#online ups system supplier

[bpee123]

Power of Medical Device Back-up Systems | BPE

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[costapowerindustriespvtltd-blog]

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[sycompower]

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

Kickstarting a book to end enshittification, because Amazon will not carry it

My next book is The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation: it’s a Big Tech disassembly manual that explains how to disenshittify the web and bring back the old good internet. The hardcover comes from Verso on Sept 5, but the audiobook comes from me — because Amazon refuses to sell my audio:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation

Amazon owns Audible, the monopoly audiobook platform that controls >90% of the audio market. They require mandatory DRM for every book sold, locking those books forever to Amazon’s monopoly platform. If you break up with Amazon, you have to throw away your entire audiobook library.

That’s a hell of a lot of leverage to hand to any company, let alone a rapacious monopoly that ran a program targeting small publishers called “Project Gazelle,” where execs were ordered to attack indie publishers “the way a cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle”:

https://www.businessinsider.com/sadistic-amazon-treated-book-sellers-the-way-a-cheetah-would-pursue-a-sickly-gazelle-2013-10

[Image ID: Journalist and novelist Doctorow (Red Team Blues) details a plan for how to break up Big Tech in this impassioned and perceptive manifesto….Doctorow’s sense of urgency is contagious -Publishers Weekly]

I won’t sell my work with DRM, because DRM is key to the enshittification of the internet. Enshittification is why the old, good internet died and became “five giant websites filled with screenshots of the other four” (h/t Tom Eastman). When a tech company can lock in its users and suppliers, it can drain value from both sides, using DRM and other lock-in gimmicks to keep their business even as they grow ever more miserable on the platform.

Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

[Image ID: A brilliant barn burner of a book. Cory is one of the sharpest tech critics, and he shows with fierce clarity how our computational future could be otherwise -Kate Crawford, author of The Atlas of AI”]

The Internet Con isn’t just an analysis of where enshittification comes from: it’s a detailed, shovel-ready policy prescription for halting enshittification, throwing it into reverse and bringing back the old, good internet.

How do we do that? With interoperability: the ability to plug new technology into those crapulent, decaying platform. Interop lets you choose which parts of the service you want and block the parts you don’t (think of how an adblocker lets you take the take-it-or-leave “offer” from a website and reply with “How about nah?”):

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah

But interop isn’t just about making platforms less terrible — it’s an explosive charge that demolishes walled gardens. With interop, you can leave a social media service, but keep talking to the people who stay. With interop, you can leave your mobile platform, but bring your apps and media with you to a rival’s service. With interop, you can break up with Amazon, and still keep your audiobooks.

So, if interop is so great, why isn’t it everywhere?

Well, it used to be. Interop is how Microsoft became the dominant operating system:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

[Image ID: Nobody gets the internet-both the nuts and bolts that make it hum and the laws that shaped it into the mess it is-quite like Cory, and no one’s better qualified to deliver us a user manual for fixing it. That’s The Internet Con: a rousing, imaginative, and accessible treatise for correcting our curdled online world. If you care about the internet, get ready to dedicate yourself to making interoperability a reality. -Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine]

It’s how Apple saved itself from Microsoft’s vicious campaign to destroy it:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

Every tech giant used interop to grow, and then every tech giant promptly turned around and attacked interoperators. Every pirate wants to be an admiral. When Big Tech did it, that was progress; when you do it back to Big Tech, that’s piracy. The tech giants used their monopoly power to make interop without permission illegal, creating a kind of “felony contempt of business model” (h/t Jay Freeman).

The Internet Con describes how this came to pass, but, more importantly, it tells us how to fix it. It lays out how we can combine different kinds of interop requirements (like the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Massachusetts’s Right to Repair law) with protections for reverse-engineering and other guerrilla tactics to create a system that is strong without being brittle, hard to cheat on and easy to enforce.

What’s more, this book explains how to get these policies: what existing legislative, regulatory and judicial powers can be invoked to make them a reality. Because we are living through the Great Enshittification, and crises erupt every ten seconds, and when those crises occur, the “good ideas lying around” can move from the fringes to the center in an eyeblink:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/12/only-a-crisis/#lets-gooooo

[Image ID: Thoughtfully written and patiently presented, The Internet Con explains how the promise of a free and open internet was lost to predatory business practices and the rush to commodify every aspect of our lives. An essential read for anyone that wants to understand how we lost control of our digital spaces and infrastructure to Silicon Valley’s tech giants, and how we can start fighting to get it back. -Tim Maughan, author of INFINITE DETAIL]

After all, we’ve known Big Tech was rotten for years, but we had no idea what to do about it. Every time a Big Tech colossus did something ghastly to millions or billions of people, we tried to fix the tech company. There’s no fixing the tech companies. They need to burn. The way to make users safe from Big Tech predators isn’t to make those predators behave better — it’s to evacuate those users:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/18/urban-wildlife-interface/#combustible-walled-gardens

I’ve been campaigning for human rights in the digital world for more than 20 years; I’ve been EFF’s European Director, representing the public interest at the EU, the UN, Westminster, Ottawa and DC. This is the subject I’ve devoted my life to, and I live my principles. I won’t let my books be sold with DRM, which means that Audible won’t carry my audiobooks. My agent tells me that this decision has cost me enough money to pay off my mortgage and put my kid through college. That’s a price I’m willing to pay if it means that my books aren’t enshittification bait.

But not selling on Audible has another cost, one that’s more important to me: a lot of readers prefer audiobooks and 9 out of 10 of those readers start and end their searches on Audible. When they don’t find an author there, they assume no audiobook exists, period. It got so bad I put up an audiobook on Amazon — me, reading an essay, explaining how Audible rips off writers and readers. It’s called “Why None of My Audiobooks Are For Sale on Audible”:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/25/can-you-hear-me-now/#acx-ripoff

[Image ID: Doctorow has been thinking longer and smarter than anyone else I know about how we create and exchange value in a digital age. -Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock]

To get my audiobooks into readers’ ears, I pre-sell them on Kickstarter. This has been wildly successful, both financially and as a means of getting other prominent authors to break up with Amazon and use crowdfunding to fill the gap. Writers like Brandon Sanderson are doing heroic work, smashing Amazon’s monopoly:

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/guest-editorial-cory-doctorow-is-a-bestselling-author-but-audible-wont-carry-his-audiobooks/

And to be frank, I love audiobooks, too. I swim every day as physio for a chronic pain condition, and I listen to 2–3 books/month on my underwater MP3 player, disappearing into an imaginary world as I scull back and forth in my public pool. I’m able to get those audiobooks on my MP3 player thanks to Libro.fm, a DRM-free store that supports indie booksellers all over the world:

https://blog.libro.fm/a-qa-with-mark-pearson-libro-fm-ceo-and-co-founder/

Producing my own audiobooks has been a dream. Working with Skyboat Media, I’ve gotten narrators like @wilwheaton​, Amber Benson, @neil-gaiman​ and Stefan Rudnicki for my work:

https://craphound.com/shop/

[Image ID: “This book is the instruction manual Big Tech doesn’t want you to read. It deconstructs their crummy products, undemocratic business models, rigged legal regimes, and lies. Crack this book and help build something better. -Astra Taylor, author of Democracy May Not Exist, but We’ll Miss It When Its Gone”]

But for this title, I decided that I would read it myself. After all, I’ve been podcasting since 2006, reading my own work aloud every week or so, even as I traveled the world and gave thousands of speeches about the subject of this book. I was excited (and a little trepedatious) at the prospect, but how could I pass up a chance to work with director Gabrielle de Cuir, who has directed everyone from Anne Hathaway to LeVar Burton to Eric Idle?

Reader, I fucking nailed it. I went back to those daily recordings fully prepared to hate them, but they were good — even great (especially after my engineer John Taylor Williams mastered them). Listen for yourself!

https://archive.org/details/cory_doctorow_internet_con_chapter_01

I hope you’ll consider backing this Kickstarter. If you’ve ever read my free, open access, CC-licensed blog posts and novels, or listened to my podcasts, or come to one of my talks and wished there was a way to say thank you, this is it. These crowdfunders make my DRM-free publishing program viable, even as audiobooks grow more central to a writer’s income and even as a single company takes over nearly the entire audiobook market.

Backers can choose from the DRM-free audiobook, DRM-free ebook (EPUB and MOBI) and a hardcover — including a signed, personalized option, fulfilled through the great LA indie bookstore Book Soup:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation

What’s more, these ebooks and audiobooks are unlike any you’ll get anywhere else because they are sold without any terms of service or license agreements. As has been the case since time immemorial, when you buy these books, they’re yours, and you are allowed to do anything with them that copyright law permits — give them away, lend them to friends, or simply read them with any technology you choose.

As with my previous Kickstarters, backers can get their audiobooks delivered with an app (from libro.fm) or as a folder of MP3s. That helps people who struggle with “sideloading,” a process that Apple and Google have made progressively harder, even as they force audiobook and ebook sellers to hand over a 30% app tax on every dollar they make:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/red-team-blues-another-audiobook-that-amazon-wont-sell/posts/3788112

Enshittification is rotting every layer of the tech stack: mobile, payments, hosting, social, delivery, playback. Every tech company is pulling the rug out from under us, using the chokepoints they built between audiences and speakers, artists and fans, to pick all of our pockets.

The Internet Con isn’t just a lament for the internet we lost — it’s a plan to get it back. I hope you’ll get a copy and share it with the people you love, even as the tech platforms choke off your communities to pad their quarterly numbers.

Next weekend (Aug 4-6), I'll be in Austin for Armadillocon, a science fiction convention, where I'm the Guest of Honor:

https://armadillocon.org/d45/

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/31/seize-the-means-of-computation/#the-internet-con

[Image ID: My forthcoming book 'The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation' in various editions: Verso hardcover, audiobook displayed on a phone, and ebook displayed on an e-ink reader.]

[keybusinesssolutions]

UPS System Supplier - UPS System

It is simple to choose a suitable Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS System) for the power protection of your laptop or small office if you select the right UPS and use a wise buying strategy.

UPS Systems:

They first safeguard your computer from utility voltage variations that exceed the allowable margin as well as the potentially dangerous effects of high voltage surges brought on by lightning, Power Transformer failures, and grid distribution issues.

Second, they enable you to continue using UPS backup batteries in the event of a power outage.

Thirdly, the UPS System enables graceful shutdown by keeping current data on your computer's hard drive and shutting down your computer in a controlled manner in the event that the power outage persists and the battery capacity is insufficient to keep it running.

You must choose a UPS's size, kind, and battery backup time in order to specify it properly.

Volt-Ampere (VA) or kVA units and Watt or kWatt units are used to measure a UPS's size. Most household and small office computers can be protected by a UPS with a rating higher than 350VA and 245 Watt. But you ought to check the computer's power on the label, in the literature, or from the provider.

If more than one computer is protected, the VA and Watt statistics of the different computers should be summed up. For three 350VA/ 245W computers, a UPS system more than 1050VA (1.05 kVA) and 735W is required.

There are typically three different types of UPS:

A Standby (Battery Backup) UPS provides protection from voltage surges, power outages, and voltage variation that exceeds predetermined limitations by switching to battery operation. For residential PCs in stable grid conditions, backup UPS systems are widely employed.

Using an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) that can correct mains deviation without transferring to batteries, a line interactive UPS performs the functions of both a standby UPS system and a power conditioner, allowing continued operation at low or high mains voltage without switching to batteries. For office and small professional installations, Line Interactive UPS system is regarded as a cost-effective alternative.

An internal inverter, powered by an online UPS, corrects any grid interruptions. It is the go-to option for companies with mission-critical applications that require redundant UPS systems to provide high dependability or extended backup intervals to deliver essential online services.

All types of UPS systems are often equipped with batteries that can provide five minutes of backup time at full load and 14 minutes at half load, covering more than 90% to 95% of anticipated utility failure times. If needed for service supplying applications, expanded battery banks can typically offer longer backup durations.

Consider the following variables when making your choice:

If the price difference is not considerable, choose a Line Interactive UPS over a Battery Backup and Online UPS. The superior variety offers superior defense and is often more dependable.

If the additional cost is not disproportionately greater, choose a larger UPS size. The larger UPS system allows for an increase in future loads and offers significantly longer battery backup times, sometimes for less money than an extended Power Battery is required. Additionally, larger systems have superior UPS dependability, which significantly extends battery life.

When making a final decision, choose a well-known ups distributor or ups system supplier.

And  Key Business Solutions one of the leading ups dealers in Odisha.

[reasonsforhope]

"As countries around the world begin to either propose or enforce zero-deforestation regulations, companies are coming under growing pressure to prove that their products are free of deforestation. But this is often a far from straightforward process.

Take palm oil, for instance. Its journey from plantations, most likely in Indonesia or Malaysia, to store shelves in the form of shampoo, cookies or a plethora of other goods, is a long and convoluted one. In fact, the cooking oil or cosmetics we use might contain palm oil processed in several different mills, which in turn may have bought the raw palm fruit from several of the many thousands of plantations. For companies that use palm oil in their products, tracing and tracking its origins through these obscure supply chains is a tough task. Often it requires going all the way back to the plot level and checking for deforestation. However, these plots are scattered over vast areas across potentially millions of locations, with data being in various states of digitization and completeness...

Palmoil.io, a web-based monitoring platform that Bottrill launched, is attempting to help palm oil companies get around this hurdle. Its PlotCheck tool allows companies to upload plot boundaries and check for deforestation without any of the data being stored in their system. In the absence of an extensive global map of oil palm plots, the tool was developed to enable companies to prove compliance with regulations without having to publicly disclose detailed data on their plots. PlotCheck now spans 13 countries including Indonesia and Malaysia, and aims to include more in the coming months.

Palm oil production is a major driver of deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, although deforestation rates linked to it have declined in recent years. While efforts to trace illegally sourced palm oil have ramped up in recent years, tracing it back to the source continues to be a challenge owing to the complex supply chains involved.

Recent regulatory proposals have, however, made it imperative for companies to find a way to prove that their products are free of deforestation. Last June, the European Union passed legislation that prohibits companies from sourcing products, including palm oil, from land deforested after 2020. A similar law putting the onus on businesses to prove that their commodities weren’t produced on deforested land is also under discussion in the U.K. In the U.S., the U.S. Forest Bill aims to work toward a similar goal, while states like New York are also discussing legislation to discourage products produced on deforested land from being circulated in the markets there...

PlotCheck, which is now in its beta testing phase, allows users to input the plot data in the form of a shape file. Companies can get this data from palm oil producers. The plot data is then checked and analyzed with the aid of publicly available deforestation data, such as RADD (Radar for Detecting Deforestation) alerts that are based on data from the Sentinel-1 satellite network and from NASA’s Landsat satellites. The tool also uses data available on annual tree cover loss and greenhouse gas emission from plantations.

Following the analysis, the tool displays an interactive online map that indicates where deforestation has occurred within the plot boundaries. It also shows details on historical deforestation in the plot as well as data on nearby mills. If deforestation is detected, users have the option of requesting the team to cross-check the data and determine if it was indeed caused by oil palm cultivation, and not logging for artisanal mining or growing other crops. “You could then follow up with your supplier and say there is a potential red flag,” Bottrill said.

As he waits to receive feedback from users, Bottrill said he’s trying to determine how to better integrate PlotCheck into the workflow of companies that might use the tool. “How can we take this information, verify it quickly and turn it into a due diligence statement?” he said. “The output is going to be a statement, which companies can submit to authorities to prove that their shipment is deforestation-free.” ...

Will PlotCheck work seamlessly? That’s something Bottrill said he’s cautiously optimistic about. He said he’s aware of the potential challenges with regard to data security and privacy. However, he said, given how zero-deforestation legislation like that in the EU are unprecedented in their scope, companies will need to sit up and take action to monitor deforestation linked to their products.

“My perspective is we should use the great information produced by universities, research institutes, watchdog groups and other entities. Plus, open-source code allows us to do things quickly and pretty inexpensively,” he said. “So I am positive that it can be done.”"

-via Mongabay, January 26, 2024

--

Note: I know it's not "stop having palm oil plantations." (A plan I'm in support of...monocrop plantations are always bad, and if palm oil production continues, it would be much better to produce it using sustainable agroforestry techniques.)

However, this is seriously a potentially huge step/tool. Since the EU's deforestation regulations passed, along with other whole-supply-chain regulations, people have been really worried about how the heck we're going to enforce them. This is the sort of tool we need/need the industry to have to have a chance of genuinely making those regulations actually work. Which, if it does work, it could be huge.

It's also a great model for how to build supply chain monitoring for other supply chain regulations, like the EU's recent ban on companies destroying unsold clothes.

[inevitablysomber-dark]

Shackled (Chapter 1)

Dark! Rafe Cameron x Pogue! Reader

Warning: There are some intense, dubiously consenting and nonconsensual sexual themes in this series. MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY. MINORS DNI.

Summary: You hate Outer Banks with a passion and are working hard to get out despite all the obstacles in your way. Rafe himself eventually becomes one of those obstacles after a night of low impulse control. Will you be able to overcome him or will you have no choice but to submit. Slow Burn

Series Masterlist

You were tired and sore, your body trudging through the trailer park, following a familiar path. You almost thought to turn back around and go home to rest, maybe returning later in the day to get your supply, but you thought better of it. You had a system and followed it to a Tee, never straying for fear of what might happen.

Every action you took held a purpose, and each purpose aimed to ensure you got what you needed without compromising yourself.

You usually spent the weekends entertaining gentlemen at the Misty Lounge on the mainland. Unfortunately, no matter how much effort you put into performing, the tips were dry, at least for this weekend. You didn't let it sweat you, it wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.

As fatigue slowly creeps over you, you glance up to find the trailer you were looking for.

Your supplier sat up front next to a familiar body; he glances towards you when he sees movement in his peripherals.

"Is that my little sweetheart comin' down here" Barry yelled as he got up from his seat in front of the unlit fire pit, walking over to you with open arms.

"BARRY!" you muster enough energy to run up and jump into his arms as he lifts you and spins you around once. Barry loved you about as much as an employer loved their best employee. It was all conditional, and you didn't mind his affections because you considered Barry somewhat of a friend.

You were 16 and in a bad place mentally. Your professional relationship with Barry was only meant to be temporary. You had already known about him through your father and purchased some coke from him in severe desperation.

You intended to use it yourself, but you couldn't go home because you knew your dad would try to take it for himself if he found it. Hence, you went to one of the many kook parties held in figure 8 that night and snuck into the basement.

You had 4 lines ready to go before some randos interrupted your session. Just as they were about to turn around, one noticed the powder on the table and offered to pay to snort two lines. They offered twice as much as what you paid for the entire baggie.

At that moment, you realized that you could make this work. The next day you asked your father about his more youthful days and how he managed to make money through his more illegal methods.

He had a hangover and was in no mood to talk, but a few shots in his system proved very effective in getting him to talk. You realized if you were going to do this needed to do it right.

First, you had to outline your plans and goals. That night, you drafted a mock business profile, finding free templates online.

Then, you set a few rules for yourself:

-Don't Spend Profits before the supply is gone -Don't partake in the supply -Keep both supply and money under lock and key

You took the money you made that night and ordered a larger baggie.

You spent your days looking for parties and people to sell to, and slowly but surely, business started picking up.

Unfortunately, when you reached the $5000 mark, your father eventually found where you were keeping your cash in your room and spent it all at the bar. You were livid, but you had no choice but to accept those developments. A part of you wished he had died of alcohol poisoning. Still, you knew if anything happened to this man before you could set your plan in motion, you would really be in a lot of trouble.

In one of his many drunken late-night rambles, he admitted to using your social security as a child to open up a bunch of credit cards. After spending all the money decided he wasn't paying for shit. This little hustle you had going was meant to help you increase your funds. Now, your credit was shot to hell; you could leave this town, but if you wanted to, you would have to buy everything in cash. And you just needed more money. This hustle you had going was an attempt to get enough money to leave, but you would need a lot.

You had to build up your income again, stashing your cash below a floorboard underneath your bed; it was a slow and arduous process.

As soon as Barry realized you were raking in coins, he decided you and him had to have a more comfortable relationship, and you followed along. He loved to tell people you were his little sister, and whenever he saw you in public, he approached you warmly.

To avoid any conflict, you allowed it, even playing along. But being associated with him was hurting your reputation at the cut, and you were positive that he would be unreliable when push came to shove.

He gestures toward the person next to him when he puts you down.

"You know Rafe?" he asks.

"Yea," you nod with a quick wave of your hand in his direction. You turn back to Barry." I'm here to pick up my supply?"

Before Barry could open his mouth, you pulled out a thick roll of cash and handed it to him.

He smirked, his gold tooth peeking past his lips.

"You so dependable, sweetheart" he grabbed your head with both hands and planted a kiss on your forehead "unlike some people," he glanced at Rafe before disappearing into his trailer.

'How affectionate,' you thought as you tried to stretch out the exhaustion from your spine. A yawn escaped your mouth, trying not to react at the man dead-staring into your soul.

You had no personal strife with Rafe, but you knew who he was and where his values were established. His reputation on the island had little more to do with all the chaos and mayhem he's invoked on the pogues, a group he and anyone else within his tax bracket in figure 8 deemed subclass residents of Outerbanks, and he was well known as the Kook prince of OBX. You tried to avoid him as much as possible to prevent any trouble from coming your way.

He's not as rabid as he used to be, but he can find any reason to mess with someone less fortunate than him.

Unfortunately, you couldn't say the same thing for Mary and Ether, two girls classified as your close friends throughout the island. However, you would be hard-pressed to call them that.

You'd met them at a random kegger at the beach a few years ago, Tourons were harassing them, and for a moment, you could break out of your shell and help with the conflict. You were chubbier back then and had a more intimidating appearance despite your tame personality.

All 3 of you had hung out and danced the entire night, and since then, they insisted that you join them at every excursion. At first, you thought you made genuine friends. And you were so excited and happy to be around that you did whatever they asked.

They never introduced you to their own families. Whenever they saw you in public outside of a party setting, they acted like they didn't know you. After hanging out with them a few more times, it turned out that they just needed a bodyguard that would simultaneously make them look good.

They were fake friends, and you couldn't find it in your heart to shake them off. Even after you got your job on the mainland, grew into your body, and attempted to push them away. They still came around with expectations adorning their faces.

They would never ask for money or clothes; God forbid they get help from THE help. But They weren't the most popular in kooktown despite being kooks themselves. So as a reaction to feeling inadequate, they've developed superiority complexes towards you.

Having you around bulked up their confidence and kept them from having to feel so mediocre because, in their own heads, they were better than you.

Yet, you couldn't find it yourself to drop them; maybe it was the loneliness. The fear of having no one but your dad on this God-forsaken island.

Outer Banks was a small place, so most people knew who you were, who you associated with, and most annoyingly, who you came from. Despite never actually doing anything wrong and not getting into trouble, other kids were advised to stay away from you.

It only served as another reason for you to hate Outerbanks. Not only in how small-minded the town was but where they allowed their biases to take hold.

Why did Rafe get a free pass in creating his path of destruction, but you were automatically outcasted for your own proceedings?

You were both at Barry's trailer, and you couldn't help but think how if anyone saw you, you'd be labeled a rotten apple, and he'd be the misguided young man.

You quickly glance at Rafe to find that he is still staring at you. A blank expression on his face as if he were plotting.

You turn your head back away when you see Barry come out with a bag. Scrunching your eyebrows together, you take it and look inside.

"It's all there, sweet-" he could barely finish his sentence before you interrupt

"This isn't my usual order, Barry; I'm short" You move to look back at him, "I paid for a full order of products, and I can already see that I'm missing a few things without taking anything out," you whined doing your best not to stomp your foot, you were tired and the longer you stayed here, the less time you had to rest.

"Look, sweetheart, I still need to get my new orders. You gon' need to work with what you got" You look at Rafe again, this time really seeing his face, and you notice his eyes are glazed over.

He was high. Of course, Barry must have given him something; the question was, did he actually pay for it?

When you look back at Barry, you give a frustrated sigh.

"I paid you the full price, and I can't just short my customers."

"How about I give you a discount for your next order and add 30% more product?" He raises his eyebrows, giving you puppy dog eyes, grabbing your shoulders, and giving you a light squeeze.

You give him an exasperated look, vexation creeping down your spine and a migraine forming behind your eyes. It seems that you have no choice.

"Ok, but I want it written."

"You don't trust me, sweetheart?" he has a full-blown smile adorning his lips when he asks.

"Of I course do," you lie, "but there's nothing wrong with a bit of peace of mind,"

"Alright, alright," he says, holding his hands up in defeat.

When Barry set you up, you said your goodbyes and headed home.

As soon as you got there, you stashed your products and money in their appropriate hiding places and washed the weekend off your body.

Once you did your little self-care routine, you pulled your blackout curtains close, and exhaustion took over as soon as you laid your head on your pillow. – When you turned 18, the hiding spot for your money started getting a little tight, so you decided to head to the mainland and open up a bank account. You figured it would be insufficient to open one using any of the banks in Outerbanks because the island was already so small. There were too many familiar faces, and you realized it might end up being more trouble than it's worth.

When you got to the mainland, you decided what bank you wanted to do business with, and that's when you met Kelly. And Kelly had some things to teach you about the financial world and its ticks.

She let you know that you couldn't just deposit large sums of cash every time you went to the bank, especially when you didn't have an official job. She didn't ask questions about where you got your money and let you deposit 12k on a one-time conditional basis. Because of this, every time you got to the mainland, you only ever went to that specific bank and worked with only Kelly.

After a while, you and Kelly developed a more amicable relationship. And Kelly gave you an opportunity on one of your deposit days, which were usually Mondays because the bank was less occupied on that day.

"You know what?" While pulling up your account, she asks, "You're a pretty girl. Have you ever thought about exotic dancing?"

You shook your head no, not exactly sure what she meant.

As she set you up, she took a scrap of paper and wrote an address with a number.

"If you want to make a bit more money, Mistys Lounge is setting up an amateur night this Friday to scout for more dancers; check it out."

She handed you the scrap, and you put it in your pocket with no intention of heeding her advice. Though as the week progressed, the unconventional opportunity wouldn't leave the back of your mind. By Friday, you found yourself dressed in your cutest two-pieced bathing suit you owned, ready to perform onstage for amateur hour.

When your set came, you could feel the awkwardness on the stage; your body felt weird and unnatural as you attempted to mimic the girls before you.

You knew the amateur night was a bust, but it all worked out in the end.

You didn't even know why they bothered with the amateur night because they offered everyone who auditioned a gig. When you get the job, They let you know you worked for tips for a 200 dollar fee and when it's time for your set to be there or don't come back.

You made a little money at first, and after the 3rd day of dry tips, you decided to step up.

You bought cuter outfits, ensured your hair and nails were done and started doing your makeup. It helped, but it wasn't enough. Then the facials and self-care days were initiated, and you started meeting Kelly so she could teach you routines and give you lessons on seduction since she used to be a dancer.

When you started wearing wigs and adhering to theme days, things started looking up. Then one day, you got brave, you waxed your entire body and stripped butt naked during a few of your private shows, and that's when it started raining bills.

There were girls who would have sex with the patrons, but you couldn't find it in you to go that far.

You were known as Bunny Dee.

And despite the unwarranted groping, Misty's had to be your favorite gig. However, Kelly insisted that despite being a job, you still needed to be careful when depositing cash from Mistys.

As you started getting more comfortable, Grizzly, one of your coworkers, invited you to a party for a Fraternity from Chapel Hill.

That's when you found it, your golden city. Hundreds and thousands of college kids by the mile. Buying, selling, and buying, needing to get high for the night. You remember being disappointed that you didn't have your stash available to sell to the crowds.

The next time, you went by yourself and got into 4-digit numbers in one night. That's when your new rule had been established: No selling to Outerbanks residents.

Tourons would be at your discretion, but Island residents were a no-go.

You always hated selling to anyone on the island. Your reputation was already the bottom barrel. So when you started selling, it seemed to tank even further. The only time anyone ever wanted you around was at a party. If you were seen outside of that setting, there was an aversion towards you.

Mary and Ether were the same, but even recently, they started keeping you at the distance of a 10ft pole. You didn't particularly care what anyone thought, but your apparent disgust with your existence sometimes got to you.

Your OBX clients weren't too happy with your decision, but at the end of the day, it wasn't your problem. You made 3 times as much on the mainland during the weekend than you did on the weekdays on the island.

You started making goals to reach and coming up with plans to achieve them.

And on the Top of the list:

Get Out of Outer banks

[gacha-lab]

Rate-up is a lie

is a popular phrase within the gacha community. Players use it to mock their failed attempts to get their desired character from the gacha pool, blaming it on the shining lettering on the banner, "rate-up".

Of course, we all know that what we play is dependent on RNG. That's why we say it jokingly. But imagine if rate-ups were a lie?

It is a preposterous thought, and people would definitely be outraged, but what if I were to tell you that it did happen? Veterans are very much familiar with this case I’m about to talk about.

The game was alleged to deceive its player base and subsequently changed the industry forever. The game in question is Granblue Fantasy by Cygames.

It is the year 2016. Cygames’ second consecutive year on the market and New Year is around the corner, so why not celebrate by introducing a new limited character for players to pull.

Amidst all those players, there is a livestreamer, Taste, who shared his attempts. However, his efforts were in vain and went viral after he obtained Andira after 2,276 pulls (5358,50€ in monetary value [exchange rate as of 31.12.2015). [1]

More reports of other players were coming in, confirming that they needed to spend a high number of pulls to get her. As time passed, it became clear that something was fishy.

Remember the saying from the beginning – rate-up is a lie? Well, someone put in the effort to collect data and put it into numbers. [2] Suddenly, it dawned on the community. The rate-up was… not a lie! Instead, it was misleading.

Andira, as a featured character, had indeed a rate up, but other units had a higher rate up and therefore were more likely to be summoned.

Understandably, this caused a massive outcry which the developers denied the allegations, but to appease the crowd, they had to apologize and compensate everyone with in-game currency. To prevent further escalations, Cygames preemptively introduced a new system to cap the players’ spending as well as showing the probabilities of all items for more transparency.

Overall, Yuji Nakamura argues that it could have dealt a massive blow to the market share of the mobile game industry, which lost 1 billion dollars. [4] Not only that, it also garnered mistrust from consumers.

Apparently, it even attracted some regulatory bodies. One is JOGA (Japanese Online Games Association) [1], the other is CESA (Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association). [3]

Both have released guidelines on the matter. Although I cannot confidently say much about JOGA due to the language barrier, if you are interested and able to read Japanese, you can find their guidelines under the categorie April 2016.

Nevertheless, according to Koeder et Tanaka, CESA has announced a guideline for more transparency for gacha item probability. [3]

It’s worth noting that JOGA and CESA are not regulatory bodies from the government. So those guidelines are not legally binding. According to Tsuji’s article introduction on Columbia Academic Commons, in Japan video game regulations are handled by third parties – basically self-regulation. [5]

In the end, the incident shaped the industry, compelling subsequent games to adapt to the guidelines. A win for consumer rights.

Sources (under the cut):

[1] https://www.destructoid.com/japanese-man-spends-6065-on-mobile-game-in-one-night/

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/go2dfu/mobile_games_monkeygate_or_how_a_lone_browser/

[3] https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169473/1/Koeder-Tanaka.pdf

[4] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/14/business/smartphone-gamers-blow-small-fortune-on-their-obsession/#.WQgvl4jyuUk

[5] https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/50n0-1g51

[endless-hourglass]

i love (/sarc) how there's so little safe space for CDD systems.

Tumblr? Syscourse left and right, and if you don't like it? Might as well leave because half the time it's not fucking tagged.

Twitter? I don't know whats it's like on there and I don't even think I want to!

Tiktok? So rabid with fakeclaiming and drama it's genuinely unsafe.

YouTube? Any system who dare to have a channel is someone you can't search up withing a "[channel] fake proof" autofill or pages or videos calling out their every flaw

IRL? HAH good fuckin LUCK.

???

Personal venting below the cut

Tiktok and YouTube are the examples that make us sick to our stomach the hardest. Amnesia makes it hard to assume but I'm pretty sure online system spaces played a huge part in our so called "system reset" (a period of all previously existing alters dissociating themselves and their identities into fuckall until we could accept ourself again). We didn't have any space to exist as a system irl, so what could we find online? Even with the more casual system yt channels, ones that made us feel safe and seen as someone who can just live life, there's a suffocating weight in trying to watch them as everywhere around you is people trying to shove proof in your face of everyone malingering. Truth is, I've hardly ever watched these proof videos because idk it's...clear that most of the time those videos aren't for the community, they're ammunition suppliers.

Maybe you decide "YouTube feels too detattched from the community, maybe something like tiktok would be more engaging." Bitch the only difference is that you feel more personally involved and people aren't always going game theory on their fakeclaiming. Instead there's weekly drama, "system red flag lists", a restraining fear of being posted to hateful cringe sites for literally anything, and AGAIN hurt and hate everywhere you fucking turn!

And I know maybe I should just "touch grass and interact with REAL systems if I want community so badly", but please enlighten me as to how I, a minor-bodied undiagnosed system, am supposed to effectively achieve that. Not to say it's impossible to have irl system friends, but I have none currently and no way to actively seek them out. I shouldn't be denied community for the crime of wanting it.

And I fear that this post will be met with someone telling me I'm too young for online system spaces. First off, you don't know my exact age, you honestly in the grand scheme of things don't know anything about me. Secondly, I do have a good understanding of online safety as far as I can tell. Thirdly, you think I don't think about that? In fucking system spaces you think I don't carefully evaluate my participation and inclusion and stuff? I'm practically forced to if I want to keep my wits about me! Fourthly, as I just fucking said, I shouldn't be denied community for the crime of wanting it.

[careless-with-your-heart]

Seeing Red 🍸😡🧟💋

This fits perfectly for @ockissweek! So excited! Enjoy this one-shot for #ockiss24.

Seeing Red: A Blaine DeBeers x OC KissFic One-Shot

You can’t kiss her.

The thought practically eats Blaine alive—an oxymoron if he’s ever heard one.

It’s only been a week since Catherine blew in with the rain, and already she’s making herself useful. Not just in his fantasies, though there is that, but in cold, hard earnings. And for that—and all the other, carnal reasons that keep him up at night—Blaine wants to kiss Catherine-No-Middle-Name-Cohen full on her plush, tempting mouth.

“Why do you look so self-satisfied?”

Don E’s voice cuts through Blaine’s locked-eyes daydreaming, and over the glow of his laptop screen, Blaine raises a brow at his second-in-command as Don E glides into the back office of The Post, leaving the door yawning wide open behind him.

“I always look self-satisfied. I am a man intent on nothing else but satisfying himself.” To prove the point, Blaine lifts the half-full martini glass that rests on his desk and salutes the small, bald man standing in front of him before slugging down the remainder of the drink.

“Yeah, sure. But, like, right now, you just had this look on your face. Like, what’s the expression? The cat that ate the canary?”

“You got it switched, brother. The canary is the cat—Kitty, that is.”

Don E. smirks as he slides into the chair in front of Blaine’s desk. “You son of a bitch! You nailed her. Noice. Fast work. She seems a little damaged, but in that way you like. I dig it.” He leans forward conspiratorially. “Should I arrange for some flowers? A nice bottle of vino for the lady? A link to my YouTube channel?”

Blaine blanches. “Don’t be crass. I didn’t nail her. And no one watches your YouTube channel.”

It’s Don. E’s turn to protest. “Hey! I’ll have you know that my Redecorating Your Living Room When You’re No Longer Living series was very popular. Dozens of views. And if the Lady Catherine is now on Team Z, she might need some basic how-to on how to do the undead thing.”

“Mmm-hmm. Congrats on the views, champ, but she’s still human. Now, let’s get back to the subject at hand—our little stray cat has, in the past week, bumped nightly bar receipts up by thirty percent. And she breezed in here this morning with a full-on spreadsheet breaking down our liquor cost, in order of highest to lowest margins, and she’s gone to meet in person with two distributors who might cut those costs if we switch suppliers.”

Don E’s eyes widen. “Damn. Sorry bro. I mistook your money boner for a lady-inspired one. That’s some valid dreamy-eyed shit. She’s way nice, too. Did you know that Darcy loves her? Those two and Liv and Peyton, there’s a whole Clueless thing going on that is very, very heartwarming.”

“Why are you in my office, exactly?” Blaine says, closing down his laptop.

“Oh! Yes. Two items of business. One, remember that you asked Darcy to come in today to look over the delivery system and see if she can take the whole ordering process online.”

Blaine has forgotten—but now he recalls, and he nods agreeably. “That’s great. Crypto, right? Less physical cash changing hands means less chance of an extra hand in the honeypot.”

Don E rocks his chair back up on two legs, bracing his interlaced fingers behind his head. “Yeah, that’s the business part deux. We have a little prrrrrroblemo down in distribution that I wanted to talk to you about.” He grimaces slightly. “Caught one of the new delivery guys sampling the goods.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

What a way to kill the high of the morning’s financial gain.

“Nope. Hank.”

Blaine presses his lips together. “You vouched for him, Don.”

The younger man winces. “I know, bro. I was trying to help him out. He used to be my barista before, you know”—Don E’s tongue lolls out and he raises his arms in a caricature of Night of the Living Dead. Off of Blaine’s flat look, he drops his hands to his lap. “I came to you as soon as I knew. I’ll take care of it. I just didn’t want my partner out of the loop.”

“And now you want to bring Darcy in to automate the ordering? When your boy is stealing from me?” There’s no way for him to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

“She’s my wife, Blaine.”

His mood souring, Blaine shrugs. “I’m not catching your point.”

“I love her. She loves me. You don’t profess your love and then ask someone to share the rest of your life unless there’s trust, right?”

“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose,” Blaine quotes flatly.

Don E’s eyes narrow. “Yeah, yeah. This from the guy who claims he doesn’t have it bad for the new livestock in town.”

Before Blaine can protest again, Don E puts up a hand to stop his reply. “You can say it’s money all you want, but I see the way you look at her, and all the other signs. If you’re not careful, you’ll fall, too. The indestructible Blaine DeBeers.”

The word isn’t quite right. Blaine knows a few other descriptors that are apt. Ones that were drilled into him young, and often.

Unlovable

Inadequate

Worthless

Blaine lifts his chin, smirking past the intrusive thoughts. “Other signs?”

“You’re dressing her up like your personal doll, Blaine. You’ve never done that with any of the back-room girls. And, last night, your pocket square matched her dress. “

Blaine remains silent, thoughtful.

Don E presses on. “You’ve given her every night shift this week—and, I might add, you’ve come in an hour early yourself every one of those nights. To throw some wisdom from your man Willie Shakes back at you, lovers ever run before the clock, bro."

Blaine rolls his eyes at Don E. "Don't save the date, my friend."

"See? Interested but cynical. Yearning for love but settling for cheap interludes. Face it, you have commitment issues."

"I suppose you have a YouTube video for that?"

"Your sarcasm is a defense mechanism. Look at the facts. My dude, you barely let your shoes get walked in before you toss them."

"It's been my experience that a quality woman hates scuffed soles," Blaine shoots back, toying with the edge of the empty martini glass on his desk. 

"Soles or souls? Fifty-fifty chance you fail there, boss."

Blaine laughs and puts a hand over his chest, bending double in his chair as he pretends to clutch his heart. “Damn! Ouch.” Then, sitting up, still grinning, Blaine says, “I admit that our newest house human is aesthetically pleasing. And she knows how to make money. But if you think a little ‘ol steak dinner on a pair of nice stems is going to tempt me into forever, brother, you don’t know me at all.”

“I do. And you know me. And I love Darcy. So trust her because you trust me.”

Blaine nods. “Fair enough.” But he’s still more than a little annoyed. Not just by Don E’s too-keen observations about how he was beginning to feel about Kitty, but by the stress fractures he saw forming in his usually well-run businesses. The bartender that had just been caught pouring heavy for his friends last week. The delivery guy skimming brains. What did a dishonest businessman have to do to get good help in this town?

A sudden knock on the doorframe of the office yanks the attention of both men to the entryway.

Kitty stands there—and Blaine’s breath catches.

Don E swivels back around to face him, eyes wide. How long has she been standing there? he mouths.

Blaine ignores the question, but the possibility that she’d just heard their conversation makes his stomach twist. Instead of panicking outwardly, he opts for what gets him out of most situations—cocky, surface bravado, even if he’s a nervous wreck on the inside.

“Meals on Heels! Just the gal I was singing the praises of. How’d it go with the distributors?”

She shoots him an unreadable look as she makes her—brisk—way to his desk. “Really well. Two proposals, both great offers. Twenty or twenty-five percent off of current rates for your regular rotation stock. Higher discount wants a four-year contract, though.”

Don E seems to relax some.

Blaine smiles broadly. “Wow. Not bad, dollface. Not bad at all.”

“Not bad for cattle, isn’t that what you mean?” There’s a clipboard in her hand, and she slams it down on top of his closed laptop. “It’s your choice on which new supplier to go with—but maybe avoid the four-year contract if you’re commitment-shy.”

Both men gape at her.

"Anyway, guess this shows I'm good for more than a source of protein. I'll be out in the bar, trying to figure out what the hell you two are good for."

Then, she spins and marches out of his office.

Fuck.

Blaine rises from his office chair, shaking his head as he starts to follow her out onto the main bar floor. “Kitty, hold up. I didn’t mean…”

The office door slams in his face.

As Blaine goes stock-still in stunned silence, Don���s chair scrapes back as he stands. “Don’t chase her, dude. Let her go.”

Blaine rounds on him, snarling. “Shut up, Don E! I don’t need any more of your sage advice.”

But the other man is probably right. It won’t do anything except make things worse if he chases Kitty down while she’s angry. So Blaine steps back. It takes every ounce of willpower he’s able to scrape together, and probably some borrowed from whatever saint he last dined on to boot, but he does it. He leaves the door closed and paces back to his desk instead of storming out to ask her to forgive him—and to ask her who the fuck she thinks she is, slamming his own office door in his face.

“So, I’m going to retire Hank now, if that’s cool…” Don E says, shuffling in place. “Darcy should be here any minute.”

Maybe it’s his simmering annoyance at the employee messes, or the sudden, queasy unease he feels over Kitty overhearing what he’d said to his second-in-command. But whatever the cause, Blaine’s temples begin to throb, and anger suddenly swells in his chest. He’d been happy five minutes ago, head full of rainbows and unicorns and cotton-candy thoughts about the woman who’d just bitten his head off. She shouldn’t be so fucking sensitive. In fact, she should be grateful to him. He’d given her a job with very few questions asked.

Outside in the main bar, Blaine hears the sound of a door slamming. Then, muffled curses. She’s out there throwing a fit—and it makes his anger spike higher. It makes the part of him that is always simmering, spoiling for a fight, begin to boil. He pushes off of his desk, feeling the familiar red haze as the pressure of it begins to make his eyes burn.

“Dude?” Don E’s words after are a muffled mess of noise—nothing that will stop Blaine as he lets the anger rise, relishes it, embraces it as it climbs hotly through the stark, popped veins of his neck and into his head, taking over.

He is the boss here. Kitty works for him. And he’s going to show her just how much trouble her bratty little attitude has gotten her into.

Blaine doesn’t have to take his clash out to the bar. As soon as he flings open the door to his office, she’s there—so close, in fact, that he doesn’t even see her before they collide. But he hears her small, startled cry of surprise, and her softness registers against the lean, hard planes of him, and his raged-out brain indexes through a dozen reasons she’s coming back; and it settles hotly, and nearly instantly, on one reason in particular.

She’s come to insult him some more.

Unlovable

Inadequate

Worthless

And that isn’t fair, or accurate, or even related enough to be applied, but the anger doesn’t care. It siphons all the fuel it needs from the dark corners of his heart and grows, and grows…

I’ll show you exactly what I’m good for…

Blaine’s pissed enough that he rolls with the knee-jerk, Cro-Magnon urge that seizes him, gives in to the impulse, and throws out all care for the notion of what is prudent or professional or even safe—and he takes what he wants. What he’s wanted since that stormy Friday night when the city had delivered this lithe, magnetic mystery woman to his doorstep.

Kitty tries to pull back, but he reacts so quickly that she doesn’t stand a chance. He grips both of her upper arms, hauls her up, and through the blinding crest of the red haze, feeling as though his head might burst if he doesn’t, Blaine kisses her. He puts into the kiss all of the frustration he feels that has nothing at all to do with Kitty, and all of the lust that absolutely does. Just as he ducks toward her, he closes his eyes, peripherally afraid he’ll startle her with the blood-red in them.

Soft. You’re going soft, McDonough.

And that thought fans the flames of his fury higher, ensuring that the kiss is not soft. His lashes sweep her cheeks as his mouth attacks hers, and he lifts one hand from her arm to stab his fingers through her hair and fist the heavy, silky tresses to hold her still for his onslaught.

She stiffens at first. Blaine can only guess it’s in shock, but he hopes there’s a little anger of her own in the reflex. Something about his driving rage craves an answering anger in her. Maybe he wants Kitty mad to make it feel a little less like he’s the villain here. Predator, prey, hell, he isn’t sure which of them is which, anyway. Once he drops his other hand to haul her against him at the waist, she goes pliant against him, and Blaine wastes no time parting her teeth with his tongue, licking into her, withdrawing to bite and suck at her lower lip before pressing back in to steal the surprised gasp that escapes her when the last nip draws the barest taste of copper.

The blood excites him. It’s primal and elemental, and he doesn’t care if she bites him back. In fact, he’d go just about crazy if she did. He wants her to, wants to feel the sting of her canines in his lower lip, at the hollow of his neck, sinking into the meat of his shoulder through his shirt as he’s tearing off her panties. He wants a hundred little half-moon bruises left scattered over his body, despite the fact that he knows they will heal too quickly to be morning-after souvenirs.

She’s kissing him back now, pulling him urgently to her by the collar. It’s satisfying to feel that desperation, to know that he can make her so needy so fast. He feels a button on his shirt give way, feels her fingers slip over his throat, and he swallows an endless stream of her breathy moans as he turns the two of them and presses her to the doorframe, jamming a knee between her legs and leaving her lips to rake his front teeth down her neck. If the skin breaks, he’ll take it as sign from the universe that he’s meant to keep this enigma. And fuck Don E’s little H.P. Lovecrafting videos, Blaine will teach her everything she needs to know to become the undead queen of his dreams, and they can rule the gloomy, overprivileged burgs of Seattle together.

Forever, he thinks. A bride for Frankenstein’s monster.

It’s too close to sentiment for Blaine, too close to Don E’s cupid’s-arrow insights, and so Blaine simply pushes aside everything but the taste and scent and feel of Kitty against him. Every breath he draws is a tempest, his chest rising and falling with the fury of a Nor’easter. The veins on his neck stand out, dark and pronounced, as if they are bracing against the surge of anger pulsing through him. The hand he holds her close with trembles with barely contained rage, and in her hair, his fingers are still curled into a fist so tight that the knuckles whiten, nails dug into the palm, the pain a mere whisper against the roar of his baser emotions.

She’s practically climbing him, riding his thigh, a leg wrapping around his hip, the other en pointe like a ballerina to even out their heights, and he slams her back against the doorjamb with little regard for gentleness. This kiss edges on erupting into violence at any moment. It’s the rage, he knows, full-on zombie mode, but all he can think of is how he wants her begging underneath him—for pardon or pleasure, it makes no difference to him. He just wants her to submit. He just wants to conquer her.

Blaine clenches his fist against her scalp again, too tightly, and she whimpers into his open mouth.

“Blaine.”

The kiss has gone on for an eternity, or maybe it’s only been a handful of seconds. Blaine falters when the red haze begins to recede, when he registers that the pliant, pronounced curve at her waist is lower than he expects, and when he realizes that he has forced Kitty to a tiptoe with his hold in her hair.

Tiptoe?

And then, the voice saying his name…is not the husky, velvet timbre that he was listening for. Raspy, yes, the lilt of a woman well-kissed, but higher in octave. And Kitty wouldn’t need to stand on tiptoe to make their heights align. She’s only about an inch or two shorter than he is.

Blaine’s eyes fly open as he pulls away.

Staring up at him, eyes wide and pupils blown, lips bite-swollen and red, cheeks so flushed that her pale skin seems almost sunburned, is Darcy.

“Oops,” Blaine says dumbly, chest still heaving. “Wrong brat.”

“Dude. What the fuck.”

Blaine’s head swings toward Don. E, who stands facing them, frozen. His face oscillates between shock and disbelief.

Mortification swamps him, the last of the rage receding. Blaine eases the petite woman down from his thigh until her feet hit the floor, and then he lets go of the handful of Darcy’s hair that he’s still clutching, smoothing it with a few awkward pats as she sways on her feet and smiles dazedly. He takes a slow step back.

“I, uh—”

The frozen silence is broken by Kitty’s astonished voice from the bar.

“What the hell is going on?”

Blaine’s head whips to the right, where he sees her at the closest end of the bar, her eyes twice as wide as Don’s, a bottle held aloft.

Fuck. Shit. Shit. Fuck. Shit.

Blaine clears his throat, straightens his suit jacket, and waves a dismissive hand at her. He tries his damnedest to put a firmness in his voice that he absolutely doesn’t feel. “Nothing to see here. Just, uh, new employee appreciation.” He turns back to Darcy, who has sagged back against the door, still looking as though she’s been hit by some unexpected natural disaster. He picks up her hand and pumps it overzealously. “Welcome to the team.”

Darcy swoons. Don E is there to catch her, and as he carries his wife to a nearby table in the bar area, Blaine takes the chance to slip backward into his office, close the door, and lock it.

As Blaine sinks down into his desk chair, a last quote comes to him—appropriate to his current faux pas. He says it to the empty room, a mirthless chuckle rolling up as he buries his head in his hands.

“Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.”

Blaine wonders how he’s ever going to show his face in his own bar again.

Find me at AO3 for more Blaine x Kitty fun in the motherfic of this one-shot (Lay You in the Ground) Here. Thank you for reading! <3

[rainierelixirs]

Starting your first Apothecary! It’s hard to know where to start when creating your first herbal collection, and can be overwhelming looking through all the herbs in any herbal book or website or apothecary. By the time you’ve got a list made, you’ve probably got 50+ herbs to learn about and hundreds of dollars to spend getting there :(

Let’s simplify that experience! You don’t need to start with all the herbs, and you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars. The best way to start is slow & small - get to know a handful of herbs really well! This is where a lot of people go wrong in the beginning - they try to cram in learning as many herbs as possible in as short a time as possible and end up only skimming the surface of each herb’s potential & not really knowing any of them deeply. You’ll have a one up on a lot of us if you take it slow and get to know a small handful of herbs very well before moving on.

To start - Where are some good places to buy herbs? Okay honestly - Mountain Rose Herbs is just the best - their quality just can’t be beat, they grow a lot of their own herbs (I’ve visited their farm and it’s amazing), they have SO many herbs to choose from that are usually always in stock, they are very reliable & their customer service/returns policy is just amazing. Their downfall is that you can only buy in bulk, so only in amounts of 4oz or more. But really, if you’re trying to get to know an herb, you’ll want at least 4oz. I went through a whole pound of calendula when I was learning it, so I promise that you’re going to want at least 4oz of your herbs. 

If 4oz is too much (which I get it, the cost can add up when you’re buying 10 herbs) a secondary option is to buy Mountain Rose Herbs herbs through an independent apothecary - any good apothecary will carry a ton of Mountain Rose herbs! You can do a quick search to find an apothecary near you to check out, or if you don’t have one nearby, you can order online from lots of apothecaries (my favorite is @moonriseHerbs in Arcata, CA where I first started my formal herbal training!). 

There are of course a good amount of smaller farms/suppliers that have great quality herbs (like @fosterfarmsherbs), but for simplicities sake we will leave that exhaustive list for another time. 

Ok second - let’s start with a well-rounded apothecary of 10 dry herbs for tea that can be formulated together to work with to address a ton of different imbalances. Trade out wherever you want, this is just a starting point! But if you want to just take a load off your shoulders & are feeling overwhelmed with all the herbal choices, just shoot for this list. This list is seriously well-rounded enough to work with for your first year of herbal studies.

Chamomile - affinities for digestion, cold & flu care, emotional health, pain management, & sleep issues

Ginger - affinities for digestion, pain management, cold & flu care, reproductive health, & cardiovascular health

Marshmallow - affinities for digestion, urinary health, respiratory support & moistening mucous membranes everywhere

Passionflower or skullcap - affinities for emotional/nervous system health & sleep issues (skullcap & passionflower are a power duo!)

Valerian - affinities for emotional/nervous system health, pain management, reproductive health & sleep issues

Elecampane - affinities for cold & flu care & lung support

Motherwort - affinities for emotional/nervous system health, cardiovascular health & reproductive support

Poppy - affinities for pain management, sleep issues & emotional/nervous system health 

Yarrow - affinities for digestion, emotional/nervous system health, reproductive health, urinary support & cold & flu care

Stinging nettle - affinities for urinary support, emotional/nervous system health, allergy support, cold & flu care, & cardiovascular health

These 10 herbs will get you & your loved ones so far when it comes to so many common imbalances as you can see. And this is absolutely not an exhaustive list, these are just the most common use cases for working with these herbs!

Third - you can simply store all of these herbs in the bags they come in, in a dark area, or you can move them all into airtight glass jars if you’d like! Just make sure they’re not exposed to sunlight - I like to keep mine hidden under a throw blankie just to be extra cautious about light damage. The internet has some pretty cool & affordable airtight glass jars, but mason jars totally do the trick & can be found at most grocery stores. 

Remember to label your jars with the plant name, latin name, where you bought it & when you bought it! If you don’t do this, I promise you will forget (I speak from experience!).

Lastly - You can learn about these common herbs from just about anywhere, pretty reliably since they are so well known. The internet is absolutely full of bullshit about a lot of herbs, but I will say that these 10 are so common that most of the information out there about them is legit. But if you’re looking for a great starter herbal book to learn from, my favorite is still @RosemaryGladtar’s family herbal. It is basic & simple, and I really think that’s best to start. 

Side note which I will elaborate on in a future post - there are actually a lot of crap herbal books out there. Like a LOT. And just because you recognize an herbalist’s name because they’re famous in the community does not mean they know wtf they’re talking about. Just proceed with caution and question anything that doesn’t seem quite right. 

And VIOLA, you’ve got yourself an apothecary! Practice drinking infusions of these herbs alone, and combining them together for different effects! You can really use this set of herbs to help with almost any common imbalance that might come up, and they also make for some delicious teas :) 

I’m slowly rolling out herbal spotlight/materia medical graphics on each of these herbs in much more depth, so check back here & on my IG for more info!

[costapowerindustriespvtltd-blog]

Installation done Microtek model JMSW 3.5kVA ups with 12V 200Ah 3 nos Exide batteries in Latur.

[entheorg]

Just How Can Customers Decide On A Respectable Duct Cleaning Service Supplier?

Air ducts are actually a vital part of your home's heating and cooling system. They maintain the air streaming as well as preserve the interior air high quality of your home, making it comfy as well as healthier for you as well as your family members. Nevertheless, like every other home part, they need upkeep, cleansing, and also repair work to operate ideally. When it pertains to air shaft cleansing, you ought to never skimp on top quality. A respectable service provider can make a huge difference in the indoor air top quality in your home. However how can consumers opt for a trustworthy air duct cleaning Seattle company supplier? In this comprehensive guide, we'll offer you with ideas and also secrets to select a trusted air shaft cleaning service supplier that meets your individual needs.

Analysis and also Recommendation:

The first step in discovering a reputable commercial dryer vent cleaning is to analysis and request suggestions from good friends and also other reliable sources. A great duct cleaning company provider should have a strong credibility and reputation in the neighborhood, as well as there is a high likelihood that someone you recognize may possess utilized their services in the past. When researching online, you should search for reviews on the company's website and also social media sites web pages. You can also get in touch with companies like the Bbb (BBB) to find out if there have been any complaints housed versus the company.

Sector Knowledge as well as Qualification:

Another essential factor to look at when deciding on a duct cleaning service carrier is sector expertise and license. Constantly seek a company that has functioned for a handful of years as well as possesses a group of expert experts. Experienced technicians have the knowledge as well as proficiency to spot potential problems in the course of the cleaning method and also address all of them suitably. Furthermore, qualification is essential as it shows that the company adheres to business standards, uses the most up to date cleaning techniques, and keeps a high amount of professionalism and reliability.

The Cleaning Refine and Equipment:

Washing air ducts may be a direct method however or even carried out accurately, it can create even more danger than really good. You should make sure that the commercial air duct cleaning you pick possesses a premium cleaning process that features a detailed cleansing of all ductwork. The cleansing method should consist of cleaning of the supply as well as profit duct, enrolls, grilles, diffusers, motors, supporters, and coils. You need to also ask them about the kind of cleansing equipment they utilize. The best reliable cleaning equipment ought to have the ability to catch the gunk as well as debris that the cleansing procedure displaces, preventing it from being launched back in to the home's air supply.

Service Contract and also Insurance Policy:

A reputable duct cleaning company carrier need to use a service agreement that summarizes the scope of work, price, completion time, and other important information. The agreement should reside in writing, as well as each celebrations ought to authorize it before the work begins. It is likewise vital to ensure that the company is actually covered before working with. A covered by insurance company takes duty for any problems or even incidents that may take place in the course of the cleansing process, delivering peace of mind to you and your family.

Cost and Opportunity price quotes:

Ultimately, it is actually necessary to pick an air duct cleaning service company that delivers straightforward and competitive costs. Never make a decision located solely on cost, since low prices often suggests crappy services. Additionally, make sure that the company you choose offers a clear and succinct timeline for the fulfillment of the job. You don't desire your home to become disrupted for a lengthy period, and also a knowledgeable company should have the expertise to finish the operate in a timely and also reliable way.

Conclusion:

Discovering a reliable air shaft cleaning service provider for your home needs time as well as mindful consideration. Through following these pointers as well as secrets, you will be able to choose an air shaft cleaning company carrier that satisfies your private demands and supplies high-quality services that maintain the air top quality in your house. Keep in mind, an exceptional air shaft washing company needs to have field expertise, impeccable references, high quality cleansing equipment, a service agreement, insurance policy, as well as straightforward prices and also opportunity estimates. Along with these think about thoughts, you can select an air shaft cleaning company that provides excellent worth for cash and also delivers a healthy and also comfy home environment for you and also your loved ones.

[fitmanagement]

Running a gym can be a rewarding venture, but there are times when it feels like the fitness gods are testing your resilience. Whether it’s a drop in memberships, unexpected challenges, or an overall slump in revenue, staying afloat in the fitness industry can be tough. Fear not! I’m here to share five effective strategies that can breathe new life into your gym’s sales performance, even when the tide seems against you.

1. Reevaluate Your Pricing Structure

When revenue starts to dip, the knee-jerk reaction is often to cut prices or offer steep discounts. However, a hasty reduction in rates can devalue your services and lead to further financial strain. Instead, reevaluate your pricing structure strategically. Consider creating tiered membership options that cater to a broader range of budgets, while preserving the perceived value of your gym.

Introduce value-added services like personalized training sessions, nutritional guidance, or exclusive access to classes for premium members. A well-structured pricing model can attract new clients without compromising your gym’s integrity.

2. Diversify Your Services

One of the keys to a resilient gym business is diversification. Don’t rely solely on membership fees; explore additional revenue streams. Offer group fitness classes, personal training sessions, or wellness programs. Consider partnering with local businesses for joint promotions or hosting fitness events to attract new clients.

During downtimes or in unforeseen crises, these diversified income sources can help offset losses from membership cancellations or reduced attendance.

3. Ramp Up Marketing Efforts

When sales are struggling, it’s not the time to cut back on marketing; it’s the time to get creative. Invest in a robust online presence with a user-friendly website and active social media accounts. Use content marketing to educate your audience about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the value of your gym.

Leverage email marketing campaigns to engage with your existing members and entice them with exclusive offers. Harness the power of data analytics to identify the most effective marketing channels and target demographics.

4. Focus on Member Retention

Customer retention is a golden ticket in the fitness industry. Retaining existing members is often more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. Create an engaging and inclusive gym culture where members feel valued and part of a community.

Implement loyalty programs, rewards systems, and referral incentives to motivate members to stay committed and recruit new clients for you. Regularly solicit feedback and make necessary improvements based on member suggestions.

5. Streamline Operations and Cut Costs

In challenging times, scrutinize your operational expenses. Identify areas where you can trim unnecessary costs without compromising service quality. Analyze your energy consumption, staff schedules, and equipment maintenance. Consider renegotiating contracts with suppliers for better deals.

Furthermore, invest in software solutions that can help you streamline processes, manage member data efficiently, and automate tasks. These tools can reduce administrative burdens and improve overall productivity.

Navigating tough times in the gym business requires creativity, resilience, and a well-thought-out strategy. Don’t lose hope when sales aren’t going your way; instead, reevaluate your pricing, diversify your services, revamp your marketing, prioritize retention, and streamline operations. By implementing these five strategies, you’ll be better equipped to not only weather the storm but also position your gym for long-term success in the ever-evolving fitness industry. Remember, challenges are opportunities in disguise; embrace them, adapt, and emerge stronger than ever.

Conclusion

In the quest to rejuvenate your gym’s sales performance, remember that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. The expertise and guidance of Fitness Management & Consulting can prove invaluable. Their experience in helping struggling gyms find their way back to profitability can significantly shorten the learning curve and provide you with tailored solutions. By tapping into their knowledge and resources, you’ll gain access to proven strategies, industry insights, and a roadmap for success. Together with your dedication and these five strategies, you can revive your gym’s fortunes and thrive in the competitive fitness landscape. Contact FMC here.

Click here for more details on financing options or call 214-629-7223 or email jthomas@fmconsulting.net for more information. Or, apply now.

Unlock Your Gyms Full Potential with the Gym Success Blueprint! Get Your Copy Now!

An Outsourced CEO, Turnaround Expert and Author, Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround, financing  and brokerage firm specializing in the gym and sports industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at: www.fmconsulting.net or www.youtube.com/gymconsultant.

[fulfillplex]

The Print on Demand Fulfillment Process and Top Strategies

Knowing the components of an efficient eCommerce fulfillment system can help you make the best decisions about structuring your supply chain's order fulfillment arm. A functional and efficient print on demand fulfillment strategy is one of the most important components of a successful business. It isn't much of an issue if you own a retail store; customers can take what they need right off the shelf. However, if you rely on shipping to deliver products to customers, the eCommerce order fulfillment process can become much more difficult. Fortunately, a streamlined and optimized strategy combined with a warehouse management system can help. Let's take a closer look at the print on demand fulfillment.

Order Fulfillment Process + 3 Tips To Do It Right

Print on demand fulfillment encompasses the entire process, beginning with the sale and ending with delivery to your customer. The process of receiving, packing, shipping, and delivering an order to a customer is known as order fulfillment. A successful retail print on demand fulfillment process is critical for eCommerce businesses to remain competitive and build customer loyalty.

1. Your receiving processes are key.

If you are in charge of the receiving portion of your order fulfillment processes, you should ensure that it is optimized so that you can act quickly. Any shipment should be processed as soon as possible so that your customers can receive their orders as soon as possible.

2. Have a backup strategy in place.

When it comes to shipping products, there are many avoidable shipping mistakes to avoid, but there are also many external factors over which you have no control. Goods may be damaged; carriers may decide to raise their fees. Unusual weather conditions may impact your delivery, and so on. A solid backup plan for order fulfillment can help you avoid late deliveries.

3. Make every effort to anticipate demand.

To keep up with demand, you must keep adequate supplies in your inventory. If this is not your first year in business, you could begin by analyzing your previous year's data (orders, inventory, etc.) to see any seasonality in your market.

Print on Demand Fulfillment Strategies to Take Advantage Of

1. Adopt Alternative Shipping Methods 

As more customers place online orders this year, keeping your order cycles short may become increasingly difficult. As shipping carriers become overburdened, a backlog of orders can form, turning what could have been a few days of waiting for customers into a week or more. Fortunately, you can add alternative methods to your arsenal to make the shipping faster and easier this holiday season. Dropshipping your products, for example, may require you to rely more heavily on your suppliers' shipping network. Alternatively, if the bottleneck is the final leg of the shipping route, you may involve a print on demand service provider to share the load.

2. Embrace Last Mile Tracking 

While it has previously been popular, it should come as no surprise that the prospect of last-mile tracking is gaining traction this holiday season. It is because last-mile tracking allows customers to see exactly where their package is and predict when it will arrive with a reasonable amount of certainty. As a result, there is less chance of package theft or frustration and wondering. Incorporating last-mile tracking or upgrading your current version to be more user-friendly and detailed can significantly improve your customers' perceptions of your business and increase the likelihood that they will continue to buy from you.

3. Spread Inventory Strategically Across Your Organization 

If you ship all of your inventory from a single location, many customers may not receive their orders for an extended period. However, if you receive a large volume of orders at the end of the year, this extended waiting period may quickly become unacceptable to your customers. However, by analyzing your customers' purchasing habits, you can more accurately predict future sales across your organization and choose the best locations to store your inventory — a regional warehouse or local brick-and-mortar locations. As a result, regardless of where your customers want their print on demand products shipped, you can ship inventory faster and more cost-effectively.

4. Simplify Logistics for Reverse Fulfillment

When there is an increase in online orders, there is also an increase in product returns. That means your reverse logistics must run like a well-oiled machine. Otherwise, it can clog internal processes and make inventory management a nightmare. An order management system that can easily log products back into your general inventory, whether scanned by an in-store POS system or barcode or RFI scanners in your warehouses, is one way to make reverse fulfillment easier for your team. At the same time, an omnichannel OMS can provide your customers with free shipping labels, making returns much easier.

5. Implement Slotting Optimization

This strategy is difficult to implement, but it is also one of the most effective. The goal of slotting is to manage the picking processes in your distribution centers. NetSuite defines slotting as "managing and determining available slots from which items can be picked and packed." Slotting optimization is storing your products efficiently to speed up the picking process. To speed up the print on demand fulfillment process, a popular and effective solution is to place popular items near shipping areas. Furthermore, storing these popular items in locations that don't require a lot of bending or reaching can help things move along quickly.

Key Takeaway

Maintaining a smooth print on demand fulfillment process is critical to the health of supply chains and businesses. Consider what your company requires to thrive, and then develop a strategy that works for you.

Leave order fulfillment to the pros.

Need help with order fulfillment? Fulfillplex is a top eCommerce fulfillment company that stores inventory, packs boxes, and ships orders for eCommerce businesses of all sizes. Contact us to see if we're a good fit for your company's specific requirements. Request a price quote right now.

[twnenglish]

Best Logistics Companies In India For eCommerce Businesses 2023

Logistics companies manage, store, and move goods from manufacturer to consumer. It is a cost-effective way to move and store goods from producer to buyer.

Logistics firms are growing rapidly. By 2025, they will generate 30% of logistics revenue. E-commerce relies on India-based 3PLs.

They manage most online company shipping and logistics. Logistic partners manifest orders, create AWBs, pick up and deliver products. Companies can store things before and during delivery.

Indian logistics and supply chain providers will solve all your industry's transportation problems. Logistics businesses used responsiveness and competence to meet rising demand. Here are India's Top eCommerce Logistics Firms in 2023.

You might discover it easier as your business expands to rely on many logistics suppliers or those that offer more specialised services, depending on the industry in which your firm operates. Understanding how to choose the best logistics provider for your business and who the leading supplier in India is is crucial. Your decision about a logistics partner could make or break your company's performance and rate of expansion.

So, it is always a good idea to be aware of who the company's main rivals are based on predetermined criteria. E-commerce logistics has developed into a vital link between businesses and customers in various parts of the nation. Over 100 million people in India utilise online stores, therefore eCommerce logistics companies need to step up and improve the range and calibre of services they offer.

Where possible, they must employ more cutting-edge technology and put customer satisfaction ahead of all other considerations. Stronger management systems must be implemented by businesses in order to handle unsuccessful deliveries, returned goods, and declining RTOs. With maintaining cheap prices and excellent client happiness, all of this is accomplished.

No matter the size of your e-commerce, you will need the assistance of an Indian eCommerce logistics company to provide services to your customers. According to the size of the logistics business, the services it delivers, and the resources it has, the top logistics businesses in India are mentioned below.

Indian Logistics Companies Overview

The number of logistics businesses has been growing and developing quickly. By 2025, they are projected to contribute an astounding 30% of the income in the logistics industry. E-commerce depends on Indian 3PL (3rd Party) logistics companies.

They manage the majority of shipping and logistics functions for online businesses. When an order is placed, logistics partners handle its manifestation, AWB (airway bills) generation, pick-up, and delivery to the customer. They may also be used by businesses to hold inventory both before and after processing orders.

As your company grows, you could find it more convenient to rely on a variety of logistics suppliers or ones that offer more specialised services, depending on your industry. Understanding the best logistics providers in India and how to select the right one for your company are therefore crucial. Your logistics partner could make or break your company, affecting how you develop and grow.

Because of this, it is always a good idea to be aware of the leading companies in the field. A powerful force that connects businesses on one side of the country with customers on the other is e-commerce logistics. eCommerce logistics companies have had to up their game and expand the quality and scope of their services given that over 100 million Indians shop online.

Wherever possible, they must use more cutting-edge technology, and they must put order fulfilment first. Also, businesses must have enhanced management practises for handling returned items, failed deliveries, and RTOs. keeping costs low and client satisfaction high.

2023's Top Logistics Companies In India For Online Stores

1. Blue Dart

Founded in 1983, has 275,000 employees worldwide and 12200 in India

A worldwide carrier, BlueDart has a huge network of resources both in India and beyond the globe. You can give customers the option to select their preferred delivery day and time using scheduled and slot-based delivery.

The Blue Dart API can also be used to request specialised services like delivering weather-resistant packaging or computerised, automatic proof-of-delivery updates. For delivery payments, they offer cash-on-delivery, online payment (both prepaid and postpaid), and a number of wallet options.

2. Delhivery

Founded in 2011 and employing more than 10,000 people

One of the biggest and most well-known logistics companies in India is called Delhivery. They oversee logistics for more than 7,500 Indian e-commerce businesses. They are well recognised for its on-demand delivery services, which include scheduled deliveries in addition to next-day and same-day delivery.

Delhivery also provides COD services, reverse logistics, and exchange logistics. They are prepared to handle a variety of goods, including hazardous, priceless, and bulky ones. The selection of the order, packaging, creation of the shipping labels, and delivery are all expedited by the Delhivery API connection.

3. FedEx

Was founded in 1971 and now employs 450000 people worldwide

Before extending its logistics services to eCommerce businesses, FedEx established a name for itself in the global market. FedEx is prepared to handle high-value commodities, large or lightweight goods, and even risky goods like dry ice and lithium batteries because to its qualified workforce and state-of-the-art transportation services. Also, they help with cross-border and intrastate customs clearance.

The FedEx API can be included into your business's systems to enable delivery to more than 200 countries across the world while keeping customers informed of the status of their orders in real time. The FedEx API description lists a number of wonderful features, such as returns management and expedited delivery. To understand how to connect FedEx with your current hardware and software, consult the FedEx API reference.

4. Ekart Logistics

Founded in 2009 and employing more than 500 people

Ekart started out as a Flipkart project and has now grown to offer logistical services to a variety of other eCommerce companies. They have become more well-known as a result of their affordable costs and quick delivery in some areas. In 13 sites across the country, same-day delivery is offered, and 50 locations nationwide offer next-day delivery.

E-commerce businesses can use the Ekart Tracking API to help them find complete logistical solutions. The Ekart Tracking API delivers real-time information on the whereabouts of all your items during their delivery route and enables automatic shipping label production.

This makes it possible for e-commerce businesses to determine the number of their delayed transactions, whether the SLA standards are being met, and much more. Ekart Logistics also aids in effective refunding and reverse logistics.

5. DHL

The corporation, which was founded in 1969, has 285,000 employees worldwide and 21,000 in India

Another well-known global logistics firm with a sizable presence in India is DHL. Due to their extensive distribution network, they can optimise supply chains and logistical options both domestically and internationally. Companies are familiar with DHL Logistics' warehouse services. They can minimise their environmental impact and eliminate waste during the distribution process thanks to its highly connected network.

Almost 800 fulfilment centres are operated by DHL globally. This suggests that regardless of where customers live, orders may be delivered to them more quickly than ever before. DHL supports online retailers in reducing logistics costs by choosing distribution centres and warehouses close to the client.

6. Ecom Express

 Founded in 2012 and employing roughly 36000 people

This reputable company provides comprehensive eCommerce logistics services to several significant online merchants. They offer additional protection and surveillance, making them a popular alternative for companies that deal with valuable goods like jewels.

Weekend and holiday hours are available at Ecom Express, which guarantees that orders for express delivery will be fulfilled 72 hours after manifesting. Similar to this, they offer doorstep QC (quality inspections) and a guarantee that the item will be returned within 72 hours when it comes to returned items and reverse logistics.

7. Shadowfax

Founded in 2015, with approximately 150000 employees

For hundreds of enterprises, both nationally and globally, Shadowfax coordinates logistics. They offer pickups from stores and warehouses in addition to in-transit storage for the first and last miles of delivery. Shadowfax provides hyperlocal and accelerated delivery options and is well renowned for its quick services.

Additionally, they provide cash-on-delivery (COD) services and accept cashless payments for doorstep deliveries.

8. XpressBees

Founded in 2015 and employing about 30000 people

In the logistics sector, XpressBees, which was established about the same time as Shadowfax, is still operational. To enhance delivery effectiveness, they have built over 100 distribution centres throughout India that collaborate with more than 2800 offices.

XpressBees provides expedited shipping for a variety of shipments and goods, including large items like machinery and prescription prescriptions. They can also help with cross-border delivery customs clearance.

9. GATI

GATI first entered the logistics sector in 1989, which was almost 40 years ago. Its corporate headquarters are in Mumbai. One of the first logistics companies in India, it provides service to more than 17,000 pin digits. You will also need to decide which of Gati's numerous packages you want to use if you choose them.

Different-priced bundles of several services are made available in order to appeal to various enterprises. Among the Gati services are express delivery, automated proof of delivery, scheduled and time-based delivery, delivery of heavyweight items, and specially designed weather-resistant packaging.

10. India Post

With 416083 employees worldwide and in India as of 1854, this company

India Post has played a vital role in providing global logistics services since 1854. Almost 100 countries are served by this government-run postal service in India. India Post has a long history of providing logistical support to specific clients.

However, with the growth of eCommerce, India Post has embraced the revolution in eCommerce logistics. As a well-known international carrier, India Post can help its clients navigate the import and export customs processes.

India Post is well-suited to carry heavyweight cargo like machinery, diamonds, and even HAZMAT like lithium batteries or dry ice because of the wide spectrum of industries it services, from medicines to aviation.

India Post is therefore a well-liked option for businesses that sell a smaller or more specialised range of goods. Your online store will be able to easily print shipping labels, show customers estimated arrival dates when they place orders, and help you handle refunds thanks to the India Post post office API.

11. DTDC

It provides services to 10,000+ customers throughout 17,500+ pin codes, with big eCommerce businesses making up 75% of its clientele. Customers have access to DTDC's storage, COD (cash-on-delivery), and other straightforward and adaptable payment alternatives.

For several orders at once, the DTDC Tracking API can offer real-time tracking updates. Additionally, it assists with managing Non-Delivery Reports (NDRs). Moreover, the DTDC API may offer thorough information on courier performance.

Express delivery, hyperlocal delivery, scheduled and slot-based delivery, same-day delivery, and next-day delivery are some of its popular quick delivery choices. The adaptability of DTDC is enhanced by its ability to transport a wider variety of goods, including big goods, high-value commodities, and even dangerous or risky materials (HAZMAT).

12. Dunzo

Well-known eCommerce companies like Titan EyePlus and Zhivame frequently choose it. Less than 3000 cities and more than 27,000 zip codes nationwide can receive deliveries.

The collect-on-delivery service allows customers to make a variety of payments at the time of delivery, including cash on delivery, demand draughts, and some forms of digital payment. For mid-to-heavyweight shipments, Dunzo offers higher levels of protection, as well as doorstep QC (quality inspections) for return orders.

Conclusion

You may begin by focusing on logistics companies offering express, scheduled, or hyperlocal delivery. Based on the prices charged, you may then further reduce the list. Establishing the details of how these unique quicker delivery services will be provided and at what rate in terms of service, ideally in the form of an SLA, is also crucial (service level agreement). 

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