Which parcel delivery service

[Staffydog]

I'm very interested in some of the suggestions in this thread, we currently send 100+ parcels a month (most less than 2kg in weight), and I expect this to increase by 50-100% over the next month or two. I currently use Interlink and RM and book it online/print off consignment labels etc, and would require collection. Deliveries mainly UK.

Looking for other options


Thanks

Sean

 

[couriersexpress]

Hi - we are an intermediary company and can give you excellent rates on our preferential contracts through businesspost or DHL. Also for larger/heavier items. We set you up with your own software/labelling system, and rates start at just £3+VAT per parcel (up to 30kg), based on your send volume of 500 parcels a month.

Onlinetrader, can you please be a bit more specific about dhl not being very good? What do they get wrong? Slow? lost parcels? damaged parcels? all these???

I ship about 500 parcels a month so I need a good efficient service.

 

[Steve2507]

I'm very interested in some of the suggestions in this thread, we currently send 100+ parcels a month (most less than 2kg in weight), and I expect this to increase by 50-100% over the next month or two. I currently use Interlink and RM and book it online/print off consignment labels etc, and would require collection. Deliveries mainly UK.

Break your figures down into the releavant RM bands to get a better idea of whether or not any deal (including the one above) is worth it.

Do you use Recorded Delivery? If yes and 90% (for instance) of your parcels are less than 750g, then in reality you would only be sending 10 parcels per month using the above £3 offer as upto 750g costs £2.85 if you have an account. If you don't use Recorded Delivery the you can move the barrier upto 1Kg (£2.70 with an account).

Also remember that couriers will charge VAT, RM doesn't. This isn't a major accounting problem if your are VAT registered, but it can hit cashflow.

 

[Grant Ashley]

I'm very interested in some of the suggestions in this thread, we currently send 100+ parcels a month (most less than 2kg in weight), and I expect this to increase by 50-100% over the next month or two. I currently use Interlink and RM and book it online/print off consignment labels etc, and would require collection. Deliveries mainly UK.

Looking for other options


Thanks

Sean

Sean
Interested to look into this for you please contact either via email grant at ilguk.com or call 01444 237101

Regards
Grant

 

[ssb101]

Dear All,

I hope everyone is weathering the difficult business enviroment and staying as positive as they can.
For those who don't know me, I work for The DX Group who offer business to business mail delivery, a courier solution and secure delivery solutions to consumers.

During the postal strikes at the end of 2007 we helped dozens of members with an alternative service to Royal Mail Special Delivery and many are still using us happily and saving upto 40% on delivery costs. Here's a thread from back then with some recommendations of our services from members:
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/fo...ad.php?t=43563

One of our services, Secure Mail Services is positioned against Royal Mail Special Delivery and other secure courier options. Our clients include:

United Kingdom Identity and Passport Services
Major credit card providers
Jewelry Channel
Home Shopping Channel

If you offer secure delivery to dispach items to clients then we can provide you with a cost effective solution. We can provide the service for upto 2kg, although we can look at heavier, depending on volumes. In order for us to look at providing you with a solution, you need to be sending out on average 50 items per day.

You can PM me or contact me directly on: 07771674031

Thanks and Good Luck

Steve
__________________
ssb101

 

[Staffydog]

Thanks for the replies, unfortunately we do not send 50 parcels a day.

Sean
Interested to look into this for you please contact either via email grant at ilguk.com or call 01444 237101

Regards
Grant

Grant,

I sent an online enquiry via your website on Monday morning, but as yet have not heard back.

Regards

Sean

 

[GetMusical]

We use Business Post (or UK Mail as I think they are now). They're part of FedEx and we never really have any problems. Next day service, up to 30kg for £5.99.

 

[kevin555]

getmusical

how many parcels do you need to send to get that rate?

sending next day above 2kg is really expensive by Royal Mail and I'm looking for an alternative - thing is we only send a handful of these each month.

Most of our stuff is below 2kg and first class above 2kg is not an issue.

 

[ryanjohnson]

Hi

We use collectmyparcel.com they're a reseller providing DHL (cheapest), Parcel Force and TNT (for bigger stuff). We use them almost every day, never had any problems - easy website (tip: register to get 5% discount on Overseas services etc) - Track online from their website etc. Invoices generated instantly etc too

Just thought I'd mention it, hope it helps a few people

 

[ryanjohnson]

Hi

We use collectmyparcel.com they're a reseller providing DHL (cheapest), Parcel Force and TNT (for bigger stuff). We use them almost every day, never had any problems - easy website (tip: register to get 5% discount on Overseas services etc) - Track online from their website etc. Invoices generated instantly etc too

Just thought I'd mention it, hope it helps a few people

 

[ryanjohnson]

Sorry must have got click happy.

 

[MarkH]

We use Parcel Force, always reliable!

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

We use Parcel Force, always reliable!

Just found out that there isn't a laughing my head off smiley!

 

[Christiane]

Gosh! ANOTHER old thread resurrected! Let's update it!

I just signed up with Business Post, their tarrifs are on their website ukmail.biz
I have a direct line to a manager and even her mobile number! The driver is very helpful and patient.

I used RM Special Deliveries on Monday and switched to BP on Wednesday. I calculated I'd saved £40 on Monday alone. I think if there are some issues with BP at some point, I'll be happy to bear the cost (e.g. resend a lost parcel) given the savings it's bringing me!

 

[bitsnstuff]

I asked out on Twitter today on this subject and have been recommended Parcel2Go and Despatch Bay (formerly Sale Track) - seem to be good for those sending lower volumes.

 

[webroot]

Hello.

City Link good for UK
If u send parcels abroad.
You can try parcelforce!

We r sending some parcels to France and Germany with them.

Regards
Greg.

 

[redblu graphics]

Tuffnells are pretty good

 

[better]

We use Parcelforce. Very good service. Far beter than the others we have tried. Business post are the worst, complete rubbish! We have noticed that if you are delivering to other business then any delivery service provider is ok, but the big problems are when you deliver to peoples houses, watch out for second attempt delivery chargers some charge. We have found parcelforce to be great with only one lost parcel (which did turn up in the end) in 4 years. Business post lost 16 in 3 months.

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Business post are definitely not the best for b2c deliveries. It seems to be a market that they're not particularly chasing, i guess they prefer delivering to addresses where people are alwys in!

 

[yowossup]

DO NOT USE SALETRACK

Their service is appalling, they have changed their website to add all sorts of extra hidden costs. As mentioned above they have dramatically increased off shore and highland costs as well as aborted collections and congestion charges. Total rip off.

To really take the biscuit they have started calling it a 'Pay as you Go' service which seems to mean if you want to go you pay! Any monies in your account at the time you wish to cancel are lost, they will not refund even though you have not used the service.

All in all a disgrace.

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

To be fair, Saletrack don't actually deliver the parcels, as I understand it they are a DHL reseller. So yes, I agree the openness of pricing and charging is their issue, but it may well be that DHL have simply hiked the underlying costs.

Many of the parcel carriers have increased the "hidden" charges if you like, rather than simply upping the big face price. Parcelforce last year doubled the cost of their additional KG overweight charges, a couple of the carriers reduced the service so that there would be only one re-delivery attempt.

But you emphasis the very valid point that people need to read the small print, because these charges can add up and cost you business.

As regards Higlands (mainland) send me a PM if this is one of your issues, as we do a tariff where mainland highlands are priced exactly the same as every other part of the mainland UK.

 

[quikshop]

DO NOT USE SALETRACK

Their service is appalling, they have changed their website to add all sorts of extra hidden costs. As mentioned above they have dramatically increased off shore and highland costs as well as aborted collections and congestion charges. Total rip off.

To really take the biscuit they have started calling it a 'Pay as you Go' service which seems to mean if you want to go you pay! Any monies in your account at the time you wish to cancel are lost, they will not refund even though you have not used the service.

All in all a disgrace.

I'd recommend ignoring this post. Anyone who joins a forum without announcing themselves just to slag off a business is almost certainly a competitor.

 

[Just_a_bloke]

DO NOT USE SALETRACK

Their service is appalling, they have changed their website to add all sorts of extra hidden costs. As mentioned above they have dramatically increased off shore and highland costs as well as aborted collections and congestion charges. Total rip off.

To really take the biscuit they have started calling it a 'Pay as you Go' service which seems to mean if you want to go you pay! Any monies in your account at the time you wish to cancel are lost, they will not refund even though you have not used the service.

All in all a disgrace.

Sale Track have changed their website and name to Despatch Bay.

There are now lots of extra costs, like an extra £2 (approx) charge for less than 4 parcels, but the way to avoid that charge is NOT to print the drivers manifest (The drivers are not worried if they have it or not), and only print it when you've sent 4 parcels since the last time you printed it.

You used to be able to top up by £50, but now they want £50 PLUS vat. And now call the top-up's 'units'.

If I drop them, I'll have to send just the right amount of parcels to use the credit up.

The company they use for deliveries (DHL) I've not had problems with.

I will be monitoring their costs closely as they're presently charging £6.30 (plus vat) per parcel. For off-shore deliveries, I always shop around. And they're not the cheapest when collecting returns from customers, so get someone else to collect.

 

[yowossup]

I can assure you I am not a competitor, just a very frustrated ex customer.

 

[Just_a_bloke]

Booked a collection with Despatchbay this morning...... Just rung DHL to see when they're going to collect (as they're very very late), only to find out DB didn't book my collection so now have to contact a dozen or so customers to let them know their deliveries are going to be late. Grrr

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Booked a collection with Despatchbay this morning...... Just rung DHL to see when they're going to collect (as they're very very late), only to find out DB didn't book my collection so now have to contact a dozen or so customers to let them know their deliveries are going to be late. Grrr

This is a problem in dealing with some of the smaller internet resellers.

When we decided that we need to offer parcels on boxby we used to use a DHL reseller, but basically he was a one man band, and the bookings made on his system needed booking onto DHL's so the days that he wasn't sat at his PC all day, our customers ended up with failed collections etc. Very frustrating. We didn't stick with it long.

There tend to be more of these on DHL service because DHL overs a "reseller" scheme which basically lets someone start up a parcel booking website in a matter of days with paypal.

 

[tdl]

As a parcel consolidator, anyone looking for competitve pricing on UK and International services please feel free to PM.

Not saying we guarantee to beat your prices but we will certainly have a genuine look. You will benefit from your own online shipping tool and regular collection from the quoted carrier.

 

[Alicatt]

We switched to Parcelforce earlier this year having previously used a mix of CityLink and Fastway.

Amazingly (touch wood) so far we have had almost no problems. We sell B2C and customers like it as they can collect from their post office.

Before we always had 2-3 deliveries a month go wrong (Fastways are particularly bad if there are problems) and customers moaning about poor service and long round trips to depots.

Not the cheapest parcel rate, but the time saved on admin makes up for it.

 

[mat@msg]

I use Fed Ex when shipping overseas. Perhaps not the cheapest but they've not let me down yet and their tracking facility is top notch. I am quite lucky though as I work in EC1 in London so if something needs to get sent out urgently the couriers are always in or around the area.

 

[Hostile Performance]

I've had myhermes recommended to me (they use Home Delivery Network). Can't speak for the service, but packages start at £3.99 for up to 15Kg.

 

[LottieB]

myHermes are not HDN they are Parcelnet.

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

That is so! And HDN latest online persona is collect+

 

[LottieB]

Yup
The difference being Collect+ operates from collection points (as far as I know) and myHermes collects from your door.

The myHermes service seems to be sporadic and depends on how good the courier happens to be in your local area. It's the same company that deliver for NEXT, JD Williams Group, Readers Digest, QVC & others, so if you happen to know the courier in your area for those items, then it should give you an idea as to the service you're likely to receive. If you're in a remote area then it could be your collections may not always be on the day you requested as the couriers are paid such a poor amount, they probably will try and do the collection when they are in the area for a delivery.

The one thing I would advise is to pack items WELL, especially if breakable.
I used to be a courier, but I escaped....

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

HDN has had a bit of a turn around, a couple of years ago, unless you were sending out upwards of 500 parcels a week they didn't really want to talk to you.

I guess it's indicative of the parcel industry getting more and more competitive and fighting for volume, that HDN has turned towards the smaller parcel senders.

 

[tdl]

I've had myhermes recommended to me (they use Home Delivery Network). Can't speak for the service, but packages start at £3.99 for up to 15Kg.

MyHermes Price List as per there website:
Prices do start at £3.99 but not for 15KG. Don't forget the .98p signiture cost as well.

Can't comment on there service though I have never used it.

Standard charges

Rate per parcel​

Parcel weight bands

Ex Vat
VAT
Inc Vat​

Less than 2 kg

£ 3.47
£ 0.52
£ 3.99​

between 2-5 kg

£ 5.43
£ 0.81
£ 6.24​

between 5-10 kg

£ 6.08
£ 0.91
£ 6.99​

between 10-15 kg

£ 6.95
£ 1.04
£ 7.99​

Additional services Signature on delivery

£ 0.85
£ 0.13
£ 0.98​

Remote area delivery

£ 1.66
£ 0.25
£ 1.91​

to postcodes IM, HS, ZE

​

Saturday Collection

£ 0.85
£ 0.13
£ 0.98​

Compensation per order

​

Up to £ 25

£ 0.00
£ 0.00
£ 0.00​

Up to £ 100

£ 1.00
£ 0.15
£ 1.15​

Up to £ 250

£ 2.00
£ 0.30
£ 2.30​

 

[tdl]

HDN has had a bit of a turn around, a couple of years ago, unless you were sending out upwards of 500 parcels a week they didn't really want to talk to you.

I guess it's indicative of the parcel industry getting more and more competitive and fighting for volume, that HDN has turned towards the smaller parcel senders.

Has anyone used/using HDN and if so what sort of pricing do they offer?

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

I believe that if you're shifting hundreds of parcels a week, the rates are very good.

 

[LottieB]

Regarding myHermes, yes it's the addons like the insurance and signature that bumps the price up unfortunately.

 

[seo007]

HI
another good option is viaddress.com, i found that it provide more cheaper service because last month i use there service from US to my Destination and i found it is really very good and cheaper, i Highly recommend by me !!

 

[APC RoadLink]

Mine in the BH postcode