Tag: USA

Keeping Down the Cost of Delivery

Posted by | Sep 1, 2006 | |

Challenge: Decrease cost and improve efficiency of delivery options

Solution: Adopt a new postal delivery system for packages of one pound or less

Result: Operational improvements and approximately 35 percent net savings on overall delivery expenses

Cost-efficient, timely product delivery is at the heart of any successful mailer’s operation. Empi-Compex Technologies, a division of orthopedic device marketer Encore Medical, is no exception. The New Brighton, Minn.-based pain management and rehabilitation products marketer wanted to lower the cost of shipping its medical devices, particularly those weighing one pound or less. These lighter weight products make up approximately 42 percent of all packages sent by the company, and more than half are sent directly to patients at their homes.

The company explored alternative delivery methods for all of its shipping needs and switched to UPS Mail Innovations mail processing service for its lighter product deliveries. By switching to UPS Mail Innovations, the marketer now can deliver supplies directly to its customers at their residences at a much more economical rate.

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Vacation memories a snap with a passport purchased at post offices

Posted by | Sep 1, 2006 | |

Memorable international vacations this year start at the Post Office, the most convenient place to purchase a passport. Now, the U.S. Postal Service makes applying for passports a little more memorable for customers.

“Get a Passport, Travel the World,” a two-month promotional partnership between the Postal Service and Shutterfly, allows customers who apply for a new passport at select Post Office locations to qualify for a free, customer-designed, 20-page Classic Photo Book through Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com).

“The Postal Service is continually finding ways to better serve customers through new and creative products and services. We’re mail — and more,” said Anita Bizzotto, U.S. Postal Service Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President.

Customers purchasing passports will receive a luggage tag containing a uniquely coded coupon to redeem the photo book that can hold up to 1,000 pictures. After entering the code on shutterfly.com, customers will be able to select a cover and page style, and then add digital photos and captions to create a one-of-a-kind memory book of their travels.

The promotion is offered through Oct. 31, but the coupon may be redeemed through March 2007.

The cost of a passport at the Post Office is based on the age of the applicant and includes the passport and Department of State processing fee. For those 16-years and older, the charge is USD 97. Anyone younger than 16 years is charged USD 82. The U.S. Department of State recommends allowing at least six weeks for passport processing. Passport applications must be made in person at a participating Post Office. Applications cannot be made online.

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Delivery firms rack up parking tickets

Posted by | Sep 1, 2006 | |

Commercial delivery companies such as UPS, FedEx and others pay a steep price for doing business in New York City, getting an average of 7,000 parking tickets every day and paying more than USD102 million in fines.

The parking violations turned into such a bureaucratic nightmare that the city created a program to reduce or dismiss the tickets in exchange for companies waiving their right to contest them. The program has eliminated 770,000 ticket hearings and saved USD1 million in administrative costs per year since it began two years ago.

The companies are also saving cash, although their annual New York City parking tab is still high because some tickets are not covered under the program.

UPS has a fleet of 1,000 trucks and receives about 15,000 tickets a month here. The company is the biggest offender in the city, paying USD18.7 million in parking violations for the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to city data. FedEx was second with USD8.2 million.

“We receive by far more parking fines in New York City than anywhere else in the world,” UPS spokeswoman Diane Hatcher said. “Simply stated, we don’t have the same level of difficulty with finding available parking spaces or loading zones anywhere else.”

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FedEx gets more flights to China

Posted by | Aug 31, 2006 | |

FedEx Express announced on Wednesday that it was granted permission by the U.S. Department of Transportation to start additional weekly flights to China, bringing its total to 30.

The additions, which will go into effect in March 2007, will allow FedEx Express to operate more all-cargo flights to and from China than any other U.S. airline, the company said in a released statement.

FedEx Express is the cargo airline division of FedEx Corp., operator of the world’s largest express transportation company.

FedEx Corp. earlier this year announced a $400 million agreement to boost its presence throughout Asia by taking full control of a 50-percent joint venture begun in 1999 with the Tianjin Datian W. Group.

The joint venture handles international package shipments to and from China, and FedEx’s partner, which goes by the name DTW Group, also operates a domestic delivery network with 89 locations in cities across China.

Memphis-based FedEx said it hopes to complete the acquisition during its 2007 fiscal year, which began in June. The operation will become part of FedEx Express.

Shares of FedEx rose 42 cents to close at $100.54 on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday.

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