5 ms·

This service is probably using the Lob API https://lob.com/services/postcards https://lob.com/services/postcards It actually costs $1.62 to do the exact same t

This service is probably using the Lob API https://lob.com/services/postcards https://lob.com/services/postcards It actually costs $1.62 to do the exact same thing, of sending a photo with some text, international included.

woolly 10y ago
Is it the exact same thing, though? Can I send Lob a picture via SMS with some text and an address and have a postcard sent? If not, then maybe that's where the extra cost comes from.
- vincnetas 10y ago
  MMS, possible, not likely with SMS...
- slackoverflower 10y ago
  It most certainly does not cost $1.38/customer to subsidize (minimial) server costs of an SMS bot.
  - usaphp 10y ago
    It cost as much as they charge for their service. I am pretty sure it does not cost $1.62 for lob.com to send that mail too, business need to make money, unless you are spending investors money...
  - mosselman 10y ago
    The brilliant part is that it does most certainly not cost that and that is the profit the site makes. I believe people will find it cheap enough to use this service. Buying postcards and stamps costs about the same. I don't understand your issue with this. Are you opposed to making profit or are you jealous? I know that I am a bit jealous of not coming up with this.
    - mei0Iesh 10y ago
      Why are you jealous when you can easily create your own website that does the same exact thing. You can think of your own added bonus and charge a different price. Too often we feel like because someone else did something first, or theirs already became popular, that the opportunity is over. That denies the world your variation, which might turn out to be much better.
      - mosselman 10y ago
        True words. I think many of us, me at least, have a special appreciation of the original and part of the fun is to think of something yourself. That does not mean, as you say, that we couldn't do the same thing, if not better/more for you. Maybe I will give it a go ;)
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
  - aphextron 10y ago
    So what? White labels exist for all kinds of services. If they package it up into an easy-to-use app and market it well, and provide some kind of customer support, then who cares?
ekianjo 10y ago
That's a healthy profit margin.
- ben_jones 10y ago
  I figure theirs a dark basement somewhere with hundreds of people cramming out hundreds of post cards a day industrial revolution style.
fuzionmonkey 10y ago
At-cost version web version of this using Lob API: https://github.com/scott113341/post https://github.com/scott113341/post
- slackoverflower 10y ago
  This is awesome!
brianbreslin 10y ago
Much less if its domestic US, also lob is charging $0.36 for printing/handling, not a ton (they charge $.70)

woolly 10y ago

Is it the exact same thing, though? Can I send Lob a picture via SMS with some text and an address and have a postcard sent? If not, then maybe that's where the extra cost comes from.

vincnetas 10y ago
MMS, possible, not likely with SMS...
slackoverflower 10y ago
It most certainly does not cost $1.38/customer to subsidize (minimial) server costs of an SMS bot.
- usaphp 10y ago
  It cost as much as they charge for their service. I am pretty sure it does not cost $1.62 for lob.com to send that mail too, business need to make money, unless you are spending investors money...
- mosselman 10y ago
  The brilliant part is that it does most certainly not cost that and that is the profit the site makes. I believe people will find it cheap enough to use this service. Buying postcards and stamps costs about the same. I don't understand your issue with this. Are you opposed to making profit or are you jealous? I know that I am a bit jealous of not coming up with this.
  - mei0Iesh 10y ago
    Why are you jealous when you can easily create your own website that does the same exact thing. You can think of your own added bonus and charge a different price. Too often we feel like because someone else did something first, or theirs already became popular, that the opportunity is over. That denies the world your variation, which might turn out to be much better.
    - mosselman 10y ago
      True words. I think many of us, me at least, have a special appreciation of the original and part of the fun is to think of something yourself. That does not mean, as you say, that we couldn't do the same thing, if not better/more for you. Maybe I will give it a go ;)
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
- aphextron 10y ago
  So what? White labels exist for all kinds of services. If they package it up into an easy-to-use app and market it well, and provide some kind of customer support, then who cares?

ekianjo 10y ago

That's a healthy profit margin.

ben_jones 10y ago
I figure theirs a dark basement somewhere with hundreds of people cramming out hundreds of post cards a day industrial revolution style.

fuzionmonkey 10y ago

At-cost version web version of this using Lob API: https://github.com/scott113341/post https://github.com/scott113341/post

slackoverflower 10y ago
This is awesome!

brianbreslin 10y ago

Much less if its domestic US, also lob is charging $0.36 for printing/handling, not a ton (they charge $.70)