I have a question for those of you who have to use the US postal service regularly like I do. I have had more and more of the contract packets I send out get lost. Thankfully I always follow up with a phone call if I have not received a signed contract back in the mail within the two week period I allow so I can send things out again. Has any one found a more reliable way to send things? I hate to have to spend $5.00 every time I send out contracts and posters! But it is getting frustrating!

Isn't there an option for tracking things when you send them via USPS?  Maybe just registered letter would do it.  It might cost more up front, but might save you headaches and extra cost in the long run.

Yes, in order to track things you have to pay 4.95 to send it and then another .70 to track. I was just wondering about another option.

Hmm.  Outside of switching to another carrier, like FedEx or DHL which will cost as much or more, the only thing I can think of is scanning and emailing, but that might not work if you need original signatures or don't have the equipment.

I would suggest scanning also.  USPS has lost quite a few items for me over the past year.  I even include tracking, but they always says it's been delivered.  One such package showed up at the customers house a few days later in a UPS package.  The US mail had delivered it to the wrong address the home owner was kind enough to remail it with a more reliable carrier.  USPS also will not follow up on lost packages.  Just consider it lost and don't pay for insurance...it means nothing.

Julie

... and they wonder why the USPS is having problems staying afloat. Actually I think the USPS does a pretty good job for the most part but I do think that companies like FedEx, UPS and DHL might be a better alternative when it comes to things like this.  Let's face it most business use them because of the reliability and they have to stay competitive.  I think USPS well also have to become more competitive if they want to survive but don't know that they are there yet.

If it were just the contract I would just do the scanning thing but my contract packets also include event posters and I really don't want to make my clients print color posters for the event from their own computers that would get spendy for them and I have them to provide. I may just check with my UPS service or just have to go with sending them priority with delivery confirmation so I know they arrive. Frustrating.

Have you thought of sending the contract digitally via email as something like a PDF file and then sending the posters by snail mail?  That way you know the contract well get there for sure or at least you would know within an hour or two if there was a problem with the delivery.   I don't know what format you have your contract in, but it should be pretty easy to turn it into a PDF file. I suggest PDF because most anyone can read them no matter what type of computer they are on.  They do need Adobe Reader but most have it and if not you could supply instructions in the email how to download it. Actually you could also perhaps attach some graphics for the show that they could use on their website if they have one to promote the show. So you are kind of increasing the marketing abilities for your show.