History-  November 1985

I was looking for something that I would be doing when I got discharged out of the Army. After 23 years.  My wife operated a Travel Agency and was concerned about the delivery people that came over to pick up and deliver the vacation tickets.  What they looked like, how they dress and even how they smelled was unprofessional because they represented the travel agency.

She indicated that one lady showed up wearing flip-flops and a halter top and another man came over smelling of alcohol. They did not feel comfortable giving this airline tickets to their customers.  So, I said to my wife, “When i get off duty, let me deliver your tickets.  My idea of a courier was a “James Bond” looking guy with a briefcase handcuffed to his arm.  THAT was a courier.”

I still had some Army obligations before my time to separate so I hired a young man to cover the deliveries when I was away fulfilling my final obligations.  I instructed him how to be professional, courteous, not to “dilly dally” or “flirt” and from that the travel agency started getting calls wanting to know “Who was this Courier Service that you are using? Can they deliver our stuff too?”

A Title Company approached me and said they ‘Were too big now to do deliveries on my own. And I’m too small to hire a courier full time, but you would be just great.  How much would you charge me?”  I said, “Let me and this young man work for you free of charge for one week to see where things are going and what your volume is and we can establish a fee for you.”

After a week, “I have never been so relieved about not having to leave my office, and leaving the deliveries to you!”

The next project was a large Title Company that already had two couriers working for him.  So, I sent him a letter explaining what I would like to offer his business.  One day while in this office the owner saw me delivering some documents.  He said, “Mr. Gruber, come into my office.  I know what you are doing and I want to explain why I am not going to use your company.”  “I have tried independent couriers before, and they don’t give me the service that I need.  if need to get someone an important payment/documents, it needs to get there now.  It doesn’t need to be rerouted because of someone else’s deliveries.  When we have something urgent, it needs to get there quickly.”

I said, “Mr. X, We are dedicated to focus on exclusive needs of Title and Mortgage companies. The services that you need.  Try us for a week at no charge.  To see how we can work for you.”

When I went back to his mailroom he had a stack of documents over 18 inches tall of documents that needed to be delivered.  We got rid of that stack in No Time!! That day!