STAMPS.COM. ROLLS OUT INTERNET-BASED MAILING AND SHIPPING SERVICES TO MAIL BOXES ETC.
Revolutionary System Brings Customer Service to a New Level
Los Angeles, Calif. – April 6, 2000 – Spring Internet World, Booth #547 –Stamps.com™ (Nasdaq: STMP) today announced the ongoing rollout of Stamps.com’s revolutionary Internet–based professional shipping system to thousands of MBE centers throughout the U.S. The Stamps.com mailing and shipping system, that will be demonstrated this week in the Stamps.com booth (#547) at Internet World in Los Angeles, enables customers to compare multiple carrier alternatives.
“The Stamps.com service is an ideal way for us to build on our strengths: customer choice and world-class customer service,” said Jim Amos, president and CEO of Mail Boxes Etc. “Our strategy to become a true clicks-and-mortar solution to e-tailers and catalog companies is dependent on deploying world-class systems and Internet services through our franchisees,” said Amos.
MBE is a key customer of Stamps.com’s Enterprise Strategic Business Unit. With more than 100 million customer transactions per year and a network more than three times the size of its five closest competitors combined, MBE offers enhanced packing and shipping services using the most advanced Internet-based technology. The Stamps.com service also will enable MBE to offer numerous fulfilment services in the near future to its e-commerce customers.
Using a single user interface, the Stamps.com counter manifest shipping system gives MBE franchisees access to a variety of carriers, including the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and Yellow Freight. The Price It™, Ship It™ and Track It™ utilities allow access to pricing and delivery terms from multiple carriers, instant preparation of certified carrier-specific labels and centralized tracking capabilities across all carriers. MBE franchisees can save time and money, improve productivity and expand relationships and communication with their customers.
“The Stamps.com counter manifest system connects MBE to its customers like never before, allowing them to improve service by increasing efficiencies,” said John Payne, chairman and CEO at Stamps.com. “Other large corporations in industries such as hospitality, financial services, and hi-tech will benefit from the Stamps.com mailing and shipping service to manage and control mailing and shipping costs from the corporate desktop.”
The Stamps.com mailing and shipping service is commercially available today. The mailing and shipping services run on remotely hosted Stamps.com servers and the customer pays a small transaction fee for packages and letters mailed or shipped through the system. Demonstrations will take place at the Stamps.com booth (#547) at Spring Internet World in Los Angeles.
About Stamps.com
Stamps.com™ is the leading provider of easy, convenient and cost-effective Internet mailing and shipping services for small businesses, large corporations and e-commerce vendors. Anchored by its partnerships with the U.S. Postal Service and United Parcel Service (UPS), Stamps.com’s customers can choose the best carrier for any transaction based on cost comparisons and delivery options. With just an Internet connection, Stamps.com customers will have immediate access to select a carrier, print postage or multi-carrier shipping
labels, schedule a pick-up and track a package.
Stamps.com has strategic partnerships with major companies such as America Online, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Mail Boxes Etc., Microsoft, Office Depot, Intuit and 3M. Visit sdcmainprod.wpengine.com for more information.
About MBE
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE), the world’s largest retail business, communication and postal services franchisor. MBE, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Office Products Company (NASDAQ: OFIS), has more than 4,000 locations operating worldwide, and master license agreements in nearly 70 countries around the world. In the United States, MBE centers are owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc. USA, Inc. Outside the United States, MBE centers are owned and operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees. MBE maintains a Web site at http://www.mbe.com.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, are detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by Stamps.com, including its annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. Stamps.com undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Stamps.com, the Stamps.com logo, the Price It, Ship It, and Sell It logos are trademarks of Stamps.com Inc. All other brands and names are property of their respective owners.