The Mailbox Ballard

We adore our clients as you are well aware.  We are also blessed to have an amazing group of drivers on our team.

We have excellent working and personal relationships with our carriers and their drivers here at the Mailbox Ballard. They show up day-in, day-out without fail; rarely late and never absent, we rely on their diligence and hard work to get your packages and mail to and from their destinations on time.

Adhering to a tight schedule and working a largely thankless job, the drivers for these carriers often do not get the opportunity to personally engage with clients at residences around the neighborhood.  You may miss out on some of the satisfaction that we get here at the Mailbox of getting to know these folks we see daily.

We thought it would be fun to profile each carrier in the coming days to give you a sense of who these dedicated individuals are and maybe when you see them around the neighborhood next you’ll be inclined to wave or strike up a conversation.

The Mailbox can help you solve your “what is my best option for shipping” dilemma!

You will have noticed that the shipping industry has experience a shift in consumer practices in the past few years. Carriers have had to modify how it ships and the rates they charge in response to online sales and direct to home shipping.
What you may not realize, is how we as consumers choose to use our shipping options affects us all in the pocket book sooner or later. The mailbox Ballard is here to help you navigate these often confusing regulations and practices to your best advantage every day.

Here is what you need to know.
Dimensional weight pricing is a common industry practice that sets the transportation price based on package volume — the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual w By using programs free shipping programs, consumers simply order online and have the parcels shipped directly to their homes.

The difference in price varies according to the speed of delivery a customer chooses and the distance of shipment.

Optimizing package sizing will reduce excess packaging materials and overall package sizes, leading to related reductions in fuel use, vehicle emissions and transportation costs.
Here is how that affects you.

USPS will raise rates in Sept. 2014 and
UPS and FedEx in Jan. 2015

The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to change Priority Mail prices. The price change will include a modest increase for Priority Mail prices at Post Offices and other postal retail outlets. The proposed changes are intended to offer more competitive pricing. Unlike others in the shipping industry, the Postal Service is not implementing any new dimensional-weight charges.
The pricing adjustments are part of a broader strategy to position the Postal Service for the future. USPS is also streamlining its mail processing operations, which will allow the organization to invest in new package sorting equipment and other upgrades, as it continues to seek legislative changes to update its business model. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Like UPS, FedEx have used size-based pricing for express shipments and certain large packages.
The switch to dimensional-weight pricing comes in response to rising fuel costs and the increasing popularity of online shopping. With retailers like often putting small items in large boxes, lightweight packages can take up a lot of space on delivery trucks but are priced at lower rates.
UPS explained that recent shipping trends have resulted in declining package density, saying shipments are getting larger compared to the package weight. UPS hopes its rate changes will convince customers to match box sizes to the items inside.

This dimensional weight rate change will align the FedEx Ground dimensional weight pricing with FedEx Express by applying it to all packages. Bulky-but-light packages take up more than their fair share of truck space —  FedEx would prefer to fill with extra packages that it can charge for that space.

FedEx and UPS have announced they will apply dimensional-weight pricing to all shipments starting Jan 1, 2015
Here is what The Mailbox Ballard can do for you.
We effectively pack and protect the items you are shipping so they arrive as intended.
We assist you with add on service options like delivery confirmation, package tracking, signature on delivery and package insurance.
Here at the Mailbox Ballard you have the option to ship your packages via UPS, Fedex, DHL and the United States Postal Service.
The Mailbox Ballard can quickly and effectively help you navigate the best shipping and carrier choice for you. We elegantly assist you in deciphering which, how and why your priorities are important to deftly find a solution and/or alternative to solving all of your shipping needs. In effect helping you decide is the cost, time and/or item value that matters most for each package you are shipping.

Get in here, we can help! Cheers and happy shipping from the Mailbox Ballard.

We would like to officially introduce our newest employee at the Mailbox Ballard. Nick Jones.

Nick is currently going to school at Western Governors University. He has a degree in Marine Transportation from the New York Maritime College and is interested in pursuing a degree in Marine Technology. His main passions are rock climbing, fly fishing, sailing and occasionally he puts pen to paper. Always happy to chat, if you know of a great place to hike or a exciting new band, Nick would love to hear all about it!

In addition to now offering exceptional customer service here at the Mailbox, Nick also works at the Community boating center offering sailing lessons at Sail Sand Point for the past 5yrs.

Nick really enjoys meeting and getting to know the variety of locals that frequent the Mailbox Ballard. He loves recognizing faces when out and about in Ballard, listening to what interests you, hearing a good story, and is always up for some good advice.

Fast on his feet, Nick has honed his shipping and customer service skills to a fine art.  He will be able to assist you in even the most complex of shipping needs.  Test him out. Get yourself down to The Mailbox Ballard and introduce yourself to Nick, share your story, and find out how he can assist you with your shipping needs today!

The Mailbox Ballard offers a variety of services to assist you with your travel needs. Take a quick look at the following ways we can help you prepare for a great vacation.

• Passport Photos. We take official US Passport photos and The Mailbox Ballard is able to post your completed and ready to mail application for you. Here are some helpful passport application links and information:
US Passports and International travel information
Passport Fee Chart

• Receive Packages. The Mailbox Ballard accepts packages for you while you are away! Even Non-box holders can arrange to have their packages shipped to us at The Mailbox and temporarily held here for a fee. * UPS, FedEx, Ontrac, Amazon or DHL *You must call us prior to delivery date to schedule this service. 206-789-7007

• Ship extra baggage. Extra baggage weighing you down? The Mailbox Ballard will ship your gifts and extra baggage to your vacation destination for you! Here are some helpful information links:
TSA Traveler Information
Carry-on baggage tips

• Purchase, Protect, Pack. If you or your guests are here visiting Seattle, The Mailbox Ballard will protect, pack, and ship home safely all of your “must have” fragile and/or perishable items.

• Souvenirs and Gifts. We feature favorite local gift items in our retail area including Lantern Press postcards, Bonache hot sauce, Theo chocolates, Lucca greeting cards, Pete’s Toffee, Cadeaux chocolates, Orange twist products, Space Noodles and more.

Stop by The Mailbox Ballard to find out how we can help you today!

Your neighborhood Mailbox staff

The Mailbox Ballard is a proud sponsor of The walk for Old Dogs July 20th from 12-3 pm at Bellevue Downtown Park.  The event is located at 10201 NE 4th St in Bellevue. Dogs of all ages are welcome. The walk is a fun half-mile promenade to celebrate senior dogs. It’s a beautiful walk along a water feature with lawns and shady trees. You can walk or just go for the events. Best Costume, Best trick and Dog/Owner Look Alike Contest. We would love to see and possibly post your pictures if you go and participate in this event.

You can go to this link ODHwalkforolddogs.org. or stop by the shop with a donation.  All money raised at the walk will be used to care for senior dogs who might not otherwise have a home.

If you have forever stamps you will not need to do anything to mail a first class letter.  Those stamps really are “forever”.

We are always here to help you maneuver all the other changes.

Summary of the 2014 USPS postage rate increase:

• First Class Letters (1 oz.) will increase by three cents . Each additional ounce will cost up one cent from 2013.
• First Class Flats (1 oz.) will increase by six cents. Each additional ounce will cost an extra one cent from 2013.
• Postcard rates will increase by one cent.
• First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 5% in 2014.
• NEW! A new “Zone 9” delivery zone has been introduced to represent U.S. territories and freely associated states (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau) for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.
• NEW! A new morning delivery service option will become available for Priority Mail Express. For an extra fee, Priority Mail Express packages can be delivered to their destinations by 10:30am.
• NEW! Priority Mail International: The maximum weight for Rate Group 2 (Mexico) has been increased to 70 lbs. from 44 lbs.
• NEW! The following countries are now also eligible for USPS Tracking™: Estonia, Finland, Gibraltar, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Portugal, and Singapore.

Big or Small…We ship it all!

Full service package shipping means a lot. It means you can bring an un-boxed item and we’ll package it for you, or you can bring a box that is ready to go.

We know how important it is to you that your item arrives safely at its destination in one piece! For this very reason, we stock a great variety of items designed to protect your item during shipping.

December Shipping Hours:

Ballard’s holiday packing and shipping headquarters!

Starting   12/9 – 12/23

M-F   8:30 am – 6:30 pm

Sat    9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Sundays (12/8, 12/15 and 12/22)   11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Closed Christmas Day

Opening Late 12/26 at 10:00 am

Closed December 31st New Year’s Eve for Inventory

WASHINGTON — Two eerie occurrences took place surrounding the nation’s first airmail flight. The pilot got lost, flew in the wrong direction and crashed. And due to a printing error of the stamp created to commemorate this historic event, the biplane depicted on the 24-cent Curtiss Jenny airmail stamp was upside down. A sheet of 100 stamps bearing this error was sold to the public.

The “Inverted Jenny” stamp sheet, issued the day prior to the flight, has become the most publicized stamp error in U.S. history. One stamp sold at auction in 2007 for $977,500.

The Inverted Jenny flies again and will get its stamp of approval at 1 p.m., Sun., Sept. 22 at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum when Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe dedicates the Stamp Collecting: Inverted Jenny $2 stamp. The event is free and open to the public.

Visit this link at the National Postal Museum to see examples of Postal Service innovations.

To make them easily distinguishable from the 24-cent originals, the six $2 Inverted Jennys on this sheet commemorate the many ways a single stamp can turn a moment in history upside down. The stamp sheet coincides with the grand opening of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum William H. Gross Stamp Gallery — to house the world’s largest stamp collection. The museum is across the street from Union Station at 3 Mass. Ave., N.W. in Washington, DC.

The stamp will be available for purchase nationwide on Sept. 22. Customers may pre-order the stamps now at usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724) for delivery by mail early next week.

The Backstory
In 1918, in a rush to celebrate the first airmail flight, the Post Office department issued the 24-cent Curtiss Jenny stamp. Because the design required two colors, sheets were placed on the printing press twice — first to apply red ink and a second time to apply blue ink. This process was given to human error — as stamp collectors at the time well knew.

A Washington, DC, Post Office clerk — who had never seen an airplane — sold a sheet of 100 stamps mistakenly showing the biplane upside down. For nearly a century, stamp collectors have chased the Inverted Jennys and have accounted for nearly all 100 of them.

Customers may view the Stamp Collecting: Inverted Jenny Forever stamps, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter@USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

Photo credit and story from the usps.com web site