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Postal Arbitrage

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Re: Postal Arbitrage

#21

Post by wizzwizz4 »

bee_rider wrote: post #8

A cheaper option (if we’re going to do away with the restriction that the post card should be sent by the sender) would be for the recipient to hook their printer up to the network, and just send bits. It is better, actually, you can even scan a real hand written post card.

We could even make a standardised protocol, where anyone could send messages to any connected printer: like letters, except a facsimile of the original document is produced. I'm struggling to think of a catchy name for this, though.

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#22

Post by sudobash1 »

bee_rider wrote: post #8

A cheaper option (if we’re going to do away with the restriction that the post card should be sent by the sender) would be for the recipient to hook their printer up to the network, and just send bits. It is better, actually, you can even scan a real hand written post card.

You can even still do fax machines if you really wanted to.

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#23

Post by bombcar »

I've used something like this list to get "over the hump" for $35 to reach free shipping without prime.

It's horribly annoying to have a product that is $34.99 and you want it, but it'll cost shipping unless you get the damn Volkswagen screw; and then Amazon ships them individually anyway.

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#24

Post by andy99 »

sambaumann wrote: post #11

Turns out, at least in my area, for the grocery items you need to buy at least $25 worth to qualify for the free shipping.

I canceled prime ~8 years ago because where I am, half the stuff I wanted was considered an “add on item” that could only be shipped free if you had > $35 of other stuff, which is a complete scam because you get that without prime.

Maybe that was just for me (in a large Canadian city at the time) or maybe they don’t do that anymore?

I haven’t considered getting prime since, it would be a lot more interesting if it actually provided the shipping terms they advertise.

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#25

Post by hatthew »

sudobash1 wrote: post #19

I feel I should point out that USPS has a lower rate for postcards (currently $0.61), so the threshold might be a bit lower. I know that this is tongue-in-cheek and would be pretty funny to receive, but it isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. The experience of getting a little message printed on receipt paper is nothing like the experience of receiving a note or card in the mail. Through the mail you receive somethi…

I agree in general, but as a one-off thing I'd very much enjoy getting a lime with a message saying "this was cheaper than sending a letter myself"

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#27

Post by MinimalAction »

xxpor wrote: post #16
netsharc wrote: post #15

Ah, luckily the climate doesn't mind that oil was extracted, a phone case was produced out of it, shipped from China, to end up not even being used but just as a "greeting card". Why yes, I am fun at parties.

The oil used for shipping from Shenzhen to Long Beach is completely trivial compared to what the truck used getting it from Long Beach to Pasadena.

I'd love a napkin math calculation at this.

Re: Postal Arbitrage

#29

Post by moralestapia »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #6
ekropotin wrote: post #2

But the cost of Amazon Prime have to be factored in as well

Only if you weren't already paying for Prime. If you were, then it's irrelevant as this usage adds no marginal cost.

"If you already pay for shipping then shipping adds no marginal cost."
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