Courier Cost Cutting Feedback/Discussion thread

ArmitageShanks

janewatts wrote: »

Forgot to mention, I have some very heavy deliveries of the above coming from North America, I am not so worried about breakages as I know the items will practically be individually wrapped in cotton wool! Just not sure how to organise parcels, I presume it would be better for it to come in fewer large containers (not container size but what word do you use for a very large parcel? - by large I am talking poss. 150kg +) rather than in smaller parcels, but I have no knowledge whatsoever of any carriers from the US. I know the USPS are exorbitant but more than that I have no idea who to use.

Again, any help very much appreciated, thanks to all MSE fonts of knowledge

Is it coming by airfreight? If it is its you're going to looking at at least a couple of thousand, at the very least. Two options a) use a freight forwarder or if you're dealing with a large company who should have good deals you could get them to arrange (FOB airport, then CAP) the logistics, most likely up to leaving N.A- you then arrange clearance and collection/delivery.

For a cheaper option- LCL (less than a container load) sea freight . Would take around a month included clearance etc. But should be miles cheaper. Again same options as above; freight forwarder or manufacturer.

Oh and it will be 'crated'

carlislelad

kam01 wrote: »

Works out to about £6.05 plus vat directly with dhl....

Account takes around a week to set up

The more you book the cheaper it gets....

I have a account with DHL and mine is £5.10+ vat plus fuel surcharge it works out about £6.35 per parcel when ppw were cheaper I started using them and told my local DHL rep that I could book it cheaper online hopoing to get a discount. I never got the discount as ppw use DHL they were not keen in dropping the price as I was still using there service now I am back on with my contract until something cheaper comes along.

the down side of a contract is that they add little charges on like £10 for a returned parcel and £5.10 for a redeivery so I personally would use a online booking agent if the price was £6.60 or less

System

Hello, I'm about to use ppwexpress or another company listed for the first time to send something I sold on Ebay. I was wondering whether you need to leave the package open for the courier to check it before it is collected?

desert

candyflossing wrote: »

Hello, I'm about to use ppwexpress or another company listed for the first time to send something I sold on Ebay. I was wondering whether you need to leave the package open for the courier to check it before it is collected?

no if you send a parcel in UK or EU.

ArmitageShanks

candyflossing wrote: »

Hello, I'm about to use ppwexpress or another company listed for the first time to send something I sold on Ebay. I was wondering whether you need to leave the package open for the courier to check it before it is collected?

No never.

With international consignments you have to fill out a customs declaration stating what it is, but the driver doesn't check it.

strongeyecontact

ArmitageShanks wrote: »

Is it coming by airfreight? If it is its you're going to looking at at least a couple of thousand, at the very least. Two options a) use a freight forwarder or if you're dealing with a large company who should have good deals you could get them to arrange (FOB airport, then CAP) the logistics, most likely up to leaving N.A- you then arrange clearance and collection/delivery.

For a cheaper option- LCL (less than a container load) sea freight . Would take around a month included clearance etc. But should be miles cheaper. Again same options as above; freight forwarder or manufacturer.

Oh and it will be 'crated'

Thanks very much for your reply but you kinda lost me after "Is it coming by airfreight?" :rolleyes:

Having never imported anything before I don't know what either "FOB airport, then CAP" or "it will be 'crated'" means, or where I would start looking for a 'freight forwarder'... thank god you said what LCL meant otherwise I wouldn't have known that either! The possible price of a few thousand would seem to make the air option unworkable for now but it would be good to investigate what you wrote so that I can consider that for the future, if time was critical which it isn't initially. Also, what does arranging "clearance and collection/delivery" entail please?

The items wouldn't be coming from a manufacturer so I do need to arrange this all myself, if anyone has does anything like this a personal recommendation would count for a lot!! Or any info whatsoever really, I need to sort this out quite quickly if the actual delivery time is going to be a month (what do they do, row it over?!! :eek: ).

Thanks again, it's all a bit right now!!

strongeyecontact

ArmitageShanks wrote: »

To be honest I don't know. What value are we looking at?? Im fairly sure if you can get insurance to cover £1000 laptops etc, you'll be able to insure candles. Guess the melting issue is the main problem.

What sort of scale, ie. parcels a week? if its 50+ it might be worth getting the reps out and seeing what they say. Alternatively try phoning some of the booking agents: ppwe ARE helpful and Paul the director is knowledgeable and very approachable, I'm sure the rest must have people who know their stuff as well.

What I would say is (touch wood), in close to 1000 parcels with DHL we've never had to claim. What we sell isn't fragile by any means, but that includes loss as well.

Mmmm, as the UK isn't exactly tropical (call this summer?! :rolleyes: ) I wouldn't think melting would be a problem but could be wrong. Most deliveries certainly from me anyway will be under £100 but that's a good point - how do you post things like laptops which aren't large but would be classed as fragile? I would hope to be doing over 50/week at some point, but not initially. I will try calling some of the companies as you suggest, that's a good idea :beer:

I guess if things are well-packed, breakage shouldn't be too much of an issue, I don't know how much things get thrown around!! I wonder whether you've been lucky with DHL or if that's typical - any other experiences from people?

Thanks to all, as ever

custardy

glass is often excluded in insurance

people need to realise its not 'throwing'about but often transit damage
eg say a courier limits at 10kg per item
could your item survive having 6 packages on top of it at 60kg?
this is where loads of damage happens
mind i see plenty of terrible packaging
often form the same senders sending to the same places day in day out

strongeyecontact

Mmm, good point - something else to worry about

My candles will be very well-wrapped but I would fear for their poor little lives :eek: with all that weight on top - so what do people do then?

custardy

i dont know sizes but would you be able to send them in tubes?
less likely to be stacked and are very strong