From left, Petchy Sargent and Santa Fe, NM, Letter Carrier Manuel Gonzales at Sargent’s plastic storage unit.

 USPSNEWSLINK Monday| October 25, 2004

 THE GIFT SHOP THAT CAN KEEP ON GIVING

Carrier pickup and Click-N-Ship keep business going

Petchy Sargent, owner of Mother Turista’s Gifts in downtown Santa Fe, NM, decided to close her shop because asthma made it physically impossible for her to work away from home. But thanks to USPS, the “going out of business” sale is now an “open for business” sale. 

Sargent decided to sell her remaining stock on eBay. Sales were so good she changed her mind and decided to keep her business open, despite her health. “Carrier pickup and Click-N-Ship are so convenient,” she said. “I discovered carrier pickup while researching prices of UPS vs. USPS. I love the service and use it every day.”

She installed a special box on her porch to store Priority Mail parcels for the letter carrier. A message on the box reads, “packages will be inside the new plastic storage unit right next to the front door. I got this just for my friends at USPS!”

Sargent mails 10-20 Priority Mail parcels each day. “If it weren’t for free boxes, I don’t think I could make it,” she said. She uses USPS.com to calculate rates and find regulations on mailing to foreign countries.

“I’m lucky I’ve been able to keep my business,” she said, “and it’s because of USPS.”