Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Time to Make Flat Rate Boxes More Convenient

The Postal Service has created a strong marketing campaign around flat rate boxes.  But there is a better way to offer a flat rate service more convenient and more profitable,    It is remarkably simple.

  • Allow flat rate box rates for any box meeting required dimensions.   To assure compliance certify boxes sold by third-parties as meeting the size requirements.
  • Sell flat rate stamps like stamp books and around the size of half a book of stamps.  flat rate stamps could be sold in supermarkets using current procedures for stamp consignments.
  • Sell flat rate stamps like high value lottery tickets.  Print them on a roll with each stamp numbered to prevent fraud.  Then they could be sold at any convenience store, gift shop or shipping supply store.
  • Allow third parties to sell flat rate stamps and complying boxes as a package.
The key advantage here is allows customers to use flat rate rate Priority Mail without having to go to the Post Office to get supplies.  A customer could pick up a box and a flat rate stamp at an office supply store, supermarket or gift shop.  

They could call the the Postal Service for carrier pick-up or drop off the parcel at the Postal Service.   What could be easier?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Only parcels under 13 ounces can be mailed with stamps without presenting parcel to a postal window so Flat Rate stamps wouldn't work. Can't imagine most people would pay the Flat Rate postage amount for a 12 ounce parcel.

Anonymous said...

Customers don't have to go any where to pick up the flat rate boxes. They can order them online and have them shipped directly to their home or office for FREE. They can also print their postage online, request FREE carrier pick-up all from the convenience of their home or office. NOW, it doesn't get any simpler than that.

Unknown said...

Why not order them online from the USPS? The boxes are FREE and they will deliver them to you for FREE. You can use usps.com to print your mailing label, pay your postage, get FREE delivery confirmation service and their request FREE package pick-up service too.

If you didn't know they offered these better services, ... now you do.

Anonymous said...

Why not order them online from the USPS? The boxes are FREE and they will deliver them to you for FREE. You can use usps.com to print your mailing label, pay your postage, get FREE delivery confirmation service and their request FREE package pick-up service too.

If you didn't know they offered these better services, ... now you do.

Anonymous said...

Why not order them online from the USPS? The boxes are FREE and they will deliver them to you for FREE. You can use usps.com to print your mailing label, pay your postage, get FREE delivery confirmation service and their request FREE package pick-up service too.

If you didn't know they offered these better services, ... now you do.

Anonymous said...

Why not order them online from the USPS? The boxes are FREE and they will deliver them to you for FREE. You can use usps.com to print your mailing label, pay your postage, get FREE delivery confirmation service and their request FREE package pick-up service too.

If you didn't know they offered these better services, ... now you do.

Anonymous said...

How about USPS.com where you can do all the things you listed without leaving your Couch.

Anonymous said...

Why would someone want to "buy" a box when the USPS gives them FREE?

Anonymous said...

The idea has merit. Packages will still be subject to the 13oz. rule requiring a face to face transaction in many cases. The small flat rate box would be the most practical choice if this was to be intoduced.

Anonymous said...

That was my idea. Have a prepaid flat rate box, just like the pre-stamped envelopes and post cards. But again, the 13oz restriction would prevent these items being mailed without a trip to the PO.