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Posted by PC Medic on 02/13/06 00:35
"Alpha" <none@none.net> wrote in message
news:11uvjj6795q4u6c@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "PC Medic" <not@home.com> wrote in message
> news:u7JHf.87589$4l5.62542@dukeread05...
>>
>> <afn03488@afn.org> wrote in message
>> news:1139759033.589933.282720@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>> PC Medic wrote:
>>>
>>>> Much simpler way for them to have done this instead of 'throttling'
>>>> would be
>>>> 'combined shipping'. If you have multiple movies shipping to you from
>>>> the
>>>> same facility (almost always the case) offer you the option in your
>>>> profile
>>>> to have them placed in a single shipping envelope and you return them
>>>> in the
>>>> same single envelope. The weight of a CD is minimal and would more than
>>>> halve their current shipping rate using this method.
>>>
>>> Pardon, but you obviously do not understand how the USPS operates.
>>> Your proposed solution would not only complicate NetFlix's mail
>>> preparation, it would require the use of affixed [metered or stamped]
>>> postage instead of permit imprints and deprive NetFlix of some of the
>>> postal discounts for which they now qualify.
>>>
>>
>> Wrong...and I am quite aware of how the USPS works as my company uses
>> them (and UPS) to ship thousands of items daily. 3 CD's in a single
>> mailer would cause little IF any change in rate and what ever slight
>> change there was would certainly be less costly than 3 seperate mailers
>> (savings in both postage and materials).
>>
>>> Secondly, an additional DVD would obviously push the weight class up
>>> an ounce [a DVD is roughly 0.6 ounces] meaning NetFlix would pay an
>>> additional 24 cents each way. While this is lower than the cost of two
>>> envelopes, the postal "savings" is on the order of 14% at best, not
>>> 50%. This savings would apply only to a subset of their total postage
>>> bill, and in my estimation would be more than eaten up by the
>>> additional costs in preparation and loss of discounts.
>>>
>>
>> I do not agree totally with your figures and yes it MAY cost slightly
>> more, but still would be less than 3 seperate mailers.
>>
>>> Add to this that the additional stiffness of the package may well
>>> require sorting on flat equipment instead of letter equipment to
>>> prevent damage, and you are adding to the postal delivery time.
>>>
>>
>> I ship double packs of CD's every day (in the cardboard media mailers)
>> and rarely does it take longer than 1-2 days for customers in the region
>> to receive them. Besides, my main complaint is not in how long USPS is
>> taking, it is the recent 2-3 day turn-around at the Netflix facility
>> itself.
>>
>>
>>
> Your analysis is wrong and the previous poster is correct. All, and I
> mean all, of the processing at Netflix is by hand. There is a reason each
> disc must be separate: Correct inventory scans of bar codes and filing.
> Putting discs in one package would cost huge money in overhead, and save
> absolutely nothing. It would cost a lot, lot more.
>
>
Afraid not....
Now being someone that works in this very enviroment every day, I can
disagree with some great certainty here.
'Obviously' these mailings are processed by hand. Each outbound order must
be retrieved from inventory, scanned to adjust the inventory level, packed
and shipped. The inbound must also be opened, the contents then scanned in
to update the inventory database and then returned to available inventory.
This is nothing unique to Netflix's operation and while it may take some
simple retooling of their line it is nothing major and opening a single
mailer and scanning in 2 or 3 items from its contents is no more (and done
right would be less) time consuming than opening and scanning 3 different
mailers with a single item inside. Don't want to retool and upset current
work flow then don't simply use barcode stickers on the outside of the
mailer to indicate the package contents.
We do it every day and is one reason we can offer our customers savings on
shipping if they order multiple items at the same time.
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