BUSINESS BY EXPRESS
There are two kinds of expresses, viz.: local and general. The
names describe the provinces of each, though a general express may
do a local business.
All express companies are common carriers.
The carrying business done by our express companies is enormous.
They have their own special cars attached to passenger and fast
freight trains, and their goods are given special departments in
water transportation.
If living between two towns, it is always better to have your
letters and express business done through one office.
INSTRUCTIONS
When ordering material by express, make sure that you give the
address, to which you wish it sent, in such a way that a mistake
on the part of the forwarder will be out of the question.
If you send away goods by express, make sure that they are
securely packed, and be equally sure that the address is clearly
written and in a large hand. It would be better if the address
could be painted on with a brush.
If you should send perishable stuff, like meat, flowers, glass, or
fruit, be sure to label the package "perishable" or "Handle with
care, glass."
On long distance transportation prepayment is required; on short
distances it is optional.
It is always better to get from the express agent a receipt for
the matter taken in charge.
Take care to put your own address on the lower left-hand corner of
the package to be sent.
If the person to whom the parcel is sent cannot be found, the
address will enable the express company to notify the sender at
once of the fact.
When sending any goods by express, it is always prudent to notify
the person for whom they are intended of the fact by mail, and
also to state the company by which the matter was sent and the
date of shipment.
THE COMPANY'S DUTY
The express company must always require, on delivering goods, a
receipt from the receiver.
If the goods should be received by a second person, on behalf of
the consignee, he must sign the consignee's name, and under that
his own.
If a package appears to be damaged in transmission, the express
company must permit the receiver to examine it before signing. He
may refuse to sign or to accept in any way, if the goods are
injured, or not as he ordered.
Express companies are responsible for all damages sustained by
goods while in their charge.
COLLECTIONS BY EXPRESS
All the large express companies have the machinery for collecting
accounts and notes whenever they have branch offices.
Such companies are reliable collectors. Their services are prompt
and their charges reasonable.
Where an express company fails to collect, notice is promptly
given with the reasons for failure.
When you wish an express company to collect, it will be necessary
for you to make out a statement of the account. This is placed in
a special envelope, provided by the company. It is properly
indorsed and handed to the company's representative.
The company charges a small fee for collection, whether it
succeeds or not. In any case the fee is not much above a fourth of
one per cent, unless there should be unusual trouble.
C. O. D. BY EXPRESS
As you know, C.O.D. means "cash on delivery".
Cash on delivery orders constitute no small part of every express
company's business.
When goods are forwarded in this way, the sender furnishes with
the goods an itemized bill duly receipted. The express company's
charges should be included in the bill.
The express agent is sure to collect the bill before he lets the
goods leave his keeping.
MONEY BY EXPRESS
Should you desire to send money by express, it will be well to go
to the company's office before you pack it up.
Express companies have special receptacles or envelopes in which
to store coin or bills. There is no charge for these.
The sender must himself seal the packages containing the money,
and write on them the address of the consignee, also the amount
enclosed.
Having received the packages, the express agent ties them up,
affixes his official seal, which is so arranged that the package
cannot be opened or tampered with, without breaking. This done, he
gives the sender a receipt. This should be cared for as a vital
part of the record.
The charges for sending money by express may or may not be paid in
advance. They vary with the amount to be carried and the distance.
Packages of money are receipted for in the usual way. They are
delivered only to the legal consignee, unless a second person
should appear with an order, amounting to a power of attorney, and
which the company cannot reject.
MONEY ORDERS
The foregoing by no means limits the express company's usefulness
or field of opportunities.
Express companies issue money orders much as does the Post Office
Department.
As with the post office, the fees for orders vary, but no order is
issued for more than fifty dollars.
If you want to send such an order, the express company will
furnish the proper blank for you to fill out.
On this form must be written out very plainly the name and address
of the person to whom the order is to be sent, with the amount, in
words and in figures.
On receiving the money the express agent gives to his customer two
papers; one is the company's receipt for the money, the other is
the order itself.
The order instructs the agent at the point to which it is to be
sent to pay the sum named to the person named.
To complete the order the sender should sign his name in a place
indicated for the purpose on the back of the paper.
This done, the order can be sent to the person for whom it is
intended, in an ordinary envelope.
The receiver of an express money order can have it cashed at the
express office in his town, or sign it and place it in his own
bank as if it were cash.