Fax Chronicle

This is absolutely fascinating. I am amazed at what they put into this. Of course him trying to create a large document delivery system and include hardware in the package was not an easy concept. Of course he was trying to replace a fax machine, but he was really just making a better quality fax machine using a laser printer. What is really amazing is how much they documented everything about it, because I guess they thought it would be revolutionary. The best part is in Part 2 where the ad agency is trying to pitch the concept they came up with for advertising it after FedEx already had a reputation problem for the product. Denial is a powerful thing and they were all in denial about how to advertise it. This is classic founder’s concept fails miserably story. Ahead of his time or just too foolish to see it was only a matter of time before fax machine quality improved. In addition thinking that FedEx should go into the office device market was also foolhardy.

Long ago – Fed Ex tried to launch something called Zap Mail. A way to magically send documents from one place to another instantly. It Failed! They had could not convince people that such a thing was needed or that it was possible! See the story of it.

Source: YouTube – Zap Mail – Before There Was A Fax machine! Part 1