Numerous time-consuming trips to the photocopy store, stationary shop and post office, before posting a letter or parcel, could be a thing of the past thanks to new full service postal and business services.
This type of business is a reaction to impending postal deregulation in Europe which will end the letter post monopoly and open up this market to other service providers.
A new company offering comprehensive postal and business related services, PostNet, recently opened in Rathmines. Similar to Mailboxes Etc in the United States, PostNet offers custom packaging and reduced rates for FedEx, UPS, TNT and DHL, and also operates as a "parcel drop-off" location.
PostNet claims this arrangement ensures that it can recommend the most suitable carrier and quote the most competitive price - which will normally include a 5 to 10 per cent discount on standard rates - based on the weight, size, destination and urgency of the parcel.
Consumers may purchase a range of business and postal services from the everyday An Post selection to private personal mailboxes, PC workstations, Internet access and a choice of all major parcel carriers.
While offering full outward bound postal services, PostNet also has fully accessible mailboxes for hire which, unlike PO boxes, will accept delivery of parcels from any carrier, and is particularly useful for goods ordered on the Internet, the company said. Extended opening hours create a solution to the problem of awkward delivery hours for personal home deliveries.
A full range of complementary business services including fax, printing, photocopying, laminating, binding and office supplies is also available.
PostNet's Mr Peter Ryan said the brand is already well established in 15 countries from America to Asia.
"Far from spelling the end of mail, the World Wide Web has created an increasing demand for fast, efficient and convenient ways to send and receive parcels," he said. PostNet will franchise a further three stores in the coming year in key locations around the Republic Mr Ryan said. "A total of 15 stores over the following two years is our plan, but we also intend to look at following the lead of other countries in creating `express' outlets within larger host locations such as supermarkets and petrol stations," he said.
