myHermes Parcel Shop Question

[fooby]

I've sold an unusually large item that Royal Mail will charge £13 for and Hermes will do for £6. Are the "Parcel Shops" just like the Post Office? Just turn up with the package? I've never used them before but there's one a few miles away at a petrol station so thought I'd ask before driving out to one.

 

[Bill1954]

Never used one but I've seen them being used. It just looks like you turn up, hand the parcel over, pay the fee, and get a receipt.

 

[Maxwell83]

I always book mine online and print the label and stick it on the parcel before I go. I have never used it without pre-booking so I can't answer your question.

However if you have a printer at home, it may be easier to do it online and just drop off at your convenience.

 

[14Steve14]

I have always believed that they are a place to drop off parcels after payment has been done online. Never heard that you could weigh and pay at the drop off point.

I personally pay the extra and have them collect any parcels. My time is worth more than the few pence they charge for collection.

 

[Maxwell83]

I personally pay the extra and have them collect any parcels. My time is worth more than the few pence they charge for collection.

I lose more time waiting for a courier to arrive than it takes to drop off. Sometimes I find myself unable to make plans or leave the house when I want to for a 3 hour window. A drop off takes apx 3 minutes because I drive past the shop every time I leave the house.

 

[14Steve14]

What ever is easiest for you. I would have to drive over 5 miles to get to my nearest drop off point, so its a waste of time and fuel. The parcels can be left in a safe place if I am going out and the courier gets them from there.

This goes to show that what is easy for one is not so easy for another. Choose whats easiest for you.

 

[antropy]

Are the "Parcel Shops" just like the Post Office? Just turn up with the package?

Yep! Turn up, give them the package, they scan the label, give you a receipt and that's that. Worked very well for me.

 

[NewGardenStyle]

I use them and have never had a problem. You can book on Hermes' website or a broker - I use parcel2go as the interface is easier. And you get a lot of other options with other couriers if you want to compare.

You pay online and print out a label. Then just drop it off at the parcel shop. They will scan it in and give you a receipt. You can't pay at the parcel shop, everything needs to be booked beforehand. Tracking details are automatically emailed to your customer.

Ask what time the collection van arrives as it will be roughly the same time everyday, so you know for future collections.

 

[fooby]

Thanks for the replies! You do have to pay online first, which I hadn't realised so you saved me a wasted trip. As said above, it takes me less time to pop to the petrol station than it does to wait for a courier that would probably struggle to find my property.

 

[Pish_Pash]

Just bear in mind if you are trying to come across as 'corporate' to your receipient, the tracking information sequence will look something like this...

Label printed off (at home, on a 10yr old inkjet no doubt)
Parcel dropped of at Mr Khan's Newsagency (interpretation: your sender is a tightwad)
Courier collected from Mr Khan's Newsagency (just incase you missed it the first time - yes, a tightwad)

....ok, so I hammed it up a bit, but we've used to send & I was too mortified to send my customer the tracking URL. Also Hermes drivers are typically car owners who are earning a little extra..we sent one package to a B2B customer & the driver tried to deliver at 7.25pm on a Friday then again on the Saturday morning (I have a mental image of a Polish guy with a fag hanging out the side of his mouth, driving a 15 year old Vauxhall Zafira)

yes you have to print/pay before you take to the drop off point (it's just a drop off point nothing else....our local drop off point, chooses to store the parcels on top of his refrigerated soft drinks display cabinet - we're talking pro here). Hermes are akin to herpes...best to avoid if you can.

In short, it's the lower end of the courier 'class' structure!

 

[fooby]

Oh god I know Hermes don't exactly inspire confidence. Our local "self employed" driver is some guy in his 70's that can't talk very well, he just grunts.

I remember enquiring about that job a couple of years ago when money got really tight, if I remember rightly it works out less than minimum wage and no expenses are paid. You'd have to be a bit mad. They even have the cheek to advertise it as a 30-40k salary, maybe if you had a go kart and a time machine.

Only reason for using them is because it cost £6 as against £13 and I needed to get it sent off within the day, and anything is better than Yodel.

 

[gingerdad]

I've used them loads and no better or worse than there bigger / higher up the food chain carriers.

The cost/v service is very good value for money

 

[fooby]

They are very good for the price, I've never had any issues apart from the image they might portray to some customers. DPD and UKmail are my personal favourites to receive deliveries from. It's invaluable to get a time slot so you're not waiting around all day! Not sure how expensive they are to use though as RM are fine for 99% of orders I receive.

 

[Pish_Pash]

DPD is the way to go (i.e., if using a parcel broker like parcel2go)...next day service (vs hermes -2-3 day services), 1hr timed delivery slot ...what's not to like....they've been undercutting Hermes of late too (for standard parcel sizes at least)

 

[NewGardenStyle]

As suggested above, a lot will depend on the size of the parcel. The DPD one sounds great but my parcels are too large for their service which otherwise appears to be a great service. Of course, we are all at the mercy of the local delivery guy whatever company we use. But as long as the parcel is well packaged and arrives on time then I don't think the average customer would be bothered about who pulls up outside of their house. Never had a problem with Hermes. Not yet, anyway

 

[antp__]

Have had a few issues with Hermes in the past (very few, probably count them on one hand) with parcels that have apparently fallen under the drivers seat for 2-3 weeks. Of course, once the item hasn't arrived within the time they say they allow you to fill out a claim form. Send the invoice across too and they usually paid out within 48 hours.

Thought I would chip in for those who have never had a problem and are unsure what service they offer if parcels do ever go missing. Mind, this was when they had a £50 compensation level as opposed to their new £25.

 

[TODonnell]

I've had Hermes 'you were out when we called' cards dropped on the communal doormat.

The thing is, there's no tracking info I can see. Or indeed, any indication of what to do to get your package.

Not impressive.

 

[japancool]

If anyone knows any service that offers an <1kg tracked delivery for less than or close to Hermes, please share!

 

[Pish_Pash]

If anyone knows any service that offers an <1kg tracked delivery for less than or close to Hermes, please share!

it's true they are by far the cheapest, but they offer a frequent woeful service delivered by East European rednecks in castaway cars......the image they portray as they hand over your goods to your customer isn't exactly Apple Corp. I use them for personal Ebay sales (where I don''t much care what the recipient thinks), but not my business sales anymore.

 

[mzone]

I had very bad experience with then and 2 times, rather avoid that company.
Company is very cheap, but your item easy can be lost, they use people with a cars to deliver parcels, so it is not always work as should.

 

[Belford]

I use Hermes everyday I would like to change to DPD for example but when you only pay £2.60 per item it's hard to pay £7.19 for DPD

The difference soon adds up when sending 30-70 items per day

 

[antp__]

You could try parcelbright. We send a few through them (DHL Next day service) and for that amount of parcels you would be looking around £4.99 + VAT. Which it's still more expensive but well worth it in my eyes.

 

[japancool]

You could try parcelbright. We send a few through them (DHL Next day service) and for that amount of parcels you would be looking around £4.99 + VAT. Which it's still more expensive but well worth it in my eyes.

We use Parcelbright. They've FINALLY added tracking emails to recipients for DHL deliveries.

 

[antp__]

We use Parcelbright. They've FINALLY added tracking emails to recipients for DHL deliveries.

This saves so many calls asking where their next day parcel is.

I heard they are adding a few other services too, but haven't heard anything since. This was around 2-3 weeks ago. Whether they have implemented this now or not i'm unsure.

 

[mrjonathanbrown]

Am I right in saying they have a maximum weight carriage of 15kg?

 

[mrjonathanbrown]

Am I right in saying they have a maximum weight carriage of 15kg?

 

[bizzyrizzy]

+1 for parcel2go not too bad if you choose the service where you can drop off at the couriers main depot..

Avoid myhermes like the plague here's some of their handy work

 

[TODonnell]

I think super-cheap delivery is the unholy grail of people who market by price on the internet. I think such people should find out how much the drivers of X company earn per delivery, put themselves in their shoes and then work out how responsible they'd feel for the safe delivery of the goods.

That'sall'msayin'.

 

[TODonnell]

PS: I think it's 45p. No pension, no salary, no benefits.

 

[Belford]

The drop off shop gets 50p per parcel

 

[19ninety]

And on the myHermes website.

 

[waj]

DPD/Interlink much better than Hermes or Yodel

 

[japancool]

DPD/Interlink much better than Hermes or Yodel

They're also more expensive. You get what you pay for.

 

[G dubyah]

You certainly get what you pay for, and a lot depends on the value of your products, and how much you value your customers.
Hermes and Yodel couriers as well as a few others only get paid on delivery of the parcel, each time they attempt delivery it costs them, so a lot take short cuts, leaving it on the doorstep, putting it in a handy bin, throwing it over fences. If this is how you want your goods treated, then carry on.
Other reputable firms may be more expensive, but they offer you a secure pick up point if you are out, most will attempt a redelivery if asked for. They also include insurance to a maximum value should the parcel be lost or damaged.

If you are sending a lot of packets it may be worth enquiring about a buisness deal, especially with Royal Mail, it can save up to 25% on postage, depending on the amount you send.

 

[14Steve14]

You certainly get what you pay for, and a lot depends on the value of your products, and how much you value your customers.
Hermes and Yodel couriers as well as a few others only get paid on delivery of the parcel, each time they attempt delivery it costs them, so a lot take short cuts, leaving it on the doorstep, putting it in a handy bin, throwing it over fences. If this is how you want your goods treated, then carry on.
Other reputable firms may be more expensive, but they offer you a secure pick up point if you are out, most will attempt a redelivery if asked for. They also include insurance to a maximum value should the parcel be lost or damaged.

Theres not a lot mentioned there that does not happen with other couriers. I always pay extra with hermes to get a signature, which means they try three times to deliver, and have never had a problem. Hermes also offer insurance and secure drop off and collection points.

What really sets the cheap couriers apart from the more expensive ones is their customer support when things go wrong.

 

[japancool]

Hermes customer service is actually ok if you get on the phone to them - and you're the sender. They won't talk to the recipient, and the web chat operators are completely and utterly useless, as are their "customer relations team".

The issue I currently have with Hermes is the damage to parcels, mostly them being squashed.

 

[SamWhittle]

Never had issues with Hermes, just print the label add to parcel and drop at shop. It's actually closer than my post office.