Courier Cost Cutting Feedback/Discussion thread

Fenris

ArmitageShanks wrote: »

How well were they wrapped though?

Cor blimey, do people actually ever read the whole post? :rolleyes:

Fenris wrote:

This dispite more bubble-wrap than I thought it needed, plus air baggy things and some more bubble-wrap for safe measure!

So, very well indeed! I used to use DHL quite a bit when I lived in Milton Keynes; got some wheels delivered from an eBay seller once. I never had that much trouble, but like everything up here in the Back of Beyond the service seems to have fallen into a pit of dispair and disregard. Meh, just won't use them again!

princess_loki

FEvans wrote: »

i need to send a projector by post but want to make sure i get proper insurance cover (its worth in excess of £1000).

Can anyone recommend an appropriate service and what sort of price i can expect to pay

hello,

i used to work for a local company who consolidate the local shipments and then send by ups. quite a lot of companies do this so would be an idea if phoning someone locally to check up on this.

goods in transit are covered by a limited insurance (based on the weight of the package). therefore you MUST ask for additional insurance. the insurance will be in addition to the carriage charge. they will also charge you extra if your parcel is heavy or an odd shape - this is called additional handling and will apply if the parcel will not travel down the conveyor belt system. this often also applies if the goods are packed in a wooden case, metal box or something like a suitcase or bag.

make sure you pack well and take a photo of the goods and package. also put the address on at least two sides and of course make sure the collecting driver gives you a signature!

hope this helps :-)

RED*RED*WINE_2

Jakejakejake wrote: »

And don't forget to enter your Discount Code: HALFSD2

Oops... bad editing.... NVM!

Thanks Jake, I used them the last time they had the half price offer.
A good saving :T

kalamity

Hi all, if any of you seasoned people could please help me I'd be very appreciative - I am on a very tight deadline.

Just bought something on ebay, seller wants to charge £25 but for the weight (less than 15kg in a standard box) I know that should cost less than a tenner. Only problem is, she now says she is going away at lunchtime tomorrow so needs it collected by then! :eek:

The sites I have checked say collection is between 9-5 on day of booking/payment - does anyone know before I trawl every site if any offer collection by a certain time guaranteed please (like midday)?

Any help will be :beer:

Thanks in hopeful advance, I have my first guests arriving at a holiday let we've just opened this Saturday and still soooooooo much to do!! I am :eek:

princess_loki

hello! normally if you want a 'timed collection' then you will have to pay for it - more than sending parcel costs normally!!! they normally do not accept 'unattended parcels' (left on doorstep). i think best option is to drop it in to the consolidating courier company or someone like dhl or postoffice. best of luck x

kalamity

Thanks so much for your reply but could you please help a very stupid person by explaining what "the consolidating courier company" means? I didn't know you could drop off at dhl or other co but I spose it makes sense, less work for them

Post office should cost no more than £11.74 Recorded Delivery but seller is charging £25 for that service , might have to cough up though because I am not in the strongest position!!

princess_loki

hello!

cat is making it difficult to type so sorry for any typo's in advance!!

by consolidating company i mean a company that advertises courier services in the local paper / phone book / yelllow pages. they will be a local company to your area but most likely will use the likes of ups or dhl for deliveries out of the local area. they will be sending large volumes of parcels through their 'preffered' network and will get HUGE discounts. in theory they wil pass some of this discount on to you (for example go to ups website to get price and compare). the advantage is that you deal with someone local and get a reasonable price. BUT remember to ask questions... will you get a tracking number, do you pay extra for insurance etc etc...

good idea to try and weigh / measure parcel before phoning them - or at least have rough idea. dont forget they will probably check weigh / measure so dont try and con them - your parcel will be delayed!!!

loki :-)

kalamity

Aha I gettit now thanks

Thanks for your reply, again, but I am the buyer, not the seller, so I don't have the parcel, and I think there's little chance of me getting someone to do this. On this one I think I will just have to deal with higher cost and next time not buy with such a deadline :rolleyes:

My OH and I have terminal 'always do everything at VERY last second' itis so always end up getting stiffed, when will we learn?!!

kalamity

I don't know if anyone else has had this but I have just wasted absolutely ages trying to book a collection from PPW not express in my case, it turns out their online system has a paddy if you use an apostrophe in certain fields (like sender's business name in my case).

I sent them an email asking them to look into it and added the following, very annoying it was to keep having to move all my details from sender to recipient!:

"Also a note for you - why does your system assume the person sending the parcel is the person booking - and paying?

Surely businesses should be able to arrange a collection and pay for it themselves? Whilst you're sorting out the apostrophe problem, maybe you can add a tick box that says if you are the sender or receiver, that way the address details will appear in the right box!"

Wonder if they'll take up my suggestion

ArmitageShanks

You can arrange for collections with their booking systems as it is?!

Yes apostrophe problem we know about, on the error message that comes up it's pretty clear where the problem is and obviously just leave a space instead. Not the biggest drama in the world.