Not sure if anyone else does this, and I've been meaning to share this for a while now. I use this method everytime I send something "Express" mail from the Post Office. So far this year I've used this trick ( which is legal and allowed by the Postal service) at least 30 times. Each time I saved $6.00. That equals $180.00+ I kept to buy gas or whatever, instead of donating that $180.00 to the Post Office. Here's how it works. Suppose you have contracts, listing agreements, misc docs, etc that you need to send overnight, and you don't want them bent up in the mail. Take your documents and put them into one of the stiff cardboard " Express" mail envelopes. If that's all you did, your cost would be $18.95 for overnight delivery. But, if you take that same stiff cardboard " Express" mail envelope with your documents inside, and then put that envelope inside one of the paper Tyvek style " Express" mail envelopes, the costs is only $12.95 for the exact same overnight service. This saves you $6.00 everytime you " Express" mail something from the Post Office. Not a killing, but it adds up at the end of the year.

 

 

Jeff Pearl / Realtor / Lic in VA

Homes / Land / Farms

Re/Max Distinctive / Reston VA

703-727-4876

www.jeffpearlhomes.com

Equal Housing Opportunity Provider

 
This post has been included in Virginia Real Estate News

31 Comments on This Saves You 30% on Your Overnight "Express" Mail at Post Office

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
19
254,732 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jeff- Great tip! I never knew that and have wasted $6.00 frequently. Won't make that mistake again. Thanks!

4:10pm • #12
127,487 Points 1 Featured Post

Great tip, i will look for the cheaper envelopes the next time.  As a native Philadelphia, let me quote Benjamin Franklin "a penny saved is a penny earned".  Keep the savings coming!

4:10pm • #13
114,760 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Wow - great tip. I never would have thought of that!  I really appreciate your sharing! Like Laura said, a penny saved....

5:33pm • #14
412,317 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

As Ben Franklin said, "a penny saved is a penny earned!"

6:37pm • #15
372,835 Points 24 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Sounds like a plan.. until they figure it out.. the are sure to stop delivering on so many days of the week soon

6:57pm • #16
390,197 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Savings like this add up over a year. Thank you for the tip, I will be sure to remember it, although I mail so few things these days. Even bills are mostly paid via the Internet. Contracts? All over the computer. I can see where the post office is scrambling.

7:11pm • #17
395,404 Points 1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

Jeff, what a great tip!  What I also like about Tyvek is it's waterproof and too strong for it's own good.

8:41pm • #18
881,176 Points 10 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeff, thanks for sharing the trick. For me, I am wondering when I really mailed the contracts overnight....I am just used to DocuSign - and once I have the signature on contracts, it's okay to send them by regular mail (about $1.20) thus saving even more!

10:11pm • #19
1,352,282 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeff - That is something that would add up.  I'm not sure why the difference though I'm glad to be aware of it now.

11:54pm • #20
JUL
20
466,270 Points 50 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I usually use fedex, but this is great tip to know. Thanks for sharing it. Next time I'll consider USPS Express mail.

12:13am • #21
556,002 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Jeff,

Great tip.

For the few times we have to actually send paper around, it is a good idea

Phil

2:35am • #22
230,369 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

With this kind of savings, I'll be able to afford to keep up my Active Rain dues for the next few months.  This can really mount up over time and save some money.   As you said, you can then blow it on gas and food, a few optional items in today's world.  Thanks for the post. 

3:07am • #23
5 Featured Posts

Jeff - A great tip I didn't know about.  I don't have to do this often, but thanks to you, I now know how to save money when I do need to do it!

3:42am • #24
1,048,851 Points 397 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Well dang!!!! I'm always confused on whether to use the paper pack or the hard pack. Now I know. Use both and save!!! Great tip.

4:48am • #25
Outside Blog

Amazing what the pst office doesn't tell you.  Thanks for the tip

5:14am • #27
253,318 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

But the post office is having severe financial difficulties because so much business has been lost to email, and if we keep doing this, then they may go out of business. Then we may be paying around $30 for Fed Ex overnight service. :-)

Something to think about.

7:03am • #28
397,041 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Good tip.  I've almost forgotten what a post office looks like...  Actually, I have been there 3 times in the last month-- more times than I went all of last year.

7:54am • #29
177,101 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog

#12- Hi Amanda, Might as well keep that $6.00 for youself. They are still making a profit.

#13- Hi Laura, that os so true. I've been adding up money I waste at 7/11 as well. It doesn't sound like much on a daily basis, but when I it up for the entire year, the amount is way too much.

#14- Hi Kimberly, The PO doesn't seem to mind. They told me how to do it.

#15- Hi Kathy, Yes, Ben Franklin had many good ideas! Did you ever read his autobiography?

#16- Hi Janis. They already figured it out, and don't ever complain when i do it. I usually don't point it out to them that I do it though.

#17- Hi Helia, True, many things are done electronically, but many time people request and prefer physical dcouments. ( especially older people)

#18- Hi Kevin, that's true, and the Tyvek envelopes seem to big for standard 8x11 pages. The corners get bent up during delivery sometimes with tyvek.

#19- Praful, That sounds good, but I have many things dealing with subdivions, deeds, etc where people, the county, the attorneys, surveyors, etc want paper and notarized signatures. Plus, short sale lenders and investors don't like doc-u-sign.

#20- Hi Christine, it does add up. I think the difference in price is because tyvey is easier to deliver. Same if send an oversize birthday cared, they charge extra, and the tyvek enveopes are easier to stuff into po boxes.

#21- Hi Pamela, Fed ex is good when avaialble, but our post iffice is only 1/2 mile away and convenient.

#22- Hi Phil, $6.00 here and $6.00 there, that's 4 gallons of gas ( almost)!

#23- Hi Doug, It does add up. I can predict I'll have use Express mail another 20 times this year, so for 2012, I'll be saving approx $300.00 in mailing costs.

#24- Hi Pat, I don't think it's really a secret, just many people don't know they can do it.

#25- Hi Bryant, Yep, just use both, and get better protection for your paprework for less money!

#26- Hi Rich, That's true. I have been paying more attention to saving / not wasting money these last couple of years.

#27- Hi Edie, they don't advertise it, but they are the ones that told me about this.

#28- Hi Bill, They make a profit both ways, and if more people know about this, more people might use the PO Expess mail instead of Fed-ex. It was the post office that told me how to do this, so apparently they don't care.

#29- Hi Gary, Many people are doing things online these days, but many other people just like to deal with a real person in case they have questions or whatever.

 

8:29am • #30
JUL
21
1,453,158 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Thank you for the great tip. I will try it next time. Have a good weekend.

4:16am • #31

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Jeff Pearl

Leesburg, VA

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RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA MD DC

Address: Lovettsville, Leesburg, Ashburn, Vienna, Reston, Fairfax,Falls Church, Arlington, VA

Office Phone: (703) 727-4876

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