Question
OK, one more freebie and then I'm done for the day.
I don't know if this is even worth mentioning but I saw the info on another board and thought someone here might be interested. The USPS has been heavily promoting their Carrier Pickup Service and yesterday they sent out emails to 3 million people who have opted in to receive additional information from the USPS. The email contains a link to register to receive a free set of "Stack and Weigh Scales" for the first 40,000 people to respond.
There are three scales (1, 2 and 3 lbs.) which can weigh up to a 6 lb. package by stacking the various sizes. Here's a picture of the scales. They look a bit lame to me.
http://s89853943.onlinehome.us/pics/postagescales.jpg
Here's the PROMO link contained in the email to sign up for the free scales: https://ecap21.usps.com/cgi-bin/ecap...3&listID=11215
The article about the free scales promo: Bolding mine:
Employees Deliver Message in USPS Ad Campaign
Sept. 20, 2004
By: Melissa Campanelli
Senior Editor
melissa*dmnews.com
U.S. Postal Service letter carriers are the stars of the agency's fall ad campaign, which began this month.
Capitalizing on the popularity of reality television, the campaign focuses on real postal employees who explain the many ways customers can access postal services without having to visit a post office or stand in a line.
In a national selection process, a letter carrier was chosen from each of the 80 USPS administrative districts nationwide to serve as a local spokesperson. Nine carriers were then selected from the 80 to serve as national postal ambassadors. They are appearing in national television, radio and print ads as well as in-store promotions and a direct mail and e-mail effort. They also are making personal appearances to promote the USPS.
The first "Working for You" TV commercial aired nationally Sept. 8. It features letter carrier Stephen Scully of Erie, PA, as well as several USPS Priority Mail packages entering the mail stream -- at a collection box, an automated postal center and a retail window -- and follows them as they are processed. It finishes with Scully picking up a Click-N-Ship Priority Mail package from a business and exiting to a sea of USPS employees.
"We are trying to make the point that the whole postal service is working for you to provide quick, easy and convenient access to our services," said Rod DeVar, manager, advertising and promotion, USPS.
Also Sept. 8, the USPS began featuring in-store advertising with letter carriers in retail post offices.
Full-page ads appear starting today in 39 business and lifestyle magazines including Time, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Inc. and Black Enterprise. Other TV and radio ads begin this week as well.
The carriers also will be featured in a direct mail campaign dropping this week for delivery Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. The self-mailer goes to 11.3 million large and small businesses nationwide gleaned from the postal service's database.
The mailing focuses on the postal service's Carrier Pickup program, which lets customers go to the USPS Web site to request next-day package pickups. There is no fee because packages are picked up from customers as part of the carrier's normal delivery route. Packages must be prepared with the appropriate postage and be ready to go when picked up. Customers can request a pickup for any number of packages, but each package must not exceed 70 pounds.
Emblazoned on the front of the mail piece is the phrase: "Daily Arrivals & Daily Departures From the U.S. Postal Service." Inside, alongside the picture of Jim Willson, a postal carrier from Royal Oak, MI, is the phrase "We Not Only Deliver Packages To Your Door. We Pick Them Up As Well." The mail piece explains Carrier Pickup and directs recipients to usps.com/pickup to learn more.
The USPS will track how many people come to the site as well as "how many people who have taken the action of requesting pickup," DeVar said.
The postal service sends an e-mail Sept. 24 with messaging similar to the mailer to 3 million people who have opted in to receive additional information from the USPS. Customers are invited to register to get a "Stack-and-Weigh" scale that can weigh up to a 6-pound package. The first 40,000 requests will be fulfilled for free.
Some e-mail recipients may also receive the mail piece.
Full article: http://dmnews.com/cgi-bin/artprevbot...ticle_id=30416
The thread on AE where I saw the free postal scales offer:
http://www.auctionethics.com/ultimat...c;f=1;t=012245
Blanche
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How are they suppose to work?
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commentary, I think the weights are for determining the postage price level of your package. When you place a package on one of the scales, if the little nub sticking out on the bottom touches the surface it's standing on, then you need to try a larger weight scale. They aren't any good for measuring ounces.
The article says you can weigh up to 6 pounds so you must be able to stack them on top of one another since the largest weight is only for 3 pounds.
Blanche
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Hmm...I wonder if the plastic will slowly bend out over time. Then one would overpay on the postage. Nah...the post office will not do that to us...
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I think someone said they were made out of some kind of metal but I don't really know. They could be plastic and, if so, I would think they would have a tendency to sag/bend with use over time. I certainly wouldn't pay money for them.
Blanche
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They might be useful if one has a large package which cannot fit comfortably on a scale for weighting. One can put one of these thingys on the scale and then the package on top of that.
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They look like a prize one wins at a carnival for popping a balloon with a dart..I think i'll stick with my 2 scales I already have.
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I signed up for it anyways. Thanks Blanche... they may tie other offers to this one so, it's worth the sign up. We were seleced to be in a beta group for Shipping Assistant and its so many upcoming expansions... We'll keep you posted on that end of things.
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The set of 3 stack and weigh scales arrived this past Tuesday. The package included the box of three weights and another box titled "Simple Shipping Vol 3 of the Simple Formulas series" which contained 5 USPS shipping info pamphlets.
The top section of eacht weight is made out of a heavy duty plastic and each side is composed of two strips of thin metal. You can weigh 1, 2 and 3 pounds or stack them to weigh 4, 5 and 6 pounds. These weights are part of the USPS promotion for their Click-N-Ship and carrier pickup program so they're just for determining the pound price range since there are no ounce measurements. The enclosed letter says "they're reliable - produced under ISO 9001 certification quality standards and tested 10,000 times". They seem to be sturdy enough.
One interesting thing I noticed was in the pamphlet which has the info for ordering free supplies via phone or online. They have a brief list of items available and guess what??? They list "Priority Mail Tape LAB 106A" and they show a roll of the tape in the picture. This is the same tape that was supposed to be discontinued AND it isn't listed as a label but is listed as MAIL TAPE!! This is what I've been saying all along. The tape is TAPE, not a sticker label. So if the USPS is pizzed because people were using it as tape, they should consider not calling it TAPE. LOL
I'm going to call the 800 number mentioned in the pamphlet for ordering free supplies on Tuesday to see if I can still order the tape.
Blanche
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Glad you recieved your scales. I don't think they'll ship the tape, but good luck with it anyways.
I did sign up for the scales. Nothing yet...but hope they come. We're Beta testers for Shipping Assistant which is going to be very cool in the future.