Abstract: A system and method for calculating and comparing costs to ship a shipment to a selected location by several shippers, including U.S. Postal Service and various commercial shipping companies. The user inputs into the calculator and comparator, background information, including number of packages, average weight per package, and destination zone, and also inputs customer discount (if any) from the commercial shipper. The calculator and comparator uses preprogrammed rate tables to calculate a base rate for U.S. Postal Service and for the commercial shipper being compared. The calculator and comparator also uses preprogrammed surcharge rates to calculate total surcharges for the commercial shipper. The calculator and comparator adds the surcharges to the commercial shipper's base rate or discounted base rate, and demonstrates the comparison of the commercial shipper's total rate to the U.S. Postal Service base rate.

Abstract: Embodiments consistent with the invention include a system 5 that a sales representative may use to determine the financial characteristics of sales that he or she has already made to an account, or to evaluate the financial impact of sales opportunities to an existing or potential account. A computer implemented method of presenting financial characteristics of sales opportunities entered by the user is provided. The sales representative may prefer to evaluate sales opportunities by specifying product and potential revenue. Alternatively, sales representative may prefer to evaluate sales opportunities by specifying product and quantity. Once a sales representative can see the cost and contribution that particular items or accounts have, he or she can then focus on selling the higher-contribution products to maximize the benefit of his or her sales efforts.