Alternatives to Fedex and fax?

December 18, 2009 10:43 PM

Need to send something to England from the US. Right away. Does this sort of document delivery service exist?

I need to get a 25-page Word document to someone in England by Monday (I'm in Philadelphia). He doesn't have access to a printer or fax machine. One option is overnight international mail, but that'll cost a fortune and probably will take at least until Tuesday, since today is Saturday and such things tend to take at least two days. Actually, come to think of it, I don't mind paying a fortune, but it HAS to get there on Monday. Ideally I'd like to email it to someone in England and have them use domestic mail or a courier service to get it to him. So: is there a British service that will be able to open my email, print out my document, and then deliver it within England? And will accept international payment? And has a one-day turnaround time (or works on weekends?)? He's in Kenilworth, England, if it matters.

posted by ms.codex to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

Surely he has access to a printer somewhere such as an internet cafe or a copy shop or a library. Even if he doesn't "do computers," he could go to the cafe/copy shop/library, talk to an employee, call you with their address, and you can send it right to them. Or do you need to avoid inconveniencing the recipient in any way?
posted by zachlipton at 10:47 PM on December 18, 2009

Response by poster: Need to avoid inconveniencing him in any way! But thanks for the idea and response.
posted by ms.codex at 10:50 PM on December 18, 2009

Find a courier service there that will print the document you email them and hand-deliver it?
posted by rhapsodie at 11:03 PM on December 18, 2009

Actually, come to think of it, I don't mind paying a fortune, but it HAS to get there on Monday.

Regular physical delivery is possible, but expensive. DHL Same Day is probably the fastest.

More reasonably I would just call a local courier service and see if they can print and deliver the document or deliver a fax. Here's a couple of Kenilworth-area courier services: Castle Couriers and Warwickshire Light Haulage. They both seem fairly flexible and should have no problem with an unusual job like this. I would go ahead and contact them as soon as possible even if the delivery won't be til Monday.
posted by jedicus at 11:04 PM on December 18, 2009

This is one copyshop in Coventry, which is about ten miles up the road from Warwick. As you can see, they say they can work from emailed files. maybe call and see if they would post it for you too? Courier would be better given the timeframe, but see what they say.
posted by Abiezer at 11:08 PM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]

up road from Kenilworth, rather.
posted by Abiezer at 11:09 PM on December 18, 2009

Call the print shop in Coventry, have then print it and put it in a cab, and pay for the whole thing by credit card.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:28 PM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]

Seconding Abiezer/DarlingBri's solution - he could have it this morning (how impressive!).
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 11:35 PM on December 18, 2009

Says it's a 'friendly family business' too, so perhaps more likely to go for a tailor-made solution.
posted by Abiezer at 11:41 PM on December 18, 2009

Response by poster: thanks very much for the responses so far! I'll give one of these copyshops/courier services a shot.
posted by ms.codex at 11:50 PM on December 18, 2009

If you don't have any luck with the copy shops/couriers, I live in that area. I can laser-print A4 paper and staple it, and I can bike to Kenilworth. I'd need a ready-to-print PDF of the document, and the cost will be a £60 donation to Child's Play. Send me a PM if you want to do this.
posted by Mike1024 at 1:49 AM on December 19, 2009 [11 favorites]

He can go to Coventry City central public library, about 4 miles from Kenilworth, where they have 50 bookable PCs, he might want to call ahead and check they are attached to printers on 024 7683 3333, my expectation is that they would be. I don't know if he needs to be a member but he should take a couple of household bills along i case he needs to sign up. Theres also Leamington library. Having typed that, there is even a Kenilworth library, with networked PCs and colour printer available to the public, open until 4pm today (saturday), located centrally.
posted by biffa at 2:28 AM on December 19, 2009

I forgot to mention - if you want to take me up on that, I'd need to the document within about the next 15 hours
posted by Mike1024 at 10:40 AM on December 19, 2009