Help with Couriers

[SimonCV]

Hi,
I' am currently in the process of starting up a ecommerce website for our business which has been trading for 17 years. We sell Commercial Vehicle parts so the weights of what we're distributing vary quite extremely based on product and quantity. I'm just wondering if anyone had any advice on which courier to start using and how to get the best prices?

 

[Belmore]

Hi Simon,

I can help you out with this as we run a cost optimisation service which basically means we have sourced the most efficient couriers and the best rates.
Drop me your details on PM and I can give you a call to discuss.

Hope that helps

Sam

 

[roydmoorian]

Hi,
I' am currently in the process of starting up a ecommerce website for our business which has been trading for 17 years. We sell Commercial Vehicle parts so the weights of what we're distributing vary quite extremely based on product and quantity. I'm just wondering if anyone had any advice on which courier to start using and how to get the best prices?

Depends what you mean by "Courier" but I imagine you are referring to "Next-working day parcel delivery"

All of them will get most of your parcels there eventually but it is how they deal with the discepancies that sets some companies at a higher level than others, UKMail comes recommended by dots and spots Jeff and Interlink (Part of DPD Geopost) by Minuteman Press, APC (Alternative Parcel Company) is also up there with the best of them IMHO.

Find out which of those has a depot nearest to you so that should a collection problem occur :redface:then you would at least have the option to input the parcels yourself.

You could of course choose your provider on price alone and go with MyHermes or Yodel and have your goods delivered out of a windowcleaners van with doubtful insurance.

We re-sell UKMail services at extremely competetive rates and NO MINIMUM USAGE

We will advise our clients how to get the absolute best from this service and offer proactive verbal communication. ( You can ring us and we will do the progress chasing for you on the odd occasion that it is needed. )

Many of our clients send perishables out through this system to customers such as Harrods, Heston Blumenthal and other top restaurants.

 

[trap]

Try to call DHL as they always can give good deal

 

[SimonCV]

Thankyou all for your responses, its much appreciated

Sam- That sounds very helpful! Ill message you as soon as i can find another 5 minutes spare...its one of those days! :-S

Ian- Thankyou for that information, its very useful. Ill take a look at your website as soon as i can!

Max - I did think of DHL as we receive a lot deliverys from them. Ill make sure to contact them as well.

Thanks again!

 

[SamStones]

What size and weight dimensions are your packages?

I would avoid dhl/ yodel as they have an awful reputation for customer service. We use city link for a very varied traffic profile and the service is far better than we have had from ukmail / business post, dhl / yodel, fedex or night freight. Interlink express has a good service but the costs were higher than city link.

 

[SimonCV]

Size and Weight can vary massively from a small package weighing no more than 2kg to pallets packed with 50-60kg clutches, and even more.

I've asked a few people who I know use couriers and they have suggested city link so there on my list. They didnt really have a bad word to say so I'll have to get in contact with them.

All this courier stuff is new to me as we usually deliver using our vans so I appreciate all the feedback guys

 

[roydmoorian]

Hi Simon, a 60 kg clutch needn't cost more than £21.50 + VAT on a UK mainland Next-day signed for.

For sub 3.5 kg items which are not ultra important Royal Mail / Parcelforce is probably as economical as any.

If you would like to give me a ring sometime I could go through your options with you.

 

[Alicatt]

The other thing to consider is whether your customers are businesses or consumers. Some couriers (CityLink come to mind) perform much better with business deliveries while others have procedures which better suit home deliveries (I had good experience with Parcelforce).

 

[directmarketingadvice]

Some couriers (CityLink come to mind) perform much better with business deliveries

It's nice to hear Citylink are capable of doing something competently.

Steve

 

[SimonCV]

Ian - What if it was a pallet full?

Allison - I can imagine it'll mainly be businesses, i.e. garages, haulage companies, coach services. I've spoken to a few of the people we take deliveries off and they have said that some (tuffnells for example) charge extra for delivery to private addresses. I've been warned to stay away altogether from DHL/Yodel by one of their own drivers!

I've been told the top couriers for national and international deliveries are Fedex, UPS and TNT. We deal with TNT alot because most of our suppliers use them and they seem pretty efficient. Any one had any dealings with any of the 3?

 

[Alicatt]

It's nice to hear Citylink are capable of doing something competently.

Steve

I said they were better with business deliveries, don't think I actually went as far as competent.

 

[ocbuggle]

I said they were better with business deliveries, don't think I actually went as far as competent.

Never had a problem with city link. I recommend them

 

[internetspaceships]

I said they were better with business deliveries, don't think I actually went as far as competent.

they are not nicknamed ShittyLink for nothing.

Appaling service, the depots lie to you about deliveries and wriggle when they are caught out.

Would never go back there. All our suppliers are under instruction to use anyone BUT them to send our goods.

 

[chris_griffiths_uk]

Hi,
I' am currently in the process of starting up a ecommerce website for our business which has been trading for 17 years. We sell Commercial Vehicle parts so the weights of what we're distributing vary quite extremely based on product and quantity. I'm just wondering if anyone had any advice on which courier to start using and how to get the best prices?

Hi

Not sure if you have heard of DX before, but they are one of the UK's leading mail, secure mail, courier and logistics companies. They would be a great supplier to look at regarding distributing your vehicle parts.

To get a quote and to find out more I suggest visiting the DX website or call the team on 0844 826 1178.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Chris

 

[Jayser100]

If all your packages are the same size and weight band, then you could get a good deal out of a courier if your volume warrants it. Otherwise, www.interparcel.com is the way to go.

Be wary of parcel firms who make a fantastic offer for a certain type of parcel, to certain destinations and a certain weight. these are often loss leaders / small margins for them to hook you on their line. When you work out the sums of everything else you ship, you'll most likely find they aren't as cheap as they said they'd be, across the board.

On Smartstamp you get the best deal every time, from a range of Couriers. Works brilliantly for us and Interparcel's customer service is surprisingly good given the number of couriers they have to deal with if problems arise.

Avoid DHL - their 'discounted rates' are extortionate. I know because I had an account with them (still do technically) and we saved a whopping 75% on our 'discounts' when we started using Interparcel.

good luck with your ecommerce venture.

 

[ToolSeller]

Used UK Mail. Never again.

They admitted they relabelled one of our parcels. Delivered it to another location, and said that since we didn't use insurance on our parcel we lost the cost of it. How that is fair I really don't know. Especially since they said it was their mistake. (They tried to reclaim the parcel from the location they did deliver it to, but it had long since gone from there even though it had been signed for online)