Going Postal at the BMEU

How stupid can the Post Office be?

They complain about declining mail volumes, decreasing revenues and how the Internet is hurting their business model.

So what do they do?

Screw the mailers who bring in the mail. People like me.

The local Post Office Bulk Mail Entry Unit now requires that each mailer wait in line to verify the mail. We are used to dropping it off and letting the clerks verify it later. What was a 10 minute task has now become an hour or more irdeak.

Yesterday I lost it and went postal at the clerk because I did not feel that I needed to wait since I am using PostalOne, so my mail was already in the system. Today, I have made phone calls and e-mails to everyone that I know.

This new regulation is having a very detrimental impact on mailers bottom lines. One has to pay overtime as a driver has to wait. Another has to send more trucks.

No decent reason. Something about Sarbanes-Oaxley. “Revenue protection.”

No, they are just finding another way to get people now using the post office to find more efficient alternatives.

Going the extra mile

I had two rush, time sensitive projects last week. One for Oasis Eyecare and another for Sir Walter Chevrolet.

Both were letters that needed to be inserted in an envelope.

Unfortunately, our inserting machine was not working in top form. Tracy from The Alternative says the solenoid needs to be replaced. Not quite sure what a solenoid is, but it became apparent that we could not get our inserting machine to consistently work enough to handle the mailings we needed to get out. What to do?

We asked two other mailing houses, but they couldn’t do it. One mailing house had trouble with their inserter and were waiting for a repair man!

So, we called up our vendor, The Alternative. They allowed us to come down to their store and insert the letters with their machine.

We loaded up both cars and drove down to Garner, about 45 minutes from here. Working all day, we got the job done. (Although we did not have time to get the last batch to the Post Office on time).

We have used The Alternative for all our mailing equipment since we first started in business. They have always provided great service. They have been friendly, courteous — and prompt. However, letting us use their machine was a going the extra mile.

The owner, Nancy Jones,  and her staff helped us get the mail out under stressful (for us) conditions.

We have been in business for over  since we don’t make excuses to our clients. We said the mail would go out — and it did! We have learned over the years who we can trust since we rely on other vendors to help us get our work out. Thank you, Nancy, Tracy & Kevin!

Cell Phone Marketing

I remember driving down the highway in the mid 1990’s listening to a talk radio program.  The man being interviewed said that the cell phone companies were planning on everyone having a cell phone.  I laughed to myself, “there is no way I am ever going to own a cell phone.”  I believe I am beginning my second decade with a cell phone.  Forgive the expression, but boy did they have my number.  As a matter of fact, I no longer have a home phone.

What did cell phones companies do right?  They did a great job of marketing.  They let us know the security we would have if we had a cell phone.  The day I decided to get a cell phone was the day I had to go searching for a pay phone.  The only working one I could find was in a dark area behind a gas station.

The cell phone companies continue to improve the basic cell phone and service but also offered us innovations in technology.  They don’t stop innovating and we don’t stop buying.  Even though I don’t have a touch screen yet, it seems like there isn’t anything you can’t access with a touch of a button. I’ll admit it, I’m impressed.

Speaking of the new ways to communicate, who figured out text messaging?  Geez, just imagine, you can use your phone to write to someone. Again, I have fallen into the technology.   I have found texting (was that a verb before this decade?) is the easiest way to communicate with my grandchildren.  I am too cool when I text.  However, they can text a novel in the time it takes me to text a sentence or two.  Of course, the communication usually isn’t in full sentences.  For that matter, not full words either.  I am anxiously waiting for Webster to do the first addition of TXT WDS.   LOL.   EVRE1 TC.