Cheap Parcel Delivery - official discussion

libra10

Thanks very much ampersand.

Parcel2Go looks just what I need, thank you for the recommendation.

gerardflanagan

Hi everyone. I'm a long standing member and need MSE's help!

I've recently launched a startup, and we're helping to solve the problem of missed parcel deliveries. We allow shoppers to get their parcels delivered to local newsagents, to collect at a time that's convenient to them. Unlike some of our competitors, we can receive parcels from any retailer.

One of the biggest risks we face is how to deal with when things go wrong. If a package goes uncollected from the newsagents, we'll need to pick it up from them to return to sender or post to the shopper's home. Do you have any suggestions for the best way to solve this? I want to use a parcel collection service, but it's £10+ for non label printed collection, which would probably cripple profitability.

RFW

gerardflanagan wrote: »

Hi everyone. I'm a long standing member and need MSE's help!

I've recently launched a startup, and we're helping to solve the problem of missed parcel deliveries. We allow shoppers to get their parcels delivered to local newsagents, to collect at a time that's convenient to them. Unlike some of our competitors, we can receive parcels from any retailer.

One of the biggest risks we face is how to deal with when things go wrong. If a package goes uncollected from the newsagents, we'll need to pick it up from them to return to sender or post to the shopper's home. Do you have any suggestions for the best way to solve this? I want to use a parcel collection service, but it's £10+ for non label printed collection, which would probably cripple profitability.

It may just be me, but I don't entirely understand what you are doing or what you want help with.

How are you getting items to newsagents in the first place?

gerardflanagan

RFW wrote: »

It may just be me, but I don't entirely understand what you are doing or what you want help with.

How are you getting items to newsagents in the first place?

Hopefully this video will help to explain.

https://vimeo.com/115955037

RFW

gerardflanagan wrote: »

Hopefully this video will help to explain.

I know from your initial description that you were doing what Collect+ did. The vague question of help required remains confusing.
You asked for help in getting parcels out of newsagents if they remained uncollected. Surely you have some delivery service that gets the parcels to the newsagent in the first place?

How do parcels get to the newsagent?

If I were to send a consignment of parcels with you, who collects them and distributes them? Nothing in your video tells me that.

gerardflanagan

Ah ok, sorry. Our business model is different to Collect+. We can receive packages from any retailer. They just tell us what shop they want it to go to and we provide a unique code for them to put on the package. So it gets there with the same courier the retailer would have used to send it to your house.

Most retailers don't offer collection from your house for returns though, so the same option isn't available on the return leg.

RFW

gerardflanagan wrote: »

Ah ok, sorry. Our business model is different to Collect+. We can receive packages from any retailer. They just tell us what shop they want it to go to and we provide a unique code for them to put on the package. So it gets there with the same courier the retailer would have used to send it to your house.

Most retailers don't offer collection from your house for returns though, so the same option isn't available on the return leg.

Interesting. My next question would be, who insures the parcel in the newsagent? The courier has done their job, does the newsagent need to cover it? How do I know my parcel is safe at the newsagent?

As for parcels not collected from the newsagent, it sounds like you'll need to work a contract with a courier. It all sounds like it could get quite complicated.
Also, why just newsagents? Why not hairdressers, coffee shops, etc?

gerardflanagan

The newsagent takes responsibility for the parcel when they sign for it. However, we still provide insurance so if something goes wrong, which wasn't the shopper's fault, we'll pay out and take it up with the newsagent ourselves.

It will get complicated collecting them, but returns are expensive for everyone involved. Businesses still turn a profit who have to deal with them. This is why I was looking for help though

We did only have newsagents originally, but now anyone can join. In fact we have some coffee shops already

RFW

gerardflanagan wrote: »

It will get complicated collecting them, but returns are expensive for everyone involved. Businesses still turn a profit who have to deal with them. This is why I was looking for help though

In my limited experience, I'd say UPS may be your best bet. They're the most reliable and if you can assure them that they would only be collecting from businesses you'd get a decent rate. If I remember correctly, they have a service that brings labels.
The other problem that would then throw up is how they would know which parcel to collect at the shop.

The only other way would be to partner with a courier company, so they could use your service as a return for redelivering any uncollected parcels for you. I think you've got an uphill battle though. Doddle are spending fortunes and don't seem to be getting very far with a better infrastructure.

Just for clarity, it is the buyer who is/will be paying for this service?
You might want to consider having a subscription service as well as a per parcel cost.

JethroUK

vet8 wrote: »

I will start this thread by saying Avoid Hermes.

..... Hermes will not deliver if you live in an unadopted road, .......

But most of us live on a proper road so we can use Hermes right?

It's a bit daft suggesting nobody use a particular service because of your own selfish reasons