4 ms·

The idea that sending out blank envelopes so that you can reach the threshold for discount is genius, never thought of that. Might have to look into it for my b

The idea that sending out blank envelopes so that you can reach the threshold for discount is genius, never thought of that. Might have to look into it for my business.

bemmu 12y ago
Yeah it's a strange discount system as it is totally based on the raw count of items, disregarding what they cost to send. As I get closer to that 1000 limit I will definitely get more and more motivated to bridge that final gap by any means. Now a shipment usually costs me around $3 to mail. At that 1000 threshold the discount will suddenly go from $0 to $300. Sending an empty envelope would cost about $1.
- newaccountfool 12y ago
  Are they the cheapest courier for you? Have you shopped around for other couriers?
- canvia 12y ago
  Why wouldn't you use that opportunity to send coupons/promo materials since it's at basically no cost? Empty envelopes seem like a waste.
- peterjancelis 12y ago
  so basically when you hit 901 real shipments, it becomes profitable to send 1000 - (number of real shipments) empty envelopes, at a total savings of $3 * (number of real shipments - 900). (For number of real shipments <= 1000)
  - zerohp 12y ago
    It's even less than that. The equation that describes the decision to send envelopes is: 0.9(3n + 1000 - n) < 3n Which is the same as n > 750.
    - cake 12y ago
      Shit I just spent an hour researching this ! Something was fishy in your inequation here is my result : 3x > 3x+(1000-x-300) So this means that at x > 700 it is profitable to send empty enveloppes.
      - zerohp 12y ago
        I think your equation is modeling an exact savings of 300 for sending 1000 pieces of mail. The discount is 10% for sending 1000 pieces. Mine is simply comparing the cost of sending n pieces of mail at $3 each to 90% of the sum of n pieces at $3 each and 1000-n at $1 each.
        cake 12y ago
        Yes I assumed a 300 flat rate from the previous comment, but you're right he mentions 10% in his post.

The idea that sending out blank envelopes so that you can reach the threshold for discount is genius, never thought of that. Might have to look into it for my business.

bemmu 12y ago

Yeah it's a strange discount system as it is totally based on the raw count of items, disregarding what they cost to send. As I get closer to that 1000 limit I will definitely get more and more motivated to bridge that final gap by any means. Now a shipment usually costs me around $3 to mail. At that 1000 threshold the discount will suddenly go from $0 to $300. Sending an empty envelope would cost about $1.

newaccountfool 12y ago
Are they the cheapest courier for you? Have you shopped around for other couriers?
canvia 12y ago
Why wouldn't you use that opportunity to send coupons/promo materials since it's at basically no cost? Empty envelopes seem like a waste.
peterjancelis 12y ago
so basically when you hit 901 real shipments, it becomes profitable to send 1000 - (number of real shipments) empty envelopes, at a total savings of $3 * (number of real shipments - 900). (For number of real shipments <= 1000)
- zerohp 12y ago
  It's even less than that. The equation that describes the decision to send envelopes is: 0.9(3n + 1000 - n) < 3n Which is the same as n > 750.
  - cake 12y ago
    Shit I just spent an hour researching this ! Something was fishy in your inequation here is my result : 3x > 3x+(1000-x-300) So this means that at x > 700 it is profitable to send empty enveloppes.
    - zerohp 12y ago
      I think your equation is modeling an exact savings of 300 for sending 1000 pieces of mail. The discount is 10% for sending 1000 pieces. Mine is simply comparing the cost of sending n pieces of mail at $3 each to 90% of the sum of n pieces at $3 each and 1000-n at $1 each.
      - cake 12y ago
        Yes I assumed a 300 flat rate from the previous comment, but you're right he mentions 10% in his post.