Stamps.com has launched a new program to provide its online mailing and shipping software to all U.S. senior citizens aged 65 and over without its customary monthly service fee (typically $17.99) during the current COVID-19 crisis.  The company hopes that senior citizens in regions all over the country will benefit from this program allowing them to safely mail and ship all of their letters and packages without leaving their own homes. 

With many counties and states across the U.S. issuing stay-at-home orders to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus, citizens are unable to visit their local Post Offices or other retail locations to handle common mailing and shipping needs.  Using the Stamps.com online postage software, customers are able to print postage for any USPS letter or package, domestic or international, using only their computer and any ordinary printer.  Stamps.com customers may then place the mailpiece or package in their mailbox, schedule a convenient package pickup at their own home, or simply leave it for their mail carrier to pick up for free at a safe social distance. 

To sign up for the Stamps.com Helps Seniors program, please visit https://www.stamps.com/seniors/

Stamps.com Helps Seniors Program Detailed Information

· The Stamps.com Helps Seniors program waives all monthly Stamps.com subscription fees, which are typically $17.99 per month, during the COVID-19 crisis

· The program will go through at least July 31, 2020, and may be extended longer depending on the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic at that time

· When the Stamps.com Helps Seniors program ends, no monthly service fees will be charged unless a customer takes further action to register for an account with a monthly service fee

· Customers will be asked to verify their age after sign up 

· Accounts are for personal use only, not for business usage

· Customer must pay for actual USPS postage or UPS costs, and any relevant supplies they may need

To all of our customers,

We have spent the last several months learning more than we ever imagined about this novel coronavirus that has been named COVID-19.  We have been monitoring the rapid spread of this virus and the resulting sudden impact it is now having on the global economy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have already been affected by this crisis, and we hope that all of our customers and partners and all of their families, friends and colleagues stay as safe as they possibly can as this crisis unfolds.

Stamps.com and its family of companies began planning for an approach to this situation several weeks ago. Our plan first and foremost focused on the health and well-being of our employees, vendors, partners, and our communities. We have now begun implementing the first steps of that plan which includes having our employees work remotely as much as possible in order to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission of this virus in our workplaces around the globe. 

We are very adept as an organization and we are extraordinarily well prepared for this type of situation.  As we shift to this remote working employee model, Stamps.com management does not expect any changes to the service and support that we provide to you.

We are here to help guide you and your company through this crisis. We will keep you up-to-date on the latest news including any interruption of service from our portfolio of mailing and shipping carriers around the world.  In addition, we will share the latest information on the many safety precautions our carriers are taking to keep their drivers, vehicles and packages safe for you and your customers.

Please visit the following page for the latest updates:  https://blog.stamps.com/coronavirus-update/

If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Care team at 1-888-434-0055 or at support@stamps.com.  And above all else, stay safe and take care of yourself, your family and your friends.

Sincerely,

Ken McBride

CEO

Stamps.com, Inc.

Update 3/19/20: Hong Kong Post has announced that inbound and outbound mail service has returned to normal. As of this update, the USPS has not reinstated the Priority Mail Express International Service Guarantee.

Starting Monday, February 10, 2020, the USPS has temporarily suspended the Priority Mail Express International service guarantee for letters and packages sent to China and Hong Kong. Due to widespread disruptions of air cargo and trucking delivery into China and Hong Kong caused by the coronavirus crisis, the temporary suspension will last until further notice from the USPS.

When in effect, the Priority Mail Express International service guarantee provides date-certain delivery with a money-back guarantee if your package is not delivered on time.

China Post has communicated to the USPS that any parcels or letters that have delayed transit will be stored until delivery can be safely resumed.

Stamps.com apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

Everyone knows that the frenetic Christmas shopping season officially kicks off on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Following shortly after Black Friday is Cyber Monday, a retail holiday started in 2005 as retailers sought to capitalize on the growing trend of online shopping. Sandwiched between those two retail extravaganzas, on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving is another shopping holiday known as Small Business Saturday.

What makes Small Business Saturday different from its well-known counterparts? While Black Friday and Cyber Monday attract people to national and big-box retailers as well as online shopping, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick-and-mortar businesses that are small and local.

What can small businesses do to take advantage of this special day that comes at the very start of the busiest shopping season of the year? Read these 5 helpful tips and find out.

Tip #1 – Introduce Customers to the Business

It’s easy for a small business to get lost in the massive world of retail. What can a small business do to rise above the fray and get noticed? Because fewer hands are involved in shipping packages to customers, each shipment can be personalized in some way. A business card that features the business’s physical address, website, and social media accounts can go a long way. A thank you note can be included in the package—bonus points if it’s handwritten and personalized with the customer’s name. Additionally, a social media page that includes photos of the business, owners, and employees will let customers know who the friendly faces are behind the package they received in the mail.

Tip #2 – Spread the Word Throughout the Community

While online promotion can be very effective, a small business can make its presence known offline as well. One of the main reasons people shop at small businesses is to support local businesses and put money back into the community. By engaging your local community, you can effectively boost your holiday sales—especially on Small Business Saturday. The local Chamber of Commerce, local organizations, and locally published newspapers and circulars can be used to get the word out.

Tip #3 – Maintain a Presence on Social Media

Any and every social media account can be used to promote Small Business Saturday. Remember, hashtags can be a business’s best friend; sales and deals can be promoted using #SmallBusinessSaturday, #SmallShop, #SmallBizSat, and others. The voice on a social media account should match the store’s branding and products. For example, a small business that sells toys and games would present itself a bit differently than one that sells haute couture clothing and accessories.

Tip #4 – Promote Products That Make Great Gifts

After all, the holiday season is all about gift-giving, so businesses should place emphasis on items that would make good gifts. Just like any other seasonal sale, product selection and merchandising are key. Grouping products by intended recipient is a great way to showcase your offerings. Categories like “gifts for mom” or “gifts for grandpa” are always popular.

Tip #5 – Don’t Forget About Loyal Customers

Any business is happy to get a new customer, but Small Business Saturday is also about engaging existing customers. The day can be advertised several weeks ahead of time by posting signs in windows and putting flyers in customers’ bags when they pay at the register to remind them about it. If the business maintains a customer email list, a brief but friendly email can encourage them to stop in and check out the deals on Small Business Saturday.

By following these tips, small businesses can start off the busy holiday shopping season on the right foot!

The weather outside may not be frightful…but successful e-commerce is so delightful! And just imagine how delightful it will feel just a few months from now when you fully appreciate your advance preparation for the 2019 holiday season. Remember, many retailers find November and December alone makes up as much as 30 percent of their yearly revenue. It definitely pays to be proactive in planning, even if you’re presently thinking more about sandcastles than Santa.

Here are 5 reasons why it pays to get into the holiday selling spirit well in advance.

1. Your customers are already thinking ahead. Google Trends indicates searches for “Christmas Gift Ideas” begin in August and only go up from there. With a plethora of holidays stacking up once October hits – including Yom Kippur, Halloween and Thanksgiving – almost everyone gets busier and more frazzled as the year draws to a close.

2. Non-calendar holidays are key. You know about Black Friday (Nov. 29) and Cyber Monday (Dec. 2), but these aren’t the only retail-friendly dates to mark on your calendar. They may not appear on everyone’s to-do list, but as an e-commerce seller, you absolutely need to be prepared for Green Monday (Dec. 9), a shopping holiday similar to Cyber Monday that tends to fall on the second Monday of December, and Free Shipping Day (Dec. 14), a one-day event when merchants are encouraged to offer this perk with guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery. Create a holiday calendar so you know exactly which ecommerce promotions you’ll be participating in so you can be sure to plan accordingly as well as alert your customers.

3. Expanded holiday payment options and generous return policies appeal to shoppers. Many retailers extend additional payment options, discounts and loosened return windows during the busy holiday season. By taking the time to consider these factors now, you can make informed decisions once the busiest shopping season begins.

4. Intuitive mobile platforms attract shoppers on the go. Studies have shown that mobile shoppers make quicker purchasing decisions than desktop users. If you haven’t already done so, optimize your mobile site now to make it more responsive to mobile browsing.

5. Connecting with customers can benefit your bottom line. Whether it’s a curated Pinterest board of your holiday gift ideas, enthusiastic Tweets about products or personal emails to customers, your social media and personalized marketing can have a big impact on customers, especially during the stressful shopping season. Start your campaigns now by reaching out via abandoned-cart and after-sales emails or posting “Only 130 shopping days left!” teasers on social media. The more you connect with customers, the more you can be sure to offer them the products they want.

The bottom line
It’s often said that the days are long, but the years are short — so don’t let the holiday shopping season sneak up on you. Take steps now to consider your options and plan ahead for the busiest shopping season of the year. That way, when fall rolls around, you’ll be prepared to celebrate a successful season.