The Wholesale Forums

[Trimed]

Hi,

I would appreciate your advice on a shipping issue.

I am selling electronic items that cost about £200-£250 each - they weigh just under 4 kg each.

I want to send within the UK - what is the best way to send them, including tracking and insurance.

In the past I have been using payperdrop on ebay but they only give £100 of insurance. It seems like Royal Mail Special Delivery would cost £19.45 per item.

Does anyone have any alternatives - I don't really want to have to set up an account with a courier - seems like too much hassle!

Thanks.

[anotheruser]

You haven't given enough info for us to guide you. How often are you shipping? How many items? Same batch of addresses or different ones each time?

[Trimed]

Sorry - will probably be shipping about 5-10 items a week - different addresses every time.

[Trimed]

Have spoken with APC Overnight - they are offering me £1000 insured delivery, next day, up to 10 kg for around £10 + VAT - does this sound OK to those with more experience on this forum?

[anotheruser]

For electronics, getting any returns back to base can be an issue. Is it one for you?

I am aware DHL do a service and get your returns at a reasonable cost but I don't know the insurance levels. Also, the dimensions will be important. And I don't know how many consignments you have to commit to. But they must be worth a call.

[rheabs]

Trimmed..myself bought a delivery service on e/bay and city link has turned up ..the cost of this is £595 24/48 hr pick up delivery service ..they will take upto 30kg for this price ..crazy huh ? also a tracking number given and only buyers/sellers can sign ..also there is insurance cover but i think its only upto £100 but i think if you pay extra and your goods will be fully comp...
Myself had no problems what so ever in useing them ..A great service
Hope that helps sir..

[PT]

Why not use Royal Mail still? £19.45 doesn't sound too bad. Especially if your fully insured with that! Sending £200 - £250 item insured up to just £100 seems a bit of a risk to me. When your only saving £3-4 doing so. Who's going to reimburse your buyer the full amount if an item gets lost?

If I was your customer, I'd prefer an item sent via Royal Mail rather than a courier. You can make sure its with your customer by 9am the next morning (meaning they won't have to wait in all day for it to arrive). Thus, leaving you with happy customers. If I missed the post, I could collect the item quite easily (as Royal Mail have sorting offices in the majority of towns). Or I could pay to have it sent to my local post office (is it 50p?). To do that with a courier would be in some cases very difficult.

These are a few things I would consider, rather than saving a few quid' think about your customers.

[rheabs]

Pt Games..Yep i fully understand where your coming from mate, but City Link is a Good company and they will insure your goods to that amount if you ask them...And besides that, look at the mess Royal Mail is in now with strikes and all..thats why people are using other delivery services now, at much cheaper prices than the R/M and there services are same if not better...Ive used them many times and to be honest yep i did have 1 parcel go mising but they did sort it out...appart from that i had no problems with them...
But each to there own mate...

[greedyboy]

Special Delivery is by far the best service even during the strikes. However above 2kg it is not cost effective unless you are fortunate enough to do enough volume (serous volume) that your contract rate is better then what couriers charge.

We have a great contract rate and therefore everything goes by Special Delivery. If you send a large amount by courier you need a full time staff member just to chase up 'address not found' and misroutes.

So if you are doing enough volume Special Delivery it is all day long. If not, prepare yourself to spend hours on the phone to your courier company and your angry customers!

[Trimed]

FedEx have offered me the best rates so far - next day delivery, large courier pack (unlimited weight), covers most of UK apart from Highlands/Northern Ireland - collection and tracked delivery - £500 insurance for around £7 + VAT. For Highlands they are charging around £14.50 + Vat and for NI they charge about £18.00 + VAT.