since about 2008, Greg, and they've been wonderful to deal with during that time. I don't know if new management has something to do with all of the changes at now, Dakota Post. Anyway, at least we have a little time to get it sorted out.

 

I do wonder how many of the regulars here are affected by this. I don't doubt that Escapees is #1. But I think AR was #2. (?)

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If Escapees was planning on starting a SD mail service, as thought they were planing on, this would be a good time while people are changing their address anyhow.

Volvo+and+Travel+Supreme+400+x+103.jpg

 

2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift

Passenger assist elevator to enter cab - for when we need it, or sell it?

'05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel

2016 smart car

 

We started full timing on December 1st 2014

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain
Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien

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Perhaps the Escapees will have their SD mail service up and running before Dakota Post requires us to change our address to their new address, this would give us the option to move to the Escapees. Greg

Greg & Judy Bahnmiller
Class of 2007
2014 F350
2007 HitchHiker Champagne

Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road

http://bahnmilleradventure.blogspot.com/

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Yep, got the notice too!

Certainly not happy but AR has been good to deal with in past. New address still looks to be in Minnehaha County so voting does not change. But all the address changes will be a pain for all our accounts. Our vehicle registrations accounts really due starting now so we can change the accounts address that way but you have to go in person if you want it changed on the DL. You can change all the actual info with the state online.

 

This might re think and change to Texas since we have until June 2015 to change so we have time to investigate.

 

My wife believes that when they hooked up with FMCA is when they put grew the present facilities.

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They moved once before and it was a minor problem, aside from change of address stuff I don't recall any other issues. They had a long overlap with the old and new addresses which helped for the really slow to update places.

 

I don't know the new owner but Paul (the old now retired owner) was a good guy and recommends him.

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I have been informed that Dakota Post will not reimburse us for new checks that we will need due to their changing of our address. We just bough new checks last year (enough for 5 years) when we "moved" to Alternative Resources in SD. I contacted the Escapees to see if they had any info when their SD mail service will be operational, here's their reply .....

"We are still in the process on the mail forwarding hub in South Dakota. At this time, we have no other details."

I hope the Escapees will have their SD mail service operational before we have to change our SD address by next June. Greg

Greg & Judy Bahnmiller
Class of 2007
2014 F350
2007 HitchHiker Champagne

Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road

http://bahnmilleradventure.blogspot.com/

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Alternative Resources / Dakota Post just whacked me with the yearly fee so I guess I'm paid up with them until this time next year. Doesn't mean I won't explore... alternatives.

 

I am glad for the postings on Escapees working toward a SD service as well. I hadn't known (before this thread) that they were trying.

 

Thanks for the posts!

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Alternative Resources (Dakota Post) is leasing at their current location. They will OWN the new building and it is much larger with easy access to the freeways. They are not physically moving until March or April depending on the weather. The post office is working with them so BOTH addresses will work just fine until June 15. So you have until June 15 to get everything changed over.

 

They really needed to move because their business has outgrown their small location. They needed a larger mailroom. With the move, their prices are going DOWN.

 

We started making a list of who to contact with our address change. We found the list to be shorter than when we were still living in a house. The *big* changes will be our driver's licenses because we need to make a trip to SD. We plan to do this in late May and change the address on everything at that time. A new box of check is needed and a new roll of address labels.

 

When we first heard that they were moving, we were overwhelmed just thinking about it. But once we made a list of who we need to contact, it seemed more do-able.

 

Don & Carolyn

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Are you sure the address will change? St. Brendon's Isle (FL) mail service moved there physical location but still use there original address. The Post Office simply delivers every thing addressed to 144 Walnut St. to there new location. Granted it was within the same city but I'd check with Alternative to see of you really need to change your address.

Never mind, I think that was answered in a previous post.

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  • 4 months later...

So far pestering the office staff is the only way to get the latest info. I'm sure they will do a notice via the club e-mail lists and maybe here and the website once they are completely ready but if you are interested call and see if there is anything that hasn't been released yet.

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