How many franchises of The UPS Store does the area adjacent to Duke's campus need?
More than one, apparently.
An advertisement in last week's Duke Chronicle announced that the franchisee who operates the relatively-new UPS Store at Pavilion at Lakeview off West Campus is adding another operation, this time on Ninth Street near East Campus.
The destination is Ninth Street North -- proving that parallelism works sometimes, with the franchise moving into a brick-sided multi-story mixed use retail center like the one they already inhabit on Erwin Rd. a few minutes' drive away.
They've also created their own web site -- www.DukeShipping.com -- focused on deals and specials for parents and students shipping items to and from campus, including an offer for free boxes (presumably with shipping, natch.)
FedEx maintains their own local site with business and copying services (the acquired Kinko's subsidiary) on Ninth St., too; another UPS Store exists on Hillandale Rd. at Front St.
I wonder what this will mean for the A-1 Stop Mail Shoppe at the corner of Ninth and Markham. Nice folks there. Two lovely dogs to greet you at the door and ask you to pet them.
Posted by: Phil | July 07, 2009 at 10:08 PM
I was wondering the same thing about the A-1 Stop. I haven't seen the dogs, but I'm with you, nice folks. They repacked holiday gifts I was sending to my sister last winter. It saved me some money on shipping charges. Very much appreciated.
Posted by: alex | July 08, 2009 at 01:54 AM
A-1 is the best place to go. I used to have a fedex account and it was such an ordeal to do anything at that kinkos store (wait forever, then have to enter everything yourself) that I gave it up when I discovered them.
A-1 RULES! Also, they will tell you which of the various carriers will give you the cheapest rate and do an ace job of packing.
try them out if you haven't..
Posted by: durhamwalkingdog | July 08, 2009 at 08:22 AM
The nice folks at A-1 were in my first thoughts after I read this. They are the best! I will certainly continue to patronize them, and hope that others do the same. I'd hate to see a local, long-time small business succumb to competition from a national chain.
Which brings up the question....is anything ever going to be done with the long-empty storefront next to A-1?
Posted by: Ellen C | July 08, 2009 at 10:01 AM
A-1 gives you a choice of UPS, FedEX, or USPS. Of course, neither Kinko's, a UPS store, nor the Post Office can do that.
Posted by: Gregor Samsa | July 08, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I was also wondering about the empty store at the corner...that lot is the key to brightening up the corner and making it more inviting and walkable, especially with The Tavern opening soon down Markham.
Posted by: Jeff P | July 08, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Agreed on A-1. It's where I always go for shipping anything. They're always courteous and helpful. Too many surly staff members and fedex and ups for me. I'll go to kinkos to print out something big and complicated or make weird copies of something, but that's it.
Posted by: Seth Vidal | July 09, 2009 at 01:25 AM
Yes, A-1 is the place! When we were shipping bread to my father, who was ill and had an appetite only for my husband's bread, they were wonderful in packing it properly and getting it out the door for next day delivery in Oregon. We've gone there ever since. No UPS or Kinko's for us.
Posted by: Cat Warren | July 09, 2009 at 10:18 AM