Bermuda bookworms can get a quick fix, and for less, with Mailboxes Unlimited announcing yesterday that its US courier service has slashed the shipping rate for books to $4.25 per pound.

Mailboxes, a company that offers a diverse range of services ? from rental mailboxes, shipping and packaging to dry cleaning ? said it was able to cut its rate to bring in books because they are duty free and do not require paperwork from HM Customs.

Books, and other items weighing up to 150 pounds, can be shipped in via Mailboxes? US Express service, which allows customers to ship to a US address for forwarding to Bermuda. Shipments are generally in Bermuda within two working days of an order being placed.

The cost of importing books through US Express was previously the same price as shipping in dutiable items, $14 for the first pound and $4.25 for each additional pound.

Rival company IBC runs a similar services, called ZipX, which has charged $4.95 to ship in duty-free items since it was founded in 1999.

Rick Craft, chief operating officer, yesterday said he felt IBC was offering ?a fair service, for a fair price?. He said the company?s non-duty shipping rate could be put ?under consideration? now that Mailboxes has undercut its price with their $4.25 a pound price.

There continues to be a higher shipping rate for all non-book shipments brought in through US Express. ZipX charges the $4.95 rate for all duty-free shipments while dutiable items can be brought at a rate of $19.75 for the first pound, and $4.75 for each additional pound.

Mailboxes manager Ian Marshall told the company decided to lower its rate for books as a way of thanking its loyal clientele, with the group having grown its customer base to more than 3,000.

The company handles, on average, 75 to 100 shipments a day, according to president Steve Thomson.

Mailboxes and ZipX both say orders can generally be in Bermuda within two business days.

Mr. Thomson didn?t think the new service would have a negative impact on local booksellers.

He said that competitive pressures both from rival Bermuda companies and outside competitors was forcing all business owners to be more service-oriented and innovative in how they meet customer demands.