Breakaway News Volume No. 11 Issue No. 2 February 2005

New Year Part II

Gung Hay Fat Choy! January 29^th was Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese calendar (which is a lunar, not solar, calendar) the upcoming year will be 4702, the Year of the Dog. Woof!

Minimum Wage Raise

New York State raised the minimum wage by 16.5%. On Jan. 1, 2005, the hourly rate went from $5.15 to $6.00. Stay tuned for further developments.

It Was So Easy

More and more customers are feeling the convenience of shopping by messenger.  They are ordering online or by phone from any store in Manhattan and Boston and then calling Breakaway to pickup the order. Try it, you'll love the simplicity.

Errands by the Hour

If you need an extra set of hands for a big job, give us a call. For a very reasonable price, we can send over a courteous messenger to do your bidding. Gift returning, moving, packing, cleaning, filing, research, standing in line, shopping, errand running, dog & cat walking, fish feeding and general schlepping are among the tasks that our skilled messengers can perform for you. You name it, we’ll do it! (Within reason)

Cell Phone Chatter

"Like, we were dancing, and, like, his wife was cheering me on. I couldn't believe it. They're, like, really weird."

One of thousands of titillating conversations overheard by our couriers every day.

Sneakers Subtleties

You have your work sneakers. You have your dress sneakers. And the two shall never overlap. Although we created lockers and bicycle parking for our couriers, we did not anticipate the need for sneaker parking. Everyday, on each dispatcher's desk, there is a row of pristine clean sneakers.  These sneakers are only to be used after work, preferably for a night on the town.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you to tell us the meaning behind the Mets’ official uniform colors. This generated a lot of controversy. The answer we were looking for was that the colors represent the two teams that New York lost: Orange for the NY Giants and blue for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Others informed us that these are also New York State’s official colors. While the latter may be true, we’re giving preference to our original answer.

T-Shirt Question

What is the name of the boathouse where the Central Park Model Yacht Club members store their boats?  The first person with the correct answer to call John Handrik will win a coveted Breakaway T-Shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 9 Issue No. 12 December 2004

Holiday Wishes

Breakaway would like to wish you a joyous Holiday Season.  Believe it or not, we have already received our first holiday card.  Remember we can deliver your holiday gifts to friends, family and business associates. Be on the lookout for flying reindeer wearing Breakaway jerseys. Happy Holidays!

Bravo K888

One of our customers found herself at JFK airport, heading for London in ninety minutes without her purse. She left it behind at her midtown hotel. Not to panic, she called us at 6:00 PM.  Thanks to the expert skills of K888, Maninder Kumar, she had her purse in her hands by 7:00 PM. Nice job Maninder!

Password Overload

Do you have too many passwords to remember? Here's our tip: Make a file that is password protected and record all of your other passwords in that file. Remember only one password. If you forget your other passwords refer to your password protected file.

Santa and Security

Rumor has it that even jolly old St. Nick will have to present a picture I.D. when making his rounds this year. Don't forget to completely label your gift deliveries. Otherwise, they might not be accepted at the delivery point.

December Horoscope

We see many fabulous gifts in your near future. A significant other will surprise you with an unexpected adventure to a far-off land. A Breakaway Courier will be in your life for at least 20 seconds.

Snow Pool

It is time for our snow forecasters to show off. Confidently tell us the number of inches of snow that will fall in Central Park by April 30^th, 2005 and email your prediction to snow@breakawaycourier.com. If your guess is the most accurate, you will win a special prize.  Consult your favorite soothsayer and join the fun.

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know who said, "I was riding on the Mayflower when I thought I spied some land."  Answer: Bob Dylan, from his song Bob Dylan's 115^th Dream.

T-Shirt Question

The performance of the Nutcracker Suite is a holiday tradition at the NY State Theatre and Colonial Theatre in Boston. What is the name of the leader who battles against Clara & the Nutcracker at midnight? The first person to call John Handrik will win a coveted Breakaway T-Shirt and perhaps a pair of ballet slippers.

Breakaway News Volume No. 9 Issue No. 10 October 2004

Happy Halloween 

As the days get shorter and fall sets in, our thoughts turn to ghouls and goblins. The ancient festival of Samhain (Celtic feast of the harvest) approaches. Trick-or-treaters will soon descend upon us. This is an excellent time of year to have a pumpkin or other treat delivered to someone special! We can deliver that must-have outfit from your favorite costume shop or that fresh pumpkin pie from your favorite bakery. This year most of our bike messengers intend to dress as…bike messengers.  Happy Halloween.

Good Bagel/Bad Coffee

Here on our block we were sorry, but not surprised, to see that Mom's Bagel Shop has closed its doors. They had great bagels but lousy coffee.  Bad coffee can sink a restaurant faster than soggy toast.  In search of the ultimate cup of coffee, we asked our couriers, "Where is the best coffee in Manhattan?" So far the consensus is Taralluci-E-Vino on First Avenue in the East Village.

Payment by Credit Card

Simplify your life; pay your Breakaway invoices by credit card and rack up your airline miles. Call John Handrik or email John at: acccounting@breakawaycourier.com

Heard on an Elevator

"Ok, when we go in, I'll do the talking. You say nothing. This is what I'm going to tell Liz. When Mary walks in, you're going to tell her everything's taken care of and the deal is done."

Just one of the thousands of titillating conversations overheard by our couriers every single day.

Mike's Ordering Tips

Most office buildings now have elaborate security schemes, which impede the delivery of your package. It can take us 15 minutes to arrive at a building and another two hours to get the package in your hands. Mike Czekaj, one of our stalwart troubleshooters has some labeling tips for hassle-free deliveries:

Delivery information, please include

• company name
• room number
• recipient's name

It also helps to let us know what time the security desk closes.

Stump the band…

Last month we asked you to tell us the last time the Republicans held their presidential convention in New York City.  The correct answer is 2004. This was the first time (and last?) the Republicans held their convention in the Big Apple.

T-shirt Question

What were the dates of both the 1920's stock market crash and "Black Monday" in the 1980s? The first person to call John Handrik with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-Shirt.

Breakaway News NY Volume No.9 Issue No.9 September 2004

Labor Day Gratitude

In honor of Labor Day, we would like to thank our hardworking couriers, office staff and valued customers who make all our jobs possible. We will be closed Monday, September 6^th, 2004. Enjoy the Holiday.

RNC Update

This newsletter should arrive during the RNC. The convention is two blocks from our office. NYPD has assured us that we will be able to enter our block. If not, we have contingency plans, which will impede us but not shut us down. Look for updates on our website. We expect major delays in the "lock down" zone. But hey, we're New Yorkers.  We'll deal with it.

Summer Vacations

Messengers are, by nature, travelers. Unfortunately these days, our travel is limited to 5^th Ave., 6^th Ave., over to Park Ave., back to 5^th, etc, etc, etc. We love postcards from  exotic lands. Better yet, whoever calls with the most exotic summer vacation story gets to go to the front of the line for the new hit TV show Extreme Reality Survivor.

Speaking of Exotic

Andrew Young, our general manager, did get away to watch Lance Armstrong win his sixth Tour de France. We never did get the postcard, so Andy missed his casting call. When not traveling overseas, Andy can be seen running up our building's 14 flights of stairs, repeating the torture FIVE times. That's 70 flights!  Why bother? Something about improving lactic acid threshold... Ok Lance.

We Have Storage Space

Yesterday we renewed our liease and committed ourselves to an additional floor of storage space.  This fills a need for our cutomers who store items on short notice.  If you have a project that calls for some stuff to be stored off your premises -- think Breakaway Storage.  We can store freight on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis.

Predict the Super Bowl Winner

Who's going to win the Super Bowl? Who's going to lose the Super Bowl? If you can predict these two things, you'll win the Breakaway Superbowl Contest. The winner shall receive an all-expense paid trip to Starbucks. Email your prediction to:

superbowl@breakawaycourier.com.

Stump the band…

Last month we asked you what year Gracie Mansion became the official residence of the Mayor of NYC.  The correct answer is 1942.

T-Shirt Question

New York City has hosted many political conventions. When was the last time the Republicans held their presidential convention in New York City?  The first person to call John Handrik with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-Shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No.8 Issue No.12 December 2003

Happy Holidays

Breakaway would like to wish all of our customers and employees a joyous holiday season.  This can be a trying time of year but just remember to go easy on the eggnog and everything will be just fine.

Snow Pool

Once again its time to poll all you precipitation prognosticators out there. Just give Account Manager Ralph Santoni a call with your guess of the number of inches of snowfall that Central Park will receive by April 1^st, 2004. If your guess is the closest to being correct, you will win a special gift. Consult your favorite soothsayer and call us to join the fun.

Early Shopper Appreciation

When it comes to holiday shopping the early bird truly gets the worm. The longer the delay in heading to the store, the longer are the lines that await the desperate shopper. The same thing holds true for your bulk holiday deliveries. The longer you wait, the more uncertain your delivery date becomes. Call us immediately to insure worry free delivery.

Breakaway R&D

The Breakaway R&D department is always working on ways to improve our trucking services. Its latest project is to vastly increase our trucking fleet, during the winter months, by using ice-sculpted vehicles. They have run into a snag. As the engines warm up, they tend to drop out the bottom of the ice trucks. Until this little problem is solved we will have to rely on our large existing fleet of vans, lift-gate and big-haul trucks. Stay tuned for more details.

Online Order Tracking

Customers can track their large (and small) holiday orders online at www.breakawaycourier.com. This puts us one step ahead of a certain reindeer-equipped competitor. Please contact Account Manager Ralph Santoni directly with any questions at 646-674-8353 or rsantoni@breakawaycourier.com.

Stump the Band…

Last month, we asked you to tell us the name of the child born on the Mayflower during the crossing of the Atlantic. Several people knew the answer but many more were interested in finding out the answer. The child born during the crossing was named Oceanus. He was the son of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins.

T-shirt Question

What is the name of America’s oldest, continually operating hotel? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No.8 Issue No.10 October 2003

As the days get shorter, our thoughts turn to ghouls and goblins. The annual autumnal celebration of things arcane has almost arrived. Trick-or-treaters will soon descend upon our sidewalks. This is an excellent time of year to have a pumpkin or other treat delivered to someone special! We can pick up that must-have outfit from your favorite costume shop or that fresh pumpkin pie from your favorite bakery. This year most of our bike messengers intend to dress as…bike messengers on October 31^st. Happy Halloween.

Tear-away and FOLD

Recently, we heard from one of our valued customers concerning our remittance slips:

"Guys, your tear-away portion doesn't fit in your envelope! What gives?"

 Over the years we have received the occasional comment about our unique, patent-pending, tear-away and FOLD remittance slips. These slips easily fit into our return envelopes after FOLDING. Why doesn't it fit without folding? Well, besides the obvious health benefits that strenuous folding affords, it is just plain cheaper to keep our stubs the way they are. Thank you for asking.

Online Tracking

Breakaway customers can track the progress of all their deliveries at www.breakawaycourier.com. To use this feature, customers need to create an online user name. It is really simple. Instructions appear on our web site or you can call Account Manager Ralph Santoni at 646-674-8353.

Express Mail

If the mailman is making you wait, call Breakaway and wait no longer. We can pick up your mail from the Post Office in the morning and speed it directly to your office. When you use our drivers, there will be no more anxiety with your payroll or precious receivables. Neither rain nor sleet nor flat tires will keep us from our appointed rounds…for the most part.

Stump the band…

Last month we asked you to tell us what day the Manhattan Bridge formally opened. We had a wide array of answers to this question, ranging from the Civil War to the LaGuardia administration. The correct answer was December 31^st, 1909.

T-shirt Question

How many people were convicted during the famous Salem Witch Trials that lasted from 1692-1693? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No.8 Issue No.9 September 2003

Remember

Breakaway extends its sympathies to all those mourning the tragedy of 9/11.  We will never forget.

The Blackout of ‘03

We would like to thank you for your understanding during the recent blackout. All our messengers were accounted for and only one courier was stuck in an elevator. Poor C513 was stranded for four hours. All packages were delivered on Monday morning. Several employees spent the night in our office. Gil, Andrew and Mohamad camped out on the 9th floor. The only things missing were the campfire and marshmallows. Thanks for holding down the fort guys.

Online Ordering

Breakaway customers can order jobs online at www.breakawaycourier.com. To place orders, customers need to create an online user name. It is really simple. Instructions appear on our web-site or you can call Account Manager Ralph Santoni at 646-674-8353.

Jason Blair Chronicles

After playing guitar at an evening gig in Sao Paulo, Brazil, courier F516 spent a sleepless night on the red eye flight back to JFK to report to work. He radioed Breakaway from the tarmac for his first assignment. He breezed through VIP status at customs and unlocked his bicycle at the Air Brazil terminal. His first challenge: a triple rush job into Manhattan for an 8:00 AM personal delivery to the UN Secretary General. Child’s play for Breakaway’s superstar courier. All in a day’s work…

[Editor’s note: this is part 1 of a 3 part investigative series]

 Labor Day Gratitude

In honor of Labor Day, we would like to thank the hardworking couriers and valued customers who make all our jobs possible.

Stump the Band…

Last month we asked you to tell us the name of the oldest historical society in the United States. We received a surprising number of calls naming secret societies. Since we have no information on these organizations (honestly) these answers were impossible to confirm. The answer we were looking for was the Massachusetts Historical Society. This august body was founded in 1791. Once again, our callers never revealed any information about any alleged secret society that might require our…silence.

T-shirt Question

On what day was the Manhattan Bridge formally opened? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No.7 Issue No.12 December 2002

Holiday Wishes
Breakaway would like to wish all of our customers and employees a wonderful Holiday Season. Remember that a Breakaway courier is the perfect choice for delivering holiday gifts to friends and business associates. Be on the lookout for flying reindeer wearing Breakaway jerseys. Happy Holidays.

Snow Pool

The past few winters New York has received little or no snow. Can this streak continue? This question is a source of raging debate here at Breakaway headquarters. We would like to invite our customers into this controversy by entering our third annual Snow Pool. To enter, call Account Manager Ralph Santoni, by December 31st, with your unique guess, in inches, of the amount of snowfall Central Park will receive by April 1st, 2003.  If your guess is correct you will win a beautiful Breakaway T-shirt. Note: at press time a major snowstorm was forecast for the New York area.

Phone Operator of the Year

Customer service is our top priority. Our phone operators are trained extensively in how to best meet our customers’ needs. Our operators are so helpful that callers often request specific operators by name. We would like to recognize these shining stars. Please contact Account Manager Ralph Santoni with the name of your favorite phone operator.

NFO Underwear

We recently delivered two boxes of dirty clothes and other personal items to Paris for one of our customers, using our NFO (next-flight-out) service. Breakaway can deliver just about anything just about anywhere. 

Holiday Order Tracking

You can track your large holiday orders online at www.breakawaycourier.com. This puts Breakaway one step ahead of a certain bewhiskered and jocund competitor. Call Account Manager Ralph Santoni directly with any questions at 646-674-8353 or contact him by email at rsantoni@breakawaycourier.com.

Stump the band…

Last month we asked you to tell us what popular character’s balloon was the first to participate in a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This question generated many responses. The most popular wrong answer was that beloved Peanuts character: Snoopy. The correct answer was Felix the Cat.

T-shirt Question

In what city is the oldest public park in America located? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No.7 Issue No.10 October 2002

Happy Halloween

As the days get shorter and fall sets in, our thoughts turn to ghouls and goblins. The ancient festival of Samhain (Celtic feast of the harvest) approaches. Trick-or-treaters will soon descend upon us. This is an excellent time of year to have a pumpkin or other treat delivered to someone special! We can pick up that must-have outfit from your favorite costume shop or that fresh pumpkin pie from your favorite bakery. This year most of our bike messengers intend to dress as…bike messengers on October 31^st. Happy Halloween.

 Leaf Peepers

The staff of Breakaway Boston would like to let everyone know that this year looks like it is going to be a banner one for viewing the fall foliage in New England.  We would also like to remind everybody about our delivery service between Boston and New York. Not only will your package be delivered in record time, but our driver will also have a chance to admire the changing leaves.

Truck Spotting

It seems that Breakaway Courier New York’s customized lift-gate trucks stand out in a crowd. We have received many reports that our trucks look great. Keep a lookout for our trucks. If you are the first to call Ralph Santoni with the special phone number on the side of our newest truck, you will win a special prize.

Online Tracking

Breakaway customers can now track the progress of their jobs online at www.breakawaycourier.com. To use this feature, customers need to create an online user name. It is really simple. Instructions appear on our web site or you can call Account Manager Ralph Santoni at 646-674-8353.

Updating Records

We try hard to maintain high levels of customer service. To that end, we like to maintain close communication with our customers. If you would like periodic check-ups from our customer service department, please enclose your business card with your next invoice payment. Thank you.

Breakaway R&D

In our never-ending quest to make our service even better, the Breakaway R&D department had been working with a coven of witches to get packages delivered by broomstick. Despite an unfortunate incident where one of our staff was turned into a toad, things were progressing well. However, it turned out that our messengers were even faster than magic at delivering packages. So, back to the real world we go, along with all the dot-com refugees.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you to tell us how many New Yorkers died at the battle of the Alamo. The answer we were looking for was eight, but diligent research by one of our valued customers convinced us to accept eleven as a correct answer.

T-shirt Question

Who was the first person executed for witchcraft in America? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt. 

Breakaway News Volume No.7 Issue No.9 September 2002

We Remember
Breakaway extends its sympathies to all those mourning the tragedy of September 11^th. We will never forget.

Online Tracking

Breakaway customers can now track the progress of their jobs online at www.breakawaycourier.com. To use this feature, customers need to create an online user name. It is really simple. Instructions appear on our web site or you can call Account Manager Ralph Santoni at 646-674-8353.

Express Payment

Check writing is a time consuming chore, not to mention the thirty-seven cents for postage. Why not enroll in our Automatic Payment Plan? It is quick and easy, as we accept all major credit cards. You will still receive an itemized statement of your charges. You will not even have to open the envelope, as your bill will already be paid. Please contact Receivables Manager John Handrik at 646-674-8351.

Summer Memories

Summer is almost over. This year many of us vacationed close to home. However, some braved checkpoints and long lines in order to journey farther afield. If you had an exotic, exciting summer trip, give us a call. Your inspiring travel tale might make it into a future newsletter.

Deep Thought

It has been said that a person's favorite breed of dog can provide insights into their personality. An informal poll of the Breakaway Headquarter staff revealed that Chihuahuas and Pit Bulls top the list of favorites. Hmmm....

Labor Day Gratitude

In honor of Labor Day, we would like to thank the hardworking couriers and valued customers who make all our jobs possible. 

Lift-Gate Truck II

Breakaway New York has recently acquired a second, 14ft-lift-gate truck. Like the first one, this extra-large vehicle is decked out in our dazzling purple Bikeman logo. Among the items that have inaugurated our new truck are a 180-pound bus tire and a dentist’s chair that was delivered out to Paterson, New Jersey. If you would like to hire one or both of our lift-gate trucks for a big job, just give us a call.

Stump the band…

Last month we asked you to tell us the name of the official New York State muffin. The response to this simple query was huge. Our favorite wrong answer was the empire muffin. The correct answer was the humble apple muffin.

T-shirt Question

How many New Yorkers died at the famous battle at the Alamo? The first person to call Ralph Santoni (with the correct answer) will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.