ParcelMonkey & Interparcel Type Brokers

DeeJWerkz

Beware!


Yes, be VERY aware when using courier brokers to send parcels which are valuable, particularly electronic products such as audio equipment.


I have had incidents with both Interparcel and ParcleMoney where items have arrived damaged with obvious damage to heavy duty shipping cartons of mishandling which they have refused to pay compensation for even though I paid for additional insurance because in the small print of their terms they do not cover audio equipment.


The popular mistake to make (and I've made it) is to presume that because the courier handling the delivery offers insurance cover for lost and damaged items of this type that the broker offers this too. This is NOT the case; most of the 'cheap' parcel services only offer one thing, discounted delivery rates, any of the benefits/customer service you would expect from the couriers is not offered by the brokers.


My advice is simple...AVOID! In fact, the sooner brokers such as these can be either closed down or forced to be regulated to offer the same terms as the couriers they book to take on the delivery the better.


As an example; I just shipped an audio cassette deck to a customer in Belgium having booked it through ParcelMonkey. Cassette was fully tested and working and like new, in original shipping carton with full internal packaging material. On arrival at the customer the box was peppered with holes, one being the size of a golf ball which still had a lump of granite wedged into! One corner was depressed indicating the box had been dropped.


Customer tested unit and it is fault having suffered shock damage during transit. Repair bill is £250 (item only sold for £200). ParcelMonkey refused to pay compensation as the item is not covered under their 'electronic equipment' terms. 1) They don not make this obvious when booking and 2) they still will accept your money for additional insurance.


They did refund me the cost of shipping and insurance but my customer in Belgium has returned the item to me leaving me with a hefty repair bill!


I did speak to City Link couriers to see if I could set up an account directly but they too stated that for used audio equipment (I deal in refurbished and high quality used audio equipment) they would not cover me for the selling price of the item. I got into a little debate with the City Link representative on their definition of 'item value' vs mine as they will not pay out what an item sold for as that implies there is profit being made so they would reimburse less which is the true value. They would not see reason that what an item sells for is it's true value.


I am presently still trying to find a courier who will ship used audio items with insurance coverage.

mrcol1000

DeeJWerkz wrote: »

Beware!





I am presently still trying to find a courier who will ship used audio items with insurance coverage.

Good luck with that. If it can be broken then most couriers, regardless if you go 3rd party or direct, will not insure it. It is possible to use couriers to send valuable or breakable items but you need to make sure it is packaged to the point it could drop out a plane and survive.

These 3rd party companies do provide courier services far cheaper than Royal Mail or going direct to them but like everything in life, you need to check the small print.

DeeJWerkz

mrcol1000 wrote: »

These 3rd party companies do provide courier services far cheaper than Royal Mail or going direct to them but like everything in life, you need to check the small print.

Didn't I already mention that in the main post? lol

custardy

So is the short version, you didnt check your item was covered before using the service?

DeeJWerkz

See original post, I stated that 'I had made the mistake of assumption', i.e. assuming coverage offered by couriers would be the same as offered by the broker, that was one of the main reasons for my message, to warn people to not make that assumption/mistake.

custardy

custardy wrote: »

So is the short version, you didnt check your item was covered before using the service?

DeeJWerkz wrote: »

See original post, I stated that 'I had made the mistake of assumption', i.e. assuming coverage offered by couriers would be the same as offered by the broker, that was one of the main reasons for my message, to warn people to not make that assumption/mistake.

I saw it

DeeJWerkz wrote: »

Beware!


Yes, be VERY aware when using courier brokers to send parcels which are valuable, particularly electronic products such as audio equipment.

As you found out,this isnt exclusive to brokers
I have had incidents with both Interparcel and ParcleMoney where items have arrived damaged with obvious damage to heavy duty shipping cartons of mishandling which they have refused to pay compensation for even though I paid for additional insurance because in the small print of their terms they do not cover audio equipment.

So as you found out,it pays to read the (not so) small print with all courier services

The popular mistake to make (and I've made it) is to presume that because the courier handling the delivery offers insurance cover for lost and damaged items of this type that the broker offers this too. This is NOT the case; most of the 'cheap' parcel services only offer one thing, discounted delivery rates, any of the benefits/customer service you would expect from the couriers is not offered by the brokers.

Except as you found out,going to the courier direct brings the same issue

My advice is simple...AVOID! In fact, the sooner brokers such as these can be either closed down or forced to be regulated to offer the same terms as the couriers they book to take on the delivery the better.

Because it doesnt suit you,they should be shut down?

As an example; I just shipped an audio cassette deck to a customer in Belgium having booked it through ParcelMonkey. Cassette was fully tested and working and like new, in original shipping carton with full internal packaging material. On arrival at the customer the box was peppered with holes, one being the size of a golf ball which still had a lump of granite wedged into! One corner was depressed indicating the box had been dropped.


Customer tested unit and it is fault having suffered shock damage during transit. Repair bill is £250 (item only sold for £200). ParcelMonkey refused to pay compensation as the item is not covered under their 'electronic equipment' terms. 1) They don not make this obvious when booking and 2) they still will accept your money for additional insurance.


They did refund me the cost of shipping and insurance but my customer in Belgium has returned the item to me leaving me with a hefty repair bill!


I did speak to City Link couriers to see if I could set up an account directly but they too stated that for used audio equipment (I deal in refurbished and high quality used audio equipment) they would not cover me for the selling price of the item. I got into a little debate with the City Link representative on their definition of 'item value' vs mine as they will not pay out what an item sold for as that implies there is profit being made so they would reimburse less which is the true value. They would not see reason that what an item sells for is it's true value.
So once more,we are back to not checking you were covered

I am presently still trying to find a courier who will ship used audio items with insurance coverage.

So I think there is only one point in your post.