This article is not strictly Mac related. But it’s worth posting here at best-mac-tips anyway. Whilst email is very handy and convenient, it’s not always the best way to get an important message across to someone. In some cases, a physical letter is hard to beat. Also, depending on the way the service provider has set things up, sending a letter (even via a web service) is likely to be more private than an email message. What’s more, if you already send out postal mail, these services can reduce costs and time, and help you to maintain a paperless office / workflow. Another advantage is delivery time. If you are in New Zelaand, for instance, and have a letter to send to the UK, using an online service will not only get it there cheaper, but much quicker. Using an appropriate service provider, your letter will be sent from a UK origin, and will reach the recipient the very next day. Here are a list of service providers who provide web to post services:
Full credit for this list goes to Amit at Labnol.org (ref: http://www.labnol.org/internet/email/send-postal-letters-on-internet-via-email/7097/ )
Email to Postal Mail Services
Pricing | Colored Printing | Payment Options | What’s Unique? | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Postal Methods | $1 for US addresses and $1.5 for international addresses | No | Credit Cards | More useful for bulk mails as price decreases with volume |
Mail a Letter | $1 for US addresses and $2 for international addresses | Yes | Credit Cards, PayPal, Google Checkout | You can add a self addressed envelope with the letter |
Postful | $1 for US addresses and $1.5 for international addresses | Yes | Credit Cards, PayPal, Google Checkout | You can send colored photos as postcards |
EZGram | $1 for US addresses and $1.6 for non-US addresses | Yes | Credit Cards and PayPal | Supports USPS Priority Mail for quick delivery |
L-Mail | Around $1 – depends on country | No | Credit Cards and Debit Cards | Supports Brailleand audio letters |
Click 2 Mail | Recommended for bulk mail | Yes | Credit Cards | Supports Product Flyers, Booklets and Postcards |
Email 2 Postal | $1 for US addresses | No | Credit Cards | Supports handwritten envelopes and greeting cards |
PC 2 Paper | $0.8 for UK and $1.5 for non-UK addresses | Yes | Credit Cards, Paypal and Nochex | Offers a real UK based postal address for incoming post |
Via Post | Prices start at 45p+VAT including printing, stationery, fulfilment and postage | Yes | Credit cards, debit cards (UK) | Provides UK posting only |
Pixel Letter | Refer to: https://www.pixelletter.de/en/preise.html | Yes | Credit Cards | Provides for EU delivery |
SnailMailMe | Expensive. Refer to: http://www.snailmailme.com/pricing.php | No | An expensive service. Based in Canada. | |
ePost (India) | Prices in Rupees. Rs. 10 per page of A4 size. For Corporate customer ePOST costs Rs. 6 per page of A4 size & for Bulk it costs Rs. 5/ – per page | Yes | Based in India, Worldwide postal service. |
Most of these services allow for uploading a PDF file, which means you can have a handwritten letter, if you like, and can embed your signature. Some of them (such as PC2PAPER have a driver you can install on your computer (Windows only) that allows for printing directly to their online service.