ParcelPedia Podcast

Passports Made Easy: Skip the Post Office Headache

• James Banks • Episode 28

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Do You Offer Passport Photos? What About Passport Renewals?

Ever found yourself in a last-minute panic over an expired passport before a trip? Or dreaded the thought of navigating the bureaucratic maze of passport renewals? In this episode of the ParcelPedia podcast, owner James Banks breaks down how this Frisco-based shipping and business service center has revolutionized the passport photo and renewal experience for local residents.

James reveals that for just $9.99, customers can get two professional passport photos completed in as little as 5-10 minutes—significantly undercutting the $15-20 charged by competitors. Beyond just US passports, ParcelPedia handles photo requirements for numerous countries including Canada, India, and Germany. What many listeners might find surprising is that ParcelPedia functions as a comprehensive passport renewal center, handling everything from photos to paperwork to secure mailing. The only things they can't do are process first-time applications (which require government facilities) and pay the renewal fees for you.

The conversation takes a practical turn as James shares insider tips on timing your passport renewal to avoid the summer rush, what to wear for optimal passport photos (hint: dark clothing works best), and why you shouldn't stress about not looking your absolute best. "Your passport isn't something you really open up that often," James explains with refreshing candor. "Even if the photo is not 100% your best looking day, it's okay." This no-appointment-necessary approach to passport services exemplifies ParcelPedia's customer-first philosophy that keeps Frisco residents coming back for all their shipping and business service needs.

Ready to simplify your passport renewal process? Visit ParcelPedia at 8992 Preston Road in Frisco and mention this podcast for 10% off select shipping services. No more post office lines or weeks of waiting for appointments—just efficient, friendly service that gets you back to planning your travel adventures.

To learn more about ParcelPedia visit:
https://www.ParcelPedia.com
ParcelPedia
8992 Preston Road, Suite 110
Frisco, Texas
972- 335-1450

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Parcelpedia podcast, the ultimate guide to all things shipping and business services in Frisco, texas, from US mail and FedEx to private mailboxes and packing supplies. We've got you covered. Stay tuned for a special discount code to save on your next order. And now delivering expert tips and insider insights with a smile, here's your host, james Banks. Owner of Parcelpedia.

Speaker 2:

Need a passport photo fast, or wondering if your local shipping store can save you a trip to the post office? We've got the answers right here. Welcome back everyone. I'm Sofia Yvette, co-host, slash producer back in the studio with owner of Parcelpedia, james Banks. James, how are you today?

Speaker 3:

Hey Sofia, I'm doing well. How are you?

Speaker 2:

I'm also doing well, and it's always great to sit down with you Now. Your store really covers all the bases when it comes to everyday essentials, but do you offer passport photos? What about passport renewals?

Speaker 3:

Oh, most definitely. Yes, we 100% offer passport photos. We do them very quickly. So you come in, take the photo, it's printed and in your hand within five to 10 minutes. So it's very quick turnaround. And we also offer the photos for multiple countries, so not just United States, but we do a lot of Canadian passports, country of India, country of Germany Really any country has pretty set requirements that we can look up and input into the software and make sure that they meet the parameters. So for sure we'll help you with those. I know as far as the general location in Frisco, texas, we're one of the best priced passport photos as well. The first two come at a low cost of just $9.99. I believe most other places you're looking at $15 to $20 just to get a couple of photos. So we're economical, we're fast. We also offer the digital photo. I know certain agencies, certain foreign passport agencies, like a digital format as well, so we can offer that to you as well. You can email to you, put it on thumb drive, whatever you need.

Speaker 3:

But yeah, we offer passport photos and renewals as well. So any process of the renewal that needs you to print anything you know, scan anything, mail anything we can help you with. The only thing that we cannot do, just because it's US government, is the first time passport application that has to be done in a government location just because you're getting your passport. So but other than that I mean renewals we can do the whole thing for you. We can do the photo portion, we can do the paperwork portion and we can do the mailing portion.

Speaker 1:

So all you have to do is bring the payment.

Speaker 3:

We can't pay for your passport renewal, Unfortunately. I'm working on that.

Speaker 1:

It's a new program, but you still have to pay for your own application, but yeah, we can help you out a lot, so we get a lot of customers that they may just come in just for the photo.

Speaker 3:

And then they realize, oh wait, I can print here and I can mail him. I'm like, yep, well, let's get it done and we just knock it all out at once. So it's really cool. It's kind of a peace of mind. You don't have to bounce around three different done, you just get it all done at one spot. So and we're here to help to do so many of them we can walk you through the steps because it can get a little tricky if you haven't done it before. I mean, they are 10-year terms on the passport, so it may have been a little while since the last time you had to do it, but we can definitely help with that.

Speaker 2:

So, James, have you noticed an increase in demand for passport services during certain times of the year?

Speaker 3:

Oh, certainly Definitely. Building up to the summertime you see a lot of an uptick in passport renewals or passport photos. Typically people are getting ready to go on a trip for the summer. They get everything ready, they pull out a passport and they're like oh no, you know, I got only a few months left or I may be expired, so they got to get it done. Or if someone's planning for like an end of the year trip, a lot of times they check their passports right there in the summertime to be safe.

Speaker 1:

So definitely during the summer you'll probably notice too.

Speaker 3:

If you're doing an application for a passport and you're looking online for appointments, you'll see the summertime is really booked.

Speaker 3:

You have also a lot of families that can now get their kids in for application because they don't have school. So it's just a few things from every different angle as far as why the number goes up, but definitely I mean for sure, without a doubt, summertime spring going into summertime is where it's going to be a big congestion. But you know, if you've already got everything done as far as just needing to renew, it's not your first time application. That's where we're a huge help because you don't have to go to the post office to have a big line, wait for an appointment. You can just walk in, just walk into Prosperity and we'll help you out. I mean you can literally just walk in with your passport and we can probably get to three-fourths of the way there, not all the way there. They do require payment, like I said earlier. So you know you have to figure that out as far as how to get that to them. But other than that every other aspect of renewal we can help you with.

Speaker 2:

So if I was a new customer, just walking in the door and with my passport, what would be the first step you would take me through.

Speaker 3:

I would ask what are you needing? Are you needing a first-time passport or do you need a renewal? And if you're needing a first-time passport, we will still help. You know we cannot facilitate the actual process because it has to be done through the United States Postal Service, but we'll still print out the application, you know, point you to the website where you need to go on and actually create an appointment and then just give you, like, the instructions that give you all the detailed list of what you need. That way you're prepared. You don't need empty hand. At least you leave something. And we can take your photos still too, because even if your first time appointment, if you have your photos already in hand, it's just expedites your appointment with them.

Speaker 3:

So we can do everything you need done other than just being the post office. So that's the first thing. If you came in and I said hey how can I help you?

Speaker 3:

He said I got to do something with my passport. And I asked well, how can I help you? He said oh, I need a renewal. My first question was like, well, do you have your passport with you? And if you say yes, I'll say yeah, that's great. We're almost there. And I would say they do require a payment for the renewal itself. Do you have the ability to go get it like a money order cashier's chip?

Speaker 3:

and if they have a checkbook, then we're golden, we're green and we're good you'll walk out with it done um, which is really cool because you leave with a tracking number, knowing that as soon as the tracking number shows delivered, your process is started and your password will come back to you. So really, if you come in, even if just questions, you know what do I need, we'll let you know and we'll print out whatever you need. Take your photo if you need the photos.

Speaker 2:

Now how quickly can customers get their photo processed?

Speaker 3:

So, if everything goes well, because it is a template and there's specifications for the photo and sometimes you know, depending on what the customer is wearing or their hair, sometimes it's just, you know, with the camera it just plays around with you a little bit. But let's say, in a perfect scenario, come in, it's. Bald gentlemen are my favorite, because there's, there's nothing to worry about, it's just a smooth surface a nice bald gentleman with a nice dark shirt, because you do need a white background, um, his photo will probably be.

Speaker 3:

He'll probably be in and out two to five minutes. Honestly, because it's been the snap, make sure it aligns with the software and that'll meet the requirements and then hit print, cut them out and he's good to go. It's just when you know, the ladies have, um, normally ladies with curly hair. Um, the template of the software tends to, I shouldn't say, get it wrong, but it kind of reads the hair as a background. Sometimes, um, but the worst the not.

Speaker 3:

You have dark hair, so you're fine. It's really like the lighter blonde hair. It's when it's anything that's too close to white, basically. So the background has to be white. So if you have, like a white top or a white blouse, it kind of blends and kind of look like a floating head in their picture, you know, or if you know some of the our senior citizens, they'll have, you know, gray or light or white hair, and sometimes I'll go it off, but it just takes a few more minutes to get it done. So it's not the end of the world and it's not like you can't have it done, but we recommend a dark shirt.

Speaker 3:

That way you can see your shoulders.

Speaker 2:

Any other words of wisdom for our listeners here today concerning passport photos?

Speaker 3:

Don't be afraid to take the photo. I hate a lot of people that are like, oh, I'm not looking my best, I got to run home and then you know, now it becomes a chore down the road Just take the photo, You'll be okay. What's your passport? I don't say look terrible, but it's not something you really open up that often If you think about it, your passport. Typically you use it for your travel and you throw it away somewhere safe.

Speaker 3:

So even if the photo is not 100% your best looking day, it's okay, you can still take the photo.

Speaker 2:

Thanks for breaking that down for us, James. That kind of convenience is exactly what keeps folks coming back to Parcelpedia. We'll catch you next time.

Speaker 3:

All right, thank you, sophia.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for joining us on the Parcelpedia Podcast. Don't forget mention podcast at our store. To snag 10% off select shipping services, Stop by at 8992 Preston Road, Suite 110, Frisco, Texas, or give us a ring at 972-335-1450. We're here to make your shipping a breeze. Until next time, keep shipping and smiling.