Setting up a cash handling mailroom means deciding where to put your first dollars. You can invest in a guide that teaches you to generate cash flow, or you can invest in a tray for the cash you already have. This head-to-head compares R. E. Neuman's MAIL ORDER Cash Flow Start Up System book with the Office Depot Locking Cover Cash Tray to help you choose the right starting point.
Quick verdict
If your immediate problem is storing cash, the Office Depot tray is the stronger pick. If you need a plan to get payments coming in, the book is the smarter first investment. For a brand-new operation, the book usually comes first because it can build the revenue stream that the tray will later handle.
At a glance
| Product | Listed Price | Best For | Value Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAIL ORDER Cash Flow Start Up System book | $17.99 | Learning how to launch a mail order business | |
| Office Depot Locking Cover Cash Tray | $32.80 | Securing cash and valuables |
The two products are $14.81 apart, so your budget will influence the order, but the more important difference is what each one does.
Where each product wins
Where the book wins: The book is a business and economics resource with a marketing focus. It's written in English and listed as Brand New. R. E. Neuman's system is positioned as a turnkey guide for getting a mail order business started and reaching the point where you can "GET $$ NOW" as the title puts it.
Where the tray wins: The tray is a portable metal box with a locking cover. It includes a key, and the locking cover protects valuables in a retail or service setting. With dimensions of 2.25" x 15 7/8" x 11.25", it fits on a counter or inside a mailroom shelf.
Product notes
MAIL ORDER Cash Flow Start Up System book
The MAIL ORDER Cash Flow book is built for someone at the planning stage. Its subject is business and economics, with a topic of marketing. The title promises a turnkey start-up system, which gives you a structured approach to direct marketing rather than a scattered list of ideas. Choose this guide when you need a learning foundation before you start taking payments. It uses clear instructions to walk you through building a mail order business, making it useful for generating the cash you'll eventually store. The limitation is equally straightforward: it can't hold cash, coins, checks, or anything else. It's a knowledge tool, not a physical one. If you already have revenue coming in and need a place to put it, this book won't solve that problem.
Office Depot Locking Cover Cash Tray
The Office Depot Locking Cover Cash Tray is the practical choice when you already have cash to manage. It comes new in the box with a locking cover, a metal body, and a key. The model is Locking-Latch, and it's made in China. This tray is meant to be portable, so you can carry it between your mailroom and a register or office. The locking cover keeps cash and valuables enclosed during transport. Pick this when your business has moved beyond the idea stage and you're actually collecting money. The limitation is that it doesn't teach you marketing, sales, or customer acquisition. It also won't create new cash flow. If you buy it before you have income, you'll have a container with nothing to put in it.
Final choice by use case
- Go with the MAIL ORDER Cash Flow book for $17.99 when you need a start-up system and don't yet have a reliable flow of orders.
- Go with the Office Depot Locking Cover Cash Tray for $32.80 when you're already collecting cash and need a way to keep it safe.
- If you can invest in both, start with the book, then add the tray once your cash flow justifies it.
