Jiffy Express - A Brilliant Business Model
Watch this commercial.
Have you ever gotten a package late due to delays from the carrier? Pisses you off right? Who do you blame? The carrier.
And the worst carrier of them all is Jiffy Express. Watch the video and you’ll understand.
Personally I think that this is just a fantastic business idea. Should carriers start offering this as a premium service to their customers?
For those of you wondering the original Jiffy Express skit debuted on Saturday Night Live (SNL) October 24, 1992. Cast:
Kevin Nealon...executive
Rob Schneider...spokesperson
Julia Sweeney...Mrs. Collier
Melanie Hutsell...secretary
Ian Maxtone-Graham...employee
Hopefully no relationship or inspiration from was taken from Jiffy Express Inc. in Canada, or does it? More on that later.
Why is this funny?
This skit is funny because it borders on the absurd. A carrier company who’s real service is selling late delivery management, or accountability for late despatch by the shipper.
The lengths at which they go in order to age the package is both clever and hilarious at the same time.
The expectation for couriers to “take the blame” subverts our expectation because we generally expect the courier to be sincerely apologetic or even ashamed of their service level, but in this case, the twist is that the courier totally expects to take the blame and is without remorse.
The Real Jiffy Express Inc.
There actually is a real carrier named Jiffy Express Inc., though they are a far cry from the “late delivery management” service portrayed in the skit. Based in Manitoba, Canada, Jiffy Express is a specialized flatbed and heavy haul trucking company that provides LTL (less-than-load) and FTL (full-truck-load) services across North America.
Checking out their website, they were founded on a commitment to safety and reliability, operates a fleet of over 100 trucks and 140 trailers, and focuses on industrial and commercial freight rather than small parcels.
So, while they share the name, you won’t be calling them to get a package delivered to your doorstep—unless that package is a piece of heavy machinery.
You can find them at their official website: https://jiffyexpress.ca