Are you fed up having to wait in for the Courier?

Log in to reply
S

Simon Humphries

  • #1
    Hello All,

    After years of running a part-time business from home and having to juggle my full-time job with the courier collections from home, I've finally got together with a mate and created a product to hopefully make life a little easier for people just like me.

    But is there a sufficient market for it? (Bit late in the game to be checking this out I know).

    So if you're not interested in achieving courier collections when you're not in, then please just ignore this, but if you are then I'd love to know whether this would help you out. Please take a look at our product, ParcelPal. I'd be really interested in knowing your views,

    thanks Simon.
     
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #6
    cmcp said:
    How do you sign for it?
    Click to expand...

    Thanks for your comment cmcp. A key question indeed!

    Firstly I should say that because of the cost of the system and the corresponding need to lease the lockers, we anticipate their use being primarily for parcel collections, in which case the courier signs the paperwork and can leave it in the box after collecting the parcels.

    The delivery model is a little more complex, but here's the summary:

    1 - The courier scans or records the unique barcode inside the container (note he has been given access to this directly by the parcel recipient unlocking the container using their mobile). We've tested this process and in practice most carriers are happy to record the unique number instead of a signature.

    In addition all transactions (button presses, door unlock commands, door openned etc) with date/time stamps are uploaded to the ParcelPal website and further enforce the Proof Of Delivery (POD) confirmation.

    2 - A number of the carriers now offer services where the recipient can accept responsibility for the delivery being left in a safe and hence negate the requirement for a signature. DPD offer this both on their re-delivery cards and as a permanent feature for an individual. Royal Mail offer a service called Safe Place where at purchase a shopper can opt to have it left in a place of their choosing without a signature. They offer limited insurance on this of up to 100x first clast postage cost I believe. MyHermes also offer a similar service and others are following suit.

    The long and short of item 2 is that if you have a safe enough place/system to receive your deliveries, do you really need to insist on a signature? That's a question you have to ask yourself, all I can say is that if you have a ParcelPal locker box, you potentially have one of the most secure locations possible at your home address.

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    TotallySport

  • #8
    Not sure if you want any feedback, and this is only my opinion but.

    Are you sure there is the volumn of people and business for this?

    I think your going to price yourself out of the market with the what sounds like a costly setup.

    I am not sure couriers will accept your approach as it will accept their insurance and claims.

    without depots almost everywhere I think you'll struggle, becuase unless your nearer than the couriers depot they will simply pick it up from there.

    Good Luck
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #10
    edmondscommerce said:
    I think you are missing his point..

    His target market is semi pro ebayers / ecommerce business owners who have a day job but need to able to package up some parcels for collection from their house during the day when they are out.
    Click to expand...

    You are spot on edmondscommerce, the locker would be fitted at the individuals home premesis.

    A large section of our target market are Amazon/ebay traders operating businesses from home. In addition we see a potential market for catalogue companies with local distributors, such as Betterware, Kleeneze and Avon to name a few.

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    Naughty Vend

    Naughty Vend

    Free Member
    Aug 5, 2007
    942
    179
  • #11
    ...and what?

    This is an old idea and it's been around for a long time. I spoke to someone a few years ago at a franchise exhibition whose idea was to use the "PayPoint" infrastructure to do exactly that but as I pointed out then and as it is now there's a massive flaw in the business plan. It's called PayPal Seller Protection Policy and if you do not ship to the address approved by PayPal you are not insured against claims, until you sort that I know I wouldn't use the service and I ship £1000's worth per week.

    As to having a locker round the side of my house, no thanks and again old idea where you can buy this system from the Americans for a small fee. They've been having food delivered for many years and some even have fridges in the garage where the delivery guy has a simple PIN to access a service area for delivery of goods, it's an idea but not one for the UK market mate...
     
    Last edited:
    Upvote 0
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #12
    TotallySport said:
    Not sure if you want any feedback, and this is only my opinion but.

    Are you sure there is the volumn of people and business for this?

    I think your going to price yourself out of the market with the what sounds like a costly setup.

    I am not sure couriers will accept your approach as it will accept their insurance and claims.

    without depots almost everywhere I think you'll struggle, becuase unless your nearer than the couriers depot they will simply pick it up from there.

    Good Luck
    Click to expand...

    Hi TotallySport,

    You may be confusing the lockerbank model that is described on our site. This is for a different use model. The single locker system will generally be fitted at the owners home or business address and will allow them to speak to the courier and accept parcel collections/deliveries while they are not there. Hope that clarifies it,

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #14
    Naughty Vend said:
    ...and what?

    This is an old idea and it's been around for a long time. I spoke to someone a few years ago at a franchise exhibition whose idea was to use the "PayPoint" infrastructure to do exactly that but as I pointed out then and as it is now there's a massive flaw in the business plan. It's called PayPal Seller Protection Policy and if you do not ship to the address approved by PayPal you are not insured against claims, until you sort that I know I wouldn't use the service and I ship £1000's worth per week.

    As to having a locker round the side of my house, no thanks and again old idea where you can buy this system from the Americans for a small fee. They've been having food delivered for many years and some even have fridges in the garage where the delivery guy has a simple PIN to access a service area for delivery of goods, it's an idea but not one for the UK market mate...
    Click to expand...

    Hi Naughty Vend, thanks for your comments. Just to clarify a few points:

    ParcelPal is nothing to do with the PayPoint solution, although now you mention it they were bought by Home Delivery Network, who now use it as the core to their highly sucessful Collect+ service at over 3,500 locations.

    Using our soulution the locker is fitted at the owners chosen address and hence the delivery location will be the same as with PayPal - this is one of the major strengths of our system and you are right to point out that certain other solutions will not work for the very reason you mention.

    The locker solution you mention in the US is a system that relies on buy-in from the retailer supplying the goods, such as the supermarket industry which I believe this system is mainly used for. ParcelPal can be used by any courier for deliveries from any retailer without the need for any integration of systems, or passing of unique codes. Again this is a strength of our solution.

    Is it for the UK market? I think it is absolutely! There hundreds of thousands of small businesses operating on Ebay alone and you've only got to look at a few forums and blogs to see that waiting in for the courier is a nightmare that many have to deal with on a daily basis. I think less than a pound a day is good value for a solution that allows the business owner to be out doing what he or she does best, rather than waiting in for the courier, just to carry out the handing over of the parcels.

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #15
    cmcp said:
    What kind of liability insurance do you need to run this operation? (You, not a potential customer)
    Click to expand...

    Hi cmcp,

    We do obviously have both 'public liability' and 'product liability' insurance ourselves, but a locker fitted at your home address will be covered by most home or business insurance policies under outbuildings and sheds.

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    TotallySport

  • #16
    I understand the point but I don't think it will work. I will point out in my last post I didn't realise you had set the business, I thought you were looking for advice.

    However looking at you website none of the pictures of the boxes are situated on residential houses, flats etc, and looking at them there is no where on my house to put one.

    Plus it screams there is something in here you shouldn't have, which leaves them open to theft, breakins, vandalism etc.

    I doubt these will be cover by household insurance, if they are used for business, and if they are residential use for mail order then I think they are specialist and again wouldn't be covered.

    I am still not convinced courier companies would use them, have you got them approved? and if so who by? and if you have put the information on your web site

    I also think ebayers and amazon traders with this sort of issue will use storage places like safestore, who will take in the parcel, sign for it and put it away, all inclusive in the price, although I have no idea how much the space is, I would feel more secure.

    Safestore is £9 per week for 1m cube on a 12 month term which can be stopped after 6 months, but no setup fees.

    I do wish you good luck and this isn't supposed to be rude, just my point of view.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    TotallySport

  • #17
    Sorry I missed one point, there are a good number of people on this forum who ask for virtual PA's so people can take their calls while out of the office, but how many ask for this type of service.

    Our next door neighbours all use mail order alot, and normally it gets left with a neighbour who is less than £25 per month.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    TotallySport

  • #19
    Ah i get it now, i think its even less likely to be used now...... (although after re reading their website it does say in and out bound)

    Would courier companies use this? I mean if you are not at home and put the items in here for collection would a courier company use it?

    How does a courier company valide who they are over the phone?

    I still think security is an issue, location outside a home is an issue, and usability in the real word is an issue IMO.

    but again good luck.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Simon Humphries

  • #20
    Hi TotallySport,

    Thanks again for your input.

    Regarding your comment that it screams to be broken in to, in fact it’s
    the opposite, no one knows what's inside, or indeed if there’s anything inside. In the unlikely event of a break-in, please see the insurance comments on the previous posts – this has been confirmed by several sources as being included within standard insurance policies, covered under the same umbrella as outhouses and sheds. I hope this relieves your personal doubts on the insurance issue.

    With regard to Carrier acceptance we currently have over 10 of the largest operators in the UK reviewing the product. A significant number have agreed in writing, 2 are piloting the system accross Europe and the remainder are reviewing its use at Board level for inclusion into their operations. The reality is that ParcelPal already fits in with their existing processes and future plans. Rest assured that to date, none of the carriers we have approached have declined.

    I thank you for the time you’ve taken to write your views and your best
    wishes, please be assured, I have taken all your comments at face value
    without offence.

    Simon.
     
    Upvote 0
    Log in to reply

    Latest Articles

    Top Bottom
    Community
    Articles
    Menu