Delivery Options

[Modica82]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you could help me. I am working on a website for a client, and there is an e-commerce aspect to it with an online store. Technically thats not the problem. The issue i face is with delivery of the items.

the asked me to look into it (in hindsight i should have said i dont really know about it) but i didnt and i would just like to see some options of what they could do and the costs and if anyone has first hand experience here when they send out their products. Initially i dont think the volumes will be high.

Thanks,

Rob

 

[Exclusively You!]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

Most delivery companies will ask what volume you will be putting through them.

It also depends on what the items are as to what the cost will be, for example most of these firms are a bit wary when it comes to glass objects.

If I would you I would check out DHL, there are plenty of firms out there but it is a case of finding one that will deliver the goods on time and in one piece.

Here are a few others for you to mull over;-

TNT - Expensive but good

Parceline - Not bad
Business Post - Not always the best
Interlink Express - Again not always the best
Target Express - Not bad

Hope that helps

Regards

Craig

 

[Modica82]

Thanks for the quick response craig

the items are boxing equipment so could be different sizes and shapes. Will check out the websites you suggested, tried Royal Mail first but i found there site so confusing i coudnt find what i wanted.

Do these services collect from your distribution centre or do they need to be taken to depo (stupid question, but i really know nothing about logisitcs )

Thanks again,

Rob

 

[Exclusively You!]

No they will pick up from your place of distribution for you, they will provide all of your labels and consignment notes etc all you do is fill all them in.

Royal Mail are not the best unfortunately and I agree with your problems you had with their site.

If the items are of different sizes all your customer has to do is put the weight of each of them on the consignment note and when they get their bill from the delivery agent they can check everything against their carbon copies. I would recommend your customer invest in some kind of weighing machine.

They should send a sales rep out who should go through all of this with your customer.

Regards

Craig

 

[Modica82]

Cool, thanks again Craig, what i will do is look at the options and try and sort out a meeting between one of the companies and my clients see if we can move forwards that way.

Thanks again!!

Rob

 

[Exclusively You!]

Glad I could help Rob


Regards

Craig

 

[SpeedyExpressCouriers]

Interlink Express have been good with us, not had a problem yet. Shop around and compare prices.

 

[stugster]

"Royal Mail are not the best unfortunately and I agree with your problems you had with their site."

Don't touch them with a barge pole! Third time this week I've had to go to the collection centre to pick up my parcels. I've made written requests to have "non-signed for" mail delivered to ANY of my neighbours. That's never happened once. I also informed them I'd be out, and that I needed it delivered to a specific neighbour at least... never happened.

I had a signed for come through yesterday - when I was in, and the guy never even bothered to get out his van, let alone ring the door bell!

CityLink on the other hand are superb! They've even phoned me to let me know it's 5 minutes away!

 

[Adam H]

ParcelForce are good (for me at least): ChesterPost.com are pretty cheap also.

 

[Modica82]

lol i thought they were bad, its the same here, my post arrives at about midday, ussually by an obvious temp worker as he is in normal clothes and he just rams things though the letter box (even broke a CD i had been waiting for). I have contacted cityLink and hopefully will get a response.

Thanks for all your responses guys!

Rob

 

[SillyJokes]

With boxing equipment you will defo want to get signatures for delivery as I predict a high level of fraud with this kind of stuff.

Stugster - don't get stuff sent to your home address if you aren't going to be in to accept it. Get it delivered to your neighbours instead, if they are defo OK with this - don't even put your name on the parcel!

 

[SpeedyExpressCouriers]

CityLink charge a penalty fee if you do not spend £50 a week with them.