TransGuardian (www.TransGuardian.com)

TransGuardian Previews SNAP! – a True, Online Multi-Carrier Insured Parcel Wizard

2010-08-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

TransGuardian is unveiling a new category of service: SNAP! - a true, multi-carrier best-way shipping wizard delivered via cloud computing.

Choosing the best way to ship is extremely complex, rather like choosing the best cell phone plan. The average business owner struggles to figure it out. Wizards have long been known for coaching users easily and step-by-step, through complex procedures. Now TransGuardian is delivering this kind of simplicity, speed, savings, and security for small parcel shipping through SNAP!

SNAP! helps users find best-way shipping selections with FedEx, OnTrac, UPS and the US Postal Service (USPS).

SNAP! also provides the option of shipping insurance up to $150,000 per parcel, arranged by Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

"I used to sell Pitney Bowes high-end multi-carrier solutions, for tens and often hundreds of thousands of dollars" said Madlene Moseley, TransGuardian's Executive Vice President. "TransGuardian has packed powerful, warehouse-level tools into SNAP! in a way that, truly, anyone can use them after 60 seconds of self-training. SNAP! is to traditional multi-carrier software what QuickBooks is to Mas90."

SNAP! is set for general release in September 2010. A preview is posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTPwtN0A2vI.

TransGuardian Averts a $29,000 Loss on a Parcel from Central America

2010-08-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

August 10, 2010, Los Angeles. TransGuardian’s tracking system is unique and proprietary. It detects exceptions proactively in a way that no other system does. This enables TransGuardian staff to identify emerging threats to high-value goods in transit and address them assertively and early.

“I was tracking exceptions on our tracer,” said TransGuardian’s Maria Rolon, “and discovered an issue with a $29,000 parcel incoming from Central America. I noticed the potential issue an hour before the expected delivery and before either the shipper or the recipient was aware of a problem.”

Ms. Rolon contacted TransGuardian’s and the carrier’s security departments. She arranged an appointment for the recipient and security personnel from both companies to inspect parcel contents in a private room under TransGuardian’s video camera.

“The key was our turtle, or security packaging,” said Jim Moseley, President of TransGuardian. “While the express box was battered and opened, the turtle was intact. Our client was able to verify that all contents had been left inside. That wouldn’t have been likely with a softer target.”

“I know it was covered by TransGuardian’s insurance,” said the recipient, “but it always feel better to avoid a loss. TransGuardian’s staff gave us the heads up, met us at the carrier premises, came back to our office, and walked us every step of the way through verifying that our goods were intact. That’s peace of mind.”

To protect future shipments, further details of this incident have been withheld, but the point remains: TransGuardian’s risk management protocols have averted $195,700 in small parcel losses in the last 30 days alone.

TransGuardian.com was founded in 2005 and has offices in Los Angeles and San Marino, California. Wells Fargo Insurance services arranges its transit insurance policy covering up to $150,000 per parcel via FedEx, UPS, the USPS, or OnTrac.

For information, please contact:

Customer Service
TransGuardian.com
(213) 622-5877
support@transguardian.com

TransGuardian Averts $23,000 Transit Loss for Prominent Los Angeles Diamond Dealer

2010-08-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

On August 4, 2010, a $23,000 return parcel sent to Gerson & Horowitz (http://www.gersonandhorowitz.com/) , a prominent Los Angeles Diamond Dealer since 1955, was mistakenly delivered to another jeweler’s address. The other jeweler didn’t say a word.

TransGuardian’s Maria Rolon identified the problem through TransGuardian’s pro-active tracking program and subsequent contact with Larry Horowitz.

TransGuardian’s team called the wrong recipient and made an immediate appointment to retrieve the package. TransGuardian personnel recovered the sealed parcel, gave a possession receipt for it, delivered it to its rightful recipient, and verified the parcel inventory. The recovery was successful.

"It would have been a covered loss under our transit insurance policy,” said TransGuardian’s Jim Moseley, “but averting losses is what allows us to maintain – and guarantee – the lowest prices available anywhere in the gem and jewelry industry.”

“TransGuardian’s service has been outstanding, all along the line,” said Larry Horowitz. “They are always available right when I need them. When other companies can’t solve my problems, like getting high value parcels delivered to PO Boxes or finding OnTrac (https://www.ontrac.com/) a less expensive carrier than FedEx or UPS to ship to the GIA (http://www.gia.edu/), TransGuardian has always come through. Also, I’m not a computer guy, and TransGuardian’s online software is the easiest and most powerful around. I used to ship with their two biggest competitors, but TransGuardian out-performs them in every way. And, look, I’m a business man. I like TransGuardian, but not as much as I like my bottom line. The company that can provide the best service for the best price gets my business; it’s just that TransGuardian’s consistently led the pack.”

TransGuardian offers coverage up to $150,000 for small parcel shipments arranged though its proprietary online, best-way shipping wizard. Available carriers are FedEx, OnTrac, UPS, USPS, and coverage is also available for shipments by air freight, truck (LTL and FTL), ocean freight, and rail. TransGuardian’s transit insurance policy is arranged through Wells Fargo Insurance Services (https://wfis.wellsfargo.com/).

TransGuardian Averts $60,000 Transit Loss for Houston-Area Diamond Dealer

2010-08-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

In July 2010, a prominent Houston Diamond Dealer registered with TransGuardian.com. His first shipment was for $60,000 sent via one of the two major small parcel carriers to Mumbai, India.

Unfortunately, the carrier mis-sorted the parcel, sending it to Panama.
Fortunately, TransGuardian’s pro-active tracking team immediately detected the mis-sort. During the night, TransGuardian’s Greg Finck used his extensive contact network in the transportation security industry to solicit help from the carrier’s internal security personnel. (Mr. Finck was Managing Director of Corporate Security at FedEx.)

Within hours, the parcel was quarantined in Panama. The carrier re-routed the parcel to its US hub in Memphis. Greg was in direct contact with the security staff who hand-carried the parcel to the correct sortation channel. TransGuardian’s pro-active tracking program, monitored live, then followed the parcel to a safe POD (proof of delivery) scan in India.

“When I was managing FedEx DVX,” said TransGuardian’s Jim Moseley, “I remember a Vice President at Zale Corporation telling me, ‘I know your insurance is good and you’ll pay a loss if we lose a parcel. But it costs me three times the value of a shipment to re-load my pipeline. That’s because I have to pay for re-stocking the order, re-shipping the order, and placating the disappointed recipient. So the best thing that can possibly happen is that you don’t lose the parcel at all.’

“Our unique, proprietary risk-management programming has allowed us to actively avert over $500,000 in potential losses the last 365 days,” continued Moseley. “This is what allows us to maintain – and guarantee – the best pricing in the industry to shippers of precious cargo.”

TransGuardian’s transit insurance coverage is arranged by Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

TransGuardian Pays $18,000 Claim and Averts $82,000 Loss for Premier Precious Metals Broker

2010-08-05T05:12:00.000-07:00

August 5, 2010, Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Miles Franklin experienced the loss of two precious metals shipments sent under TransGuardian.com’s Declared Value Coverage. In May 2010, Wells Fargo Insurance Services delivered a check for $18,000 which TransGuardian.com presented to Miles Franklin for full coverage of the claim.

In July 2010, Miles Franklin sent an $82,000 package via one of the two major small parcel carriers. TransGuardian’s pro-active tracking made early detection of a break in the online scanning record. TransGuardian’s team contacted the carrier’s internal security department, who began a search in their system. TransGuardian’s special sealed security packaging, used invisibly on the interior of the Express Box, made the search among millions of parcels feasible and positive identification possible.

After several days of working literally round the clock with the carrier’s security personnel, the parcel was found. Photos of the seal number and security packaging confirmed ownership. TransGuardian’s NY representative, Paul Freedman, traveled to the carrier’s hub and verified the inventory before re-labeling the packaging and forwarding it to the ultimate consignee under TransGuardian’s Declared Value Coverage. TransGuardian kept in constant contact with the shipper, carrier, and recipient all the way through the crisis until obtaining a successful proof of delivery.

Jackie Dahl of Miles Franklin wrote:

“It is with pleasure to write a reference for Transguardian. In the enormous world shipping and delivery companies, and the vast operations that are necessary for those companies, it has been very comforting and uncomplicated to have Transguardian there to assist in getting things done.

“First, buying Transguardian services online for an individual shipment has been very user friendly. In the event there is a question, TransGuardian’s customer service has been superb. Further, the necessary tracking reports for shipping are automatic, without needing to sign onto a web site.

“Next, the service TransGuardian has provided for any issue or concern has been beyond superior. The personalized handling and follow-through cannot be found anywhere else. TransGuardian’s personnel have been immediately reachable, and the consequent communication instantaneous. Individualized solutions have always been presented, with minimal action required on my part for resolution.

“Needless to say, I can only provide positive feedback regarding my interaction with Transguardian. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, if I can provide further information.

Sincerely,
Jackie Dahl
Miles Franklin, Precious Metals Brokers
1.800.822.8080
http://www.milesfranklin.com/"

TransGuardian Delivers $1,100 Claim Check to Neon Gems

2010-07-28T09:32:00.001-07:00

TransGuardian has had the privilege of serving Neon Gems of Los Angeles since 2007.

"Even small losses, like this one, feel discouraging to shippers in our industry, and we try to be as supportive and pro-active in managing claims as possible," said TransGuardian's Madlene Moseley. "We were able to collect all the relevant information online and process it smoothly. We delivered the claim check prior to the promised deadline."

TransGuardian.com was founded in 2005 and is the creator of the SNAP - America's Best Online Secure Shipping wizard.

TransGuardian.com Presents $18,000 Claim Check Los Angeles Area Precious Metals Refinery

2010-07-26T13:25:00.001-07:00

July 26, 2010, Los Angeles. On behalf of TransGuardian.com, Madlene Moseley and Rima Hagopian presented a claim check for $18,000 to an LA-based precious metals refinery for a precious metals parcel that was lost in transit while covered by TransGuardian.com.

"We always emphathize when a client experiences a transit loss," said Ms. Hagopian, "Being there to protect their interest is what we're all about."

Wells Fargo Insurance Services, the largest provider in the transportation industry, brokers TransGuardian.com’s declared value coverage.

The refinery has provided precious metal products and refining services to the jewelry, pawn, electronics, dental, and mining industries for several decades.

TransGuardian.com, founded in 2005, is the creator of the original Online Best-Way Shipping Wizard, with 20 carrier services on demand and coverage up to $150,000 per parcel.

END

Jim and Madlene Moseley of TransGuardian.com Meet Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi

2010-07-26T08:37:00.001-07:00

Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of IRan
On July 22, 2010, Jim and Madlene Moseley of TransGuardian.com (www.transguardian.com) attended the Orange County World Affairs Council (www.worldaffairscouncil.org) Dinner honoring the exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi (http://www.rezapahlavi.org).

The Moseleys were guests of Thomas L. Phillips, Chairman and Founder of Eagle Publishing, who published Reza Pahlavi's recent book, Winds of Change (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/089526191X/qid=1010350942/ref=sr_11_0_1/103-0826273-3570201), under the Regnery imprimatur.

Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran, Iran on October 31, 1960 to the late Shah of Iran and Empress Farah Pahlavi. As Crown Prince of Iran and the oldest of four siblings, he left Iran at the age of 17 for air force training, during which time the establishment of the clerical regime in Iran prevented his return to his homeland. Despite being forced to live in exile, Reza Pahlavi’s commitment and patriotic duty to Iran endures. He now resides in Bethesda, Maryland.

Madlene Moseley was born in Tehran, Iran. Her family came to Los Angles in 1978. She became a US citizen when the establishment of the Iranian clerical regime made return to Iran, her family's homeland since 1590, impossible.

"I was very impressed meeting the Crown Prince," said Madlene. "I was pleasantly surprised at his humane, intelligent and candid demeanor. I was moved to thank him at the end of the evening for the fact that his father's government always made our family feel safe in Iran, even though we belonged to the Armenian Christian minority."

"We exhibited autographed copies of Winds of Change at TransGuardian's Client Appreciation Day in Los Angeles on July 23," said Jim Moseley. "Many of our Persian Jewish clients actually kissed the cover of the book. It gave me pause. I had a long talk with one of our clients, Hersel Ahdout of the International House Platinum, who agreed with Madlene. He said he remembered how one day as a schoolboy in Tehran, neighborhood toughs surrounded the Jewish school to beat up the students. One call to the authorities brought the police in minutes to disperse the threat. He said that Imperial rule wasn't perfect, but it kept everyone safe."

Madlene said, "I liked Reza Pahlavi's reply when a member of the audience asked what role he wanted in Iran's political future. He said in his unscripted remarks, 'What I want above all is the freedom of Iranians to choose what they want. I will fight to to the death for your right to vote against me, because I must count on your devotion to fight for my right to vote against you. Whether you are a monarachist, a republican, a communist, a theocrat, or an atheist - the bottom line for me is that Iranians be free to choose.'"

TransGuardian’s Insured Parcel Software Solves the Problem of Last-Minute Shipping Crunch

2010-07-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

July 26, 2010, Los Angeles. Jewelers shipping insured parcels via FedEx, UPS, or the US Postal Service often face an end-of-day crunch - getting the packages labeled and out the door for overnight delivery before the courier cutoff time.

On the West Coast, carrier cutoffs are earlier than on the East Coast. The West Coast time zone is three hours earlier than Eastern Standard Time. All carrier planes have to leave the West Coast by around 7 PM to rendezvous at the Louisville or Memphis shipping hubs with the cargo planes departing the East Coast. East Coast planes can take off at 9 PM or later and still make the 1 AM cargo sortation.

The difference in time zones allows the West Coast jewelry business to fill client orders three hours later than their East Coast counterparts. That’s a big advantage. But West Coast jewelers also have an earlier, tighter shipping window at the end of the business day. That’s a big problem.

In the jewelry business, suppliers frequently receive orders early in the day. They know what they want to send out before the day ends. The problem is that, with the high price of gold, few suppliers can afford to keep all possible styles of settings and mountings in stock. So when a buyer asks for an item, frequently the supplier orders the mounting or setting from another vendor. Often it is made from scratch to suit the order. That means that the supplier may place the order at 11 AM, supply the gemstones, and then nag the setting manufacturer all day to get the finished item cast, polished and packed before the tight parcel pick up deadline.

When the finished merchandise arrives at the shipping desk, the scramble begins - pack it, make the label, declare the correct and final value for shipping insurance, declare the correct weight, and get the carrier's acceptance scan in time to make the cutoff for overnight delivery. The last few minutes of the day can be chaos, especially knowing that if you can’t get the goods to the buyer overnight, your competitor will!

TransGuardian's shipping software solves the problem with two new features called Parcel Queuing and Parcel Templates. Here's how they work:

Parcel Queuing

1. You get an order at 11 AM.

2. You create the shipment label, including declared value for parcel insurance, at 11:15 AM.

3. Rather than buy and print the label, you save it as a Queued Parcel (with an easily recognizable nickname).

4. At 5:15 PM, the merchandise arrives.

5. You choose the Queued Parcel from the TransGuardian software drop-down menu.

6. Make any last-minute changes.

7. Buy the label, print it, affix it to the package, and ship. No more end-of-day shipping crunch!

You can create, save, edit, and delete a custom library of Parcel Templates and Queued Parcels.

Parcel Templates

1. You frequently ship to the same buyer.

2. You create a template shipment to that buyer - this is much more than just having the client's address in your online address book. You can save the recipient address, phone number, e-mail, preferred carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS or Express Mail), preferred class of service (e.g., Overnight by 10:30, Overnight by 3 PM, 2 Day, Ground, etc.). You can even save 3rd Party Billing information for clients who want shipments under their FedEx or UPS account.

3. Give the template an easily recognizable nickname.

4. Save the Template in TransGuardian’s handy drop-down menu.

5. Next time you receive an order from that client, choose the Template, edit any variable details, and print the label. No more last-minute crunch. And no more having to remember (or make your employee remember) the client's preferences. You saved them once for all.

END

TransGuardian.com Presents $25,000 Claim Check to Mr. Keurjikian of Garo Jewelry, Inc.

2010-07-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

July 23, 2010, Los Angeles. On behalf of TransGuardian.com, Madlene Moseley and Rima Hagopian presented Mr. Garo Keurjikian of Garo Jewelry, Inc. a claim check for $25,000 for a jewelry parcel lost in transit while covered by TransGuardian.com.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services, the largest provider in the transportation industry, brokers TransGuardian.com’s declared value coverage.

Mr. Keurjikian is one of the most prominent and longest-established jewelers in the Los Angeles Diamond and Jewelry District.

TransGuardian.com is the creator of the original Online Best-Way Shipping Wizard, with 20 carrier services on demand and coverage up to $150,000 per parcel.

Mr. Keurjikian said, “I’ve only had one other loss in 20 years of shipping. I moved to TransGuardian because they saved me good money over the company I used to use. I’m sorry this loss had to happen, but I’m thankful TransGuardian came through.”

DIAMOND CLUB OF THE WEST COAST, INC.ENDORSES TRANSGUARDIAN.COM AS FIRST ASSOCIATE MEMBER

2008-11-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

In a historic move, The Diamond Club of the West Coast, Inc. (DCWC) has endorsed TransGuardian.com, a leading supplier of online logistics and security solutions, as its first-ever Associate Member.
TransGuardian.com ships and provides insurance for millions of dollars of gems and jewelry per day for DCWC Members and firms using its proprietary, multi-carrier (FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS) software.
The DCWC is a one of the 26 elite clubs that form the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, a 61-year-old organization of the most highly respected manufacturers, dealers, and importers of diamonds, precious stones and jewelry.
DCWC Membership is restricted to businesses of the highest ethics. Good business practice and morality are paramount requisites of Membership, protected vigorously by the DCWC Constitution, which provides for arbitration and disciplinary procedures against any Member who transgresses the code. Membership is possible only after careful vetting by the DCWC Board and endorsement of at least four Board Members.
The purpose of the DCWC is to promote understanding and closer cooperation between businesses in the diamond and precious stones trade in the Western United States and worldwide.
“We’re very pleased to be the first service and technology provider in the industry to be honored with membership to the Diamond Club of the West Coast,” said Jim Moseley, President of TransGuardian.com. “It is a prestigious association that carries a stamp of integrity that we have worked hard to merit.”
TransGuardian.com is also a member in good standing of Polygon.net and the American Gem Trade Association.

Book with Expedia through TransGuardian

2008-06-13T07:08:00.001-07:00

Expedia.com is TransGuardian's newest affiliate.

Now, with the convenience of one-stop shopping, you can use the largest online travel service provider right from www.transguardian.com.

Expedia delivers consumers everything they need for researching, planning, and purchasing a whole trip. The company provides direct access to one of the broadest selections of travel products and services through its North American Web site, localized versions throughout Europe, and extensive partnerships in Asia.

Serving many different consumer segments — from families booking a summer vacation to individuals arranging a quick weekend getaway, Expedia provides travelers with the ability to research, plan, and book their comprehensive travel needs. Expedia-branded Web sites feature airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rental, cruises, and many other in-destination services from a broad selection of partners.

See the link to Expedia under on our Home or Affiliates page at www.transguardian.com.

NEXT DAY AIR A THING OF THE PAST?

2008-06-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

Rising fuel prices will continue to challenge parcel carriers, according to Morgan Stanley Chief Financial Analyst, William J. Greene. “We expect large-scale declines in air volumes and limited ability to raise core pricing as fuel surcharges spike.”

While UPS’s assumption of DHL domestic traffic will help it somewhat, Morgan Stanley is modeling no earnings growth for FedEx or UPS in fiscal 2009.

The next day air market is quickly becoming uncompetitive. If it fuel prices are causing the carriers financial distress, the implications are serious for wholesalers and retailers who rely on them for distribution.

And since higher fuel surcharges mean higher costs of delivery, consumers will start choosing for less expensive delivery options, such as ground or the US Postal Service. I know I do. Once upon a time, I always chose overnight air when ordering books or office supplies online. Now, considering the hefty fees, I figure I can plan ahead a little better and wait three days. Nine times out of ten, as a consumer or business owner, I now choose ground.

That’s why TransGuardian’s multi-carrier software, TransLink, offers four carriers and all services: USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL – with significant discounts for UPS, FedEx, and DHL.

The United States Postal Service’s Express Mail (overnight), Priority Mail (2-Day), and First-Class Mail is increasingly attractive, because this Federal Agency pays no fuel surcharges and reaches every address in the United States every day.

TransLink also gives you access to UPS, FedEx and DHL 2-day and ground services, which are less expensive alternatives to 2-Day air.

And TransGuardian Freight offers an online freight rater with such carriers as Yellow Transportation, Roadway, UPS Freight, and FedEx Freight, creating significant savings opportunities for shipments over 150 lbs. We offer savings with air, ocean, rail, truck and small parcel.

And we arrange insurance on small parcels worldwide up to $150,000 per waybill and heavy freight worldwide up to $2.5 million per waybill.

For more information, please see www.transguardian.com.

TRANSGUARDIAN SAVES JEWELRY TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS COSTS

2008-05-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

In today’s tough economy, with rising gold and diamond prices and tepid consumer confidence, jewelers need the marketing boost of trade shows but also need to cut costs.

TransGuardian, Inc., the leading online logistics and insurance provider to the trade, is making exhibitions more affordable with online insurance coverage to, from, and at key shows like JCK Las Vegas (May 30 – June 3, 2008).

Exhibitors typically pay armored carriers $0.32 per $1,000 for transit coverage to and from and $0.80 per $1,000 for coverage at the show.

TransGuardian offers $0.27 per $1,000 to and from the show and $0.70 per $1,000 at the show – a savings of 15% - up to $5 million, a deductible of only $5,000 (vs. the standard $10,000), war risk, and with only one person (vs. the standard two) required in attendance at the show booth.

TransGuardian members can secure coverage real-time, online, with a full quotation before every purchase, at http://www.transguardian.com/. TransGuardian is exhibiting at JCK Las Vegas (Booth L69) and with Polygon.net (Booth 2146).

YES, YOU CAN USE SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION WITH PO BOXES!

2007-11-20T06:22:00.000-08:00

FedEx, UPS, and DHL cannot deliver to PO Boxes.

The USPS can.

And, when shipping valuable cargo, you can use Signature Confirmation when shipping to a PO Box.

The Post Office will simply leave a notice inside the PO Box, asking the recipient to wait in line and sign for your package at the Post Office retail counter.

So you can get a "wet signature" proof of delivery.

With TransGuardian, you can print Priority Mail labels (insured up to $150,000) and First Class Mail labels (insured up to $1,000) with Signature Confirmation -- to any destination, including PO Boxes.

Save On Shipping Supplies

2007-11-12T07:12:00.001-08:00

TransGuardian has established a new affiliate program with Royal Mailers, a direct manufacturer of bubble mailers.

On the TransGuardian Home Page (http://www.transguardian.com/), simply click the RoyalMailers logo or log in at http://www.royalmailers.com/.

Log in with the coupon code "transguardian" for phenomenal discounts on shipping supplies (like bubble mailers and tape) and absolutely FREE shipping!

You'll be amazed at the savings with every mailer you send out!

Our New Proof of Mailing Manifest

2007-09-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

We're very pleased to highlight the attached video.

USPS Proof Of Mailing Manifest

This shows how we have engineered an interface with the US Postal Service to create an acceptance scan with the US Postal Service analagous to the acceptance scan with FedEx and UPS.

Until now, you could tender packages to the US Postal Service and somewhere, inside the mailstream, you'd get the first scan. Sometimes that happened at the moment of tendering, and sometimes it happened thereafter, and nobody had the authority to compel a scan up front.

Our programming now requires the USPS Employee to provide a scan at the moment of tendering the packages. We're using an exisitng form that before now was only available in paper format -- and we've created it (a) for Internet Online Postage (IOP), made it available (b) per customer and (c) per batch of mailings. Those are the breakthroughs.

Having indulged in a brief "Eureka!", we are now changing our website and contracts to inform and instruct customers on required use of the Proof of Mailing Manifest.

Credit Card Fraud - Beware of This One

2007-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

David Marcus, the President of the Diamond Club West Coast, Inc., sent this to us, and we thought our readers should be aware.

*******

I thought this was too important to pass by and thought I would forward it. Take the time to read it. You never know, it could happen to you. I checked with our PD and they said yes, they did hear of it.

*******

New Credit Card Scam Snopes.com says this is true. See this site - http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp .

*******

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA," and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card."

The scam works like this: the person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card h as been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona ?"

When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards."

Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes".

The caller continues: "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. "

The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works.

The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card."

He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers."

There are 7 numbers; the first four are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.

After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?"

After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do," and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did!

The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card. We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will n ever ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card!

If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement, you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late or more difficult actually to file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

********

Thanks, David!

Forbidden Word Failsafe

2007-07-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Most shippers of high-value cargo know that typing "forbidden" words on a shipping label - like gold, diamonds, or jewelry - will void their insurance. Virtually every policy states that packages so labeled are excluded from coverage.

So if you ship a package worth $10,000 and address it to The ABC Jewelry Mart, a claim for theft or loss almost certainly will be denied.

In the gem and jewelry industry, most shippers have developed practices that eliminate such "steal me" red flags on labels. For example, they commonly abbreviate "ABC Jewelry Mart" to "ABC J Mart." And if the shipper's company name is Acme Wedding Rings, they abbreviate the return address to "AWR."

The problem is making sure to remember these conventions every time you make a label - or, even tougher, making sure all your employees understand and remember them.

TransGuardian has created a failsafe measure to reduce this risk.

Any time you type a forbidden word on a TransGuardian label (whether it's UPS, FedEx, DHL or the US Postal Service), you'll get a warning in big, red letters notifying you of the red flag words you just typed - BEFORE the label is purchased or printed.

Of course, we cannot block printing labels with forbidden words entirely, because if you must send a package to Bob GOLDblum, 123 JEWELRY Way, DIAMOND, Texas, there's not much you can do about it. The real surname, street name, and city name are indispensible.

But in addition to onscreen red-flag warnings BEFORE the label prints, forbidden word alerts also transmit instantly to TransGuardian security managers, who can review the label contents on their computer screens or pdas and frequently can intervene with a customer to make labels safer before they leave the shipper's premises.

TransGuardian is committed to the intelligent use of technology to guide shippers away from costly errors BEFORE those errors are made.

Trade Risk Coverage - Now Insure Your Receivables Against Bankruptcy, Default & Even Slow Pay

2007-06-25T07:47:00.001-07:00

TransGuardian has just launched Trade Risk Coverage (TRC).

Insure your receivables against default, bankruptcy, absconding, legal judgments & slow-pay, up to $5 million per qualified buyer. Selectively cover buyers.

Here's how it works:

Search TransGuardian's Buyer Database to see if the Buyer you want to sell merchandise to is already approved for trade Risk Coverage.

If not, request Trade Risk Approval for your potential Buyer. (This is free and may take overnight to several days, depending on the data available for your potential Buyer.)

Once your Buyer is in the Database, submit the transaction amount you want to cover.

If your Buyer is approved for the desired amount, use the Commercial Insured Trade Agreement (CITA) in place of a commercial invoice or memo.

Type in the transaction value and delivery details and submit the CITA to TransGuardian. Trade Risk Coverage will be bound and confirmed online.

When the Buyer pays you (in full or in part), record the payments in the TRC History.
In case of default or slow payment, call TransGuardian to submit a claim. Claims typically are paid within 60 days.

The premium for TRC is $0.725 per $100, which includes not only receivables insurance, but transit insurance. This means that on $10,000 the premium would be $72.50 to insure both transit and the account receivable...compare the cost of $22-$50 simply to insure shipping with various shipping insurance providers.

TRC is available for terms of 120 days. If the Buyer is approved, you can buy a second and third term of 120 days each, at the same rate of premium.

To understand how this may be worthwhile, consider the following example:

1. You sell $100,000 to your Buyer and pay TRC/shipping insurance through TransGuardian of $725 (remember, you would pay $220 to $500 for shipping insurance alone through other service providers).

2. After 110 days, your Buyer has paid off $70,000. But you're not comfortable leaving the $30,000 balance uninsured. So you buy a second term of TRC for another 120 at a cost of $217.50.

3. After 230 days, your Buyer has paid off an additional $20,000, leaving a balance of $10,000. You feel he probably will pay, but it bothers you that he's taken all this time to pay off the whole balance, so to be safe, you secure a final term of TRC for another 120 at a cost of $72.50.

Before each term of TRC expires, you will receive multiple emails advising you that the term is about to expire and that you should consider filing a claim before the term is up.

TransGuardian can also assist with slow-pay, both for TRC transactions and for old outstanding receivables not covered by TRC.

Your Best Friend: The Other Carrier's Rep

2007-05-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

Once a man died and, to his surprise, found that he had the choice of Heaven or Hell. An angel showed him Heaven, a place of peace, beauty, and dignified joy. Satan showed him Hell, an endless riot of wine, women and song. A little sheepishly, the man said that he’d take Hell. The next day, he found himself in a chasm of endless fire, gnawing worms, and haunting despair. He complained to Satan, “Where’s your truth in advertising?” Satan smiled and said, “Yesterday you were a prospect. Today you are a customer.”

That’s how it is with your current parcel carrier. Guess who gets all the latest savings and incentives? The company who’s shipping with another carrier!

Logistics is one of the greatest expenses in the gem and jewelry industry. Because many businesses in this trade are small operations, they don’t have the time to analyze various methods of shipping and choose the best. They tend to build a relationship with one carrier or one consolidator and stick with them. That relationship often becomes one of friendship and trust - or so you think...

The problem is that the worst friend you have in the world is the sales rep from your current consolidator or carrier.

The rep already calling on you is that last person to tell you that you are entitled to lower rates, increased incentives, and reduced accessorial charges. Remember, the carrier values the rep based on how much money he or she can charge you, not on how much you can save.

To make matters worse, the big carriers often treat their customers with threats and arrogance. They know shipping is your lifeline, so they badmouth the competition and create a sense of fear.

One customer told us, “My carrier threatened to raise my freight rates if I didn’t insure with them.” Of course, there’s no such provision in the carrier contract, and there are dozens, if not hundreds, of other customers using the exact same association discounts and using third-party insurance within a half-mile radius of this same business. But it shows how the sales rep treats an existing customer: like a hostage, not a valued source of business.

The smart way is to have relationships with the three major carries, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, as well as with the US Postal Service. And let each of them know you have a good rapport with the others.

Having a sole relationship with a freight consolidator is no solution, either, because consolidators have the same motivation as carrier reps – to charge you the most money they can for freight. So they steer you towards the carrier that gives them, not you, the best deal.
What makes you think you couldn’t get the same deal through the carrier directly? Probably nothing but the fact that you’ve never asked.

Listen, if you’re paying $10 per package through a consolidator for UPS or FedEx, guess what? The carrier is charging $9 to the consolidator. Don’t you think that UPS or FedEx would rather have your business for $10 if you worked directly with them? Better yet, if you’re using FedEx through a consolidator, see what you can get through UPS without the consolidator…then go back and ask FedEx to match it.

The truth is, no one carrier is best everywhere. You need the options that all four provide for different circumstances.

That’s why TransGuardian presents all four major carriers, UPS, FedEx, DHL and the USPS, to you through our carrier-neutral website. That’s why we bring you competitive Secure Transit Coverage, Trade Risk Coverage, and Virtual COD…as support services, without marking up freight.

Are rate-shopping and carrier comparison a lot of trouble to go to? Well, we’re trying to make it easy for you.

I was just visiting with a major customer in the Southeast. The purpose of my visit was to further integrate TransGuardan's services to his sales and inventory management software. But the CFO told me, "I want to talk to you about prices after you finish with my IT guys." Well, you know what he had in mind. He wasn't hoping I'd find a way to raise them!

But I had laid down some proposed guidelines for his programmers, choosing less expensive freight options for their various package profiles. They agreed that these would suit their customer expectations perfectly.

When the CFO came back into the conference room in the afternoon, his IT guys said, "We just saved $120,000 a year." Instead of sweating over pricing, we went to dinner and talked about our future together.

If shipping is, in fact, one of your top two expenses (along with insurance), analyzing your options may be some of the most profitable effort you can expend.

The Great Package Race: DHL Smacks the Competition

2007-05-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

Georgia Tech’s School of Industrial and Systems Engineering just conducted the 2007 Great Package Race.

The goal was to test the three major private carriers to see which could deliver a package to remote and challenging destinations most quickly and in the best condition.

They sent identical boxes by UPS, DHL and FedEx from Atlanta, Georgia to

Yangon, Myanmar
Tikrit, Iraq (a center of the Sunni insurgency)
Floranopolis, Brazil (a small island)
Harare, Zimbabwe and
Apia, Samoa

The carriers were unaware that the race was even going on. They picked up the parcels April 13, and students tracked them online as they traversed oceans, rivers, and jungles. Some destinations, with no official street address, required last-mile delivery by bicycle!

DHL stomped the competition, delivering first to 3 out of 5 destinations and finishing second at the remaining two. FedEx and UPS each came in first at one destination.

“Most packages arrived within a week or two, but one has yet to be delivered or returned, and the mistakes in delivery were often entertaining,” wrote LiveScience.com “One package was sent back-and-forth across the Atlantic nine times before it was delivered, and another was sent to Costa Rica instead of Croatia.

“And just as in a road race, the sprint to the finish proved the most difficult part of the package’s journey, as packages usually arrived in the general vicinity of their destination, but then finding the exact locale was harder.” (http://www.livescience.com/othernews/070502_package_race.html).

TransGuardian insures DHL, UPS, FedEx, the USPS and Canada Post up to $150,000 per package, because we believe that the informed shipper uses the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of every carrier option.

Someone to Watch Over You

2007-04-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

"Hello, this is Greg Finck from TransGuardian. May I speak to Ellie in shipping?"

"This is Ellie..."

"Hi, Ellie, I see that two minutes ago you logged in a shipment by Express Mail to the XYZ Company in Palm Beach, Florida with a value of $75,000. I was just calling to ensure that you have used the proper security packaging with that."

"Who is this?"

"Greg Finck with TransGuardian."

"Um...we usually speak to Joe Rodriguez..."

"Yes, he's our Manager in Los Angeles. But I'm at the TransGuardian Security Center in Utah, and your shipment just flashed on our screens and pdas, because of its high value. To be fully covered, you need to package that either in a Digital SmartBox or in a 'turtle' with numbered seals. Do you have our security packaging?"

"Yes, Joe provided us with that. But I just put this in a regular box. Should I re-package it?"

"Absolutely, if you want it fully covered. And, Ellie?"

"Yes, Greg?"

"You also put 'Bob's diamonds' in the reference field."

"I did?"

"Yes, you did. That's the other reason I called. If you put any reference to gems, diamonds, gold, or any valuable item on the shipping label, you void your coverage."

"Oh, that's right!"

"So please cancel and re-do your label, use the security packaging, and omit any reference to diamonds in the reference field."

"OK, Greg. And..thank you!"

TransGuardian not only covers the value you declare for high-value packages...our powerful report programming analyzes shipping trends real-time.

When any TransGuardian member ships a package with a declared value over $50,000, our Security Center in Utah receives an immediate flash with all the package-level details.

A TransGuardian representative will then call the shipper to enquire if the appropriate security measures are being taken with that package.

Appropriate security measures include use of a Digital SmartBox or a "turtle" (a blow-molded security case with numbered security seals).

If not, we'll advise you how to get the required security packaging to ensure that your shipment is fully covered.

Also, if there is a pattern of losses with a certain carrier to or through a certain ZIP Code, our programming is designed to detect it quickly. If the pattern warrants it, we can turn off certain carriers to certain ZIP Codes on certain days.

That way, your shipping operator doesn't have to rely on his or her ability to judge the risk of certain destinations or shipping methods; if a loss pattern emerges, that option will simply become unavailable through TransGuardian.

A diamond may be forever...but it should get there overnight...safely.

Now You Can Use TransGaurdian's Label Maker Without Declared Value

2007-04-23T07:33:00.000-07:00

Many clients enjoy the benefits of producing online US Postal Service labels with TransGuardian, as opposed to paying a monthly fee for a postal meter.

In the near future, TransGuardian will also offer online labels for UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Canada Post.

TransGuardian's policy is not to mark up freight. So if you have a great rate with one of the carriers, you can continue to enjoy it directly through TransGuardian. Our revenue comes from providing Secure Transit Coverage on the declared value of packages.

However, TransGuardian does have costs associated with the generation of labels. That means we pay a per-label fee.

In order to keep our charges as low as possible and to avoid charging a monthly per label fee, we have decided to add minimum per-label charges for packages with no declared value, as follows:

Express Mail or Overnight with UPS, FedEx or DHL: $0.75
Priority Mail or 2nd Day with UPS, FedEx or DHL: $0.50
First Class Mail or Ground with UPS, FedEx or DHL: $0.25

We believe this will offer our customers continued savings and advantages without compelling TransGuardian to impose monthly or membership fees.

Turn Shipping Labor Hours into Minutes

2007-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

TransGuardian has introduced a method of batch producing USPS labels that turns hours of labor time into minutes.

If you have order-order taking software, you simply export today's orders to an Excel file (or to a .csv or ASCII file and convert to Excel).

Send the file to TransGuardian, and we'll do the data mapping to enable Batch Upload for your account.

Now you can upload the .csv file in the TransGuardian Insured USPS Shipping Module. The module enters all package level-detail into the appropriate fields to generate a USPS bar-coded label with a tracking number.

Yes, it can auto-fill your internal reference or billing number, too.

Our software presents you with a list of all the packages to be sent with a check box (so you can select or de-select that package) showing the total quotation for each package, including postage and insurance, if any.

It takes 3 seconds per label to turn your order-entry data into the USPS Labels of your choice. So 100 labels take 5 minutes to generate, and another few minutes to print, depending on the speed of your printe.

The Labels are produced in a multi-page Adobe .pdf. That means you can print them one at a time or all at once, and if any page misfeeds, you can simply choose to print that page again.

One large shipper of 50-100 packages per day told us:

We've been spending 5-7 hours per day preparing labels, even before we started using TransGuardian. Now the whole process takes 15-30 minutes. We hit the button, go get a cup of coffee, come back and we're done. Now we don't have to hire more people to handle future growth. All we have to worry about is what to do with the extra 4-5 hours per day!

Factoids from the 2007 National Postal Forum

2007-04-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

The USPS is seeing a significant shift from air to ground packages as ground transit times improve and shippers look to lower costs.

UPS estimates that it consumes 0.1 gallons of fuel per EACH delivered package. The USPS estimates that it uses 0.002 gallons of fuel per delivery stop (0.75 gallons per stop annually). This is why you don't get fuel charges with the USPS...you get the leverage of the USPS tremendous mail delivery network cutting down fuel costs to a vanishing impact per package.

The USPS views "reverse logistics" as a great growth opportunity. The USPS can leverage its huge network of drop boxes and post offices to collect packages that consumers want to return to manufacturers or retailers -- conveniently and economically.

Growth in online postage sales is projected to jump from $1 billion in 2006 to $1.5 billion in 2007.

Over 70% of USPS packages are shipped a distance of less than 700 miles.

USPS Competitive Trend = Many Advantages to Shippers

2007-04-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

One of the most fascinating speakers at the 2007 National Postal Forum was Michael J. Greene, Certified Financial Analyst for Morgan Stanley Research. His said,

The USPS may a more serious competitor to UPS and FedEx.

You, the small-parcel shipper, should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of all the carriers. There is a place for all of them, but you can save thousands of dollars a year by knowing which carrier is most appropriate for which categories of your shipments.

Driven by e-commerce, the fastest growth in the domestic parcel market is B2C - meaning 1-5 lb packages going to residences. This is the USPS's sweet spot.

TransGuardian Delivers Your Options

By integrating the services of the USPS and the private carriers to our site (http://www.transguardian.com), we bring you the ability to choose any of the carriers’ most advantageous products and insure your small parcels up to $150,000 each.

We bundle these with many other tools and services that put you in greater control of your logistics solutions. Our goal is to keep abreast of the best options in the marketplace for you and then to position those services so that you can access them in ways that are cost- and labor-efficient.

The Players

For perspective, let's compare some of the assets of the USPS and the private carriers:

USPS Manned Drop Off Locations: 38,000

UPS Manned Drop Off Locations: 3,300

FedEx Manned Drop OFf Locations: 1,500

USPS Annual Revenue: $73 billion

UPS Annual Revenue: $48 billion

FedEx Annual Revenue: $32 billion

The drop off locations are important in the rapidly growing e-commerce B2C world, because for return or repair shipments, consumers usually will find a Post Office in their neighborhood, whether their neighborhood is in New York, Puerto Rico, Alaska, or Guam.

And now that the USPS offers free carrier pick up (which you can book online at http://www.transguardian.com/), the playing field is further leveled.

Also important in the B2C world is the fact that only the USPS can delivery to Post Office Boxes; and only the USPS has the legal right put parcels in an actual mail boxes; the commercial carriers must leave parcels “on the porch.”

Priority Mail is the USPS "2-3 Day" product and is most competitive with the ground and deferred air products of the private carriers.

Rate Increases

The New Postal Law that embodies the postal rate change is the most sweeping change in postal regulations in 35 years.

The law does more than raise prices; it also gives the Postal Service to more flexibility create new products and prices in response to fluctuating market demands.

It's true that the USPS will increase its prices for Priority Mail by an average of 13.6%. But the Postal Service hasn't raised rates in 5 years, while UPS and FedEx have increased their ground rates for 1-5 lb packages from 2002 to 2007 as follows:

Total Published Increase: 22.89%
Actual Commercial Delivery Increase: 28.02%
Actual Residential Delivery Increase 37.85%

Also, the USPS does not have accessorial surcharges, like fuel surcharges, residential surcharges, Alaska/Hawaii and Saturday Delivery surcharges.

So, while UPS and FedEx officially raise their rates each year in January, they actually adjust their accessorial surcharges monthly.

Many large shippers at NPF told me that, in their opinion, the private carriers are eagerly awaiting the USPS rate case this summer as an opportunity to hike their accessorial charges and boost profits in the short term. FedEx, for example, begins its fiscal year in June, so this might be a timely move, if it happens, to attempt to support the FDX stock price.

Service Standards

A common complaint about the Postal Service is that it still does not provide the same level of tracking, tracing, and customer service as the private carriers.

But, the USPS has made tremendous strides in this area; for example, its air services are now carried by FedEx, which has caused USPS Express Mail on-time performance to exceed 90%. The online tracking and tracing services with the USPS are improving measurably.

And the improvements are likely to continue. The new law mandates that the USPS can no longer be content with breaking even; it must show a profit.

To hit those goals, the USPS is rolling out new technology. The forthcoming "Intelligent Mail" barcodes will allow for end-to-end visibility through the entire Express and Priority Mail network.

Turf Wars

The USPS is already the low-price leader in many markets. That means it puts a lot of pressure on UPS and FedEx pricing. This is especially true in vertical markets where packages are light-weight, like the gem & jewelry trade and most B2C commerce.

This may pose a real threat to UPS and FedEx. UPS is the dominant player in the ground parcel market, and increasing market share in that segment is one of FedEx's most important goals. Why? Because it is the fastest growing and the most profitable segment.

If the USPS is poised to defend its share of this market and win market share, this means UPS could lose some of its most valuable turf and FedEx could be denied the chance to expand in this area critical to its profit performance.

Conclusion

How does the struggle of giants benefit you?

In the 1970s, when the Cold War was at its height, the President of Indonesia once stood up in a conference of Asian nations and said,

“We must take care that the Soviet Union and the United States do not come to open war. Let us remember that when elephants fight, they trample all the grass around them.”

Then-Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yu, replied,

“We must also take care that they do not become too friendly, for when elephants make love, they also trample all the grass around them.”

The bottom line is that competition is good for you and for the whole market, as long as you pay attention to where new pricing and service changes can benefit you the most.

TransGuardian’s commitment is continually to analyze the changing market and bring you the cutting edge.

National Postal Forum & the "3-Letter Carriers"

2007-03-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

The National Postal Forum in Washington, DC (March 25-28, 2007) has been absolutely eye-opening. We've always felt that the US Postal Service presented great opportunities to the shipper of high-value commodities...but when you hear the experiences of MAJOR shippers from the world of fashion, finance, pharmaceuticals, advertising and luxury items, you begin to realize that the US Postal Service is your lifeline to world commerce.

Let me give you some highlights.

On Monday, I spoke on the Packaging Symposium panel, introduced by Anita Bizotto, Chief Marketing Officer of the USPS, and hosted by Jim Cochrane, Manager of Package Services in USPS Package Development.

After presenting TransGuardian's insurance options that wrap around the US Postal Service, members of the audience approached me - representing insurance, pharmaceuticals, and even the IRS - fascinated to see how we had combined our services with the USPS and wanting to do business with TransGuardian.

But we aren't alone. After 30 years in the transportation business, I would venture to say that the most creative companies and minds in the industry are focusing on partnerships with the US Postal Service.

The common theme is this: if you think the Postal Service is a creaky, outdated bureaucracy and the commercial carriers are on the cutting edge, forget it. The Post Office is already delivering the future. Their technology options are amazing, and, as one large shipper put it, they're

"hungry for your business in a way you'd expect of the commercial carriers. But today the reverse of common belief is true. The Big 3 Commercial Carriers 'yes' you to death, but can't deliver. The USPS not only has a can-do attitude...they actually can do!"

Paul Fitzpatrick, Director of Operations and Distribution for Olympia Sports, a large retail chain, is speaking on the same panel (hosted by Endicia) as I am on Wednesday. Paul recently set up all his retail outlets to ship via the US Postal Service using Label Server online. They've saved huge dollars compared to what Paul calls "the 3-letter carriers" (UPS, FDX & DHL), because with the Postal Service they avoid all the carrier surcharges (that are rarely discounted even to big shippers). In addition, Paul stressed the excellence and reliablity of the USPS.

"If we get an order and one of the 3-letter carriers fails to deliver, it doesn't reflect on the carrier; the customer blames us. We just can't let that happen. We're in New England. When we were using a commercial carrier, we'd get calls saying, 'I never got the package.' So we'd send out a replacement package. And then Spring would come, the snow would melt, and we'd get a call, 'I guess they did deliver the package...but they left it on the lawn!'"

The key here is that, unlike the 3-letter carriers, the US Postal Service has the legal right to leave your package in the safety of your mail box...not on the porch, at the address next door, or in the hedge!

Yesterday I listened to a terrific talk by Ed Foy, CEO of a really cool and innovative company called eFashionSolutions. They are a web designer and fulfillment company for many of the big names in fashion...Oscar de la Renta, DKNY, Lilly of France...most of the brands you know. They started out in 1999 in a 3-room apartment, using a commercial carrier, and now, partnering with the US Postal Service, they fill orders worldwide out of a 75,000 square foot warehouse.

Ed laid great emphasis on the global reach of the US Post Office.

"Basically, we can fill orders in the UK or China (from the US) in the same time frame and for the same low cost as any local distributor overseas, e.g., $12 vs. $40-$60 using UPS, FedEx or DHL."

Recently, he won a new contract that included b2c shipments in Japan. The client told Foy,

"We're giving you distribution in the US, but we're awarding the contract for distribution in Japan to a Japanese company."

But Ed was able to show them that he could beat the prices and time frames, from the US, for distribution to Japan consumers. He retained the entire contract.

"These days, when you can beat overseas competition and attract dollars to the US, that's a huge win...and the US Postal Service is a major lever in helping you to make that happen."

We followed up with USPS representatives who are planning to help TransGuardian bring its clients very specialized opportunities for international postal services for our market niche. Stay tuned.

TransGuardian laid the basis for a partnership with another company that will allow our clients to produce Certified Mail with Return Receipt online. More on this later, but it's another exciting result of NPF.

Many, many of the companies we talked to were extremely energized by the opportunity to integrate TransGuardian's insurance services to their offerings.

NPF was a fantastic experience, not only because of the many great options we learned about - and will soon bring to our clients - but because it showed us our hunch was right.

There will always be a place for the 3-letter carriers, but the savviest minds in shipping are going postal.