Shipping internationally was never easier, thanks to the U.S. Postal Service's Web site now offering two new service options within its premiere international expedited shipping service Global Express Guaranteed (GXG). Originally designed to provide guaranteed, time-definite, international expedited delivery service, GXG continues to evolve to meet market demands created by ever-changing business needs.
GXG delivers to thousands of destinations in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world. The Web site, in operation since the beginning of the year in several test locations, is already a hit with businesses throughout the country. "The Web site walks customers through each step of the shipping process and offers all of the information customers need to ship their packages internationally," says Melodie Ransom, manager of Business Initiatives for USPS' expedited package services.
Office personnel working in busy offices just do not have the time to go to the post office; they need to be in their offices where they can be most productive. GXG offers online customers one-stop conveniences including the ability to print shipping labels from the Web site, the ability to pay for postage online and the ability to order on-call and scheduled pickups. Customers can also take advantage of numerous opportunities for discounts. A one-time online registration immediately establishes a customer history and shipping record.
Since its inception in late 1998, the Web site quickly evolved to meet online-savvy customers' needs. "We've had the label printing option since January, and in April, we added the online payment option for test customers," explains Ransom. It's almost as if the USPS rewards its customers for doing business conveniently because in August, customers were able to choose from a variety of discount options simply for doing business online.
"Just by doing business online and paying online entitles customers to an immediate five percent discount," notes Ransom. "The Web site offers information for additional discount benefits based on quantity."
The two newest service options are On-Call and Scheduled Pickup Service and Online Postage Payment and Discounted Rates.
The new On-Call and Scheduled Pickup Service, launched in August, allows further convenience to companies. For an additional $10.25, the USPS will pick up packages right from a customer's office so, in effect, individual offices around the country are transformed into virtual post offices with these new services.
Customers who choose to do so can drop their prepared packages, which they have already processed online, into a collection box. Or they can bring their prepared packages to any one of 20,000 Postal Retail Locations throughout the country. "The USPS developed the Web site to offer greater convenience to customers that is the primary goal of the site," says Ransom. "But customers can choose to go to a participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office. All of the locations are listed online."
"Shipping rates for different weights are posted right at the site," explains Ransom. Once packages reach the Postal Retail Centers, they are electronically weighed and scanned. "Should the cost of postage be greater than what the customer had calculated, the outstanding cost of postage will be applied to the customer's credit card."
The USPS plans a big launch of its GXG service in October. "This is a continually evolving service," says Ransom. "We first launched this service in November of 1998, under the name of Priority mail Global Guaranteed. We have now completed our fifth expansion of this service with the introduction of these current service options offering increased convenience."
The future looks bright for companies shipping internationally as the USPS continues to evolve with more services. "One of those could include bundling of more than one service, which offers greater discounts," explains Ransom. For example, a customer might have a number of packages shipped via GXG and others being shipped via Global Express Mail.
"Our future plans include offering more versatility online for even greater convenience and value to our customers," says Ransom.
For more information, please visit www.usps.com/gxg.
