When choosing a courier is it better to choose cheaper?

When you choose a cheaper item, you need to know why it costs less. Often in the case of clothes a cheaper item is made with lesser quality materials, with a courier the reasons that they are cheaper are often hidden.
As a customer who uses the cheapest courier service about, the only justification for that is the item isn't very expensive or worth very much.

When a courier slashes their prices, something has to give, they may reduce their insurance levels (or opt for going without insurance), downsize their vehicle or start to co load the items.

Whilst co-loading itself isn't a problem, if its done correctly, you will make some great savings. But if it's not done right, then your goods could be delivered late or damaged, both of which do nothing for your reputation as a business!

So next time you start searching for a cheap courier, ask what you are compromising on and if the item is of low value... then it doesn't matter. But if the item is really valuable (financial or sentimental) then you need to ask will you get what you pay for?

Sarah
Same Day couriers

Related articles by Zemanta

• Time critical delivery from Basildon (basildoncourierandparceldistribution.blogspot.com)
• Time saving equals money saving when using a courier (basildoncourierandparceldistribution.blogspot.com)

Time critical delivery from Basildon

Courier delivery services can save time for either individuals or businesses.

There are times throughout the year that we need either a local or long-distance deliveries for gifts or other time sensitive packages. These types of delivery services can ensure that your package arrives on time, as agreed.

You’ll find that these services will provide you with the comfort of knowing that your package is safe, and of course in good hands.

Image via Wikipedia

Even if there is plenty of time, talk to your courier service about getting the items delivered sooner. Last minute planning puts a premium on these kinds of courier services.

Depending on the company you choose, it could be a large operation, right down to a one-man and his van. Furthermore, you can have regularly scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs to specific locations (known as multi-drop), or to drop off points that are predetermined by the delivery service. These predetermined drop-off points will more likely be less expensive than the latter.

The biggest time savings when using a courier or van delivery come in the the form of saving you hours arranging quotes and chasing prices.

Quite simply an excellent service will save you hours on the phone, hours that you should be using to generate sales in your business and elsewhere. Often a courier company will get a quote into a company and a company will ring round trying to save two or three pounds on a delivery! On one hundred packages, that’s a big difference but on one item?

An hour later they call back and book the service – in that hour they have called lots of people for quotes. The cost of the phone calls and the cost of the person making them is far more expensive than the saving made!

Sarah Arrow

Same day couriers that deliver from all over the UK and back again.

Pricing for a flat rate courier job

We are often asked to quote for delivering items for a flat rate regardless of size around a certain area. For example just Essex, Kent and London, just the South of England, just England or anywhere in the UK are often areas we quote for.

Image via Wikipedia

As we deliver in dedicated vehicles (we don’t tranship between vehicles) we know our courier service reduces breakages and our service is excellent. All our drivers are paid at least minimum wage and we have up to date software and satellite navigation systems to ensure that your packages are delivered safely and securely, and in one piece!

Often companies receiving quotes are only interested in a low price, they fail to take into account the cost of redelivery or failed deliveries, fuel surcharges or overweight surcharges, so when getting a quote these need to be asked about. Read the small print of the service level agreement before you send in your consignments.

Items over 35kgs will need two people to deliver the item, it’s health and safety guidelines and our drivers follow them. So asking companies to cut the size of the team down to deliver your goods could put them in a position where they decline your work.

Getting a quote for large quantities to be delivered in one area shouldn’t be like pulling teeth and as a customer you can get the best price for higher volume. Often courier companies will have a minimum volume amount, a sliding scale of prices based on volume is a sensible solution if times are quiet for your delivery needs.This means you will not be charged for deliveries that have not been made keeping your expenditure down and your courier company happy.

One thing that is important when delivering in bulk is that the information on your delivery notes is as accurate as possible. Often sales teams will fill out the purchase order without a real thought to the delivery address or contact details being fully filled out on the delivery notes. If you want trouble free deliveries made ensure that the full delivery address is included with postcode and a contact name and phone number for your customer is easily accessible.

Arrow Light Haulage has extensive experience in this field and is only too happy to advise your company regarding reducing your delivery costs whilst still staying as environmentally friendly as possible.

Sarah Arrow
Same day couriers at a flat rate

Collecting in Basildon, delivering in London? Parking in London

Today we are sharing a guest blog from @pimlico_flats, it’s something relevant to all us van and delivery drivers – parking in London.

Image by Dominic’s pics via Flickr

It’s serialised into three parts, here’s the first.

Parking in London

Parking anywhere in London is an art that requires skills that Londoners acquire from an early age. Parking is something that you either get right, or you lose your vehicle, so here are the 3 steps to delivering in London without falling foul of the authorities.

Know the rules. A No Brainer I know – but never the less if you know what you are doing you stand a better chance of succeeding.

1. Double Yellow Lines – no waiting at any time
2. Single Yellow Lines – look for a plate which defines what times are acceptable
3. Loading – local regulations apply. As an example where there are no additional restrictions (kerb markings) Westminster allows unlimited 20 mins loading in residents parking bays, and on yellow lines before 11:00 or after 18:30.
4. Yellow marks on the kerb – loading restrictions supercede the above.
   1. i. Two marks it means no loading (or waiting) at any time.
   2. ii. One mark it means no loading for a lesser period as indicated on the signs, or timeplates,
5. Double red lines – Stopping is not permitted at any time
6. Single red lines – Stopping is not permitted except at the times indicated by the signs
7. Red route clearway – Stopping is only permitted in lay-bys (red lines are only marked at junctions)
8. http://www.parkingforvans.com/loading_in_london/loadingandunloading gives you the local Loading Regulations

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, please look out for parts two and three later this week.

If you would like to post a guest blog here, please get in touch with Sarah – Sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk and mention guest blog in the subject line.

Time saving equals money saving when using a courier

Courier delivery services can save time for either individuals or businesses.There are times throughout the year that we need either a local or long-distance deliveries for gifts or other time sensitive packages. These types of delivery services can ensure that your package arrives on time, as agreed. You’ll find that these services will provide you with the comfort of knowing that your package is safe, and in good hands.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Even if there is plenty of time, talk to your courier service about getting the items delivered sooner. Last minute planning puts a premium on these kinds of courier services.Depending on the company you choose, it could be a large operation, right down to a one-man and his van. Furthermore, you can have regularly scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs to specific locations (known as multi-drop), or to drop off points that are predetermined by the delivery service. These predetermined drop-off points will more likely be less expensive than the latter.Such courier services can provide companies the financial assurance they need with reduced costs when compared to well-known big name courier services. In fact, if you require their services on a regular basis, it is easy to strike a deal with them. That would save you or your company money.

The biggest time savings when using a courier or van delivery come in the the form of saving you hours arranging quotes and chasing prices.

Quite simply an excellent service will save you hours on the phone, hours that you should be using to generate sales in your business and elsewhere. Often a courier company will get a quote into a company and a company will ring round trying to save two or three pounds on a delivery. An hour later they call back and book the service – in that hour they have called lots of people for quotes. The cost of the phone calls and the cost of the person making them is far more expensive than the saving made.

Sarah
Courier deliveries throughout the UK

How to park in London and NOT get a ticket

Our guest blog from Nick Parkin owner of the Pimlico flats blog and community. Something we would all need to know, how to park in London and NOT get a ticket.

Image by sean dreilinger via Flickr

How to Deliver in London without collecting a ticket.

1. Make it obvious you are loading/unloading – leave an empty cardboard box in a loading place. Having said all that – I did see a joiner cutting plywood from the back of his van, he cut a piece – took it in to nail it up and came out to find he was clamped! If you are present and loading a warden will probably speak to you instead of ticketing.
2. For an easy life find a loading bay, or ask your delivery destination if they have a bay you can stay in temporarily.
3. If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be unobtrusive. If you double bank you will stand out for as far as there is a line of sight and draw wardens in from far and wide.
4. If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be inoffensive. If you block traffic, neighbours, or are dangerous, you may face more than just a ticket.
5. Check Doorways, the private parking wardens hide near commercial delivery points.
6. Keep an eye out, in busy areas you may need to see your van every 60 secs. In quiet residential areas of central London the longest you can expect to survive illegally parked without a ticket is around 15 mins.
7. Ask bystanders to watch your van for you, but be sure that you are within shouting distance.
8. You stand a better survival chance close to the end of parking restrictions, and are most likely to be ticketed at 09:00 – 10:00.

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, some great tips

If you would like to post a guest blog here, please get in touch with Sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.u

Delivering - what to so if you get a ticket whilst unloading

A guest blog by Nick Parkin from the Pimlico Flats blog and community (you know where to go if you need to rent a property in London, Nick knows all the ins and outs!)

Image by Ange Soleil ( a.k.a Tweng ) via Flickr

What to do if you get a ticket whilst loading / unloading in London

• If a parking attendant or traffic warden finds a vehicle parked on a yellow line without seeing any loading or unloading taking place a parking ticket will be issued. It is for the driver of that vehicle to demonstrate that he or she was loading or unloading, the shorter the observation period of the parking attendant or traffic warden the easier it will be for the motorist to claim that an exemption applies

• It is reasonable to expect that deliveries of smaller items should take less time than those of larger items and hence there would be a greater burden on the driver to justify a lengthy absence from the vehicle. Drivers making a delivery in the course of a trade or business will, in the majority of cases, be able to produce some form of documentation in the event of a ticket being issued.

• Get witnesses – I once received a ticket from a Westminster Council Warden, and quoted a Police Traffic Warden as my witness against the ticket, WCC kindly reversed the fine.

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, much appreciated.

If you would like to post a guest blog, please get in touch with Sarah – sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk