Thursday, May 25, 2006

No rest for the intrepid post person. Except Newman, Seinfeld’s nemesis (probably retired by now).

Remember the good ol’ days when the US Post used to boast of the mail going through rain, hail and high water – in other words, against all odds? (“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” This was at one time thought to be the Official Motto. http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article?eu=298597&query=stamps&ct=%22ebi%22.) Well, now the Internet has made it unnecessary to live up to it, boys and girls. In 2002, 77 percent retailers mailed catalogues. A year later, only 55 percent did. Woe is me, says the US Postal Service Chief and commissions a survey. “And guess what?” writes George Simpson (Surveys: Don’t confuse me with the facts) “The study proves that catalogs double the chances of businesses making an online sale. And that people who get catalogs in the mail spend more on Web purchases than people who don't get catalogs.” http://www.mediapost.com/dtls_dsp_news.cfm?newsId=252307. If you think this is about the US Post being wrongly at the receiving end and proving the point with an ‘impartial study’, read the rest of the article and guffaw.

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