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A service which allows me to upload a document (PDF, .doc, whatever), input an address and then pay for it to be printed and sent to that address via mail (cour
by georgespencer 14y ago
A service which allows me to upload a document (PDF, .doc, whatever), input an address and then pay for it to be printed and sent to that address via mail (courier optional).
I'd use this service so much:
1. Printers are fast becoming a thing of the past. How often will people need to use printers in five years time?
2. Lots of government functions still require printed documents (heck, even Twitter insisted that I fax them something a few years back).
3. Post boxes, stamps and envelopes are a pain to get individually.
- Void_ 14y agoApple still requires developers from outside US to fax them form with their credit card number on it. (!) On the other hand, there are services that will fax PDF for you, even for free.
- georgespencer 14y agoThe difficulty with faxing something is that it's even more out of date than printing something. I don't have a printer, but at least I know a store where I can buy one. I've got no idea where the fuck I'd go to buy a fax machine.
- saraid216 14y agoThere is such a thing as an e-fax (you send an email and it magically turns into a fax on the other side). I have only seen it from one side and do not have any details, though. When I was doing Lots Of Paperwork for something, I'd often print out reams at the office and fax reams back. I consider myself rather fortunate that no one ever complained; being friends with the receptionist (who sits next to the fax and was thus ideally suited to calling me out on excessive usage of office equipment for personal use) probably helped.
- georgespencer 14y agoI've used e-faxes before, but isn't it predicated by the other side (the tax office, or whoever) having either a fax machine or the inclination to accept an e-fax?
- saraid216 14y agoUsually, people who ask for a fax are capable of receiving one.
- lelf 14y agoto fax them form with their credit card number on it. (!) and expiration date, and cvv (not joking)
- mgkimsal 14y agoInteresting. I'd have thought the few things that needed to be printed would also need some sort of physical signature as well. Do you not find that to be the case? What situations do you find yourself in that would call for such a service? Would it make sense more for mass physical mailings via an API?
- georgespencer 14y agoI sign everything using Preview.app on OS X: http://www.cultofmac.com/100237/you-can-now-sign-pdfs-using-lions-preview-app-screenshots-how-to/ http://www.cultofmac.com/100237/you-can-now-sign-pdfs-using-... As an aside, in the EU a printed signature (i.e. printed text in a signature input field) is just as valid as a "real" signature.
- jstreebin 14y agoI also thought about having an API for direct mail--we'd print and send (or have printed and sent) whatever marketing letters you wanted sent
- buro9 14y agoI like the idea, except the only time I need to print something is when I need to sign it.
- georgespencer 14y agoSame applies to me 99% of the time. I sign everything digitally using Preview.app in OS X. I also like to print and send things when it's an old person's birthday (used Apple's Cards app recently and it was brilliant, although a relative was baffled and believed me to be in Prague since it was posted from there).
- alainbryden 14y agoLarge chains like FedEx could implement this really efficiently since they already have offices all over the world. They can just print off at the nearest location to the target and minimize their expense. Getting a printed document hand delivered in an envelope can have a lot more impact over simply sending an email or fax.
- georgespencer 14y agoLawyers everywhere are nodding.
- nhebb 14y agoThey've been offering this service for several years: http://www.fedex.com/us/office/online-printing.html http://www.fedex.com/us/office/online-printing.html
- wpietri 14y agoLast I looked, though, they only deliver via FedEx, which really raises the costs. I wish the postal service did it. They send somebody by my house every day. It'd be awesome if the actually dropped off something I wanted.
- duck 14y agoI wonder if http://HelloFax.com http://HelloFax.com (and HelloSign.com) is working on this? Seems like that would be a perfect fit for them.
- alainbryden 14y agoOn the same vein, someone could write software allowing individuals or organizations to set up a remote print-and-pickup service. For example, every campus would hugely benefit from a service where students could just email a document to a specific address (smith.hall.printer@mycollege.com), have 5 cents a page automatically charged to their account, and pick up their assignment on their way to class to hand it in. Students used to running around residence looking for someone with a printer, or sprinting to the library with a USB stick would be all over the service. Someone just needs to write a simple application that connects the dots and market it to campuses. ---- Reply From: smith.hall.printer@mycollege.com Your document has been printed and 25 cents charged to your account.
- srik 14y agoIn my campus, you just print to the cloud printer and get it from a printer by approving it near the computer station next to it.
- PratPreneur 14y agoBreezy.com does exactly that for universities. Except, you can count it against your current printing credits too. (Disclaimer: I work here. This also means I can help get it to your university if you get in touch with me).
- jonny_eh 14y agoI had this exact same idea last week but it'd be a tough one to crack. The devil's in the details of the operation. You'd have to solve at least the following problems: Print/sorting/packaging/mailing, privacy (most of the stuff you "need" to print is confidential), timeliness (usually when I print I need it NOW, like when closing a sale on a house) But if you can solve them, or at least start to, I think it'd be a great opportunity.
- Quizz 14y agoWhat a great idea for an API that's connected to an existing app/programming like Evernote/Notability/Office and linked to an established network of "member" vendors like UPS/FedexKinkos/USPS/colleges.
- desheikh 14y agoFedex already provides this service fedex.com/office
- Morendil 14y agoThe French Post Office has this: https://lettreenligne.laposte.fr/ https://lettreenligne.laposte.fr/ (And its invaluable companion service, online registered mail, for documents with legal significance.)
- lelf 14y agohttp://www.l-mail.com http://www.l-mail.com — but it does only text I assume
- hajrice 14y agoI'd pay for this. In fact, I end up paying friends to do that for me, while I'm outside the US & have to send docs (such as tax forms, etc.)
- reverend_gonzo 14y agoThis already exists. I actually used one of these when I was out of the country and had to deliver a physical copy. http://www.snailmailme.com/ http://www.snailmailme.com/ http://www.postalmethods.com/ http://www.postalmethods.com/ http://www.postful.com/ http://www.postful.com/ https://www.google.com/search?q=send+snail+mail+online https://www.google.com/search?q=send+snail+mail+online
- 27182818284 14y agoAlso Y Combinator-backed HelloFax https://www.hellofax.com/ https://www.hellofax.com/
- jstreebin 14y agoI've got a similar idea I've been working on called EasyPost.co. I'm not sure where it's going yet--I know a lot is broken within postage but that's an area I've thought about
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]