Finding a reliable courier?

Vernier

Now that Royal Mail doesn't allow any compensation for Standard Parcels on anything worth more than £46, I've been trying to find a reliable courier.

There are some good reviews at 'trustpilot.co.uk' (put "parcel service" in the 'Search' box - the forum won't let me post a direct link) but there is something that doesn't make sense: the companies that head the list are not couriers themselves, but re-sellers of the services of other companies, which invariably have abysmal reviews on their own behalf.

Can anyone explain to me why these companies are totally incompetent if you book them directly, but faultless if you book them through an intermediary?

custardy

probably because people are more likely to blame the courier company than the reseller
so something goes wrong,slate DHL or whomever
goes well,praise the reseller they booked with

Mandles

I booked yodel and city link through parcel2go and both just haven't turned up so cross them of your list for starters.

Are TNT good? Haven't heard much bad about them but I think that they are pricier.

Vernier

custardy wrote: »

probably because people are more likely to blame the courier company than the reseller

Possible, but I'd have thought people would most likely blame the company they actually paid their money to. Yodel is already bottom of the list. They delivered an Amazon book I had ordered to a doorstep at the other end of the road, where it remained for two rather damp days until the owner returned from holiday!

nuttyp

We have tried numerous courier companies for our ebay items we have sold, and OH and my brother are both courier delivery drivers. They both work for different companies too. Unfortunatley there are numerous reasons for non delivery - like insufficent address details. Sometimes people arent at home and if there is no instructio to leave safe/neighbour they often have no other option than return it to depot for it to be collected by the recpient.

I have used whoever is cheapest in the past, and they all seem to have good and bad things against them. Just remember to provide as much information on the package - a mobile number can be very handy too.

RFW

They do all have faults.
In my opinion most consistent at a reasonable rate (if you search) is Parcelforce. I drop off at a depot which is relatively local to me so that takes away any collection problems.

Yodel have been reliable on many occasions but messing up several parcels and not being able to sort it made me leave and never go back.

If you can find a good rate (and I can't), I've found UPS to be the best. They also provide a variety of envelopes and boxes free of charge.

Lately for receiving deliveries DPD and FedEx have been pretty good.

Some couriers are relatively easy to get a contract with if you send enough (doesn't often have to be too many) and you can get decent rates.

metoyoubear

Think it depends on who is doing the delivering at the recipients end etc,some good people,some not so good.

I've never had any problems with Myhermes but I know others have.

Vernier

Thanks for the input, everybody.

Looking through various threads on this forum it's clear that picking a courier is like playing cricket in a minefield!

adamb89

From past experience I have found that myhermes and UPS are the best (although UPS are not the cheapest)>

Yodel are rubbish!

VioletaZ

For international delivery I always use Ecoparcel. I like their prices. If the value of the parcel is high, they also offer insurance upt o £500, Though I have never needed that. I like them

RFW

VioletaZ wrote: »

For international delivery I always use Spamaparcel. I like their prices. If the value of the parcel is high, they also offer insurance upt o £500, Though I have never needed that. I like them

You like them so much they're the only thing you can post about.
Spam reported.