Breakaway News Volume No. 14 Issue No. 1 January 2009

Year of the Ox

We would like to welcome 2009. By Chinese reckoning, it is the year of the Ox.  Although we don’t understand all the details, the Chinese New Year begins on January 26, which is the beginning of a new moon. The Ox will rule the new year and influence the character of any child born this year.  This means we’ll have a strong slow year. Bank on it or cross your fingers at least.

Deliveries to DC

We have had an inordinate number of deliveries to Washington, DC recently. As a matter of fact, we moved a full truckload of freight the other day.  If you need a truck load of freight delivered in the tri-state area and beyond, we can to it.

Cargo Bicycles

Our two new cargo trikes have been turning heads all over Manhattan. They are stable, swift and very green. They are definitely filling a niche that was wanting for many years.

M566 In the House

The father of The Door’s Jim Morrison died in December. There has always been speculation that his son is still alive. We have it on good word that he works at Breakaway.  His number is M566 and he is at the corner of 59^th and Lexington holding three packages, going downtown. 

Excuse of the Season

“I can’t come to work today because…I have to shovel my mom’s driveway”  All day?” We asked.  “All day he answered” And we thought we heard everything.

Heard on the Street,

“Of course we’ll have to sign a verbal contract” ?!

Gee we’d like to see how that contract looks.

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

Crank Compliments

We received a flattering phone call the other day from a very famous writer; a Pulitzer Prize winning writer in fact. Sure you are a famous writer. Nice try. But we’re still flattered. We wanted to send you an official Breakaway T-Shirt. However we did not write down your account number correctly in our starry-eyed state of mind. Please call us back for your limited edition T-Shirt. Thanks again for the psychic wage.

Employee of the Month

Don Molitz. Do you know him? We do. He’s been doing a great job for us for over 14 years--a rock solid performer who opens our office at 6:00 AM like clock work. He’s a great motivator to our drivers and makes sure your truck deliveries run smoothly and our drivers arrive at your door on time.  Hats off to Don!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you on what date did the first ball drop in Times Square to usher in the New Year? Answer: December 31, 1907.

T-Shirt Question

One-Hundred years ago, Scott Joplin wrote a song to commemorate the stock market recovering from an extremely bad bear market.  What was the name of the song?  The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 12 December 2008

Happy Holidays

Breakaway would like to wish all of our valued customers and employees a wonderful and joyous Holiday Season.  A Breakaway Courier is the perfect choice for delivering holiday gifts to friends and business associates. Be on the lookout for  Breakaway elves making their rounds. Happy Holidays!

Santa and Security

Rumor has it that even jolly old St. Nick will have to present a laminated picture identification when delivering this year. Please remember to fully label any gift deliveries you are sending out. Otherwise, they may not be accepted at the delivery point.

Fuel Surcharge Ends

Because of the rapid decline in gasoline prices, we are pleased to announce that we will rescind our fuel surcharge as of December 1, 2008.

Fuzztones

Those still mourning the closing of CBGB’s can take heart at the recent European tour of legendary punk band, the Fuzztones.  Breakaway office stalwart, legendary “Mad Mike Czekaj”, took a leave to play the drums on the tour.  Our clients miss him when he is away but he has a larger mission to keep the music alive.  In November, the fuzztones drew crowds from Sweden to Spain. 1977 lives on!  Fuzztone merchandise is available on their website, www.fuzztones.net

Active Voice

Our spellchecker keeps telling us to rid ourselves of the “passive voice”. We vow to make this one of our New Year’s resolutions, no more passive voice. If only we could tell the difference. How’s this for an active voice: You shop. You buy a big box item. You call Breakaway. Breakaway delivers your big item to your home with one of our liftgate trucks.

Happy New Year

We are looking forward to a great New Year. Let’s face it, 2008 was quite memorable and mostly for all the wrong reasons.  We will be closed Christmas, December 25^th and New Year’s Day January 1^st, 2009.  Happy New Year!

Employee of the Month

We would like to give a big shout out to Beverley Naidoo, one of our many fine customer service reps. She has been consistently near the top of our daily productivity metrics. Translation: She takes a lot of phone orders, always with a pleasant voice and a cheerful smile. Brava Beverley!

More Cargo Bicycles

Within the week, we expect the arrival of two more cargo bicycles for the Holiday Rush.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you to name the street address that  Barack Obama lived on while he was attending college in New York City. Answer:  339 E. 94^th St.

T-Shirt Question

On what date did the first ball drop in Times Square to usher in the New Year?  The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 11 November 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Breakaway would like to wish all of our customers and employees a Happy Thanksgiving. This year our office will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and open on Friday, November 28th. Have a wonderful holiday.

Presidential Couriers

By the time you read this, we will know who our next president is. At Breakaway, it has been a long-standing tradition for us to offer employment to ex-presidents. Former President Clinton pedaled a few days before settling into his offices on 125^th Street. We do know that President Bush has been cycling for many years. We can only assume he is preparing for the rigors of his carefree days delivering your packages. We have already reserved a locker, messenger bag and a safety orientation class for him.

Four Flavors of Rush

Did you know we have four levels of rush service, each with a faster delivery deadline? Is it a rush, double rush, triple rush or exclusive rush?

Green Cargo Trike

You may have seen our new cargo bicycle around town. Practicing the concept of appropriate technology, we use the cargo bike to deliver freight that is too big for a bicycle messenger but too small for a car. It has given us such dexterity in traffic, that we ordered two new cargo tricycles. We hope to receive them in time for the holiday rush.

Heard on a Cell Phone

Young man speaking very loudly:

“Well you bet that was a crucial five minutes!! In those five minutes all my data hit the information super highway. Now I’m out of business.”

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

Special Thanks

What a memorable month October 2008 was. We would like to give special thanks to all our customers who continue to call and continue to pay their bills on time. Yes, we’ve heard all about the credit crunch. According to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman, now is not the time to stop spending money. We must keep consuming.  Why not consume up and down Madison Avenue and have Breakaway deliver all your purchases to your office or residence?

Holiday Deliveries

It’s not too early to start planning your holiday deliveries. We are staffing up for the surge in December orders. One option you can utilize is our four-hour economy service with a 10-delivery minimum. Call the sales department for details.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked: What were the names of the two children who had “fits” which sparked the Salem Witch trials in 1692?  Answer: Betty Parris, age 9, and her cousin Abigail Williams, age 11.

T-Shirt Question

Name the street address that Barack Obama lived on while he was attending college in New York City.  The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 10 October 2008

All Tricks No Treats

Riding downtown our bicycle couriers can hear the echoes of Wall Street brokers long past. Mortgage excess summons the ghosts of 1929 for this year’s Halloween. Couriers have seen them rising up, marching in catatonic fits to Christopher Street waiting with glee for the Friday night parade. Perhaps a Snickers bar for the weary 1929 ghosts or maybe big bags of green paper instead?

Focus Group Question

With the size of video cameras shrinking, we were wondering if you would ever need to have a critical delivery videotaped? If you think this is a service you would use on important deliveries, please let us know. Info@breakawaycourier.com

Express Payment

Make your life less stressful by enrolling in our Automatic Payment Plan. It is quick, easy and we accept all major credit cards. You will still receive an itemized statement of your charges. However, opening your envelope will be optional, because your bill will be paid. Talk about bill-paying convenience! For more information, contact Breakaway A/R Manager Maria Ortiz at 646-674-8351

Phone Complications

Recently we have been experiencing an unusual number of problems with our phone company, Verizon. We apologize for the inconvenience they may have caused. When there is a problem, we are often the last to know because no one can call us! We think we’ve solved all our hiccups with Verizon. However, if you get a busy signal, please don’t hesitate to email us and let us know there is a problem: info@breakawaycourier.com. Thanks.

Direct Rush to Off Season

Too bad, so sad. As another baseball season closes, all our water-cooler debates are silenced as neither the Yankees nor the Mets made the playoffs. Of course, the Red Sox barely made it, so we tip our hats to our lucky fans in the Red Sox Nation.

Labeling Tips

Most office buildings now have elaborate security schemes, which impede the delivery of your package. Here are some labeling tips to sail through security:

 1. Label your parcel completely

2. Include your return address with your phone number and your name.

3. Confirm the closing time of the delivery point

4. Company Name

5. Room Number

6. Recipient's name

7. Recipient's phone number, including extensions and direct dial #’s

8. Street Address

9. City, State, Zip Code

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what is the record time for climbing up the 86 flights of stairs in the annual Empire State Building stair run? Answer 9 minutes, 33 seconds.

T-Shirt Question

What were the names of the two children who had “fits” which sparked the Salem Witch trials in 1692? The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 9 September 2008

Autumn Equinox

This month, autumn will officially begin on September 22^nd, at 11:39 AM. After a lazy August, we are rolling up our sleeves and looking forward to your abundance of phone calls, web orders and rush deliveries this fall.

Fulfillment

Fulfillment is at your fingertips--not the spiritual kind but the Breakaway kind.  What are we taking about?  Simple. It’s another service we provide. We complete marketing projects for some of our customers. For instance, one of our customers is preparing 400 gift bags stuffed with 100 gift items.  For a reasonable fee, we will complete the whole project for you. This includes collecting all the products, storing them, filling the bags, labeling the bags and delivering them. It’s what we call logistics and fulfillment.  Call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385, to outsource your next marketing blitz.

To the Rescue

Recently, we got a call from a frantic customer because their in-house driver had “low-bridged” their company truck by driving through the transverse in Central Park with a clearance of 10 feet and the truck was 14 feet high. We met the damaged truck, loaded up, and completed the delivery on time. Next time, why not outsource the whole project to us?

Route Work

We also do “route work” If you have a group of deliveries that occur on a regular basis, we also do these types of pre-scheduled deliveries. For instance, on a daily basis, we pick up medical samples all over the city and deliver them to a processing lab.

Heard on the Street

More profundities heard near the methadone clinic on our block:

 “I go back to my house, I cook my own food.”

Gold Medal for D233

Hats off to D233 for working around his handicap. His courier job requires constant verbal communication via two-way radio. However, he has a hearing impairment. We worked around this hurdle by using text messages.  With a little extra effort from our ace dispatcher Bill Dappio, D233 overcame his handicap and has become a great messenger. His determination is an inspiration to all of us.

Staycation

Several news reports have pointed to a new trend this summer, the “staycation”. It’s not even in the dictionary yet. A staycation is nothing more than staying at home for your vacation.  We love it. No frenetic trip to the airport, no traffic jams to idle through. Just a truly relaxing time in the comfort of your home with a good cup of java and all your stuff at your fingertips. Now that’s relaxing.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you to name the former NYC bicycle messenger who won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics. Answer: Nelson Vails

T-Shirt Question

What is the record time for climbing up the 86 flights of stairs in the annual Empire State Building stair run? The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 7 July 2008

Happy Fourth

We would like to wish all our customers a relaxing and restful Fourth of July. We will be closed on the 4^th and back open on Saturday, July 5^th. 

Stuff to the Beach

We were saddened to learn of George Carlin’s passing but we are also reminded of his routine about “stuff”.  Yes, we move stuff.  Chances are you will need more stuff than fits into your car to bring to your summer vacation home. Call Breakaway to bring your extra stuff. If it fits into our 26-ft lift gate truck, we can take it.

Invitations by Hand

If you are having a big summer party do not mail your invitations, use Breakaway! Having a messenger hand-deliver your invitations adds an element of style that a stamp just does not offer. We extend discounts on large volume orders (50+ at once), so give us a call today.

Express Payment

Make your life less stressful by enrolling in our Automatic Payment Plan. You will still receive an itemized statement of your charges. However, opening your envelope will be optional, because your bill will be paid by credit card! For more information, contact Maria Ortiz at 646-674-8351

Allez Neil Encore!

Bravo Neil! Since our last newsletter, our rookie sensation, Neil Bezdek has been burning up the local race circuit. He now has won his last five bicycle races.  Though a marked man in the peloton, Neil continues to dominate. Starting in July, he moves up to Category 4, where the competition may be a little stiffer. Stay tuned. 

July: Tour de France

Although no American is favored to win this year, we are looking forward to our favorite sporting event: The Tour de France. We’re brushing up on our Spanish because Alejandro Valverde is favored to win. Even if you’re not a bike racing fanatic, the beautiful French countryside is broadcast on live TV. Instead of spending thousands on airfare, sit back with a glass of wine and a baguette, enjoy the scenery on Versus TV and see who wins the yellow jersey.

Wonderful Web

Place your next order for Breakaway over the Web! It’s fast, easy, and gets your work done without having to take your mitt off the mouse and place a phone call. Details are on our website, www.breakawaycourier.com

Stump the Band

LNDDIAEE

Last month we asked you to unscramble the anagram listed above. Although we had many honorable mentions, actually too many to mention, the answer is DEADLINE.

T-Shirt Question

What Manhattan street corner marks the approximate spot where American patriot Nathan Hale was executed by the British in 1776? The first person to call with the correct answer will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 6 June 2008

Twenty Years

Hooray for Breakaway!  June 6^th will mark our 20^th anniversary.  We’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all our devoted customers and employees; especially the ones who have been with us since the beginning. We couldn’t do it without you.

Allez Neil

Recently, rookie of the year, Neil Bezdek, aka B560, made a stunning move from delivering packages to delivering victory. B560 was the winner of two consecutive Category 5 bicycle races in May. The second win is already the stuff of legend. After missing an early morning train, Neil rode a hard 30 miles just to reach the starting line. He then thundered to victory in a 25-mile race. B560  attributes his success to his  dispatcher Angel Lao who pushed his  limits on triple rushes all over the city. Bravo Neil,  next stop: The Tour de France!

Does Time Exist?

Since punctuality is the cornerstone of our excellent service, we are fanatics about keeping our clocks on accurate time. We set our clocks with www.time.gov which is the official time keeper from NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Oh My Gosh!

While waiting for an elevator, N517, had the misfortune of an old sewage pipe bursting on him! Although we have thousands of war stories, this is a first. Intrepid courier that he is, N517 shook it off, went home, showered and promptly returned to work. That’s the spirit.  And yes he also changed his clothes and his bag.

Fathers Day

Breakaway would like to wish all our Dads a happy Father's Day. On June 15^th, why not give Dad a little extra slack? Let him sleep late and watch all the sports he wants. We are open on Saturday and Sunday to deliver your last minute necktie or tool set straight to your Father’s couch.

Not Spinal Tap

Our own Mike Czekaj is vacationing in Europe and drumming for his old band the Fuzztones, a “path-breaking, pre-punk pre-Seattle grunge band”. The Fuzztones are wildly popular in Europe. “Mad” Mike will be drumming in Madrid and Barcelona and a host of other cities we can’t pronounce. You may know this “Mad” Mike when you call our trucking department. For details check out www.fuzztones.net.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked you: How much did the Red Sox shirt, buried under the Yankee’s new stadium sell for on EBay? Answer: $175,100

Delivery Anagram

LNDDIAEE

The first person to unscramble the letters above will win the coveted Breakaway T-shirt. Please call Andrew Desmond, 646-674-8385.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 5 May 2008

M Day

Can you believe it? Memorial Day weekend is around the corner and Mother’s Day is next week. If you are setting up shop at a vacation home, we can help move your office with our liftgate trucks. Also, we are open on Sunday for last-minute deliveries to your Mother.

Magic Exercise

We noted with bemusement that the NY Times reported that exercise is the “magic bullet” for curing all health ills according to the Harvard School of Public Health. They could have just as easily asked our bicycle couriers who have known this for years.

15 lbs or Less

Do you have a package that’s a bit bulky but on a deadline? You may be able to opt for an oversize shipment with a bicycle courier. Bikers in Manhattan can handle a great many of your bags, flats, and miscellany. Tell us what sort of package it is and how it's packed. We may be able to send a biker instead of a car and get there faster. Hard-taped 18”x24" flats, 12”x12" boxes and a shopping bag of shoes are just a few examples of this type of delivery, which can be coupled with our spectrum of rush services.

Helping Hands

Do you have many tasks to perform and not much time in which to perform them? Try hiring a Breakaway messenger by the hour. Our messenger will do the menial, time-consuming labor that you need done, leaving you free to concentrate on more specific, critical tasks. Take the ‘mess’ out of your day with one of our messengers!

Read on a Website

May 30^th is “Water a Flower Day”

Breakaway Village

As the years go by, an increasing percentage of the population has spent at least one hour of their life as a Breakaway Courier. By the year 2020, experts agree that 95% of Americans will have worked at Breakaway. The latest example comes from Puerto Rico. Former editor, Rob Martinez was lounging at an exclusive resort wearing a t-shirt from the “Breakaway Casual Wear” collection. Suddenly, ten tourists blurted out our alumni motto, “Yo Dude, I used to work for Breakaway”.  Next stop: Morocco.

Doom, Gloom & Boom

We are not one to wallow in fear and anxiety. With the economic forecasts of impending doom, food shortages, and rocketing fuel prices, it’s hard not to expect the worst. But pessimistic expectations can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies. Fear not we say, keep spending, consuming and always have Breakaway do your deliveries.

Stump the Band

The answer to last month’s question was: 144,100 free parking placards have been issued to car owners by various departments of NYC.

Trivia Question

How much did the Red Sox shirt, buried under the Yankee’s new stadium sell for on EBay? The first person to call Bob Modica, 646-674-8353, will receive the official Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 4 April 2008

Many Happy Returns

Tax season is one of our busiest times of the year. Tuesday, April 15th will be especially busy, so please plan ahead. As a reminder, we are always open on the weekends. Your Breakaway messenger will reach the Internal Revenue Service in plenty of time to avoid any...unwanted attention. Never fear; if you are audited, Breakaway can shuttle paperwork quickly between you, your accountant and your attorney.

Spring Shoes

Ah yes, Spring has arrived. What a great time for a new pair of shoes.  While walking through SOHO, we noticed all kinds of candy-colored shoes under $100 to brighten up your day.  Best of all, we can deliver your new shoes to your home or your office.

Congestion Pricing

As of this morning, the New York City council passed approval of congestion pricing. In theory, trucking services will cost more but deliveries will happen much faster.  If Congestion Pricing is approved by New York State, we shall see how this theory works in practice. Either way, at least it will not affect our bicycle deliveries.

Neighbors

The other day, our neighbors from the third floor came to our office frantically looking for a favor. They had an emergency and wanted of all things: a carton, not just a roll, but a carton of toilet paper. Third-Floor Man promised he would re-stock our supplies soon. And true to his word, about a week ago, we received a full carton of two-ply toilet paper. What a great neighbor. 

One Million Orders

Congratulations to Edwards & Zuck for placing the one millionth order on our new computer system.  In addition, kudos to Eric Owen for deftly taking the order.  We are pleased that our new software has shown the test of time.

New Hire Rejects

Recently, we had some high profile applicants drift through our hiring office looking for messenger work. Sadly, all of them were turned away for a variety of delusional half-truths about their past. One guy claimed to be an ex-governor, another one a U.S. Attorney General, another said he was the CEO of a major investment bank. Strange days indeed. Life goes on. We’re still here, ready for your next delivery.

Stump the Band

The answer to last month’s question was: On March 15th, the assassination of Ancient Roman leader Julius Caesar cast a pall that day.

Trivia Question

How many free parking placards has the City of New York issued to car owners? The first person to call Bob Modica, 646-674-8353, will receive the official Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 13 Issue No. 3 March 2008

Leprechauns

Breakaway would like to wish all our customers a happy Saint Patrick’s Day.  Once again, our couriers will be dodging between scads of leprechauns moving about. And let us not forget all those teenage kids, in for a day of fun and frolic, as our couriers scratch their heads wondering what all the fuss is about.

Ironman M222

“I’m a New Yorker. I don’t take the subway. I just take my bike everywhere.”  And so speaks Breakaway’s Ironman, M222. Eddie Maldonado has been working for us, everyday, for the last 15 years. Recently he got a case of carpel tunnel syndrome and could not ride his bicycle. Not to be denied, he started using the subway. Only problem is, he hasn’t been on the subway in 15 years! “What’s a metro card?” he asked. Whatever it is, it has recently gone up in price. Hats off to M222.

Daylight Savings

Customers! Spring forward on Sunday Morning March 9^th. Set your clock ahead and continue to wait for Spring to follow.

633 MPG

With the price of gasoline predicted to increase to $4.00 a gallon by next summer, we would like to point out that bicyclists gets the equivalent of 633 miles per gallon.  According to Bicycling Magazine, there are 31,000 calories in a gallon of gasoline.  You would have to ride 633 miles to burn 31,000 calories.  For our top bicycle couriers this means they can do deliveries for 21 days on a single gallon of gasoline.

Giants Rule

As predicted, New York rules. Sorry Boston, nothing is perfect is it?  As we were reminded in the Super Bowl that even in a perfect Patriot world, someone will come along and muck it up--like Eli Manning and David Tyree. AND we are still waiting for our clam chowder.

Alumni Magnet

Our paper shredder is a magnet for all employees, even former ones. Recently H512, who now works around the corner, was spotted at Breakaway HQ, shredding confidential papers on his lunch break. Everyone brings their top-secret documents from home to work for safe disposal. What is it about our shredder? After a rigorous study, we feel it is the solitary shredder’s copious emission of odorless pheromones as it looks to attract its soul mate.

Stump the Band

Last month, we asked you how much Bill Belichick was paid for his first coaching job. Answer: $25.00 per week.

Trivia Question

What historical event has forever cast a pall over the Ides of March? The answer is not the IRS corporate tax deadline. The first person to call Bob Modica, 646-674-8353, will receive the official Breakaway T-shirt.