Dustin Curtis's new web app

#1

Post by dougp » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:03 PM UTC

Dustin Curtis's new web app
snail.dustincurtis.com

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#2

Post by SlyShy » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:29 PM UTC

Interesting. I wonder if dcurtis would mind describing some details of the operation. Is the postage being printed too, or are stamps being affixed some other way? And I guess someone is still delivering the mail to a box or post office--would that get annoying?

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#3

Post by dcurtis » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:37 PM UTC

SlyShy wrote: post #2

Interesting. I wonder if dcurtis would mind describing some details of the operation. Is the postage being printed too, or are stamps being affixed some other way? And I guess someone is still delivering the mail to a box or post office--would that get annoying?

I had a beagleboard (beagleboard.org) sitting around in my closet, so I figured I should do something with it.

When you create a letter on Snail, the beagleboard pulls from the heroku database, formats the letter, prints it, and then sends me an email saying it's ready to be stuffed into an envelope.

(Well... sort of. In a perfect world, that is what would happen. Unfortunately, there are some bugs that I am still trying to work out.)

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#4

Post by Huppie » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:43 PM UTC

I actually wonder what is faster. Sending a snail-mail using regular airmail towards the US or sending one through this service :) At least it's 30% cheaper and saves me the time of formatting a letter and walking to the mail-office.

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#5

Post by RiderOfGiraffes » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:46 PM UTC

I suppose if the service gets popular you'll have to find some way to make it pay, otherwise it will cost you a fortune in stamps. Any plans? Or is it "Wait and see.." ??

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#6

Post by agazso » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:49 PM UTC

Love the glowing aura around text boxes. Beautiful design.

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#7

Post by dcurtis » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:51 PM UTC

RiderOfGiraffes wrote: post #5

I suppose if the service gets popular you'll have to find some way to make it pay, otherwise it will cost you a fortune in stamps. Any plans? Or is it "Wait and see.." ??

Well, the dollar breaks down like this:

* 10c to paypal

* 44c to stamp

* 40c for envelope and paper

I make about 6c on each letter.

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#8

Post by byteCoder » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:52 PM UTC

This reminds me of the service from the 1980s (was it Sprint Mail?) where you could dial up (over a 300 Baud modem), type a letter, and it would be physically mailed to an address.

At the time, it was several dollars per page.

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#9

Post by fuelfive » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 2:55 PM UTC

dcurtis wrote: post #7

RiderOfGiraffes wrote: post #5

I suppose if the service gets popular you'll have to find some way to make it pay, otherwise it will cost you a fortune in stamps. Any plans? Or is it "Wait and see.." ??

Well, the dollar breaks down like this: * 10c to paypal * 44c to stamp * 40c for envelope and paper I make about 6c on each letter.

What about your time? Is that the 6c, or does paypal somehow automate this?

Re: Dustin Curtis's new web app

#10

Post by kevinholesh » Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 3:00 PM UTC

Perfect! Now no one will see me when I send my "Dear Penthouse" letters...

In all seriousness, this is a good idea, but you might be cutting yourself short on the profits. 6 cents a letter for probably 5 minutes worth of work? I think you should charge $1.50 a letter and make about 56 cents instead. Overseas business people might still be willing to pay that.