Wanted - Web design & hosting packages wanted

[KidsBeeHappy]

I have something that i'd like to pursue on Boxby. Courier are having a very rough time at the moment, and i'd like to make some fundamental changes to boxby which will help couriers get more business.

One of the things i am considering is offering/advertising a basic web package which gets them a designed and hosted basic website, that they can edit through a basic CMS.

Does anyone do this? Would anyone be interested in working with me on this. I have 800 live & registered couriers.

 

[garysumpter]

You have PM

 

[DavidT]

Also sending you a PM.

David Toohey
The Accountants Circle
Accountancy & Bookkeeping Forums | Accountant & Bookkeeper Blogs | Company Formations from £21! | Business Start-Up Package

 

[i234i]

that sounds great Sandra.

would it be just Boxby backend with a front end design of the local courier??
i think so many of them need this and could do with it for a %.

 

[cmckay]

Sent you an email Sandra.

 

[stewartsetter]

Hi, just PM'd you

 

[LINGsCARS]

Just some ideas... need-based. This thing is not courier-based at all, I think.

With this delivery thing, can I ask why it is never intuitive?

Why not start with a large UK map...

1. Where is your parcel now?

2. Where do you want it to go?

This could easily be achieved with some intelligent programming and Google maps etc

Then you deliver the alternatives for getting the parcel there. The price and carrier could be ajax/javascripted in on the fly, and change dynamically.

I find it hard to believe that I have to create an account before I can request a quote on your site, Boxby... I was just looking. Why do you use parcelforce logo, but not use DHL logo? Is that REALLY DHL? Surely DHL would use their logo? Hmmm.

I just wonder if it was made easier/more fun/more graphical for the users who must be slashing their wrists to be doing this fairly boring task (arranging parcel deliveries). For instance when you say max size 120x60x60 cm, there is no graphical size, you want people to have a tape measure to hand. Is that the same as a box of Walkers crisps for example? Or Easyjet handbaggage???

Same with the weight... how can someone weigh a parcel up to 30kg???? You need bathroom scales. Why not use some friendly terms like 5kg = full petrol can. 20kg = typical airline suitcase allowance.

By graphically representing all this, it would make it easier and much more fun I think (for people who are not professional parcel-senders).

Using some clever php and a few database tables and some arrays, you could turn sending a parcel from a chore to a great experience. All you have to do then is get the parcel delivered.

I'm not sure why you seem so concerned about the couriers? Surley all they want is tons of business, not websites? Am I so wrong on this??

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Ling - couriers are not parcel services. parcels are things in boxes, and prices are simple and it's easy.

Courier quotes are for big stuff like sofas, car engines etc. Stuff that cannot go on conveyor belts, stuff not in brown cardboard boxes. Couriers cannot quote prices without accurate delivery details. Quotes are bespoke to the job, and the customer, so we need email, contacts info. Everyone would get p'd off, couriers and customers if they were quoted one price which then the job couldn't be provided for because the address info wasn't accurate enough.

For parcels, mearsurements do matter, if it is 121 x 20 x39 the parcel carrier will reject the parcel. So yes, you do need a tape measure. Don't blame me, blame DHL, citylink, interlink, ups, etc. They all use the same rules.

May main big problem is the one that you've highlighted, if people want to send a parcel they search for a courier, but it's not a courier service they're after, it's a parcel carrier. It would be the equivalent of people coming to you looking to hire a car for a week.

Re making it more fun - yep, i'll be looking into that.

 

[mydogisthebest]

I think this parcel courier website is Fun.....it certainly isn't boring www.ukdelivery4u.co.uk

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I find it interesting that several people have posted saying 'I have messaged you'. Are they scared to post all of their info?

Boxby, if you started with a hosting package or maybe your own server/VPS, you could offer a package that includes something like Joomla, which is free software. there are literally thousands of templates that are a vailable for free. You could then charge hosting, setup and, maybe some minor design/copy help.

If you want help with this, I am happy do this free of charge, however, maybe take a small percentage of business/turnover, whatever, so it is based on success!

FYI, I am looking at doing something very similar within another business category, although this may include ecommerce!

 

[LINGsCARS]

I think this parcel courier website is Fun.....it certainly isn't boring www.ukdelivery4u.co.uk

Very much the same, where it defaults to a list of services when you click anything. The spelling errors and poor care don't give much hope for the parcel getting there.

Nasty, nasty pics.

 

[nickpp]

We built a system exactly like this last year for ourselves but decided not to launch it.


Web site template system with targeted templates.

PM me if you want to have a chat about it.

Regards
Nick

 

[LINGsCARS]

Even with the reasonng from Boxby on the previous page about courier stuff I still think the basic premise is:

I have something here X

I need it taken here Y

So... I'm not sure (when there are so many tools) why that X-Y bit isn't the very first question asked, sucking the customer into the service.

I'm not sure I would care about why this, that or the van etc... I would just want my thing delivered to Y.