If you’re not au fait with the developments in the courier industry, you’re missing out on some excellent savings on your postage. Many will flock to the Post-Office on their lunch breaks to be met with large queues and high shipping costs. The good news is, there are far better options out there, especially for important or difficult parcels. With this in mind, here are 5 IDEAL money and time saving tips for sending parcels.
PICK THE RIGHT WEIGHT CATEGORY
Since many postal services like Royal Mail will charge by weight, if you’re looking to cut costs, it can be tempting to try and save money by putting your parcel in a cheaper weight class than it actually is. However, if your parcel is found to be over the limit, you could come up against extra charges, or your delivery could be delayed – it’s just not worth the risk. Always weigh your parcel properly, complete with any packaging.
GET YOUR PACKING RIGHT
Make sure your parcel gets from A to B in perfect condition at precisely the right time by ensuring you’ve packed it right and all the labelling is clear.
- Pick a container of appropriate size – under filled boxes may collapse, especially if there’s not enough padding or cushioning to keep the contents in place.
- Make sure your box and your items are firmly secured with strong and durable tape, double layered boxes and use flexible plastic liners or box coverings.
- Consider the climate of where you’re sending the parcel to. Is it snowing or does it rain frequently? Then waterproof packaging is a must.
DON’T ALWAYS RELY ON THE POST OFFICE
Contrary to popular belief, charges from the Post Office will often be higher than couriers as their operations cost more. Plus, the post isn’t always reliable and can’t guarantee a specific time or date that your package will arrive. Whereas, couriers can tell you exactly what day and time (down to the hour in some cases) it will get there.
If you’ve got something very large, heavy, temperature or time sensitive, or simply something that requires customer service that goes above and beyond what traditional post, then a courier may be the way forward for you. They can even offer handling specialists, CO2 offset services, import and export expertise, and liability cover. However, when you send something via any courier service is absolutely essential you use a reliable one. Always read online reviews to find the best courier company for you.
IN A HURRY? USE A COURIER
Couriers offer far more flexibility in terms of pricing, time frames, international delivery, and options for specialised delivery. Many couriers make use of freight pooling, which is a method used by express shipping companies to share space, splitting the costs, making it cheaper for all parties. When considering interstate freight cost, in particular, pooling is a great way to share the financial burden.
If you’re in a hurry to get your parcel to its destination, couriers have the upper hand as they have expertise in international logistics, plus their fees take into account customs paperwork which can hold processes up if not done correctly by the individual sender. You can even get door-to-door same day and next day delivery.
REMEMBER TO PROVIDE CONTACT DETAILS
Don’t want your package to get lost or delayed? Remember to provide your contact details as well the receivers. Either a phone or email address will be fine. If you’re sending your parcel abroad some countries won’t even attempt to deliver it without a phone number for the recipient. So don’t forget the contact details.
Remember these tips whenever you have a parcel to send and you can be sure it’ll reach its destination without a hitch.