Best courier for fragile items?

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Liybpg

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Nov 8, 2009
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  • #1
    I am planning to post a painting from London to Manchester. I have ordered some packaging material and planning to pack it well; however I don't think I will be able to package it well enough to protect against people standing on it or abusing it in some other way.

    In your experience which courier is the best for handling something like that? I don't mind paying a lot, if that is necessary. Not damaging the item is key - insurance won't cover much as this is not a commercial transaction (i.e. no receipt and insurance will only recover cost of materials - which is pathetic for a painting).
     
    A

    arcon5

  • #2
    From what I have read UPS as they have shelfing installed in their trucks for fragile items - although yours may be too heavy or large to raise above ground, a company who does this have clearly but much time & efforts in to looking at the best way to deliver items safely.

    Other than that, plenty of bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard and fragile tape - and a 24hour courier.

    If you don't mind spending alot then see what the distance between you & buyer and send it in a cab :).
    Or see some courier exchange website to find somebody doing a return journey between your destination and collection point and offer them some work.
     
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    A

    arcon5

  • #5
    My business is in canvas prints and I send out a couple hundred a month via RM standard parcel and the last report of damage was in Jan/Feb time - and if i'm being honest don't think it was packaged very well.
    Missing parcels mind is prob once a month, 2-3 times at a push.

    So I guess the only issue is with the value of the item.

    Maybe a DHL, UPS or ParcelForce Next Day from parcel2go.com
     
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    roydmoorian

    roydmoorian

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    Nov 6, 2009
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  • #10
    Liybpg said:
    The item isn't heavy or too large by the way. The weight shouldn't be more than a couple of kilo's; size is around 55cmX45cmX8cm
    Click to expand...

    Wrap it up in 50mm of bubble wrap and then cut 2 pieces of thin (6 mm) ply about 65 cm x 55 cm. Lay the picture on one piece of ply and use 4 strips of batten 18 cm wide to create a hard edge around the bottom pice of ply, lay the other ply on top and nail through from both sides.

    It needs to be a snug fit - NO MOVEMENT.

    I have imported paintings from New Zealand packed like that.

    Don't bother with insurance - a high value makes it more likely that customs will want to open it :eek:
     
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    roydmoorian

    roydmoorian

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  • #11
    estwig said:
    I tired to get a mirror delivered for a client once, after six attempts to get the mirror to arrive in one piece, we gave up. I did feel sorry for the supplier, poor sod was tearing his hair out, I imagined lots of very blue comments about couriers in his office.
    Click to expand...

    A great shame that "Hub & Spoke" express parcel carriers seem to have hi-jacked the term "courier".

    A courier used to mean a person who was individually responsible for the goods from the collection to the delivery.
     
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    F

    Frankus

  • #13
    The vans might have all the sheles, racking etc required, but the difficulty comes when your consignment has to be trans-shipped from van to van via the depot and hub. This is where everything gets thrown around.

    Having said that, their track record isn't actually that bad. To be certain, though, and if cost isn't as much a requirement as getting it there safely and undamaged, you might be best off with a same day courier.

    You get one guy with the responsibility to keep it safe, so he will. He will (should!!) have £15,000+ Goods it transit insurance as well. His reputation rests with his service.

    Depends on where in London to where in Manchester what price you get. If you reckon on £1 a mile, you won't be too far off. Maybe less.

    Guess what I do for a living?
     
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    KidsBeeHappy

    KidsBeeHappy

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    Oct 9, 2007
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    Sunny Troon
  • #19
    roydmoorian said:
    Wrap it up in 50mm of bubble wrap and then cut 2 pieces of thin (6 mm) ply about 65 cm x 55 cm. Lay the picture on one piece of ply and use 4 strips of batten 18 cm wide to create a hard edge around the bottom pice of ply, lay the other ply on top and nail through from both sides.

    It needs to be a snug fit - NO MOVEMENT.

    I have imported paintings from New Zealand packed like that.

    Don't bother with insurance - a high value makes it more likely that customs will want to open it :eek:
    Click to expand...


    There are two options, the first is per the quote above. If it's low value, then good packaging and a parcel network is your best solution. Note the Good packaging bit. As rody says - it needs more than a bit of bubble wrap. Pack it to survive Heathrow Baggage handling, and to survive a drop from waist height to the ground. Double box and all the rest. Don't rely on fragile labels etc because it's an automated sorting process.

    If its valuable. Man & Van, proper courier delivery, try and get someone on a back load, or part load rather than a dedicated trip. £1 a mile as someone said is a pretty average rate for dedicated trips (but allow more if you're starting in London and using london couriers, many of those have rates of £1.50-£2.50 pm).
     
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