Help me deliver a manuscript from Vancouver to NYC by end of business Monday Oct 2nd.

September 30, 2006 5:13 PM

Help me deliver a manuscript from Vancouver to NYC by end of business Monday Oct 2nd.

For fun I wrote a short story for a contest (Star Trek Strange New Worlds) but I didn't manage my time very well. The manuscript is finished, but I can't find a courier who will deliver it to NYC by the Monday deadline (I'm in Vancouver). They won't take a digital submission... it has to be hard copy. Is there some kind of service, like a Kinko's but more so, who would print my manuscript and see it delivered, possibly by hand, by the end of business Monday?

Or failing that, would you do it? If you live or work near 1230 Avenue of the Americas in New York City, would you print a 10-page document and see that it gets into the right hands on Monday? I was all set to drop the cash for an overnight courier, so if you did this, some items from your Amazon wishlist would be yours. My email is in my profile. But I don't want to be any trouble. If there was a commercial service I could call, that would be even better. Any ideas? Help me oh hive mind!

posted by BorgLove to media & arts (15 comments total)

Is there some kind of service, like a Kinko's but more so...

Yes. Fedex Kinko's. You can remotely submit your paper for printing and a local courier will take it to your destination.

If you do find a mefite to volunteer it probably be better to still let Kinko's handle the printing and just have your volunteer pick it up.
posted by vacapinta at 5:25 PM on September 30, 2006

Thanks vacapinta, that sounds like just the trick. I will try phoning them and see that they can do.
posted by BorgLove at 6:14 PM on September 30, 2006

*what they can do.
posted by BorgLove at 6:14 PM on September 30, 2006

It's too bad it's so late in the day. I would have suggested that you drive to Seattle and then visit a FedEx office and pay for overnight delivery, but it's too late now and they don't work on Sunday.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:05 PM on September 30, 2006

I work in midtown. Check your inbox if you still need someone to do this.
posted by jason's_planet at 7:28 PM on September 30, 2006

Thanks, jason's_planet. I'll give Fedex Kinko's a call in the morning, but if it doesn't work out maybe I'll drop ya a line.
posted by BorgLove at 7:55 PM on September 30, 2006

Kinko's is bet #1.

Bet #2 is same-day Fedex. Expensive as all get out (approx $300 CAD for a 1kg package), but they guarantee delivery.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:53 PM on September 30, 2006

Email the text or a PDF to a friend in NYC and have it delivered.
posted by KRS at 8:26 AM on October 1, 2006

Just some stuff to consider. I used to work at Simon and Shuster at 1230 6th ave and have some info, albeit dated. It's been 10 years, but some of this info is probably valid. This isnt meant to discourage you at all, just some info.

I doubt they are set up to receive hand-delivered manuscripts for this contest. I think publishers in general (at least the ones I have worked for) try to prevent authors from showing up at the front door with manuscripts - its just too time consuming to deal with.

As I recall, and it has been 10 years, S&S isnt set up with a receptionist at the front desk to help you. I think the first step is security. My memory on this is hazy though - there might be a general purpose receptionist there, but you're not going to get further than he or she without an appointment.

So it might be best to have the manuscript prepared as if it were to be mailed (addressed and in an envelope) and then left with the person at the front desk with the instructions to either deliver it, or take it to the mail room. Whatever you do, don't just have somebody show up with the manuscript with the hope of handing it directly to the contest people. I'm sure it will get lost. Even so, I'm not sure you will get very far with this approach. I worked at one publisher that was extremely paranoid of accepting packages because they repeatedly received bomb threats and threatening letters.

Will Kinkos/FedEx do same day delivery from a location in NYC? This to me is by far your best bet. Especially if they can deliver in such a way that doesnt require signature. Second best is a courier service that can get an addressed envelope to the mail room, but even that strikes me as a long shot. Third is a mefite or friend - I think they're going to have trougle getting your story to the right people. But maybe. Good luck! If I still worked there, I would have helped you out!
posted by drobot at 11:24 AM on October 1, 2006

Ask at the front dest to be pointed toward the S&S mailroom in the basement. They'll take hand-delivered packages with just a name/dept/floor. I used to drop off freelance jobs that way all the time.
posted by libraryhead at 11:44 AM on October 1, 2006

that's front *desk* of course
posted by libraryhead at 11:45 AM on October 1, 2006

borglove, are you definitely going with FedEx/Kinko's? In that case, the courier should know exactly how & where to deliver the package.

If not, I can deliver it -- I need to go up to S&S sometime this week and tomorrow is as good a day as any. Email in profile.
posted by vetiver at 12:51 PM on October 1, 2006

Just a random note that someone might find handy in a similar situation: USPS locations at airports have very extended hours (e.g. the San Francisco one is 6AM-midnight, 7 days a week), and generally accept Express Mail on weekends for delivery the next calendar day, subject to cutoff times.
posted by trevyn at 2:24 PM on October 1, 2006

There are USPS locations in airports?

I've had no luck finding even a mailbox in an airport in the last few years, and I've tried... carried my mortgage payment to Australia and back before I could mail the damn thing.
posted by bink at 4:51 PM on October 1, 2006

I don't think it's usually in the terminal building, but on the airport grounds, yes.
posted by trevyn at 5:45 PM on October 1, 2006