Panic At The Pump After Sandy Storm, Couriers Expect To Soon Operate

Amid the Superstorm Sandy aftermath, there are a number of challenges the New York, Connecticut and New Jersey residents are having to face to make ends meet. One of those was gas, but it is not now. However, residents are behaving as if there will be a gas shortage and there is a panic occurring in many hard hit areas.

CNNMoney reports of panic at the pump because people fear there will be a gas shortage headed their way this week. Many people by the droves are at gasonline lines to full up their tanks, not in only in their cars, but also walk-ins. There has been lines formed with cars and a separate lines for walk-ins with gas containers. Some people are even waiting 4 hours to fill up with gas. Police have to keep the peace. It is a response of fear that all the gas will be gone.

There are many reasons this happens. In the report, an oil and gas expert stated usually after large storms this type of behavior occurs is such places like Florida. People anticipate a gas shortage and they rush to the pumps all at one time. A week later after Superstorm Sandy, this is exactly what is happening. Also, social media has in part in sparking panic and fear about gas. Many people hear about gasoline availability and they all rush there at the same time. Everyone needs gas, but this makes it difficult to be spread where everyone can readily obtain it.

Inspite of the panic, there is said to be plenty of gas in NY. The Jersey turnpike and other NY terminals have gas right now. They have bulk storage tanks of 10 million gallons. It is a matter of receiving the electricity required to access the gas. The panic should be subsiding this week and signs of this is already being seen in South New Jersey. Currently, some gas stations are rationing gas using license plates, just to make sure everyone gets there immediate share. This eliminates wait time at the pump, due to the gas station itself having to refuel.

Many people and business in the storm-hit areas are pursuing to get back up and running. Courier services such as A-1 Express are working hard to be right along with them to assist in their delivery needs. In several areas, continual gas supply is what the same-day couriers are facing to start back running, yet should be seeing signs of complete recovery. A-1 Express is helping transport, from other cities, various products into some areas. We are proud to be a leading provider of same-day delivery services nationwide, and we are in full support of storm relief and recovery.

References: 11.4.12, CNN Money, Jennifer Liberto, Behind the gas panic: One expert explains

U.S. Postal Service Testing Same-Day Delivery, Helping E-Retailers Before Holidays

From its' inception in 1792, the United States Postal Service has always provided mailing services to millions, but never on the same day. With the latest financial crisis due to a lower consumer use of small mail, the USPS looks for a new strategy to develop sales growth and they may have found it.

The US Postal Service filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission they will begin testing same-day delivery for e-retailers beginning in November reported the Internet Retailer last week. The service is going to be tested with certain e-retailers around November 12th, which is right before the holiday rush. The USPS stated, "The volume of packages continues to grow along with the growth in e-commerce. Providing this service is a way for us to help increase revenue by increasing our package business and also provide better, faster service for our customers." This was the one element of the Postal Service that deterred most consumers with quicker delivery demands.

The USPS will be helping e-retailers delivery their products during the testing period between 4pm and 8pm. The online orders from participating e-retailers will be made between 2pm and 3pm that day, then delivered by the Postal Service. The price of the same-day service will be determined by each of the e-retailers. To be one of their participating e-retailers, the company must have at least 10 physical locations nationwide and at least one location within the metro post.

The exploring of a new course to generates sales comes after the company reached its'$15 billion borrowing limit from Congress. The Postal Service is facing insolvency by next spring and is desperately in need of the government to step in to assistance. Their cash reserves are low. Although regular mail sending has declined, they are expecting for the increase of holiday mail to keep their employees and contractors paid. It is no coincidence the USPS has turned to seeking after same-day delivery to increase their revenue.

Many large companies are currently performing various types of testing of same-day delivery in San Francisco as well as other cities in the US. EBay began testing their same-day deliveries earlier this year with e-retailers such as Macy's, Target, and Best Buy. Amazon has increased building of their order fulfillment centers, foregoing their sales tax break. Many experts believe the online giant is setting up itself to perform same-day delivery nationwide. Even Wal-Mart has weighed in, which already performs same-day delivery in China and testing the service in several US markets like Philadelphia and San Jose as well.

Same-day delivery has become a reality in e-commerce now. Any company engaging in online business is going to need same-day delivery of its' products to compete. A company does not have to have the capability to perform the deliveries themselves. Your business can utilize a courier to perform same-day deliveries for you. Nationwide couriers such as A-1 Express can assist any company to meet their online demand and delivery their products door-to-door. A-1 Express can quickly implement a courier solution to delivery your products fast! With the USPS getting involved in same-day deliveries, e-retailing is definitely changing and a courier can help your company change as well.

References: 10.17.12, www.internetretailer.com, U.S. Postal Service will test same-day delivery for e-retailers

Nintendo Wii U Pre-Orders Sell Out, Companies Have To Meet Online Deliveries

Expects are predicting online shopping will go up this year. As companies gear up for this year's holiday season, technology is leading the pack. Online pre-orders have been selling out for some top tech gadgets this September.

Two of the most anticipated technology products have been the iPhone 5 and the Nintendo Wii. YahooNews recently reported Nintendo's joined the likes of Apple this month, selling out of their online pre-orders. Target, Best Buy, Toys R Us, Sears, and KMart were among the list of major retailers that have ended all pre-orders. Nintendo released their announcement last week, and customers are set to receive their new Wii's on November 18th, right before Thanksgiving arrives. The console will also be available in physical stores that day as well.

The Apple iPhone 5 was reported to have sold out of 2 million units for pre-order in the first 24 hours of their release date. With the demand for the new phone still at a strong pace, Apple has now had to inform some customers they would not receive their iPhone 5 for another 3-4 weeks. With the powerful effects of just one technology advancement such as the iPhone, shopping is being revolutionized before our very eyes. The use of the new iPhone 5 to make purchases via online for the coming holiday season this year is sure to follow.

The online orders prove that e-commerce is becoming an even stronger vehicle for shopping then ever before. With the use of technology, such as the iPhone 5, selling and shopping is very convenient. The only piece of the puzzle left to complete the success of online shopping is how fast can a customer receive their product. Same-day delivery is what online giants like Amazon and eBay are after, because they realize technology is changing the way we do business.

It is understood that this year is huge for online business. It is predicted via Internet Retailer that online sales will increase by 17% this year. Online sales, however, will only as good as your delivery system. Demand is high, but only the company that can keep up with it will ultimately win.

Courier services such as A-1 Express are able to assist companies deliver their products they sell online. This nationwide courier knows what is takes to provide same-day delivery successfully on a consistent basis. With over 1,500 clients and growing, A-1 Express continues to prove itself as a courier that is on pace with modern technology and the same-day delivery demand of e-commerce. A courier can be a strategic partner to take advantage of the anticipated growth and opportunity for the remainder of the year.

References: YahooNews, 9.21.12, CNBC-Nintendo's Wii U Already Selling Out Online

Courier Companies Can Help Avoid Disasters

There's no situation so bad that you can't make it worse by freaking out. That's a basic fact that everyone in business has probably had to learn one way or another.

Sending your mind racing may momentarily relieve pressure by providing a distraction, but sage decisions are rarely made by those in a full-fledged panic. Whatever scenario you find yourself in, it's in your interest to stay calm and focus on what needs to be done to resolve the problem.

Imagine you have a seemingly impossible task to do - for example, an important client needs a replacement for a faulty product and if isn't delivered overnight to their office across the country, you'll be responsible for your company losing its biggest account. You can waste valuable time working yourself into a frenzy and moving further away from resolving the problem. That is always an option.

Or you can stay calm, quickly call up a nationwide courier service and get the critical parcel moving as soon as possible with next flight out service. That's a better option by far and it also speaks to the fact that preparation is the key to avoiding panic.

Working with quality couriers can help a company avert sudden disasters, as in the above example, but it can also help prevent crises from developing in the first place. When you ship papers or packages with private couriers, you never have to fear the dreaded call in which a customer or partner claims that "it must have gotten lost in the mail."

Remove the uncertainty from your shipping process, guarantee that every scheduled delivery is made on time and prepare for unexpected emergencies by becoming acquainted with the professional couriers operating in your area.

References: 1-800Courier.com news

National Courier Service Blog Launch

Today we start what I hope will be an informative blog about all things courier.