Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 4

Posted on January 9, 2014 by admin

There are over 7500 different courier companies listed in the yellow pages for the UK alone. The US Postal service is thought to be the largest in the world, and every day it sorts through and attempts to deliver over 700 million packages of varying size and shape. In comparison to that, the Australian postal service delivers up to 94 million items a week, which is an intense difference. However it comes as no surprise as the entire population of Australia could fit within the densely populated city of Tokyo.

When sending parcels to America, although the direct delivery of mail to people’s homes was present from 1863, the actual mailbox or mail slot was not used until 1923 when it became commonplace. Plus, although the red pillar post box has become an iconic representation of Britain, it was not the first country to store letters in pillar boxes. In the early 50’s of the 19^th century, Anthony Trollope saw such pillar boxes in France and Belgium and proposed them to the UK Postal Service in 1852.

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Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 3

Posted on January 8, 2014 by admin

Just fewer than 6000 postmen were bitten by dogs in the USA alone in 2012, the highest rates city being Los Angeles, which suffered 69 separate incidents of letter carriers being attacked. Surprisingly, this was a decrease from 83 attacks in the previous year, which is a little bit of good news, albeit still making it the worst city in the continent.

In 2001, the Postal Service in Germany decided to take decisive action and taught courses on dog psychology to couriers to decrease the number of attacks, as there were around 3000 letter carriers a year attacked in Germany, leading up to around £8 million worth of medical bills.

Some dog bites have been so severe that they can lead to fatalities, or if the courier is an elderly citizen, can lead to heart attacks, although this is rarely the case. On the 15^th July 2013 the Royal Mail launched its first Dog Awareness Week, as dog attacks have resulted in the loss of over 4500 working says since April 2011.

Take care when sending a parcel to Los Angeles for your friend or relative, as dog attacks tend to increase during school holidays. To find out our excellent rates for international shipping, use RAND Logistics quick quote form.

Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 2

Posted on January 7, 2014 by admin

On the 10^th September 2003, 25 year old Charles McKinley managed to ship himself from New York to his parents’ home in Texas as air cargo. He was trying to save on plane fares by both mailing himself and by sending the shipping fees to his employer, as he was previously a Shipping Clerk. He’d gotten the idea from a friend, who suggested that simply mailing himself as a parcel to Texas,would be cheaper than purchasing train tickets.

As there was no history of it happening previously, the Transportation Security Administration interviewed McKinley to better understand how he had bypassed security, in order to ensure it never happened again. Considering these events happened only a few years after the disastrous 9/11, it was surprising that a man managed to post himself by air mail at all. It turned out to be more expensive in the end regardless, as he could have flown first class for the price he paid to post himself.

We at RAND Logistics would not recommend that you post yourself, and instead send your friend abroad or relative a thoughtful present, at extremely competitive rates. Use our quick quote service to find out how much you can save with RAND Logistics.

Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 1

Posted on January 6, 2014 by admin

Children used to be posted in parcels across the USA, to save on rail fares. Often rail fares were more expensive than posting children, and normally the limit to one package is 50 pounds, so younger children were ideal to send to visit relatives via post – luckily not often packaged, just with postal stamps attached to their clothing.

It was a rare occurrence, but before it was outlawed in June 1920, several children were posted across America so that their parents or guardians did not have to pay the extra rail fare. Post able livestock at the time was included as ‘bees and bugs’ and children were not legally considered to be either of those (surprise?). On the 13^th June 1920, the U.S Post Office ruled that it was illegal to send children via parcel post. Hopefully those few children that were packaged up and delivered had enough snacks to last them the journey!

Be sure to check that everything you are posting is able to be delivered in your recipient country, or you may find yourself facing some harsh fines. RAND Logistics can give you an idea of the types of things that are illegal to send via post.

New Year’s Across the World #5

Posted on January 3, 2014 by admin

It’s the last day of recognition for the New Year on our blog and we take a look at how New Year’s is celebrated in our last country, Greece. There are plenty of Greek traditions that are carried out on New Year’s which makes Greece a wonderful tourist destination at the change of the year. Here are a few notable events that take place on the New Year’s celebrations in Greece.

The most notable of traditions in Greece is the kremmida decoration, the process of hanging an onion on a door. This bizarre tradition is immensely popular in Greece with strict traditionalists and it represents the birth of a New Year. For the Christians that are preparing for church on New Year’s Day, parents will tap the heads of their children with the kremmida to wake them up. This is also regarded as a traditional act. To symbolise good fortune for the coming year, Greeks will place a pomegranate on the doorstep of their home before entering on the 1^st January.

Are you planning on shipping a gift to Greece in the New Year? If so, make sure you take full advantage of the services RAND have to offer. Get your quote here and discover our attractive shipping rates.

New Years Across the World #4

Posted on January 2, 2014 by admin

Our fourth day of this week commemorating the New Year focuses on celebrations in the Czech Republic. The Czechs are known for putting on gargantuan firework displays on New Year’s Eve. It is also an extremely popular tourist destination for times such as New Years Eve when the clubs and pubs are at their most jovial. Here’s what to expect from a New Year’s celebration in the Czech Republic.

In the capital city of Prague, the famous Charles Bridge hosts a wondrous fireworks display every year to celebrate the start of the New Year. Once the clock strikes midnight, the fireworks begin and they attract tourists from all over the world.

As is the case in the UK and in many other countries across the world, drinking, eating, partying and celebrating are all high on the list of priorities to locals in the Czech Republic. You can find all sorts of lively places once the night life kicks in and New Years proves to be a truly memorable experience. Some of the celebrations spill out to the city squares where there is likely to be evening entertainment to accompany the unforgettable atmosphere.

Are you planning on sending a parcel to the Czech Republic in 2014? If so, RAND Logistics has all the necessary services to get your shipment from A to B in no time! Make sure you check out our services in the near future.

New Year’s Across the World #3

Posted on January 1, 2014 by admin

Today we look at how New Years is celebrated in Spain and how it differs to other nations across the world. Many countries have their own distinct traditions and ways in which they celebrate New Year’s. Spain is no exception and they have a range of different traditional approaches to the big day. Here are a few notable traditions carried out in Spain to symbolise the start of the New Year.

The general Spanish approach to New Years is similar to that of many other countries. Late night partying and celebrating is promoted across the country with the main celebrations taking place after midnight and through to the early morning. Before this, there is a traditional dinner held amongst the family to represent the coming of the New Year.

A more traditional and bizarre approach to New Years is the consumption of twelve grapes which match the chimes of the twelfth hour. The eating of each individual grape corresponds with each chime and Spaniards are encouraged to make a wish in time for the New Year during this process. This tradition spans over 100 years and began when vineyard farmers needed a selling point for their left over grapes.

If you need to send a parcel to Spain in the New Year, be sure to make the most of RAND Logistics services throughout 2014. Take a look at our services for more of an insight into what we can offer you.

New Years Across the World #2

Posted on December 31, 2013 by admin

It’s the second day of our analysis of the celebration of New Years and today we are focusing on Denmark and the traditional ways in which New Years is celebrated there. The wintry weather in Scandinavia during this time of year often spills over to New Years, resulting in a celebration similar to that of Christmas. Here’s what to expect if you’re celebrating New Year’s in Denmark.

A traditional belief in Denmark is that smashing plates and other pieces of china on people’s doorsteps ensures that they will have a successful year full of social benefits and newfound friendships. This particular routine is carried out at both midnight and throughout New Years Day itself.

In addition, Denmark highlights the New Years Eve celebrations by baking a huge cake known as a Kransekage. This cone-shaped cake is decorated and eaten as a dessert by those who attend the specific event. It is often accompanied by miniature flags, candles and other dramatic decorations to help liven up and represent the day.

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New Years Across the World #1

Posted on December 30, 2013 by admin

It’s the final week of 2013 and the start of a brand new year, so what better way to represent the huge event than to analyse how it’s celebrated across the globe. Many countries have their own distinct ways of celebrating New Years and the first country we are focusing on is Japan.

The Japanese believe that New Years Eve welcomes the God of the New Year, Toshigami. The Buddhist temples across the country symbolise the arrival of the New Year at midnight by ringing the temple bells 108 times precisely. This is seen as a fitting way of welcoming Toshigami and the start of a new year.

With Buddhists welcoming their New Year’s God, the rest of Japan treats the occasion as any other special event. Cards and gifts may be exchanged between friends, family and loved ones, whilst many people will give their homes a thorough clean in preparation for the New Year in a traditional manner. The cards that are exchanged are often a particular form of thank you card that acknowledges the affection shown throughout the year.

If you want to send a parcel to Japan in time for New Years, RAND Logistics can help. Take a look at our services and get a quote for the shipping of your New Years gift today.

Handmade Gifts for Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2013 by admin

On the last day of our Christmas week, let us discuss handmade gifts. When done well, with time and effort put in, a handmade gift can be a really sweet way of showing someone you care about them.

handmade

Before you decide to make the gift for your recipient, make sure you know that they would like this type of gift. Like it or not, some people aren’t the sentimental type, so a handmade photo frame might not be the best idea. Handmade gifts can be a heartfelt alternative to buying things off the rack. A necklace or a gold watch might seem romantic, but other people your recipient knows could have received the exact same gift, which makes theirs seem less special.

Put a lot of effort into it, even if you have no experience with making gifts. Try your hardest with your gift, whatever it is, as your recipient will probably see the effort put into the gift, and will be more likely to appreciate it. It helps if your gift is practical in some way, or an accessory, like a pair of warm gloves or a keychain.

Whatever your gift giving ideas are, make someone’s day with a parcel delivered by RAND Logistics. With our competitive rates throughout the world from parcels to Australia, to packages to the Ukraine you won’t need to use any other service for sending parcels internationally.

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