7 Things You Need To Know About Your Courier Service

Here’s a checklist of 7 factors which can help you make a sound decision on who to work with.

To find an affordable and reliable courier can be a challenge, especially for small businesses. Not being able to deliver the services your customer expects may result in negative reviews for your business, which can quickly drive your sales down.

Therefore, it is imperative to source  the right logistics partner. There are many factors to consider, but here’s a checklist of 7 factors which can help you make a sound decision on who to work with.

  • Size of the Parcel The weight and size of a parcel, or the number of items that need to be sent can affect the overall cost. Smaller items under 70 kilos in weight and less than 120cm in length generally do not incur surcharges. Larger items  over 70 kilos in weight or 120cm in length are more likely to attract surcharges as they  require far more handling and often require lareger vehicles to make the collections and deliveries.
  • Re-Delivery Options One of the major delivery issues is the absence of recipient to receive the parcel, or an incorrect address. Most couriers offer different options such as re-delivery, or request the sender to come and collect from designated collection point. So make sure that the courier service that you choose provides you with these options, in case they are needed, and if they are chargeable or not.
  • Restricted / Remote areas Most couriers have areas they deliver to which they class as remote. These are subject to surcharge. When booking with a courier try choosing one that automatically flags this to you during the booking process advising you of the additional cost before you pay.
  • Additional Cover

 You should only choose a courier that offers some form of standard compensation for lost or damaged parcels included in the shipping charge. Usually couriers will offer additional cover, often up to may thousands of pounds if required for an additional cost. When deciding how much cover you need be sure to check the restricted and prohibited items list for contents that cannot be covered, such as glass or liquids.

  • Speed of Delivery Couriers generally offer next day courier services within the UK. Economy shipments going to Europe by road generally take between 2 to 7 days. There is usually an Air option and for most main towns in Europe these deliveries can be made next working day and usually not longer than 2 days. Destinations outside the EU such as Australia, USA, China, etc., are usually between 2 to 4 days with more remote places such as islands in the Pacific taking up to 7 to 8 days.
  • Delivery Timing Most couriers deliver  during office hours with some offering Saturday or even Sunday deliveries. Weekend delivery is usually offered by couriers that do e-commerce deliveries. Also, some couriers offer 1 hour  time-slot  for your convenience.
  • Special items Handling Some couriers specialize in certain type of deliveries. For example, if you are sending perishable items such as food, it is best to book a specialist that has facilities such as cold-storage vehicles. Heavy and bulky items may also mean that additional manpower is required to effect deliveries.

Follow the above mentioned points to choose a courier service that fulfils all your requirements.

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