(a) Explain the following services provided by NIPOST:
(i) Business Reply Service
(ii) Express Delivery
(iii) Poste Restante
(iv) Cash on Delivery
(v) Recorded Delivery
(b) State five ways in which communication is important to commerce.
Explanation
(a)Services provide by NIPOST include:
(i) Business reply service: A firm may save the recipients of its letters the cost of replying them by providing them with printed reply cards which do not require to be stamped. The firms are charged for :he postage fee as well as extra charges for services rendered.
(ii) Express delivery: For an extra fee by way of additional stamps, a letter may be labelled "express" and given a priority service by having it delivered directly as soon as it arrives at :he post office nearest to the addressee. This priority makes it possible for express letters to arrive at their destinations faster than ordinary letters.
(iii) Poste restante: Post restante facilities enables letters belonging to visitors to a :own to be left in the care of the post office by having such letters addressed to the post office. This facility may be used by visitors, tourist for a while until he gets a permanent address or leaves the town.
(iv) Cash on Delivery: This is a service under which the post man collects money on behalf of the seller from a customer after he has delivered the parcel ordered through post to him. In return for this service the post office charges a fee known as the trade charge. Cash on delivery services are usually rendered to assist mail order business,
(v) Recorded delivery: A recorded delivery gives a proof that a letter has been delivered and the sender is compensated in the event of loss. This service is suitable for sending important documents.
(b) Importance of Communication to Commerce are:
(i) It has made it possible for docu-ments, parcels to be transferred safely and quickly.
(ii) Telex services have made it possible for people to send written message at fastest rates.
(iii) The use of telegraphic money transfer has helped to lessen the problem of international indebtedness.
(iv) It provides means of sending and receiving of business information at faster rates.
(v) Communication has changed the world into a global village because business transactions can be concluded at any part of the world without being physically present.
(vi) Firms engaging in mail order business are now able to cope with the demands of customers far and near because the post office makes it possible to get customers' orders to them in the comfort of their homes.