Is it just me or is Parcel Force a rip off?...

showmethemoneyuk

Ive just used parcel force online. I had 2 parcels to send, so entered the amount in size and weight of each. It stated I would have to pay £13, which I thought was pretty good (large parcels but light), so I went on and paid. No issues. It was only until I checked my bank that I realised that it meant that that would be the price of each parcel! So £26 (2x £13) was taken out in total. Not impressed, and a very poor design of website when it doesnt show me the grand total, or even state that its costs refer to each parcel individually. I paid via visa electron.

My parcels were fairly light, just over 5kg in total. One was fairly large (40x40cm, 30cm height, with the other at 30x30cm, 15cm in height). I know that there are loads of ebay couriers, but you are pretty stuck up here for choice when they dont operate in your area (needed to be sent from the highlands down to the borders). Royal Mail seem to accept parcels at a cheaper price, but I wasnt sure if they were just stating parcel force prices without the vat! Aside from DHL (almost identical in pricing to RM for my parcels), I could not think of any other services (or any in general) to better them up here that would actually cover the required distance), despite the cost. Has anyone tried any ebay private couriers?

paddyrg

I have used silversprint a few times, they do lots of ebay stuff. £13 won't even come close to a pickup with them (or most direct couriers), and as you say, you're in the highlands which RM cover where most couriers won't touch it as a lossmaker...

blue_monkey_2

Parcelforce want over £200 to send a 8kg parcel to Oz, worldwide-parcelservices do it via DHL for under £90.

Went to the Post Office with a 2.1kg parcel to send to Oz and it was £60 via parcels (I forgot to weigh it). Went home and split it into 2 parcels instead and they charged me £30 for one (International signed for with extra insurance) and £5 for the other.

They clearly do not want the money!!

brettcta

ah, drop it hide it lose it, one courier company that'll hard pressed to see my custom again

showmethemoneyuk

There are quite a few local companies here, but the ones I checked online wouldnt travel to the borders, and as its vice versa with some of the larger companies down south, so its a no win situation for me! It sounds like DHL is the one to go for when sending abroad, thanks for that, £110 is a big difference, unless theyre wrapping parcels up for the long distance with some special tape and bubble wrap for extra protection?! I would like to hear what their real reason is for the higher costs compared to other companies. Because "we are the fastest" is no doubt the usual reply. As for who to trust in losing parcels (sorry to hear that), I never try and gauge companies as a whole, whether dealing with the smaller scale couriers operating via ebay or the big brands .. you just dont know who youre going to get to collect that parcel!

update:- its website stated NOT to put the printed addresses on the parcels, as the driver would have a see through sleeve to put them in, before attaching to the boxes himself.. and guess what? he comes to the door, annoyed as to why the labels arent on- lol.