Snail Mail As E-Mail

techcon writes "An Australian startup Planetwide has launched an interesting product called Scan Me. The idea is simple, you redirect your snail mail to them and they scan your physical mail and email it all to you as a text searchable PDF. Targeted at the world wide traveller, it also looks like a good way to help prevent identity theft and getting nasty white powder in the mail."

Re:The real question!

[Gherald]

I don't now about you, but my version of Adobe Acrobat Reader has this newfangled "print" feature.

what about coupons

[aardwolf204]

you mean ill actually have to print out the pizza hut coupons before using them, pfft never mind then

remailemail.com

[daveo0331]

This service [remailemail.com] lets you send an email, and have it converted to a snail mail letter and sent to someone. So if you combined the two services, you could send an email which would be converted to snail mail, then the recipient could convert the snail mail to an email that they could read from any computer in the world.

Oh wait...

Tax returns and ATM cards

[aardwolf204]

Oh yeah, cant wait to get my tax return check in PDF. Try explaining that one to the bank teller

Or better yet how about my ATM/Credit card?

Do you take plastic?
VISA, MasterCard, Discover and Amex
Great -- Hands over printed card

Awkward Pause (tm)

Yeah, I had to print it since it came in my email...
...Honest!

Subscription

[rf0]

I don't want them forwarding me a scan of my monthly Playboy. Hmm on second thoughts :)

Rus

Re:Hmmm...

[__aafkqj3628]

Well, with the advances in fraudulent printing technology, the scan should be all you need to recieve your new card.

Finally, a service for the Ultra Paranoid!

[RoderickMcDougall]

For many years now I have been suspecting that the dreaded white powder would indeed arrive at my home, thus killing me and ruining my perfectly legitimate home cocaine business. Its comforting to know that I will not have to face the situation where somebody opens my mail and robs me of my privacy. Oh wait.. ohh.. oh crap!

Great, so now I can find out what a pdf of. . .

[kfg]

an AOL disk looks like.

KFG

Oh dear

[cca93014]

it also looks like a good way to help prevent identity theft and getting nasty white powder in the mail.

Some people I know would be more than happy receiving white powder in the mail.

I Became an Oracle Master w/a Giant Faxed BankCard

[LouisvilleDebugger]

In 1996 when I had to travel in order to take Oracle7 classes, my company's owner would send me packing in my own car with gas and food money only. When I would arrive at the hotel (having driven from Louisville KY to say, *Framingham MA* (a hellacious drive of 20 hours) I would call him at the office (often late at night) and he would fax an image of his credit card straight to the hotel desk: blown up to 8.5"x11" size. They always accepted it.

Well, I can see one benefit...

[geekwench]

My mom could finally send me a completely fat-free chocolate bunny for Easter! ;)

Top 5 Mail you'll never receive this way

[rjamestaylor]

5) Columbia House CD of the Month Club selection
4) Beer of the Month Club selection
3) Oh...look - shiny!
2) Cookies? What cookies?
1) Congratulations! You're the Publisher's Clearinghouse winner!

Re:Are you mad?

[evilmrhenry]

Is today opposite day?

No.

Re:Stop identity theft?

[DuSTman31]

Or even just buy a hamster.

Really, I'm always amazed how fast hamsters and the like can chew through a stack of papers. Not to mention, they're also cheaper than an actual shredder. Cute too.

Email as snail mail?

[nickovs]

When I first read the subject line I thought it was going to be related to RFC 1149 [ietf.org] "A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers", which can be used to send your email using an archaic form of postal service (although not really snail mail I guess).

American English...

[hummassa]

is newspeak.

Re:Stop identity theft?

[blibbleblobble]

"Or even just buy a hamster. I'm always amazed how fast hamsters and the like can chew through a stack of papers."

When a paper-shredder escapes, it doesn't chew through everything soft in your entire house...

Stephen King

[Esion Modnar]

When a paper-shredder escapes, it doesn't chew through everything soft in your entire house...

No, of course not. It sneaks up on you while you're asleep, looking for warm blood... That sounds like a Stephen King plot. The shredder is loose. Is it in the closet? Is it in the bathroom? Oh no! RUN! RUN!

Title: Shredder Moon

Re:I use a similar service already

[NineNine]

A-fucking-men. Unfortunately, I use that float every single day.

This is great!

[jared_hanson]

I've been looking for a way to outsource my anthrax problem. Now I've found it!

Re:Stop identity theft?

[mattACK]

Yes, but have you started pocket composting?

I'm a level seven vegan: I won't eat anything that casts a shadow.