Flat Rate Boxes from the USPS - Can save you money in postage!

Before using these flat rate boxes, be sure you need to by checking the rates here --> http://www.coolebaytools.com/postal_rates.html

http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2004/pr04_072.htm
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BUILDS A BETTER PARCEL WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Postal Service will soon provide customers with more shipping options just in time for the holiday mailing season. Using Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes, customers will be able to mail packages — regardless of the parcels' weight or destination — for just $7.70 each. The Governors of the Postal Service approved this new Priority Mail option as a two-year test, and it will be available Nov. 20, 2004 at most Post Offices and online at USPS.com. The new boxes don't have to be weighed, and there are no zone chart and rate calculations required.Customers can get the value of Priority Mail in two convenient shapes at one consistent price. "Services that are easy to access and simple to use provide real value for our customers," said Stephen M. Kearney, Vice President of Pricing and Classification for the U.S. Postal Service."We look forward to testing the convenience of flat-rate pricing for Priority Mail packages, especially among small businesses and consumers."The Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are available in two shapes: 11-7/8 inches x 3-3/8 inches x 13-5/8 inches (ideal for garments, board games, books and other relatively thin items) and 11 inches x 8-1/2 inches x 5-1/2 inches (perfect for shoes, model cars and taller items.)Kearney said knowing the $7.70 price in advance should help customers ship packages quickly and easily, making the boxes very convenient for the upcoming holiday season.He noted that paying the flat-rate Priority Mail box postage also is simple and convenient. The price is $7.70 regardless of the weight or destination. For the ultimate convenience, customers can use Click-N-Ship, offered online though USPS.com, to print a shipping label and pay the $7.70 postage, and use Carrier Pickup online notification to let their Post Office know they have a package to be collected when their letter carrier delivers their mail the following day. Customers can also affix two $3.85 Jefferson Memorial stamps, use a postage meter indicia or any combination of U.S. postage stamps."The new flat-rate box options for Priority Mail are as simple as one-two-three," offered Kearney. "One consistent price, two conveniently-sized boxes, and three words that sum it all up - Quick, Easy, Convenient."

REMINDER: USPS Closed Monday January 17, 2005

The United States Postal Service will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2005 in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday.No deliveries or pick ups will be made. All customer service counters also will be closed. See A full list of holidays that the USPS Observes by clicking the link below: http://usps.com/communications/news/uspscalendar.htm

UPS and FedEx will be Picking up and Delivering as usual.

eBay Fee Increase Coming Febuary 18 2005

We have just heard that ebay fees will be rising in early Febuary 2005. We have listed a few changes that will effect all sellers, but many more changes can be found on ebay's website at http://pages.ebay.com/help/announcement/1.html

*Ebay Stores subscription fees will be changed from $9.95 per month to $15.95 per month.
*Gallery fees will be raised from $0.25 to $0.35 per listing.
*10-day listings will be raised from $0.20 to $0.40 per listing.
*Ebay Stores FVF $0.01-$25 - 8% of the closing price

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Stores: $9.95 to $15.95 (!) a 60% increase
Gallery: $ .25 to $ .35 a 40% increase
Final Value Fees: 5.25% to 8% a 50% increase

FREE Tool Compares Shipping Rates from four Carriers

Free tool compares shipping rates from four different carriers including UPS, FedEx, USPS, and Airborne. You can choose to get rates for business or residential delivery. You enter the weight of the package, the from zip code and to zip code, then hit search. Results were served within 20 seconds when we tried.

The tool is called Quick Quote from Intershipper @ http://www.intershipper.com/Shipping/Intershipper/Website/MainPage.jsp?Page=QuickQuote

See below for the Carrier and Service that each search will include rates for:

Federal Express
FDX 2nd Day

Federal Express
FDX Express Saver

Federal Express
FDX First Overnight

Federal Express
FDX Priority Overnight

Federal Express
FDX Standard Overnight

Federal Express
FDX Ground

United Parcel Service
UPS 3 Day Select

United Parcel Service
UPS 2nd Day Air

United Parcel Service
UPS Next Day Air Saver

United Parcel Service
UPS Next Day Air

United Parcel Service
UPS Next Day Air Early AM

United Parcel Service
UPS Ground

U.S. Postal Service
USP Express Mail Addresses

U.S. Postal Service
USP Priority Mail

U.S. Postal Service
USP Ground Machine

DHL World Wide Express
DHL Overnight

AirBorne
AirBorne Overnight Air Express

AirBorne
AirBorne Next Afternoon

AirBorne
AirBorne 2nd Day

AirBorne
AirBorne Ground

UPS Ground to AK, HI & PR available now.....

The first week of January, UPS started offering UPS Ground and lower rate options to customers in Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico . According to UPS, shipping to these new destinations will require anywhere from 3-10 days. Rates can be calculated on the UPS website at www.ups.com . Some destinations will require a combination of services to make it to its final address.

For more information visit the www.ups.com

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/sending/services/ground.html

Here is an article by the Juneau Empire Online, see link to article below.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/010905/sta_20050109010.shtml

UPS, FedEx & DHL Rate Increases January 2005

For those of you that may have been unaware of the recent price increases by UPS and FedEx, new rates for both can be found at the links below. These rate increases took effect the first week of January 2005.:

*FedEx rate changes, effective January 3, 2005
*FedEx Express package and freight published rates will increase an average of 4.6% for U.S. domestic and export services.
*reduce the overall fuel surcharge by 2%, resulting in a net average increase of 2.6% in express rates.
There will be an increase in FedEx Express U.S. to Puerto Rico rates.
FedEx International PremiumSM rates will also increase.
There will be an average increase of 2.9% in FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery® rates.
More information on the FedEx increases can be found here ---> http://fedex.com/us/update1.html/#1

UPS press release on the 2005 rate increase can be found here --> http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/current/0,1088,4479,00.html

DHL Rate increase information can be found on their website at http://www.dhl.com

To our knowledge, the next rate increase from the USPS ( United States Postal Service) will be in early 2006

USPS Holiday Closing 1/17/05 - Monday, January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday

The United States Postal Service will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2005 in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday.No deliveries or pick ups will be made. All customer service counters also will be closed.

See A full list of holidays that the USPS Observes by clicking the link below:

http://usps.com/communications/news/uspscalendar.htm

UPS and FedEx will be Picking up and Delivering as usual.

Researching new product....

I was doing some research on the web today and came a cross a new, very promising product. I am very excited about this product. If it does what it says it does and is of good quality I expect it to be a great addition to our product line! It will be a big time saver and create a lot LESS mess than the current solution available.

Currently in every mailroom or shipping department you will find a packing peanut dispenser hanging from the ceiling. It is big and bulky and VERY expensive, a dispenser that will hold 20 cubic feet of peanuts will usually cost about $150.00 +. This new product is small and can be tucked away after use if needed and will only cost about $40.00 - $45.00 . More details to follow, will post a reveiw of the product here some time next week. We have ordered one to try out, and it should arrive Monday or Tuesday.

UPDATE TO THIS ARTICLE POSTED HERE ---> Packing Peanut Dispensers

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day January 31st this year! Prepare!

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is fast approaching! ;) Prepare!

Bored? Have some spare time? Check out this page we created dedicated to everything bubble wrap. How it was invented, TONS OF VIRTUAL BUBBLE WRAP POPPING GAMES, a short bubble wrap animation, and fun bubble wrap photos.

http://www.fast-pack.com/bubblewrapappreciation.html

Enjoy!

Be Heard, BLOG ! Why you can't ignore BLOGGERS !

Well, after setting up this weblog over a year ago and forgetiing about it I decided to give it another try. I just got through reading an article in this months Fortune magizine "WHY YOU CAN'T IGNORE BLOGGERS". It has inspired me to give it another try. A good read if you have a half hour or so. Check it out here --> http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,1011763,00.html