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Topic starter
I'm thinking of starting a service business here in California before I move to St Thomas in July.
It would be targeted towards residents of US Territories.
The business would be an item location/shipment service:
1) Finding requested items, and providing price quotes
2) Shipping said items to customer, via USPS
3) Sending customers scheduled shipments of (whatever)
My question is, would any of you use this kind of service? Do you think there is a demand for it?
If you want you can email me comments or suggestions at [email protected]
Thanks
Dave
Posted : January 27, 2004 12:13 am
What sort of items are you considering? If you are going to concentrate on serving USVI Florida would be a better spot.
Posted : January 27, 2004 12:31 am
Topic starter
Hi ParrotHead
Any items really, I guess whatever people want and are willing to pay for.
I was figuring on serving USVI and the south pacific.
It'd be good if I could base things out of Florida for shipping costs, unfortunatly I live in CA. 🙂
So, whaddya think?
Posted : January 27, 2004 1:05 am
Count -
Most items you can get directly from the company, and shipped from them.
So - you would have to thikn of a REALLY great item, hard to find, and ship it to 'em.
What were you thinking of selling? any ideas at all?
Gia
ps - agree FL would be better - less in costs...for both parties.
UNLESS - its a CA thing you are selling......
Posted : January 27, 2004 1:23 am
Personnaly I think the internet puts a damper on your idea. Anything can be purchased online & shipped her cost-effectively. Even if the item(s) hass to first be sent to someone off island & then sent USPS Priority Mail to VI.
Now, if you want to offer a re-mailing service which might suit people who didn't want to bother their friends or family, or wanted to bypass those contacts, you might have a viable alternative to what you proposed. That way you also save the time & hassle of procuring the tangibles the person wants, let them do the shopping online & original shiping destination is your service. All you are doing is mail forwarding with a niche market.
PH
Posted : January 27, 2004 1:25 am
Topic starter
Gia - Most items can't be ordered from the company direct to the customer in USVI because most companies won't ship things via USPS, only UPS or FedEx. That means that they have to go through customs, it also mean considerably higher shipping costs.
ParrotHead - Yeah, now you've got the idea I was getting at. What I more or less meant as my business model was a "re-mailing service" but also with the option of me going and getting the item for the customer so they don't have to pay original shipping plus the re-mail shipping. Of course if they want to pay shipping twice I'd be happy to help them still.
Posted : January 27, 2004 5:44 am
Hey Count
I live in FL, I could bring them in or out. Interested?
Sparky
Posted : January 27, 2004 7:54 am
I know the Mailboxes Etc in Christiansted already offers this service. You have the item(s) delivered to an affilitated MBE in Florida and they then forward the items to you on the island. I have never used the service so I can't tell you the cost or how well it works.
Jim
Posted : January 27, 2004 3:11 pm
Although few companies list USPS as a method of shipping, I have had good luck with getting a real person at the company and asking specifically for USPS because of cost differential.
Your mileage may vary,
BB
Posted : January 27, 2004 10:26 pm